Over charged for shipping?

[modelt4g-5]

I’m new to selling on eBay but I’ve noticed some crazy shipping costs. I recently made a sale where the buyer paid $199 for the item and $32 for shipping. I never saw the $32 in my holding funds. Then I purchased the shipping label which  was $13 and then that amount was taken out of my funds. (I know the shipping was much less than what the buyer paid but it was something we had previously agreed on in order to get a cheaper price for him). So now EBay has taken $45 from my sale to pay for shipping when the shipping only cost $13. I am now left with $186 instead of $205. I know there are other selling fees but I don’t understand why eBay took $45 from my sale to cover a $13 shipping fee.  Is there a way to fix that?

[albertabrightalberta]

I think you're confused. 

If your listing charged $32 for shipping, that's what the payment you received included. 

If shipping cost $13, you made a $19 profit on shipping and that money (less fees) does remain in your account. but the $13 shipping label does come from your account since you received the shipping payment as part of the payment from the buyer. 

Your statement of "I know the shipping was much less than what the buyer paid but it was something we had previously agreed on in order to get a cheaper price for him" is inaccurate since there's no savings. Whether an item costs $99 with free shipping, $10 with $89 shipping or $49 with $50 shipping, the total cost is the same and the fees you pay to ebay are the same too.

In fact, what you think you did is part of the reason why ebay charges FVF on the full amount of the buyer's payment. You thought you paid FVF on just the item price so you reduced the price and increased shipping. 

In the past, too many sellers cheated ebay out of fees by doing just that so now WE ALL pay for the misdeeds of the past and pay fees on the full amount. 

[albertabrightalberta · Accepted solution]

I don't see a sold item at that price point so I can't calculate to show that you were charged correctly and received the correct amount.

But here's an approximate example based on the numbers you claim. 

$199 plus $32 shipping = $231

Deduct: FVF +$.30 on $231 = $29.80 (@12.9%) + $.30 = 30.10

Deduct: $13 shipping label

Net (based on above) = $187.90

Note that if there was a sales tax collected by ebay for the buyer's purchase, the FVF would be charged on that amount. The sales tax would also be deducted from your proceeds for ebay to forward to the buyer's state. 

[modelt4g-5]

I had multiple of the same item that was listed and several of them had already sold so I wasn’t able to edit the shipping fees which is why I lowered the listing price for the buyer. I never had the $32 in my funds to begin with which is why I was confused when it charged me the additional $13. 
I appreciate the info and help

[mybigsale]

I am guessing nothing needs fixing, unless you incorrectly entered package information for shipping (size, weight, shipping service).

If you are using eBay calculated shipping, eBay charges buyers the calculated shipping amount without the seller's discount.  TOTAL = Item Cost + Shipping Charge + Tax. Buyer pays eBay the TOTAL.  eBay charges sellers eBayFee on TOTAL.  Seller receives TOTAL - eBAFee - Tax (eBay keeps tax to send to State Taxing Authority).

As a seller you receive the Item Cost + Shipping Charge (minus eBayFee calculated on TOTAL).

If you pay shipping with eBay, you get a seller discount on shipping. Any extra shipping charge the buyer paid goes to you the seller (to cover shipping and handling).  You can change settings so eBay gives your discount to the buyer. You can also add shipping/handling charges to the calculation. eBay gives you the money the buyer paid for shipping (after eBay Fee deduction) - you can purchase your postage anywhere with the proceeds.

[modelt4g-5]

That makes more sense! I’m so new to it that I haven’t learned all of the fees yet. Thank you for your help