Sounds like a threat?

[nationalpawnshop]

We sold a couple of items to the same buyer who then sent us an email asking that we invoice them with a combined shipping total. I replied that I was sorry but we don't do combined shipping. As far as I know it's still at the seller's discretion to offer combined shipping, or not, and nowhere in either listing did we offer combined shipping. We often receive pre-sale messages asking if we do combined shipping but not in this case.

So this morning I receive a message from the buyer; "I'll keep that in mind when I leave feedback." Which sounds like a threat to me.

We don't offer hand delivery on a velvet cushion, either, so am I to accept that a buyer can leave negative feedback simply because we don't offer what they thought we should or expected us to?

[jason_incognito]

How many boxes did you ship?

Did you ship each auction separate? or were they both placed in one box?

[turquoisetulips]

If you override and combine shipping anyway you will be dinged for not shipping on time and the item will not be shown as delivered because it is logged as a unique sale. poppyswag 

Well I don't know about this particular transaction  or what  type of items the OP needs to ship . However  there have been times when a buyer  of mine has made a jewelry purchase  and I've already prepared it for shipping , packaged label and all .  Then the buyer decides to make a second purchase . If I haven't already mailed their first purchase   I will just reopen their package and add the second item  to it . Then I will mark the second item as '' shipped'' and then copy and paste the USPS tracking number  from the first order  to the second transaction . I don't double charge for shipping  when I do it this way. It saves the buyer money and me the trouble of  packing up another order ,,  both items have a tracking number, and I don't  run the risk of getting dinged for late shipping. Tulips 

[evodoor]

Way to lose repeat business, and guarantee some nasty feedback! Is it really so important to be "right"? Or do you want a happy customer that comes back for more? I buy a lot of smalls, jewelry mostly. I've never met a seller that doesn't combine. I would not buy from them if I did, unless there was a really good reason. I don't see a threat, I see an already unhappy customer, before they even get the package. Brilliant!

[krazzykats]

You have 2 choices and all  the defects that comes with it:

Ship the items, or cancel the order.

Choose your negative feedback wisely.

[nationalpawnshop]

Let me clarify a couple of things.

Last week we sold four items to the same buyer. One item was large and the other three were fairly small. The buyer didn't ask for combined shipping and simply paid the four totals. When it came time to pack them I put them all into the same box although because of the size of the items I found myself actually spending more time arranging them for safe shipping in one box than I would have packing individually into four boxes. It seems to me that we are entitled to charge for packing and handling in addition to postal costs? We're a business with costs and overheads and we're not here to give things away or lose money just because some buyer feels entitled to dictate how we do business. And, for what it's worth, the buyer of the four items not only said nothing about combining shipping but subsequently ordered two more items and, again, said nothing about combining shipping. No aggravation, no adolescent outburst. Just doing business.

When this buyer assumed we combined shipping and we informed him that we didn't he hadn't yet paid and if it had bothered him so much he was perfectly entitled to cancel the transaction. He didn't, which means that he accepted that we don't combine shipping. If he then turns around and leaves negative feedback we consider that to be extremely petty and inappropriate.

In addition to which, earlier today, I had to order a quantity of ten of one individual item. I don't care if they combine shipping or not. I don't ask for combined shipping and I don't expect it.

[*madison]

 If he then turns around and leaves negative feedback 

-------------------------------------------------------------

If that happens, contact ebay, explain what happened and ebay might remove the neg.

You might have to call more than once though until you get an understanding CS rep.

[postingid2017]

I had a buyer purchase two (2) items from me and although I did not/do not state in the listing, I combined shipping and refunded the difference - eBay dinged me on one of them for not shipping.  The buyer was happy.

And yes, it does sound like a threat or in eBay's language 'buyer asking/requesting something that is not in the listing,' not exact but close enough.

Oh, and the operative wording in the reply is "expectation."

[a_c_green]

---

@postingid2017 wrote:

I had a buyer purchase two (2) items from me and although I did not/do not state in the listing, I combined shipping and refunded the difference - eBay dinged me on one of them for not shipping.  The buyer was happy.

---

You do have to mark the second item as Shipped and add the tracking number from the first item, yes; otherwise eBay has no way of knowing that that's what you did.

