But that's madness. I frequently make offers and, if accepted, I then look at the sellers other items. And there are frequently other items and some of the time these items of interest are auctions.
For many years now I've simply asked if the seller combines postage. Once upon a time you could pay for the item and have the seller hold, but if the postage is combined there is a saving of 30p per additional item for the seller. I've rarely been asked to pay. Even if the seller states that they combine, I still get in touch.
As a seller, a large percentage of sales are combined postage. Oftentimes, a buyer will make a purchase and ask if we stock other specific similar items, and we frequently list an item for that buyer. Particularly handy selling low value items internationally, where the postage cost can be higher than the item cost.
My purchasing has reduced over the past few months - and this is my main buying period - from between £2000 and £4000 a month - which must make me a higher than average spender - to less than £250 so far this month.
We tell buyers to not pay if they have bought and are waiting for auctions to end, or more to be listed. Can't be done now.
AND eBay is now automatically cancelling orders not paid within 4days. I appealed two, the buyer had asked me to hold payment as she was away and couldn't work out how to send an invoice on her phone. The appeal went through immediately, but only one defect was removed. Fortunately the seller relisted for me.
As ever, eBay uses a hammer to crack a nut. Giving the seller the option of getting immediate payment or managing their own payments, and removing the idiotic estimated delivery dates, would have been a sensible solution.
But eBay doesn't do sensible, and no one in eBay management has even a clue about selling on eBay.
And the exodus of buyers will continue.
