eBay FREE Shipping glitch, SELLERS BEWARE

[superman_sw]

For some reason eBay has been changing my listings to "FREE SHIPPING" after I list an item.

This has happened multiple times in the last few months.

As many know, this glitch has been happening on and off for years. My guess is it might happen anytime the dites "selling" section gets a change/update.

I have had to tell buyers that shipping is not free due to Ebay having a glitch in their system. Thankfully, I have not recieved negative feedback for this. 

Ebay needs to get this sorted out. Though being worth billions, it is a minuscule issue. As replies have typically entailed the pre-authorized "this is being monitored" type messages.

If any other sellers, or buyer have had this issue please reply to this post. Make it long and last so hopefully we all don't suffer for eBay's technical error.

Stay safe everyone!!

[momof4anddog]

Happened to me, and also was set to Calculated.  Also the gallery photo for years randomly shows up even if you never checked it. I cancelled my last free shipping sale.  Why would I go in the red paying to ship it? Generally I'd be concerned not to do this. Why do I care about my reputation, or striving to have 100% positive feedback? I have bust my rear for years for a company who does not care about the little guy. Sounds like our govt, or my son in law hahaha  Let's all charge more shipping for the holidays, just like USPS. Add a $1 fee to all my Priority shipments to cover ink, tape, bags.

[drakkordragon]

As of December 23 2020, it's STILL happening. All my listing turned into "free shipping" without me doing anything. I had to use the bulk edit tool to set all back correctly. Seller beware !! 😠

[ben-sanford]

I had a similar problem.  I generated a listing on my PC, and it was set that Buyer Pays shipping, and that is the way that the ad appears in the browser on my PC.   However, my buyer looked at the ad using an iPad, the add shows free shipping, and so when he purchased the item that's what he expected - and he sent me a screen shot of that.  Then I went to my own iPad, pulled up the "original listing," viewing it on my iPad, and I could see the same error.  I looked at several different ads of my, and then all showed up as "free shipping," on the iPad ebay app, even though the same ad shows up as buyer pays shipping when looking at it on my PC.

I talked to "customer service," and basically they didn't want to even listen to my issue.  They said that they checked the mobile app and didn't see a problem - but obviously they weren't really putting any effort to investigate if there was really a problem - which there obviously is.

[jason-ke4cpc]

Since the new user interface took effect, all of my items are going haywire. I only have 2 items that offer free shipping with the purchase and they were changed to include shipping. And then items that have calculated shipping, buyer pays, is showing free shipping in the sponsored ads or recommended items listing below. I have had a couple of potential buyers complain about how the ad shows free shipping but when they check out it charges them shipping. I have had to explain to them that those items have never had free shipping, ever.
It's a relief to see that it is indeed an error that affects more than just my listings. I can at least refer the angry non-buyers to the article here.

[chapabargain]

I always offer free shipping-you should also!

[drakkordragon]

@chapabargain On item that sold at $9, but cost $40 to ship because of their sizes and weight, free shipping is NOT the solution there. O_o

[chapabargain]

List it for $49 with free shipping. Unless you offer local pickup...

[jahohoo-qe8jv2]

This has happened to me 4 times in the past 2 weeks. I get tired of explaining that it's eBay, not me. Customer support says they can't find what I am referring to... one person got nasty with me and said I was "false advertising." It's very annoying to have to deal with this. I feel like I am losing potential sales as the buyers expect me to "fix it" and give them the free shipping.

[toysaver]

When you make a new listing the shipping section automatically populates or copies what was in the last listing you made.  The exception will be if you have elected sell similar to initiate the listing or or completing a draft where you have correctly completed the shipping section.   

[nadichekir-0]

This doesn't just happen to listings made in the app. I just had it happen, immediately checked the listing, and it says calculated shipping. So no, it's not a seller error as some have smugly implied. It's a glitch that ebay is choosing not to fix because they want everyone to offer free shipping. 

Interestingly, the second time this happened to me, I got mad and voided the label. Then I went back with the exact same numbers and made a new label, and the cost was $2 less! Also the second label didn't have the "free for buyer" message on it, but I suspect I'm eating that cost anyway. If it turns out I'm not, I will surely let people know.

[nadichekir-0]

The next time this happens, I plan to refund my customer's money and explain that ebay erroneously offered free shipping without my consent. If they still wish to buy the item, they can do so, but with the understanding that if free shipping appears to be offered, this is EBay's mistake, and they will be sent an invoice for the shipping cost. If ebay is going to continue dishonest practices like this, their customers should be as aware of this as the sellers. Heck, I may even put it in my listing... not that it will be read or anything.

[thecosmicsnail-2]

I've had two products sell in the last two days that switched to free shipping.  Not happy to jump through the hoops to sort it out.  $20 on two products is quite a hit to some of us.  Especially during the Holidays.  I'm not big time on eBay but hope to be some day.  But, averaging $500/month in sales which is good money for the company.  It is not easy reselling and every dollar adds up.  I love the eBay platform but the glitches have got to go.  The common seller is the backbone of the company.

[kh-gary]

Hi everyone,

Due to the age of this thread, it has been closed to further replies. Please feel free to start a new thread HERE if you wish to continue to discuss this topic.

Thank you for understanding.