eBay International Standard Delivery and multi-item sales

[argy_eyes]

Experts,

This is a bit esoteric, but it's affecting me right now.

I sold 12 photographic film spools to a buyer in Canada, using the eBay multi-item options in the listing (I had 24 to sell). These each weigh less than an ounce, so they could all be combined in one package with a weight below the lowest International Standard Delivery limit. So I specified "$0.00 shipping for each additional item."

In hindsight, I can see I was asking for trouble.  ISD took the specified package weight and multiplied it by 12, adding $36 to the shipping cost, which came out to $46 rather than $10.  So I changed the invoice to show $10 shipping. I have not yet sent this invoice.

But from ISD's perspective, if I send the invoice aren't they responsible for sending 6 pounds of film spools to Canada for a shipping charge of $10?  In general, how could the seller be allowed to reduce the ISD shipping on the invoice, since ISD is on the hook for the overseas delivery cost?

My question: How should I have done this listing so it came out right in the first place? Should I have specified combined shipping (somehow) rather than specifying $0.00 "per additional item?"

Here's the listing: https://www.ebay.com/itm/114353261926  

Thanks,

Mike 

[pjcdn2005 · Accepted solution]

I'm not an expert but I will reply anyway. 🙂

Did you change the shipping method on that listing since you sold those 12? I see usps first class international and if I put the 6 remaining in my cart, I am charged $12 for shipping which is what it shows me in the shipping tab.  - $12 for one, 0.00 for each one after that.

Assuming that it did say international standard when it was purchased.....I thought that I read that you can't combine shipping on ebay international standard however I don't see that info now so I could be wrong.   But you don't get charged for the package until it is weighed etc at the processing center so you would be billed based on the weight and dimensions regardless of what you have charged the buyer.  At least that's how I read it. I tried to post the info that I'm referring to but it won't let me post it.  You will see it if you go to help and support at the top and search for international standard delivery. The info that I am referring to is under 'Package weight discrepancies'

[pjcdn2005]

I wanted to test if you could set up combined shipping under international standard delivery. The only other multi item listing that I see is item 114351785196.  I don't know if you tried setting up a field for shipping more than one item but when put 2 of that item in my cart, it more than doubles the original shipping cost to Canada from $18 to $40 so it definitely does not combine on that listing.

[mudshark61369]

@argy_eyes,

  "How should I have done this listing so it came out right in the first place? Should I have specified combined shipping (somehow) rather than specifying $0.00 "per additional item?"

You guessed it. By listing additional items as add $00.00 ea., your customer was being billed the original shipping cost for each.   You should have specified an amount for each additional.  Be careful when doing that because if your packed shipping weight for the 12 goes one gram over 15.9oz. You will be charged for the 1-2 lb weight and 1st Class international  will no longer be an option.  If you try and sneak it by the P.O. could send the package back or charge your buyer the overage on delivery.

 "So I changed the invoice to show $10 shipping. I have not yet sent this invoice."

When I changed the shipping for international to Canada the shipping cost for 1 item or up to a 15.9 oz package was $12.00.  I would add .25 cents per item up to the 1-Lb limit.

I'm surprised anyone is still shooting medium format film. I guess real photography is not dead yet.

[argy_eyes]

@pjcdn2005 

Thanks PJ for your detailed inputs on this.

"I thought that I read that you can't combine shipping on ebay international standard however I don't see that info now so I could be wrong.   But you don't get charged for the package until it is weighed etc at the processing center so you would be billed based on the weight and dimensions regardless of what you have charged the buyer. "

This makes sense - charge the seller once the package is weighed at the processing center.  And (I would add) send an invoice to the seller that reflects realistic combined shipping - not 12 8-ounce parcels each containing a 1/2 ounce film spool! Sellers would soon learn how to specify the shipping charge and buyers would not be getting alarming invoices.

To do this, eBay would need to make it clear what the seller's options are for international standard shipping of multiple items - not in a remote notice, but built into the input page (like the "shipping per added item" input for conventional shipping). And if it's not allowed, say so when the seller attempts to do it.

As you suggested, I did change the listing to conventional 1st Class International.

Mike

[argy_eyes]

@pjcdn2005 

Thanks PJ for the reference to that other item. It's one that I was playing with to see how things worked, and I forgot to set the quantity back to 1 (I actually only have one).

From the numbers you reported, eBay just multiplied the gross weight of the package by 2. EBay International Standard shipping favors 1 and 2 pound shipments, so when you put 2 2-pound items in your cart you bumped up to the 4 pound shipping rate. In this case it would be cheaper for the buyer to pay for 2 individual packages!

Mike

[argy_eyes]

@mudshark61369 

Thanks for your detailed reply on this MudShark.

I'll give the approach a try, though I'm having a hard time understanding the eBay field! If I put in $0.00 the buyer is charged for an additional full parcel, but if I put in $0.25 they are charged an additional $0.25 (up to the one pound limit in my case). As counter-intuitive as it sounds, this does in fact match what happened.

As per medium format, it is indeed surprising that folks are still shooting it. Many digital 35mm cameras will give better images than an old medium format camera, not to mention the flexibility and accuracy of auto-exposure and auto-focus. I think one would have to go up to 4x5 before beating many of the new 35mm cameras (not to mention some cell phones). There are still college and highschool photo courses that require work with film, and some photographers who insist on it. Polaroid is a similar case, and even harder to understand.

Mike