Downgrading Shipping Service for Sports Cards

[fg2dj_34]

Hello, I just sold a cheap card for around $3, and the shipping service i selected when making the posting was USPS Ground Advantage. The buyer won the auction but has not made payment yet as they are requesting me change the shipping method to the ebay standard envelope for orders under $20. 

I do not see the option to invoice the buyer for the card and the ebay standard envelope, I only see options to upgrade the shipping method. Is it possible to do what the buyer is asking and if so, how?

[kensgiftshop · Accepted solution]

You can upgrade shipping, but can't downgrade it.

The buyer knew the shipping charge before bidding and if they didn't like it, they shouldn't have bid.

[fashunu4eeuh]

This was something the buyer should have negotiated prior to purchase.

[nobody*s_perfect]

IMHO it's OK to downgrade the shipping service if the buyer requests it.

Are you sure that the item was listed in an eligible category, and that you'll be able to buy Standard envelope postage for this transaction?

If so, then just invoice the buyer for the appropriate amount of postage, even if you can't change the service on the invoice.

[fg2dj_34]

Yes it should be in an eligible category, but i did not select it as an option as i had heard mixed things.

I've never used the ebay standard envelope before. If i discount the shipping costs and invoice the buyer, how would create the shipping label and tracking number to send the card in the ebay standard envelope ?

[albertabrightalberta]

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@fg2dj_34 wrote:

Yes it should be in an eligible category, but i did not select it as an option as i had heard mixed things.

I've never used the ebay standard envelope before. If i discount the shipping costs and invoice the buyer, how would create the shipping label and tracking number to send the card in the ebay standard envelope ?

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If the buyer paid for GA but you're going to use a cheaper service (with buyer permission), you can issue a partial refund for the difference. 

You shouldn't be sending the buyer an invoice to pay additional. 

[safan80]

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@fg2dj_34 @fashunu4eeuh 
If it was in auction format the seller would be able to change the shipping method once a bid has been placed. Since ebay is no longer in the habit or refunding fees the seller would have lost money just to relist the item with an added shipping methods. I really don't get all the sellers insisting on using USPS Ground Advantage when it is not always the cheapest or even the best option. Had the seller used "standard" shipping they might have been able to just the shipping option to envelope and then sent an invoice. 

@fashunu4eeuh wrote:

This was something the buyer should have negotiated prior to purchase.

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[dbfolks166mt]

     As kensgiftshop mentioned you can upgrade postage, which I do on occasion if I find a cheaper method to ship without impacting the delivery time, but you cannot, and should not, downgrade the service. The best thing to do would be to coordinate with the buyer to cancel the current order at their request and relist the item with the eBay standard envelope as the shipping option. 

     You may want to do a sell similar and make sure you can get the eBay standard shipping envelope set as the shipping option. Save it in draft and coordinate with the buyer on the posting. Provide them with the item number, or better yet a link, so they can easily find and purchase the relisted item. 

[fg2dj_34]

The buyer had not paid at the time i had posted this. In my message i meant that i would invoice the buyer the cost of the item + the reduced shipping cost rather than the more expensive USPS priority option.

[harborauction]

EZ fix, just invoice the buyer with what you would charge for ESE shipping no matter what the invoice says. Than when you print the label you can change the shipping service from GA to ESE

BUT_BUT_BUT, you said you have never used ESE so be sure to familiarize yourself with the requirements for ESE shipping so you don't run into some of the common problems.

A couple very helpful posters have posted detailed info on the do's & don't's of ESE on the shipping board, wastingtime101 & others, find & read them

Looks like your cards are a good fit for ESE, all your auctions today show $4.02 shipping for cards that might sell for a couple bucks, likely a deal killer, not many want to pay $4 shipping for a $2 card

[1786davycrockett]

@fg2dj_34 

As @harborauction said -- but do NOT use top loaders with the eBay Standard Envelopes!

Top loaders are too rigid, and the ESE must travel rapidly and without stalling, through a long series of high-speed USPS rollers -- and several eBay sellers have shared their own problems using top loaders with the ESE.

For inexpensive cards, all that's needed is a penny sleeve, protected on both sides by the material used for cereal boxes and soda pop cartons.

Oh, yes -- mail the ESE in the "Metered Mail" slot in your post office lobby.

Do NOT hand the ESE to a USPS counter employee for "scanning" -- the ESE can not be scanned by those employees, but only through the USPS automatic sorting machines at the USPS Distribution Centers -- not your local post office.

And there have been reported issues with USPS counter employees rejecting the ESEs, or claiming that the ESEs have "insufficient postage," or even claiming that the ESEs are counterfeit and fraudulent.  They are NOT -- the ESEs are business contracted "metered mail," which eBay has negotiated with Pitney-Bowes, in accordance with USPS.  

I've been shipping out my cards, stamps and stickers for several years with the ESE in this manner, without encountering any problems.

[wastingtime101]

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@fg2dj_34 wrote:

Hello, I just sold a cheap card for around $3, and the shipping service i selected when making the posting was USPS Ground Advantage. The buyer won the auction but has not made payment yet as they are requesting me change the shipping method to the ebay standard envelope for orders under $20. 

I do not see the option to invoice the buyer for the card and the ebay standard envelope, I only see options to upgrade the shipping method. Is it possible to do what the buyer is asking and if so, how?

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Do you not see the option to "add another service" on the shipping section of the invoice form @fg2dj_34 ? That's typically what I do if the buyer requests a change. Then I tell them it will default to the original service, but on the checkout page they will see the option to select a different service before they pay.