Combined postage

[sharowals-9]

Anyone else who offers combined postage and gives the buyer a refund from SD orders only to find out that Ebay will not refund you for the unused postage fee? I was told that I must just stop using combined postage - which is a little unfair to the buyer I think? I Hate this new system that Ebay are using! I have had buyers cancel their orders because I told them they have to wait 30 days for an SD refund which is why I do the refund and expect Ebay to refund me - which they clearly don't !

[brainuk]

OK, make sure you read this carefully.

If your buyer paid for the postage, then if you combined 3 items into one box and used just one label, then the buyer WILL get refunded by e-mail for the unused labels after approx 14 days (more like 20).
If you paid for the postage labels, then you can apply, using a link, to get the unused ones refunded and this is taking a fair bit longer. I have done quite a few now and after some expected chasing, I am getting them refunded.

[tressygirl]

That is correct eBay do not have to refund you the postage cost if you do this yourself.

  Whilst I understand why you are doing this, so your buyer does not have to wait 30 days for their few pounds refund,  it's not the way to manage this,  as eBay themselves will refund for that unused postage label.

You could list your items as seller pays,  then as long as you claim that refund for the unused SD label within 14 days, and postage used,   is tracked showing delivery, you are refunded,  and have that wait.

The whole situation with combined postage needs sorting,  I agree,  as no way seems the best way !

@sharowals-9 

[a45heaven]

@tressygirl 

Is stopping selling the answer until it is resolved ? Or at least reducing volumes.

It has been months since a Community manager said Combining Was being 'looked at', so maybe less issues for the Tech folk to deal with , may give them time to catch up?

[tressygirl]

Cannot disagree with what you have said above.

Combining postage is Such an issue for everyone, and the resolution is just not forthcoming !

@a45heaven 

[a45heaven]

@tressygirl 

The US site have concocted a process to allow combining to work, maybe the skill or desire to find a solution is lacking on whoever are the 'Techs' on the UK site. 

[brainuk]

If you sell a lot of items that buyers buy a few of, then your easiest bet for combining is the following:

Put a statement (As bold as you like) at the beginning of your description advising any potential buyers of multiples, not to buy them one at a time but to put them in their basket and purchase as one lot. This way eBay's system will work out the combined postage at a much more favourable rate.

[a45heaven]

@brainuk 

Put a statement (As bold as you like) at the beginning of your description advising any potential buyers of multiples, not to buy them one at a time but to put them in their basket and purchase as one lot. This way eBay's system will work out the combined postage at a much more favourable rate.

Thanks for that thought - But i took all my Set Sale items away from ebay many years ago to a simpler governed, lower fee site. Which leaves me just auctions here, that format removes the possibility of placing items in the basket for Bidders.

Also, with ebays 'Auto Pay' what ever narrative is shown on listings, ebay take multiple postages for each item won, leaving you hoping the Seller will refund you appropriately.

But why should Sellers be making the effort, when they pay ebay for what ever service they deem to supply. ebay dont even communicate with buyers these days. Im more than happy to communicate with my Bidders on general topics , but not being a messenger for ebay.

[maujohwai]

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@tressygirl wrote:

[...]

You could list your items as seller pays,  then as long as you claim that refund for the unused SD label within 14 days, and postage used,   is tracked showing delivery, you are refunded,  and have that wait.

[...]

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Thanks for your link to https://www.ebay.co.uk/claims/simple-delivery/refund/seller in a thread I can't reply to. I suppose it's not surprising that "I combined postage with another item to the same buyer" is not one of the seven suggested reasons for applying for a refund, or that, if that's your reason, the following questions are largely inappropriate.

[tressygirl]

You have joined a thread where the posts are over 4 months old,  therefore information is out of date,  as things have changed for combining postage with Simple Delivery.

Now,  a buyer can add applicable items to their basket first,  then at eBay checkout,  the postage is combined for them.

Many buyers and sellers alike are unaware of this change,  it could have done with a big announcement from eBay, I have suggested that sellers who wish to combine postage for their buyers add something like this to their listings.....   '  If you wish to buy several items from me then please first place them in your basket,  then if combined postage is applicable it will be shown for you at eBay checkout,  for you to pay for that one postage cost.  '

@maujohwai 

[a45heaven]

@tressygirl 

Now,  a buyer can add applicable items to their basket first,  then at eBay checkout,  the postage is combined for them.

Sadly this function is randomly applied - surprisingly always on the high side for a buyer - and coupled with failed message systems, you never know if the Seller gets a request for a combined total when the fail shows in the basket.

Why was the original process which functioned well for many years be changed ? 

