Too bad a company such as this does not actually have any associates or employees available to help

[heckofagame]

What seems to be the problem?

[firesteel_surplus]

@wildaruth 

Yes...could you explain your issue?

As volunteers here, we don't have access to the inner workings of eBay, but we can usually get you pointed in the right direction or tell you why something you want to do isn't going to work.

And sometimes we actually get problems solved.

Mike

Firesteel Surplus

[wildaruth]

Used to be, I could make a phone call and connect with an associate. But no more.

Anyway, I am a seller.  It has never been clear (or maybe I don't understand the process) whether an offer includes the cost of shipping or not. It seems in the past that sometimes it does, and sometimes it doesn't.

I have been burned in the past and have had to pay for shipping which cuts into my earnings from sales.

[wildaruth]

I really appreciate your volunteering. 

Used to be, I could make a phone call and connect with an associate. But no more.

Anyway, I am a seller.  It has never been clear (or maybe I don't understand the process) whether an offer includes the cost of shipping or not. It seems in the past that sometimes it does, and sometimes it doesn't.

I have been burned in the past and have had to pay for shipping which cuts into my earnings from sales.

[heckofagame]

An offer does not include shipping, unless of course you offer free shipping. 

[metaltech1]

In the past when I had offers, I always assumed the shipping was extra.  I would usually state so if I accepted or counter offered.

If I remember correctly, eBay would assume the offer was for the product and not to include shipping into it.

But, so much has changed that may not be the case anymore as taxes are not collected on TOTAL sale which includes shipping. 

Now that I think about it.....how would that effect the 1099 taxes?  If you had to pay shipping because of a miscommunication, would you be credited that portion?

This may be a banner year for tax consultants......

[simply-the-best-for-you]

A- You can still reach a human, just follow the help menu on down & the only difference is they have to call you. 

B- you don't need to call, this one is VERY clear cut.  Offers DO NOT include shipping as per the note on the page when you send or receive an offer.  That said, it does not stop potential buyers from thinking that shipping is up for discussion.  But Ebay makes it VERY clear that offers do not include shipping.   I don't have one right now or I'd post a screen shot.  

[umoraski]

I had a question about an item I sold and was able to use the "Live Chat" and the representative answered my question.   I did ask the Community Board initially, but did use "Live Chat" later to confirm my decision.  And everything worked out OK.

[buyselljack2016]

You can find the "eBay policy" answer to that ? in this link by scrolling down a bit.

https://www.ebay.com/help/buying/buy-now/making-best-offer?id=4019&st=12&pos=1&query=Making%20a%20Be...

You can get a "call back" from CS by using the "help & contact", but you will get a "scripted" answer from the outsourced CSR. They may, or may not be using the correct script.  "Seller beware" if they ever go "off script" to provide an answer.

[dryophelia]

@wildaruth 

The only thing up for negotiations in a Best Offer is the selling price of the item.

All other factors are locked in.

The shipping costs and shipping carrier can not be changed. 

If you are going to accept offers, be sure to set your Buyer Requirements to Require buyers to provide a payment method before they make an offer. 
This way, as soon as you accept the offer, the item is paid for. 

By requiring immediate payment, there is no coming back after the offer is accepted to try and negotiate better shipping options. 

[buyselljack2016]

I see that the "provide payment method before offer" "buyer requirement'  has been added as a "default'  option on one of my selling accounts  😊

When checking in the past month, or so,  "I" did not have that as an option, as apparently it was still in "beta" testing.   Will have to check the other accounts to see if all have that option, or if the account that I looked at is in the "beta".

[buyselljack2016]

Apparently the setting does not apply to "all buyers making offers".

 

[simply-the-best-for-you]

Thanks for posting that.  I was surprised to see the suggestion, as I didn't think it was active yet. 

[firesteel_surplus]

---

@dryophelia wrote:

@wildaruth 

The only thing up for negotiations in a Best Offer is the selling price of the item.

All other factors are locked in.

The shipping costs and shipping carrier can not be changed. 

If you are going to accept offers, be sure to set your Buyer Requirements to Require buyers to provide a payment method before they make an offer. 
This way, as soon as you accept the offer, the item is paid for. 

By requiring immediate payment, there is no coming back after the offer is accepted to try and negotiate better shipping options. 

---

Where is that located? Is it on the page where I set up my ad? If so, I'm not seeing it.

I have a "Immediate payment required with Buy it Now" block that I can enable if I wanted to.

Mike

Firesteel Surplus