combined shipping

[bomar_97]

I end up having to adjust this when people inquire about it.   I normally have it off because I don't have a supply of shipping boxes and work with what I have on hand.  I only sell stuff I am trying to get rid of personally. 

Just recently, I again turned on combined shipping for a buyer..  who then didn't bother even replying after I told them they could request an invoice now.  

I have a question.  If I leave it on and someone wants to combine a few items,  can I also tell them I can't do it if I find I don't have a way to pkg them together?   That is my biggest concern.. if I can't find a way to do it, I don't want to be stuck having to reduce their shipping cost because I offer combined shipping. 

Also..  the only thing I did was to turn on combined shipping offered with 3 days listed.   I don't even have a clue what that means.. I'm just figuring it gave that last person the opportunity to ask for it.  

[jonathanbrightlight]

You're not required to combine shipping, no.  If you don't think you can package items together, you're allowed to just tell the customer that you can't, and leave it at that.  There's no requirement to reduce shipping.  If you have the settings enabled to do it automatically, though, you won't get to control that if you can't do it, except to mark individual items not eligible for your combined shipping rules when you're listing them, which I don't know if that would work out well for you or not (depends on the reasons you wouldn't be able to combine orders and if they're consistent with the same items or not).

I'd recommend reading over the settings page carefully, or there are some details here: https://www.ebay.com/help/selling/shipping-items/shipping-rates/offering-combined-shipping?id=4169

[ittybitnot]

@bomar_97 

Make all your listings "immediate payment required".  That will ensure that nobody can buy more than one of your items and expect that you ship them together and provide a corrected invoice.  Each will have to be paid separately at full price. 

Though you do not do auctions or use the best offer feature,  if you should SEND offers those all have to be paid separately just like the 'immediate payment required' feature.  eBay took away the "accept button" for offers you send or any counter offers you accept so no worries there either.  

You may wish to post that information about not combining shipping in your listing to avoid any confusion that may arise from a buyer that perhaps wants more than one item so they can be aware in advance. 

[bomar_97]

I already have to require immediate payment..   you reminded me,  that may have needed to be turned off in the past when I sent invoices when I repacked items for someone.  

I will put in that I do not combine shipping since it does become an issue for me.  Does that just go into the description area?  

I had gone to that link because I had to be reminded how to turn on combined shipping..   it was a bit confusing being only diddling  in sales and not actively selling a lot.  I didn't want Ebay to automatically come up with a shipping fee out of the blue.  

Thank you for your replies!