Why does ebay even allow a seller to charge more shipping that advertised?

[mame4552]

I have been bidding with a seller that charges free shipping. At first this was fine, but today, out of the blue, they charged me 6.00 for shipping! I managed to speak to somebody in the ebay fraud department who told me they were breaking the rule and would be penalized, but so far, nothing has happened.  I now have several won bids that are stacking up in shopping cart The ebay fraud specialist told me not to pay this seller until this is resolved. I wouldn't pay any way. I'm not starting anymore bids with this seller but I already have 15 or 20 won bids that I've paid for but have not shipped. This is a nightmare. ebay is about to lose another buyer for ever...

Anyway, I have two main questions about this.

1. Why was the seller even able to unilaterally add an unauthorized shipping charge?? Doesn't ebay have enough control over the website to block them from doing this?

2. Is the reason for this some underhanded way for a seller to try to end up rescinding or canceling a buyer's won bids and sale? I worked hard bidding on the items I won and I want what I purchased. Even if I'm refunded I still end up the loser if all my won auctions.

I really hope someone knowledgeable person will reply to this. It's so hard to get full and consistent customer service at ebay. That's another major issue I have with the company now...

[mame4552]

I found at least one old post about this same issue.The title is: Seller listed item as free shipping and then tried to charge me for shipping.

I guess that post is is to old to reply to since I was unable to do so, but it certainly describes a similar situation to my own.

I suppose this forum is read more by sellers than buyers, but hopefully somebody will reply, because I really don't understand why ebay would even allow any seller to do what this seller did to me.

This is my first post on this forum. It's weird to be called an 'adventure' or 'thrill-seeker'.

It makes this place seem like the lawless wild west.. and maybe it is.

I would prefer being called a 'buyer', 'shopper', or 'consumer'.

[ebooksdiva]

Did you go to pay and saw a shipping cost in the invoice?

Or did you request a total from the seller. 
Without being able to see the listing it’s hard to say what’s going on. Can you post the item number?

By the way this forum is read by both buyers and sellers. I am both myself. 

[mame4552]

Yes, a 6.00 shipping charge was just added on in my shopping cart right out of the blue.

Still trying to wrap my head around how ebay policy can allow that.

Anyway, thanks for replying. Any insights or advice would be appreciated.

I hope I hear back from the fraud department. ebay only seems to allow one call per day or per issue.

[buyselljack2016]

@mame4552 

Are you using a mobile device?

There have been posts about a mobile device showing "free shipping" when that is not how the listing was set up.

[ebooksdiva]

eBay doesn’t allow it

As stated in this policy Shipping Policy 

Sellers must not:

• Use a slower shipping service than the one selected by the buyer
• Include any additional fees for handling and packaging when offering free shipping
• Delay shipments once notification is received that a payout has been initiated 

You might want to try contacting eBay for Business on Facebook through private message 

You need the item numbers

Sellers ID and yours of course and a screen shot of the invoice with the extra charge. 
Im not sure what else you’d need , I’m sure they will tell you. 

[mame4552]

That's certainly sound policy, and the fraud department did say the seller would be penalized, but I'm still baffled how the seller was even able to insert the charge onto the invoice in the first place. I thought ebay's computers would just automatically transfer the results of the auction to my 'checkout'. I'm really surprised to learn a seller is able to go in and "manually" add a charge after the fact like that.

[ebooksdiva]

@mame4552 

If and when eBay does reprimand the seller for that behavior, they won’t tell you what they did or didn’t do about it. 

[ebooksdiva]

Sellers have the ability to add or subtract costs in an invoice. 

[mame4552]

Ahh, that is interesting. I would think that the reasons for a seller being justified in doing that would be limited. If a seller decides to promote their sales with 'free shipping' and 'one cent starting bids' it should be on them to weigh the risk versus benefit beforehand,  rather than try to dishonestly cover costs after the auction is over.

[pickermall]

There's an Ebay Fraud Department? I did not know that!

[mame4552]

Yes, and they even have phone numbers. If you're very nice (and lucky) a human might answer the phone. However, more times than not, the answering machine ignores you and tells me to read some completely inapplicable help articles on the website.

[ebooksdiva]

@ @mame4552 

I hope you didn’t find the phone member searching the internet. Those numbers you find there are hoaxes or scammers.
Because no where on this site does eBay have a phone number posted. They call you, you don’t call them. 

[mame4552]

The ones I found are legit, but I agree it is weird how you have to search for them offsite.

I'm sure customer service isn't an easy task at ebay, but still, they neglect it at their own peril.

In the long run an ebay that prioritizes honest transactions and above-board dealings will win the day.

[ebooksdiva]

I am not so sure that you actually found a legitimate phone number on the Google or whatever there are a lot of fake numbers out there claiming to be eBay Customer Service or Trust and safety etc.. 

Contact Us  

Scroll to the bottom of the link I posted and click Have Us Call you. 
Just to be sure you did speak to a legitimate SC rep.