Is it wrong to tell a potential customer this...

[inhawaii]

A customer messaged me.  She was interested in 2 similar items.  She asked me what the shipping would be.  I told her $6 for the first item and $3 for each additional.  I have combined shipping set up.

She then asked me to bundle the 2 items together and she will purchase them.

I told her just put the 2 items in your cart and check out and it will charge you to correct amount.  Was that wrong?  Would you have made a bundled listing for her?

She never did go through with the purchase.

[krys888]

With combined shipping, it does seem like an odd request. If it’s a customer who has shopped with me before, I probably would do the Custom Order request for them, just because I figure they have their reasons. Otherwise, I would do exactly what you did and direct them to the combined shipping request feature; that’s what it’s there for. The third thing that crosses my mind is, they might have done that because they’re not ready to pay but want to get it secured now. Again, for a repeat customer, sure I’d do it to give them a few days, but otherwise, no. I’m with you.

[house*of*paws]

Sounds like she may have had a recent experience with a seller who said something similar … and then the shipping didn’t combine.

[12345jamesstamps]

I have had International buyers who do not do that and I usually refund them for the extra shipping they have paid. It feels like an International thing or maybe a language problem.

However, 2 items going to the same address (depending on the weight & size)...I would usually not charge extra and tell the buyer that. But my business platform is for repeat buyers and I will do my best to get that return business. Getting that buyer to email to me means I don't want to lose that buyer's attention. I hate the nickel & dime when buying more than one item from a seller. They also have (most do) have to pay a state tax.

[allen1853]

The more hoops you jump through, or the more questions you answer, the less likely you will have a sale and more likely you will have a return or dispute if you do make the sale. I have stopped providing additional photos of a ring on a finger or out in broad daylight or with a penny (intead of the ruler or micrometer) etc. No good deed goes unpunished. 

[s.scharmu0]

I also would have done a custom order.

[craft-stash]

$3😨

[cards_coins_collectibles]

There are too many people on ebay who are here for reasons other than the platforms purpose: buy and sell goods. Your potential buyer falls into the "Nuisance Watcher" category I experience where ebayers message me about everything except buying or selling a product.

ebay spent 25 years making it's platform anti-social yet some still think it's a social media platform.

I don't think you did anything wrong - I see mental red flags just reading what the fake buyer said to you - I would be putting her on my blocked list but that's just me.

[spark-chaser1]

Personally, I think you did the right thing. It sounds like you could have gone through the effort to make a bundled listing and then... that buyer STILL wouldn't have come back.

As a buyer, if a seller makes an effort to accommodate me  I will follow through with  that purchase. The buyer in your case was simply creating unnecessary work for you.

[dbfolks166mt]

     I have done custom bundles on more than one occasion for various buyers. I create a listing with a title called custom bundle, BIN and immediate payment required. As soon as the bundle is ready I provide the buyer with the item listing number and in every case where I have done this the buyer has made the purchase within 30-45 minutes. I have never had an issue with a return or a claim from any of these types of transactions.

    Many buyers are aware the cart feature does not work all that well. When I used to buy a lot on eBay I tried to use the cart feature a couple of times and had nothing but problems and issues with it. I have actually requested custom bundles from a couple of buyers and most have agreed. 

[lamber9347]

Personally, I would have created a new listing for her. I try to handle things as I would if the person were standing in front of me. People like personal service and are always looking for the easiest manner. If you have the opportunity to do it for the customer, it works best for them and keeps the buyer happy. It's the most we can do sometimes. Best of luck to you.... 

[1tuna]

I woud not have done any more for this looker

you told her about combined shipping already

combined shipping is a concept she does not understand

some buyer just dont get concepts.........thats not your fault

@inhawaii 

[chapeau-noir]

I would have assured them that placing both items in the cart would bundle them and would give them the shipping savings automatically on check out.  Sometimes people become confused with the terminology on different platforms.

[hartungcards]

As far as I can tell, at least half of the buyers on this site don't even know what combined shipping is, and are incapable of fathoming the concept of using the cart.

[pargran3]

I probably would have done what you did. In fact I have done that more than once. I have also done the other and went to the bother of creating a custom listing. I cannot remember ever having that custom listing lead to a purchase.

I just had one that sent an offer with x dollars and x dollars shipping on a listing that did not have best offer. I added best offer and messaged the buyer that she could make that dollar offer. Shipping not negotiable. Crickets.