eBay

varebelrose · ‎08-17-2016

Hello all.

I am wondering if something has changed on the eBay checkout system. We do not have any combined shipping rules set, nor do we have the immediate payment required option turned on. In the past, on the rare occasion that someone wanted to buy multiple fixed price items and combine shipping, we asked them to do a buy-it-now, do not pay, and when they showed up on our end as unpaid items, we could package them together and send an invoice with combined shipping. Lately we have had several buyers telling us that this is no longer possible; backing out of the pay now screen cancels the purchase (i have been sent screenshots to confirm this).

Anyone have any suggestions on what is going on, or how to "work around" this issue? Setting the combined shipping rules seems impossible (how do you anticipate what combined shipping might be on multiple items of dissimiliar size/weight? This last purchase was for a 20" doll and a DVD set...).

We have been telling the buyers we will end the listings and create a special combined one for them, which works but is inconvenient for seller and buyer, and wastes a listing, plus it makes it hard to get all the condition details in the listing.

thanks in advance for any ideas.

surelyshirley · ‎01-11-2017

This is the actual solution, should be marked as such and pinned to the top. The "Request total from seller" gives you the message "The seller doesn't offer combined postage discounts. The seller has disallowed combined payments and postage discounts. Please proceed to checkout to complete your purchase. Error code: 80016". eBay have made it extremely time-consuming for both buyers and sellers involved in international sales to sort out and I know sales have not gone through as a direct result of the problems eBay have caused by not publicising the solution to traders. I am currently trying to resolve a situation where the seller has told me the combined shipping is $22.50 however eBay would have me pay $189!

vanightnurse · ‎01-17-2017

I'm having the same problem as most of the other sellers regarding buyers requesting totals for combined shipping. It seems that most of these stem from buyers using their PHONES to purchase multiple items. They say that there is no option to request a total. They've even sent screen shots and they are correct.

I've checked the 'site preference' option as someone suggested earlier, and my setting are set to allow combined shipping. So that isn't the issue.

Do those buyers using their phones to purchase use different check-out methods?

I've been just refunding their paypal the difference, but there should be a better way. Hope someone can help with this, because I had this happen twice yesterday, and my buyers were not happy!

gsn13579 · ‎01-17-2017

@vanightnuresister wrote:
I'm having the same problem as most of the other sellers regarding buyers requesting totals for combined shipping. It seems that most of these stem from buyers using their PHONES to purchase multiple items. They say that there is no option to request a total. They've even sent screen shots and they are correct.

I've checked the 'site preference' option as someone suggested earlier, and my setting are set to allow combined shipping. So that isn't the issue.

Do those buyers using their phones to purchase use different check-out methods?

I've been just refunding their paypal the difference, but there should be a better way. Hope someone can help with this, because I had this happen twice yesterday, and my buyers were not happy!

@vanightnurse

Just so you know if you are refunding the FULL amount of the shipping overage ,you are losing money on the shipping...

As both ebay and paypal charge you fees on the shipping the buyer over paid ,that you are refunding,ebay 10% on the shipping cost ,and paypal a separate transaction fee of $0.30..

Ebay needs to fix the problem as it is NOT only a phone issue ,but happens on lap tops and computers also... Sometimes the CART works ,sometimes combined shipping invoices work,and sometimes they do NOT! Ebay has little incentive to FIX the problem,as every time it does NOT work properly ebay makes MORE money,even if the seller loses money refunding shipping overages on combined shipping..

vanightnurse · ‎01-17-2017

No, I'm not refunding the total shipping, just the difference between what they paid and what they owed. After I wrote this original post, I called the ebay help desk, and according to her, there is no 'fix' for it. They can either pay the full price and get the refund, or they can phone ebay and they will help them with the sale. Not a very good set up. Wish they would come up with something better.

@gsn13579 wrote:
@vanightnuresister wrote:
I'm having the same problem as most of the other sellers regarding buyers requesting totals for combined shipping. It seems that most of these stem from buyers using their PHONES to purchase multiple items. They say that there is no option to request a total. They've even sent screen shots and they are correct.

I've checked the 'site preference' option as someone suggested earlier, and my setting are set to allow combined shipping. So that isn't the issue.

Do those buyers using their phones to purchase use different check-out methods?

I've been just refunding their paypal the difference, but there should be a better way. Hope someone can help with this, because I had this happen twice yesterday, and my buyers were not happy!
@vanightnurse

Just so you know if you are refunding the FULL amount of the shipping overage ,you are losing money on the shipping...

As both ebay and paypal charge you fees on the shipping the buyer over paid ,that you are refunding,ebay 10% on the shipping cost ,and paypal a separate transaction fee of $0.30..

