Free Shipping is not included when a Best Offer is accepted

[wwdolfan]

"Free Shipping is not included when a Best Offer is accepted. Please wait for an updated invoice before completing checkout."

  "Free Shipping", "Best Offer" listings, the above statement is at the bottom of the page.   When I say” bottom" I mean the very last line of his listing, in small print!

Of course, like you, I have never run into something like this before, so why would I scour the listing for a "read the fine print" item before I purchase from what is supposed to be a trusted "power seller"?

He doesn't tell you this when you make the offer & he accepts your offer.  It's not until after you receive his invoice do you notice a random shipping charge.  He accepted my offer on two listings & made no mention of any shipping charge.  He sends an invoice & 1st he puts a shipping charge on both items, then at checkout he removed one shipping charge & replaced it with the choice to locally pick it up.   I asked him to do the right thing & eat his shipping charge, he refused. Then he cancelled the transaction stating that I requested it.  So I called Ebay & we will see what happens.  Hopefully they will require that he remove that last line.  

[rixstuff]

Shipping is NEVER part of the offer process, only the price.  This seller probably put that in there as a reminder to folks who maybe dont use the offer feature much.  I do about 2/3 of my sales with offers and have gotten many questions about the shipping.  Oddly, I have had many people offer a number that is just the BIN price minus the shipping ($100 - $3 shipping for a $97 offer).  Go figure.

[rixstuff]

Your seller probably accepted your offer on the two items and instead of charging you full shipping for each item combined them into one package for a lower shipping rate.

If you disputed the shipping, you will lose that dispute unless free shipping was offered in the original BIN listing.

[duggmills]

wwdolfan writes...

"Of course, like you, I have never run into something like this before, so why would I scour the listing for a "read the fine print" item before I purchase from what is supposed to be a trusted "power seller"?

And:

"...so why would I scour the listing for a "read the fine print"

What do you mean? "Of course, like you... "

Why do you think "fine print" (your words) exists? 

The right thing... in your opinion.  I'm with the seller on this one I would also cancel your buy also. That's the right thing to do as I see.  It eliminates what might be the next problem as far as your expectations vs. sellers stated terms and conditions.

A related issue is my concern with the limitations sellers have for cancelling these potentially problematic  transactions.

[pjcdn2005]

Did the listings that you made already have free shipping did your offer specify free shipping?

[duchess-at-speakeasy]

When a seller receives an offer, the original shipping amount applies. If that amount is $0.00 -- aka "free shipping -- the seller either accepts the offer or counters with a higher selling price that still includes necessary postage.

The disclaimer quoted by the OP is not enforceable. That said, a seller can send an invoice with more options or adjusted rates. However, substituting "local pick-up" as the "free shipping" choice is NOT acceptable unless the seller plans to hand-deliver the order or the buyer really is local.

~~C~~

[chipper01work]

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@duggmills wrote:

wwdolfan writes...

"Of course, like you, I have never run into something like this before, so why would I scour the listing for a "read the fine print" item before I purchase from what is supposed to be a trusted "power seller"?

And:

"...so why would I scour the listing for a "read the fine print"

What do you mean? "Of course, like you... "

Why do you think "fine print" (your words) exists? 

The right thing... in your opinion.  I'm with the seller on this one I would also cancel your buy also. That's the right thing to do as I see.  It eliminates what might be the next problem as far as your expectations vs. sellers stated terms and conditions.

A related issue is my concern with the limitations sellers have for cancelling these potentially problematic  transactions.

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If I am reading this correctly the seller has a BIN/BO listing that has FREE shipping. He then goes on at the bottom of the page saying that basically the FREE shipping only applies to the BIN price and does not apply to the BO. The seller is likely going to get a beat down by eBay over this and deservedly so. It's not only not cool it is deceptive. I agree that buyers should read the complete listing but if I am reading it right, those are conflicting terms and not enforcable at all. It's just like setting up a listing that claims returns accepted for 30 days to qualify for TRS+ and then at the bottom of the page stating all kinds of reasons that returns will be refused. It flys about as well as an elephant. 

[fern*wood]

If sellers want to hold buyers to the shipping as stated in the listing, then sellers need to abide by the same rule.

