Shipping Choices

[jjminca]

This is happening a lot with my items.

I sell an item which clearly has the dimensions in the listing and the weight.  Yet a buyer is allowed to make a shipping choice (i.e. flat rate box) which the item clearly will not fit into.  So to get the postage correct, I either have to eat the additional cost or contact the buyer to try and work it out.  eBay has told me several times this is an issue they are working on "for the future" but it is a very real problem now.  The shipping choices simply should not include those which are not possible.  

Is there a work around on this?  It does not appear eBay has a solution any time coming up....

[coolections]

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@jjminca wrote:

buyer is allowed to make a shipping choice.  Is there a work around on this? 

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Yes, do not allow a buyer to have a choice.

[jjminca]

I don't give them a choice.  I build the shipping type into the listing.  eBay gives them a choice.

[wastingtime101]

You're the one that chooses the shipping options on the listing form @jjminca. The only shipping option you offered on that typewriter is a large flat rate box. No way that would fit in a LFRB. You should have chosen Priority Mail.

See the difference?

CS was blowing smoke when they said this is an issue they're working on. This is entirely in your control - it's not something eBay needs to fix. Unless ... are you listing on the app instead of the website? The app is very limited, but even on the seller-unfriendly app you should have some flexibility with choosing shipping options.

[wastingtime101]

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@jjminca wrote:

I don't give them a choice.  I build the shipping type into the listing.  eBay gives them a choice.

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There was no choice for the buyer. The only option you offered was a LFRB.

[wastingtime101]

You're offering large flat rate box for:

- a mahjong tile set

- a large serving platter that won't fit in a LFRB

- a dutch oven

- a Fiesta 5 piece place setting

You're offering small flat rate box for:

- "GO" game

- a large green planter

- a WWII poster

- Sears microscope kit

- a Monopoly game

You're offering free shipping on:

- a camera with a leather case listed at $12 or best offer

And all that is just on your first page of listings. You have a lot of work to do.

[dbfolks166mt]

     I have never had a buyer select an alternate shipping method other that what I had setup the listing with. If it is a major issue for you, consider doing free shipping and incorporate the cost of the shipping method into the price. Little difficult on first class packages and priority mail since you probably need to either pick a mid point cost or factor for the worst case scenario since you are on the west coast. For flat rate boxes and envelopes it's pretty simple to do.  

[toysaver]

If your electing to sell similar instead of starting from scratch when you make a listing the shipping section will default to the options you used last time.  It's your reponsibility to change the default shipping.  

[this*old*attic]

No, Ebay does not.

 I’m wondering if you are skipping the shipping section on the listing template, or clicking the wrong service, or trying to put it in just the description?

Seller absolutely chooses shipping, and buyer cannot edit in new choices.

[this*old*attic]

Bummer, OP has left the building…

[inhawaii]

Shipping choices are set by the SELLER when you create the listing. The buyer can only choose what shipping choices the seller created in the listing. In other words ... you're doing something wrong.  I don't think you understand how it works.  Feel free to ask us any specific questions you may have. 

[friskya]

Looks that way.

Some people don't understand that not receiving the answer you wanted doesn't mean you didn't receive the answer that's correct.

[aproudparent2010]

You are the one who gives the buyers the shipping options. On the typewriter you only offered a LFRB...that is the only choice the buyer had.

[mike-n-jo-thrifty-sales]

I understand what you are saying here. It doesnt matter if you select on each auction the shipping you are going to be using for the item, because once it sells almost always lately it will not give you the option you selected as in parcel select etc.. The shipping will be selected by the buyer even though you selected it in the auction. And when you go to ship the item the only options they give you are priority flat rate or other priority shipping, they wont let you select parcel select. And ebay pumps up the shipping cost when they send the buyer their invoice alot of times which I always change. So yes this is happening.

[nobody*s_perfect]

Parcel Select would be the only shipping option that happens with.  eBay has decided to phase out access to Parcel Select Ground labels, even though USPS has made no changes in their services or policies, and it's offered by all other online postage sellers including PayPal, endicia, stamps.com, etc. When it's not offered, the shipping label page usually defaults to the first option on the list which is flat rate envelope. You can purchase Parcel Select Ground postage through PayPal at

www.PayPal.com/shipnow

But do compare prices before you do that. For Zones 1 - 4, the USPS online price for Priority Mail is  less than a dollar more than Parcel Select Ground. If you're a TRS you get a 3% discount when purchasing Priority labels through eBay, which often makes it cheaper than Parcel Select

IMHO Parcel Select ground should only be offered when necessary such as for hazmat or Oversize packages (i.e., length-plus-girth above the Priority limit of 108 inches).