Ebay needs to fix the problem as it is NOT only a phone issue ,but happens on lap tops and computers also... Sometimes the CART works ,sometimes combined shipping invoices work,and sometimes they do NOT! Ebay has little incentive to FIX the problem,as every time it does NOT work properly ebay makes MORE money,even if the seller loses money refunding shipping overages on combined shipping..

gsn13579 · ‎01-17-2017

vanightnuresister wrote:

No, I'm not refunding the total shipping, just the difference between what they paid and what they owed. After I wrote this original post, I called the ebay help desk, and according to her, there is no 'fix' for it. They can either pay the full price and get the refund, or they can phone ebay and they will help them with the sale. Not a very good set up. Wish they would come up with something better.

@vanightnurse

That is my point...

If the buyer pays individually and buys 5 items from you and say the the buyer pays individually and the shipping charges the buyer pays is $15.00... BUT you only would have charged them $5.00 in shipping if the invoice had combined,so if you refund them the full $10.00 which would be the difference,then you paid ebay 10% on that $10.00 ,which is $1.00, add that on those 5 separate transactions you paid paypal and additional $1.20 ,which is 4 extra $0.30 transaction fees...

So unless you deduct those fees from the credit you give the buyer for excess shipping,you lost $2.20 on shipping because ebay would NOT /did NOT let the buyer combine shipping...

Ebay makes money, you LOSE money...

earcandy798 · ‎04-26-2017

I have placed instruction in my listings for combined shipping which Ebay stopped doing.For sometime now I have been selling just one item instead of many.My customers are instructed to pay after the 1st purchase.But alot of buyers do not take the time to read the whole description page.I have combined shipping instructions on this page.How are my customers suppose to know how to buy multiple items with combined shipping.Ebay needs to have a window to allow a customer weather they want to continue with shopping with combined shipping instead of paying for their item now.This pay now turns alot of buyers away.

083028 · ‎05-15-2017

I am unable to send the request total from seller any longer...when I click on it,it says "you are unable to request total from seller..." why not? So now, I have to msg the seller personally to ask them to correct invoice to combine ship for me...very inconvenient and confusing,used to be much easier....

anythingwonderful · ‎05-26-2017

I for one do NOT use immediate payment on my sales from store yet some of my customers are forced to pay immediately while not letting me combine shipping. I have called ebay customer service (what a joke) and have gotten no where. I am so furious I could spit. I am loosing customers as they say I am trying to gouge them on shipping costs. It is not me but ebay who is doing this. While some buyers do go thru without any issue. I just had a repeat customer buy 20 items and was forced to pay separately for each one-so I had to go into Paypal and issue a separate refund for each item (in case of a return), then I had to print 20 separate packing slips (they weighed more than the items) and had to cut them down to save on weight, then I have to copy tracking number to each item as only one shipping label was printed to show that all were shipped together.

My customers have called ebay multiple times to complain and try to get this issue fixed while ebay denies any problem. I have called myself to no avail. I can't even get into the place where you can edit calculated shipping I get a cgi5 and nothing happens. If it keeps up I will be forced to close my store as I can't deal with the problems and loss of sales.

Any advise will help.

isaiah53-57 · ‎05-26-2017

@swenson8781 wrote:
All the buyers need to do is put the items in their 'cart', then hit the 'request total from seller' button.

That is true if the buyer is using a laptop or PC. Problem is, on the mobile app, there is no "request total from seller" link. Ran into that problem recently so Seller Beware!

Also you need to make sure you have the option checked in Seller Preferences to "allow combined item shipping"(without setting any rules) - If not - even if they click on the "request total from seller" link, it will keep telling them "This seller does not combine items".

Explaining this process to tech-savy buyers is frustrating and time consuming and explaining the process to tech-UNsavy buyers is like a trip to the dentist.

It is utterly ridiculous that ebay does not make this more palatable and simplified for both buyers and sellers. - Its just another way for them to pilfer money out of both the buyer and sellers pockets with the extra fees that both the buyer and seller end up paying - And ebay is so worried about losing buyers due to seller defects from not getting your item to the PO by noon - wow - talk about missing the bus...

kkatt · ‎06-28-2017

You're not the only one having this problem. I have been on Ebay since 1998 in perfect standing and suddenly I'm being treated like a non-paying bidder just because I tend to buy many small items and arrange with the seller to do a combined payment and shipment. After spending many frustrating hours on the phone with customer service I finally got them to admit that they have a new policy called "open transaction reduction program". I was told this is to discourage non-paying bidders. "But I'm not a non-paying bidder (EVER)" I told them, "this is just how multiple small transactions are normally done" I added. No coherent response was ever received, just a rehashing of the new "policy" scripted lecture. Bottom line is, they've got new management now, new policies and none of it is good for the customer. Where do they get these "geniuses" I wonder? Guess they think punishing, angering and insulting their loyal customers is a good way to increase business. I'm totally disgusted at this treatment. Ebay used to be a fun and pleasureable escape. Now when I think of Ebay, it's more a feeling of foreboding as to what punishment is coming next for being a loyal customer.

