Combined shipping questions...

[whatamisellingtoday]

Just had a buyer buy two of the same item a couple minutes apart. So I want to combine the shipping on this, I've just never done it before so I have some questions about it:

1. When I go to print the labels it's wanting to print two of them. Why? Which label do I put on my package? Which tracking will I use, does it matter? Why are there two tracking labels lol, this seems inefficient, not to mention my label printer paper is wasted. 

2. What is the appropriate amount to refund the buyer for shipping difference? I don't want to refund too much right? Don't I get charged a fee on the final shipping price when the buyer paid?

[ittybitnot]

@whatamisellingtoday 

When I go to print the labels it's wanting to print two of them. Why?

If your buyer paid separately, they are considered two  different transactions. 

Which label do I put on my package?

If you are going to put both items in one parcel, likely you can't use either of them.  The size/weight would be different and cause additional problems.

It is not clear why your buyer did this.  Perhaps they were using a mobile app, and there was no way to "request at total" from you.  Were either of your listings "immediate payment required"?  There are various other reasons why you ended up with two separate transactions, but unless you tell us we don't know.  Are your settings set to allow buyers to ask for a combined invoice?  Perhaps your buyer is rather new, and paid attention to the PAY NOW messages from eBay that they send out ad nauseum. 

You may be able to put them in one parcel and purchase your label somewhere else (Pirateship, PayPal etc.) and refund the difference to your buyer.  You may have to go to each of the listings and do a partial refund on each. 
Since they are the SAME item, it could be your buyer purchased two by mistake.  eBay will often through an error message saying the transaction didn't go through (when it actually did) causing buyer confusion so they try again. 

I would suggest contacting your buyer first. 

[duffy4444]

    If it is possible to combine orders with eBay's shipping/labeling system, I'm sure someone here will show you how to do it. I can't, because about 15 years ago I stopped using eBay's shipping/labeling system altogether because of its restrictions, cumbersomeness, occasional downtime, tinkering, and general unreliability. 

    Today I use Stamps.com with automatic download of orders, reliability, automatic post-back to eBay of all necessary information, and REAL customer service on the other end of the 800 number (when rarely needed).

   As for your specific problem, with just a few clicks I now can combine same-address orders into one shipment with one weight, the same reduced commercial rates, and one label. Then full and complete automatic post-back to eBay for each of the combined items, including tracking, marked as shipped, and even automatic feedback for my customer. Done!

   There are other reliable online shipping/labeling services available as well, not just Stamps.com. Think about it...

Cheers, Duffy

[monica-sells]

https://www.ebay.com/ship/labels/seller-hub

Click the link -----> Have more orders awaiting shipment? Use the bulk shipping tool.

That should show you both orders then give you the option to combine the 2 orders (from the same customer) and then purchase 1 label...

remember to adjust your class, size, weight, etc....

[kitschy*loot]

Did you ask your buyer if they want you to ship them in the same box? I hate when I buy things from the same seller and they automatically ship them in the same box... unless I asked for combined shipping don't do that. Treat all my separate transactions as separate transaction unless I give the go ahead.

[kensgiftshop]

Contact the buyer first before shipping the orders together.

There could be a reason they made two different orders.

[toomuchstuffagain35]

It may be the same buyer but are they the exact same User ID?

May have been someone using a guest account.

[inhawaii]

Seller hub > Tasks > Print labels and ship

Check items you want to ship/combine

Then click on Shipping > Purchase shipping label

Check the items you want to combine (again)

Then click on “Combine”

Select the combined weight and how you with to ship.

Then click on “Review purchase”

[dbfolks166mt]

     If these are domestic shipments, or even international ones, and you are not using EIS then inhawaii has given you the solution. If they are international and you are using EIS then you have to ship as separate packages since EIS does not support combined shipping at the moment. 

     Not sure what the items were/are but you may want to check before you purchase the label(s) since it could possibly be cheaper to send them individually rather than combined. With regards to the refund find the shipping the buyer paid for each of the two items, lets say it was $7.00 per package for a total of $14. The FVF's on the $14, assuming 13.15% fee the FVF's on the shipping cost would be $1.85 add that to your actual postage paid when you purchased the label, lets assume the actual label cost $8 then you have a shipping cost and fee expense of $9.85. Subtract that from the postage the buyer paid and you get $4.15 in excess postage cost the buyer paid for. You can refund nothing up to $4.85 and still cover you costs..