[tressygirl]

Yep can add , not must add,  as you are correct,  some items then are still not combined. 

Would this be when the items are of very different weights/ sizes,   so an accurate  combined weight/postage price is difficult to master?

Who knows,  but I totally agree the old system worked perfectly well! 🙂

@a45heaven 

[a45heaven]

@tressygirl 

Would this be when the items are of very different weights/ sizes,   so an accurate  combined weight/postage price is difficult to master?

Nope - i only ever buy the same items, just vary the quantities - me thinks the way its put to Sellers to change settings to accommodate leaves room for improvement.

[maujohwai]

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@tressygirl wrote:

[...]

Now,  a buyer can add applicable items to their basket first,  then at eBay checkout,  the postage is combined for them.

Many buyers and sellers alike are unaware of this change, [...]

@maujohwai 

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Thanks. So if the buyer has already bought items separately, then EITHER you have to persuade them to cancel and repurchase them all in a basket OR you apply for a refund for the unused label(s), as already mentioned. Is that the case now? Thanks for your help.

[tressygirl]

Yep,  you could cancel the order with the buyer's permission so when you cancel citing Buyer Requests to Cancel,  this will not affect your seller performance.  This fully refunds them,  you can then relist all the items as one,  buyer buys and pays again,  then there's one tracking number to cover all items.

Be aware , most times adding items to a basket first ,  will see a combined postage at eBay checkout,  but sometimes this doesn't happen,   whether it's because the items are of different sizes / weights,  or one may not be in a SD category,  but generally the process ' should' work ! 

Refunds for unused labels,  as above !

@maujohwai 

[a45heaven]

@tressygirl 

 Buyer Requests to Cancel

Does this not lead to a de-merit against the buyer then for no fault of their own just for using a ill designed process ?

From the view of the general order processing , does this enhance both users experience of the platform and the time employed in additional tasking? 

[tressygirl]

If by de merit you mean gives the buyer some strike on their account for claiming a refund, this would / could only happen if there was a pattern of many returns, leading perhaps to the conclusion the buyer is abusing eBay's 30 day MBG for refunds.  One or a couple of returns for refunds,  would not raise any red flags to eBay.

Do I think some rules / instructions are not clearly written.  Yes,  a Big Yes!  I'm not sure if I was a first time buyer buying an item which was too small / too big,  I could also select a reason ' not as described' not necessarily spotting the ' doesn't fit ' reason,  no underhand selection there of evading a return postage cost.  Yes,  I'm sure many select the wrong reason purely in error,  but there are some who ' know' how to bend those rules too, and evade that return postage cost.  Hard one to call ! 🤔.

Many messages from eBay I strongly think should be re written for example, send a message to a buyer / seller under a Simple Delivery transaction and eBay send a very obscure message,  that ' the member has reached out to them'  inferring some further action from the seller?  An unnecessary message just in my humble opinion ! 🤗

@a45heaven 

[a45heaven]

@tressygirl 

Yes i was referring to 'strikes' against a buyer - I dont have any experience of returns - as a seller nor buyer - it has never happened to me over the years.

I was asking if a buyer got a 'strike' for requesting to cancel (often the sellers narrative mentions combining items - only to be trumped by ebays rules) - many marginal items are unattractive if the postage is lumped onto each item. 

Is there a list of which reasons for cancelling get 'strikes' awarded, for both a Seller or Buyer ?

[tressygirl]

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@a45heaven wrote:

@tressygirl 

Yes i was referring to 'strikes' against a buyer - I dont have any experience of returns - as a seller nor buyer - it has never happened to me over the years.

I was asking if a buyer got a 'strike' for requesting to cancel (often the sellers narrative mentions combining items - only to be trumped by ebays rules) - many marginal items are unattractive if the postage is lumped onto each item. 

Is there a list of which reasons for cancelling get 'strikes' awarded, for both a Seller or Buyer ?

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Nope, no such list,  well not one which I'm aware of.

I would imagine a return or two would be considered the norm, so no ' defects' ,  account strikes would follow.

However,  continuous claims for refunds would raise a red flag to eBay,  especially now under Simple Delivery,  they refund out of their pocket for item not delivered,  or damaged in the post,  doubt they'd refund multiple times readily to one member .  🤔

@a45heaven 

[a45heaven]

@tressygirl 

I was asking if a buyer got a 'strike' for requesting to cancel (often the sellers narrative mentions combining items - only to be trumped by ebays rules) 

sorry i must have mislead you - does the above situation attract a 'strike' for the buyer when they can not get a combined postage invoice , even when the seller states they offer combining.