Possible to combine orders for buyer with same address/different handles?

[zoeriley]

A buyer purchased 2 items from me. The items were purchased under 2 different usernames. However, the buyer's real name and address are exactly the same. The items were purchased 2 minutes apart. 

Ebay will not let me combine the orders for shipping because the usernames/handles are different. 

Is it a good idea to combine the two orders into one shipment and mark the other one simply "shipped"? Or does that leave me open to a claim because the one item won't have tracking information on it?

I offer free shipping, so obviously I'm going to lose money if I can't combine the orders. However, both usernames are "0" feedback so I'm wary about the whole thing.

I'm guessing I need to swallow the extra shipping cost to be safe, but I'm curious as to what others think. Thanks!

[chapeau-noir]

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@nobody*s_perfect wrote:

I think this seller isn't losing money on shipping, even separately.  But if shipping together would cost less than shipping separately, then the "loss" is that savings (i.e., cost of 2 packages vs one package).

For instance, if each package costs $10 to ship, but the combined package would cost $14, then shipping separately costs $6 more, which the seller would prefer to have in his pocket rather than handing over to USPS.

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I understand - in other words it cuts into profits. * A little different than an actual loss - I just think it's a good idea to be clear on that when deciding on CS.  I get that it's frustrating.

[reallynicestamps]

Have you Googled the Address?
My third thought was that two different customers , either guest accounts or new to eBay, are using the same freight forwarders.

DON'T PANIC!

Freight forwarders are the second most secure addresses you can get. Most of the MBG ends when the forwarder accepts the shipment, and they also handle all import fees preventing the 'held at customs' fraud.

Combining the two orders would mean one of those customers would not get his purchase, because you sent it to the other.

You are not losing money, you are just not making the money you thought you could.

Your chickens are not yet hatched.

[tdrake]

If the buyer found the item via Google/other search, bought 1 and wanted to buy  another wouldn't ebay assign different handles for the purchases if separate transactions? And both would show up as zero feedback  suspected scammers?

[zoeriley]

Wow, so many responses! Reading everyone's insights is super informative.

I am the OP. I decided to ship separately as if they were two separate people. Yes, I'll technically lose money versus if I could combine the orders, but such is life.

As someone noted, this is an odd situation. I'm glad to hear that - I haven't seen this before either! I once had a buyer purchase two items and have them shipped to two different addresses (he changed the address on his profile between purchases), but it was the same handle and apparently it was for gifts to family in different parts of the country.

I'm wary of 0 feedback, but I've sold much more expensive items to 0 or low-feedback buyers and haven't had a problem on multiple occasions...so while it caught my eye, it's not a dealbreaker, in my experience.

Hopefully it all works out! Thanks again, everyone.

[albertabrightalberta]

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@zoeriley wrote:

I am the OP. I decided to ship separately as if they were two separate people. Yes, I'll technically lose money versus if I could combine the orders, but such is life.

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You made the right decision.

For the record, DVD cases have never been high fraud items so I'm sure there's no scamming involved.

[itsjustasprain]

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@zoeriley wrote:

I am the OP. I decided to ship separately as if they were two separate people. Yes, I'll technically lose money versus if I could combine the orders, but such is life.

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As a couple of other replies have already mentioned - you cannot combine the orders because the purchases were made under two different eBay IDs. The system will not allow you to copy the tracking number from one purchase to the other because the IDs do not match. The fact that the name and address are the same for both is not a factor. I would not look on it as 'losing' money because this is not your fault but the way the site is set up.

[postcardcountry]

I have had a case similar - two accounts, same buyer, same address.  Each purchased one item.

I shipped as separate orders.

Both 'accounts' left feedback and came back to purchase again.

No problems.

[glopur]

I just had one of these. If the username with 0 feedback has parts of their name in it, it's because it's an auto-generated username for a guest account. They have no recourse, no ability to return the item, so send it and forget it. eBay won't allow you to combine tracking numbers on different buyer usernames though, so best you can do is mark as shipped.

[steady2304]

@zoeriley 

It sounds like you buyer used a guest account to make each purchase. That is probably why both show (0) feedback.

You will have to ship each item separately even though they are going to the same buyer and address.

I had a buyer do this before by purchasing 4 items and all 4 had (0) feeback as the buyer used a guest account.

[brightlightbookseller]

This thread is months old and I'm sure they've already shipped.  You're correct, but it's a little late for the person you're responding to.

@glopur, I would not suggest doing what you're saying.  The customer may have had many reasons for not wanting them combined, and you lose seller protection on one or more of the orders (depending on how many there are) since you can't put the same tracking number on all of them, so you'd be considered as shipping untracked. 

[zoeriley]

LOL...yeah, this happened in early January. 🙂

I did just ship separately. It was fine. I think I only lost $1-2 by not combining, so it was no big deal. Haven't gotten another order like that since so maybe they're few and far between.

[kensgiftshop]

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@glopur wrote:

I just had one of these. If you Google the address and it's obvious that it's a residence and not a freight forwarder, it's fine to combine, just scan the label with the listing you didn't generate the label with to add the tracking.

If the username with 0 feedback has parts of their name in it, it's because it's an auto-generated username for a guest account. They have no recourse, no ability to return the item, so send it and forget it.

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If it's two different accounts, you have to ship separately.

Guest accounts can return items just like any other account.

[pieperpicks1]

Hello, I am curious if the transaction went smoothly. I just had the same scenario happen to me so I am wondering if it was a scam or just a weird situation. Thanks!