If I understand you correctly, this seller listed as free shipping, but then after accepting your offer, they had a gotcha clause in the listing to charge shipping on any offers.  That sounds like a search manipulation violation at the very least.

Then on top of that, they cancel claiming the buyer requested it.  I'd be reporting all of that.

[wwdolfan]

Correct Chipper, Duchess & Ferwood ! 

As I clearly stated. The listing offers FREE shipping! Oh, and pcdjn, I am the buyer.  & rixstuff, you offer free shipping listings & then when they buy, add shipping?

[castlemagicmemories]

Good Luck, OP

[chipper01work]

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@wwdolfan wrote:
Correct Chipper, Duchess & Ferwood ! And WOW, Do people even read a op before spouting off nonsense (Millis) ?

As I clearly stated. The listing offers FREE shipping! Oh, and pcdjn, I am the buyer. Just amazing. & rixstuff, so you offer free shipping listings & then when they buy, add shipping?

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Yes as I said what your seller is doing is wrong. I am a TRS seller and create some (but not all) TRS+ listings that qualify for the 10% fvf reduction. To do that I must offer 30 day returns and have 1 day handling. What your seller is doing is akin to me making a listing that qualifies for TRS+ by offering those two things and then at the bottom adding:

1. Returns are for snad only, buyers remorse returns not honored.

2. One day handling only applies if paid for before 5pm EST.

Neither of those things are allowed and neither are enforceable by me. They are just fluff and wasted virtual ink.

[wwdolfan]

OK so EBAY FULLY supports & condones this practice!    The practice of a seller advertising "FREE SHIPPING" on a "Make an offer” listing & then charging the buyer shipping fees via invoice in any amount the seller wishes AFTER the seller accepts the buyers offer. 

All the seller has to do is place a small obscure statement at the bottom of the listing that free shipping is not included in "Best offer negotiations".  The seller does not need to make any mention of this shipping charge while they are negotiating a price with a buyer.  If the buyer doesn’t see the disclaimer, to bad.

In my opinion this is an underhanded & unethical practice.

PER EBAY!  Maybe the buyer will see the shipping charge AFTER, WHEN they receive the invoice & complain.  If the BUYER doesn’t like it, they can ask to have the transaction cancelled! 

In 10+ years I have never run into or heard of such a thing.  I certainly will not do something like that to my buyers.  

[rixstuff]

No, I dont add it on offers.  BUT...If the shipping is free, it is free to anybody regardless of how you buy - auction, BIN, offer.  Free is free.  However if the shipping is $6 it is STILL $6 even if I accept your offer of $7 on a $10 item.  There are too many buyers though that think that they offer $7 the also add "I want free shipping" that they will get it for $7 total NOT $13 ($7 and $6 shipping).

[rixstuff]

And a great many buyers never look at the shipping - free or not.  They tend to focus more on the base price.  An item that is $7 with $3 shipping is the same price as $10 with free shipping.  Oddly, though, the $7 one will sell because it APPEARS to be cheaper, even if the shipping isnt included.  Same kind of nonsense as pricing items at 99 cents instead of a dollar because it looks like the better deal.

[dtexley3]

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@wwdolfan wrote:

OK so EBAY FULLY supports & condones this practice!    The practice of a seller advertising "FREE SHIPPING" on a "Make an offer” listing & then charging the buyer shipping fees via invoice in any amount the seller wishes AFTER the seller accepts the buyers offer. 

All the seller has to do is place a small obscure statement at the bottom of the listing that free shipping is not included in "Best offer negotiations".  The seller does not need to make any mention of this shipping charge while they are negotiating a price with a buyer.  If the buyer doesn’t see the disclaimer, to bad.

In my opinion this is an underhanded & unethical practice.

PER EBAY!  Maybe the buyer will see the shipping charge AFTER, WHEN they receive the invoice & complain.  If the BUYER doesn’t like it, they can ask to have the transaction cancelled! 

In 10+ years I have never run into or heard of such a thing.  I certainly will not do something like that to my buyers.  

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As other's have stated this is not allowed or condoned by eBay.  I agree that the invoice should not allow a shipping charge to be entered if all items have free shipping, but that's not eBay condoning it, that's a bug.  Report the bug.  Report the seller.  Both errors need to be addressed.