Can't contact buyers on auctions to let them know not to pay until receive invoice.

[dutchman48]

I just noticed there is no way to directly contact buyers from the listing on auctions. Is this fairly recent?

I want to let them know to wait for an invoice to take advantage of combined shipping.

Is this another idiotic policy as they want buyers to pay for each item as it ends so they can make more money.

Or is Ebay just that paranoid?

Or both?

[dmil8030]

Hello 'dutchman', 

<< I want to let them know to wait for an invoice to take advantage of combined shipping.>>

Then why don't you do like most sellers and mention this in the body of your listings. 

[dutchman48]

That does not answer the question I asked, but below are answers to your comment.

Because they can't read it on cell phones.

I had it in every listing at one time and many still did not use combined shipping!!

Ebay needs to put it in the listing in a prominent place but then they and Paypal will lose free money.

[reallynicestamps]

While many buyers who are making multiple purchases will contact the seller before or after buying about combined shipping, some will just go ahead and pay if the total shipping seems reasonable, or if they are in a hurry.

You can refund part of their overpayment through the PP payment. Remember when you do this that you will still be paying eBay shipping fees on the full amount, so adjust the refund accordingly.

This is more work than if the buyer followed your suggestion and waited for the new invoice, but an unexpected refund usually delights a buyer. So there's that.

[zee-chan-jpn-books]

Once I lost a buyer because I was a little persistent in asking him to wait for a combined invoice, and he got annoyed by it so he stopped buying from me. So personally I'd just let it be and not bug the buyer over it...