packratmayhem · ‎08-31-2017

This is the topic I was hoping to find today. At first I thought this was just a glitch but it has cost me several sales in the last 30 days. My buyers are getting upset and just not buying at all. They message me about getting combined shipping and I tell them the old rule was to add items to their cart and then go to check out where it would combine shipping by weight for them. That hasn't worked in months so I started telling people to buy and pay and I would refund them the excess shipping but some people aren't comfortable being overcharged by $20 or some don't have enough in their paypal to do so.

Today I had a buyer state that he thinks ebay is trying to make even mre than they usually do off their ridiculous fees on shipping charges by inflating the shipping charges. Sure, I refund the buyer the excess shipping but I'd have to call in and do the half broken English run around to get my 40 cents back each and every time. They are counting on me to not call and cha ching they make an extra 40 cents or what ever per sale.

EBAY you're greed is costing me and YOU and making the ebay shopping experience just more less desirable to the buyers.

Here's the 2nd message between me and that now lost buyer...

"Buyer"....HI KIM,I HAVE TRIED FOR OVER 2 HOURS TRYING TO GET SOME OF THE WESTERN COMICS.... I DID WHAT YOU SUGGESTED AND EVERYTIME I TRIED IT CAME UP IN RED LETTERS CANNOT COMPLETE TRANSACTION NOW AND TO CONTACT EBAY.... JUST WHEN I THOUGHT I COULD TRY TO GET THE EXACT COMICS I WANTED, THEY BEGAN TO DISAPPEAR AND SAY THAT THAT AUCTION HAD ENDED.... OH WELL.... NOT A GOOD DAY AT ALL.. SO,AFTER SPENDING 30 MINUTES WITH EBAY, THAT WAS A PURE WASTE OF TIME.....SO AFTER THAT I TRIED AGAIN TO GET WHAT COMICS I HAD LEFT ON CART AND REQUESTED COMBINED SHIPPING INVOICE AND THIS TIME IT CAME BACK IN RED LETTERS---- SELLER HAS TO SEND ME POSTAGE COST FOR EACH ONE OR CHANGE MY ADDRESS.... DON'T KNOW WHAT THAT DOES.... I AM GOING TO BUY JUST A FEW FROM YOU IF THEY ARE STIIL THERE AND JUST PAY FOR A COUPLE, I CAN'T AFFORD TO TRUST EBAY ,IT IS NO DOUBT THEY HAVE DONE SOMETHING TO THAT TASK OF RQUESTING SELLER TO COMBINE AND SEND A NEW INVOICE... A FRIEND SAYS THE SELLER LOSES MONEY FROM EBAY IF A BUYER PAYS ALL POSTAGE FOR EACH ONE AND THEN EBAY DEALS WITH YOU AND YOU COME UP SHORT IN THE DEAL... DON'T KNOW, I HAVEN'T SOLD IN QUITE AWHILE.... THANKS FOR TRYING, I AM WORN OUT AND NEED TO GET OFF OF THIS THING FOR AWHILE...

(My response)...Wow, I had never thought about that but that does make ALOT of sense. Yes ebay gets the same percentage in fees off the shipping and this calculator thing hasn't worked right since at least February. So I just usually refund the buyer through paypal and get my paypal fees back but never the fees ebay has charged. That just burns my butt to figure that out lol. Like they haven't made enough off my sale. I used to call ebay when that happened but like you said it's a 30 minute annoying as heck run around phone call to get back 40 cents so I quit calling. And that's the only way ebay will credit the fees is if you actually call them. So they'd rather pay more phone reps to handle more phone calls in order to steal money from their members. Very sad...and stupid.

If you would like to tell me the comic name and # (example Roy Rogers # 32 1964) of the ones you want I can make you a special listing with actual correct shipping charges. Or I will of course just refund you the excess shipping if you buy them a few at a time.

I apologize for your bad day on and with ebay, I sure know how that can be. Their greed is actually costing me and THEM money....wish they'd figure that out. I'm going to check out the ebay forums chat page and see if anyone is venting about this subject.

Regardless..no pressure to buy anything...and have a better day and week ahead,
Kim

packratmayhem · ‎08-31-2017

THANK YOU varebelrose !!! Hopes this works for my buyer.

in reply to varebelrose 08-17-2016 10:45:32 AM

I just put 3 items of yours into my cart, 2 had shipping charges. The 'request total from seller' button is small, and at the very top right of all the items that are in the cart.