How does a seller add shipping fees to a "free shipping" auction after the auction has ended?

[gregorweek_0]

Hi, I have no experience selling on eBay, but I do a fair bit of bidding and buying.  Twice in the last couple of weeks, after I have won "free shipping" auctions, the seller has sent an invoice with shipping costs that were four times in one case, and ten times the other, the final auction item price.  This was not optional expedited or tracked shipping for an additional fee and free shipping was not offered on the invoice.  I refused to pay in both cases and one of the sellers did the fake "buyer requests cancellation" scheme and the other acted like they were doing me a favor charging more for shipping.   I am not concerned about not receiving the items.

I was under the impression that an auction listing would lock in the terms when the auction ends, determining the final price, and in my case "free shipping".  I  would like to understand how they are altering the terms of the auction and if there is anything I can do to prevent this in the future. I have reported the sellers to eBay customer service.  Hopefully some experienced sellers have some insight into this phenomenon.  Thanks!

[lamber9347]

@gregorweek_0 Once a buyer pays, a seller cannot send an invoice afterwards. Is this happening because you aren't paying at the end of the auction? If there is a time gap in between auction end and payment then perhaps that is how the seller then sends an invoice with additional shipping charges.  Best of luck to you....

[bob1495_9]

Yes, the seller can modify the amount of shipping costs in the invoice before you pay

[stephenmorgan]

lamber9347  is exactly right.

If you pay as soon as the listing ends you pay the price as the listing states.

If the seller has time to send a Invoice they can add or change the shipping fees.  I do not know if this is a flaw in eBay's programming or if it is designed to work this way on purpose.  

It is a useful function if a buyer wants a higher price shipping then what the buyer listed.  This would be how to adjust the shipping to the higher cost.

In your situation it is self defeating for the seller to be doing this while offering free shipping.  I would think many people would want to cancel their order.

How long between the listing ending and the Invoice with shipping was sent?

[x_flagship_store]

Perhaps it was caused by the seller’s careless operation

I conduct auctions starting at US$0.99 every week. After the auction is over, if the customer does not pay in time, I will send an invoice and information to him asking if he needs help. The shipping cost in the delivery list defaults to my additional set of +33 US dollars (usually I Ship to PR or VI set separately)

I have to click on the free shipping option (or manually change the shipping price to 0) for this invoice to be correct.

So, could it be that your seller sent it out without double-checking the invoice.

Of course, if the freight is increased deliberately, then you should refuse to pay, which is shameful

[stephenmorgan]

If you buyer pays without you sending the Invoice do they get the free shipping?

[x_flagship_store]

Of course, because the free shipping was clearly stated when I created the auction list, why should I charge guests for shipping at the end of the auction?

[stephenmorgan]

Ok, so the shipping is only changed by creating a Invoice.

[inhawaii]

Message the seller and tell them you will only pay what you agreed to pay and nothing more ... otherwise you will contact Ebay. Tell them to re-send the invoice with the proper charges.

[dbfolks166mt]

     Take a look at the item location and this may offer some clue. The item is in China according to the posting. I am not sure how the China seller board works but if it is like the U.S. version the free shipping may only apply to in-country shipping. I sell a few items internationally and while they are posted with free domestic shipping I could not bear the cost of free international shipping. 

     Did you contact or ask the seller about the shipping cost??

[gregorweek_0]

Thanks for all the replies!

I did not pay either seller due to the undisclosed shipping fees and the exclusion of any free shipping option.  I attempted to pay the first seller minutes after the auction ended.  Concerning the second seller, payment was attempted the following morning.(auction ended @3AM while I was sleeping)  In both cases, I immediately messaged the sellers screen shots of their listings and requested the correct "free shipping" be applied to the invoice.

The first seller outright refused to change the invoice, and upon my refusal to be extorted for my auction win, cancelled the order.  The second seller played it off like they were doing me a favor by forcing an upgrade to "better" shipping.  They have not corrected their invoice and I have requested the order be cancelled.

I believe that the elimination of any free shipping option and forced substitution of a much more expensive one in both cases was deliberate.  The final auction prices of both listings were low in comparison to similar BIN options.  It seems to be a way for unscrupulous sellers to increase their profit or cover unforeseen costs.

In both cases I have contacted eBay and reported the issue.  I usually pay auction wins within minutes of their end, and never more than twelve hours later, well before eBay's time limit. 

The first seller is located in China, but ships from New Jersey.

Thank you for the insight about a sellers ability to alter the shipping cost when they create an invoice.  This seems like an unfortunate oversight on eBay's part that can be used to exploit inexperienced buyers.

[postingid7659]

I have successfully won and received items from China via "free" shipping, so the comment about it being in-country only, that is not the case.  

I think what is happening here is these items listed auction style are not being bid to what the seller would like so he is compensating himself through the shipping price. 

[dbfolks166mt]

Very possible that is the case and he is attempting to maximize his/her profit by adding on the shipping cost after the fact. I could see where a seller in China could incorporate the "free shipping" into the cost of their item just as many sellers do. However this sale was for a $3.25 item. I am not sure how the seller could even ship the package for $3.25 let alone make a profit. 

    Shenanigans like this are one of the reasons I do not buy anything on eBay that is connected to a Chinese seller. 

[4quality1]

This is a great way not to have to sell something that didn't get you the price you expected.  eBay really needs to fix this.  Your best options are to pay ASAP before an invoice comes. 

If you get an invoice with shipping charges on it, first leave negative feedback and promise to remove it when they ship your item free of charge, as listed. In the unlikely event that they do ship for free, you can remove the negative feedback.

If you contact the seller first they will just cancel the auction, and you will not get the decent price you wanted.

Is a terrible scam, and since eBay won't fix it, you need to leave feedback first, while you still can before the auction is canceled.

[kh-gary]

Hi everyone,

Due to the age of this thread, it has been closed to further replies. Please feel free to start a new thread HERE if you wish to continue to discuss this topic.

Thank you for understanding.