I need help with Combined Shipping Discount Rules

[somanypcs]

To remain profitable I have just switched from free shipping to $1.00 shipping for 1 or more postcards paid for in a single transaction.  My setting specifies I offer combined shipping.   On the Promotional Shipping Discount Rules - Manage postage settings page I clicked Edit and selected Maximum shipping cost for single combined payment order and in the Specify cost $  field I entered 1.00. 

On my listings in the Combine shipping discount section I have checked Apply my promotional discount.  Anyone looking at a listing of mine who clicks on the Shipping and Handling tab sees "Pay a maximum of $1.00 shipping on all eligible items from somanypcs."

Imagine my surprise when I went to send an invoice to a buyer who won 11 auctions today and saw a shipping charge of $11.00.  I changed the shipping cost to $1.00 before sending the invoice.

I'd appreciate any insight into what I did wrong or how to create a Promotional Shipping Discount Rule and/or Flat Rate Rule that works so that a combined shipment has a shipping cost of $1.00.  I'd also like to know if I have set things up correctly and this is an eBay invoice glitch.  TIA.

[pjcdn2005]

I’m not sure why it didn’t work although I’ve never used the promotional rule function.  
I do use a flat  shipping rule and haven’t had a problem with that. In your case you could choose ‘add an additional amount for each item’ and then check off the free shipping option. Then name the rule and make sure that each listing is associated with it.

[rfmtm · Accepted solution]

It sounds like you did it right using Flat Rate shipping set to $1.00 for the first item and $0.00 for additional items.  The Flat Rate rule set either "Do Not Offer", or not enabled on the listings.  The Promotional rule set for a maximum of $1.00.  Plus I looked at a couple of your current and past listings and they appear to be correct.  So a bit odd this happen.

How long is your combined shipping window set to?   Go check just to be sure it saved properly, so all 11 items were purchased before the cut off time.

[somanypcs]

My combined shipping window is set for 30 days, so that wasn't an issue.

[rfmtm]

If it happens again, come back and let us know.

[somanypcs]

Yes, it happened again.  Though it tells buyers "Pay a maximum of $1.00 shipping on all eligible items from somanypcs" what is really happening is  $1.00 is added for each item, so 8 items cost $8.00 to ship.  I think this is an eBay glitch, as I specified a maximum shipping cost for a single combined payment order, NOT a maximum shipping cost for each and every item in the order.

I removed the Promotional rule from all listings. I am now offering the combined shipping discount Apply my  flat rate rule as described in Message 2 above, with Free shipping checked for "add an amount for each additional item."  Anyone looking at a listing of mine who clicks on the Shipping and Handling tab now sees "$0.00 shipping for each additional eligible item you buy from from somanypcs" instead of "Pay a maximum of $1.00 shipping on all eligible items from somanypcs."

[rfmtm]

Yes, some glitch or something. 

@wooden_flower   Can you comment on this?

[wooden_flower]

@somanypcs 

I don't know why the promo rule wasn't working, if the listing showed it. The promo rule does have to be added to each item for it to apply.  If you use sell similar, maybe the promo box got unchecked at some point?

I looked at your sold items since 4/8 and did not see the promo rule, but maybe it is possible that if you totally deleted the promo rule, it might not show now.   But - @rfmtm  - you said you saw the promo, right?

If you wanted to bring the issue to the weekly chat with staff, you would need some proof that the promo rule was on the sold items.  You could ask the buyer to check his link to the item to see if the 'pay no more...' statement is there.  If it is, ask him to send you a screen print.  If you can get some proof that would let a technical person be able to investigate the issue, ask for help here at 1PT Wednesday - a new thread will open then -

https://community.ebay.com/t5/Weekly-Discussion-with-eBay/bd-p/weekly-chat

[rfmtm]

@wooden_flower   Yes, all OP's listings that I looked at, both active and sold, had the promo notation showing in the payments and shipping section, so it must have been enabled at on those listings. 

Now that OP has removed it from the active listings, it appears it is also gone from the sold listings, even when looking at the original view where I would think it would still appear.

[wooden_flower]

@rfmtmThat is so odd - there must be some system issue - there is no sign of it now.

It is a shame, this is a feature that worked without issue for me for years (and years).

[somanypcs]

I did totally delete the promo rule.  However today I've just set all my listings back to Apply my promotional shipping rule to see if the problem persists.  If the happens again I'll provide screen shots of some listings prior to the auctions ending showing the buyer the "Pay a maximum of $1.00 shipping on all eligible items..." message and a screen shot of an invoice with the inflated shipping cost.  I appreciate the quality support you all have provided.

[somanypcs]

The Promotional Shipping Discount Rule is working correctly today.

[wooden_flower]

Thank you for the update!

[somanypcs]

@wooden_flower  @rfmtm 

Today I had a buyer win 8 auctions, and the invoice shows a shipping charge of $8.00 so the error is back.  I am editing the invoice to show a $1.00 shipping charge.

On my listings in the Combine shipping discount section I have checked Apply my promotional discount.  Anyone looking at a listing of mine who clicks on the Shipping and Handling tab sees "Pay a maximum of $1.00 shipping on all eligible items from somanypcs."  One of the item numbers is 185408547031.

I am not changing my settings to see if eBay can track down this error.  Here's part of the invoice showing the shipping error which should show a cost of $1.00:

Subtotal (8 items):

$2.00

Shipping via Standard Shipping:

$8.00

Adjustment:

$0.00

Estimated sales tax:

$0.72

Estimated total:

$10.72

[somanypostcards]

Promotional Shipping Discount Rule is still broken.  I had a customer win 5 auctions.  When I sent the invoice, instead of $1.00 (the maximum shipping rate for a combined shipment), the invoice showed a shipping charge of $5.00, i.e. $1.00 for each item.  I consider it unconscionable for this kind of payment error to repeatedly occur.