[postingid2017]

I did, but still was dinged 

[inhawaii]

 "I'll keep that in mind when I leave feedback."

Sorry to disagree with everyone, but that is not a threat IMO.

"I'm going to consider your policies and the customer service i receive before i make a decision on what kind of feedback i'm going to leave you."    What's wrong with that?

"Unless you break your policy and do what i say, i will leave you negative feedback."  THAT'S a threat. 

[luckythewinner]

---

@nationalpawnshop wrote:

I replied that I was sorry but we don't do combined shipping.
{snip}

As far as I know it's still at the seller's discretion to offer combined shipping

---

Yes, it is still at the seller's discretion to offer combined shipping or not.

But it is also still at the buyer's discretion to offer his opinion about that.

The buyer did not threaten to do anything - he simply stated that he was going to do it.

[nationalpawnshop]

Obviously, a buyer can leave any kind of feedback they want to. However, if they leave negative feedback because something they may have expected, but which was never offered, was omitted then it's inappropriate. It's like leaving negative feedback because it wasn't delivered by Beyonce. No matter how much the buyer might wish for that, if it's not offered in the listing it's not part of the deal.

[beez5720]

@nationalpawnshop
" I found myself actually spending more time arranging them for safe shipping in one box than I would have packing individually into four boxes. It seems to me that we are entitled to charge for packing and handling in addition to postal costs"

So you think that the buyer should pay extra handling because you signed up for this job? But you then think that the buyer's feedback opinion is petty and inappropriate?
Do you OWN a mirror at all? Because you might need to take a look.

[itsjustasprain]

---

@nationalpawnshop wrote:

Last week we sold four items to the same buyer. One item was large and the other three were fairly small. The buyer didn't ask for combined shipping and simply paid the four totals. When it came time to pack them I put them all into the same box although because of the size of the items I found myself actually spending more time arranging them for safe shipping in one box than I would have packing individually into four boxes.

---

It actually takes you less time to pack the 4 items into 4 boxes and ship them seperately than it does to put all four into 1 box for 1 shipping cost? What were those 4 items?

---

@nationalpawnshop wrote:

It seems to me that we are entitled to charge for packing and handling in addition to postal costs? We're a business with costs and overheads and we're not here to give things away or lose money just because some buyer feels entitled to dictate how we do business.

---

Of course but come on now. You have a packing - handling charge on each item along with its postage cost that is enough to cover it as a seperate mailing - right? So you know you profited way extra by taking the buyers payments for 4 shipments but putting them all in 1 box. It sounds like you got away with it okay with that buyer but please dont pretend that we cant see the extra profit in doing what you did. This buyer youre talking with now is different from that last one I assume because this buyer sounds like he is basically calling you out for the same thing.

---

And, for what it's worth, the buyer of the four items not only said nothing about combining shipping but subsequently ordered two more items and, again, said nothing about combining shipping. No aggravation, no adolescent outburst. Just doing business.

Your buyer sounds reasonable. Not seeing any adolescent outburst by him.

---

In addition to which, earlier today, I had to order a quantity of ten of one individual item. I don't care if they combine shipping or not. I don't ask for combined shipping and I don't expect it.

---

Sorry but I dont believe that for a minute. Either those were free shipping items or had some chump change cost or had a multi shipping discount set up - but whatever it was I am sure that you were okay with the shipping cost and didnt bother to ask the seller in advance. That is your choice but I dont think that situation was the same as what you are putting that buyer through here. 

So in the end did you send the buyer 1 combined shipment or seperate ones?

[nationalpawnshop]

Since eBay doesn't "require," or even  "suggest" that sellers combine shipping and since our listings in no way offer or even mention combined shipping it seems unreasonable for any buyer to assume that we do and to then to be able to hit us with a Neg just because we don't when they thought we should. I know full well that, as far as eBay is concerned, the buyer is always more important than the seller and that in all circumstances the customer is always right, even when they're absolutely wrong. Nevertheless, as long as we, as a seller, have some options to choose from we will decide what's on offer and what's not. And any buyer who doesn't like or approve is more than welcome to find another seller who meets their needs.