Shipping on Multiple Buy It Now Items

[cousinquiller]

I can't find a clear answer on what to do, as a seller, about the problem of combined shipping on multiple Buy It Now (BIN) purchases. For example, someone buys three BIN items from me and the seller instantaneously makes three separate payments that are based on three separate invoices, each with its own shipping charge. What happens now? All I can find is confusing information on what buyers should do during the process of buying the item (e.g., using a shopping cart?), but buyers are not aware of these processes -- they simply 1) buy the items and then ask me how to fix the problem, or 2) write to me beforehand and ask me what to do. In either case, I don’t know what to tell them. What should I say to buyers in these two situations? Or what links can I give them to the correct ebay information? Thanks.

[pjcdn2005]

You use calculated shipping so you could set up your shipping preferences in site preferences so that the shipping is automatically combined on the invoices. One problem with that is that it doesn’t change the size of the box, just the weight, so if you use a bigger box, the rate might may not be accurate.

If the buyer asks you ahead of time, ask them to add their items to the cart and click on request total which is on the top right of the cart. Then you can send them a corrected invoice. If they have won multiple auctions their items should automatically be found in the cart.

As the other poster mentioned you can refund a portion of the shipping through the PP transaction after they have paid but you won’t receive a credit for your eBay fees unless you phone ebay. Do NOT refund through friends and family as you will not  be refunded those PP fees and if there is a return down the road and you have to refund in full, you will have to refund the amount associated with that transaction in PP. the friends and family refund won’t be associated with that transaction. 

[femmefan1946]

Thanks for the info about F&F.

[femmefan1946]

You don't solve it through eBay.

You solve it where the payments were made-- Paypal.

You could ignore it-- the buyer willingly paid the shipping, after all, but that is not likely to lead to a good outcome, especially since the buyer is questioning you about it.

So.

Weigh and package your three items.

Discover what you will be paying for shipping.

Keep in mind shipping three items together may even be more expensive than shipping them separately. Not often but shipping is based on weights and dimensions.

Pay attention to the value.

You may be content to ship a single low value item untracked, but the three together may be oveer your comfort level.

And again, three together may be bulky enough to force you into a parcel rate, that includes tracking.  Or to make Tracked Packet a reasonable choice.

And of course, your buyer's choice makes you pay 90c non-refundable to Paypal, instead of 30 c.

You may find this useful:

https://www.canadapost.ca/cpotools/apps/far/business/findARate?execution=e1s1

if you don't already have it bookmarked.

Now.

Having done your homework, go to Paypal, choose Refund on any of the items and refund a suitable amount.

The "suitable amount" should allow for the 60c, for the upgrading of shipping service, and does not have to reflect the exact difference between the shipping you pay and the shipping the customer paid.

Alternatively, you can go to Paypal, choose Send Money and send the buyer his refund using Friends and Family.

Neither refund will make the buyer pay fees to Paypal.

[cousinquiller]

 Thanks to everyone for their responses. You've given me a lot to think about. One thing I have to look in to is what happens when someone uses a BIN because I've never used it myself. (For example, I thought that your invoice was automatically immediately paid, with no time to address the combined shipping problem before paying.) Still lots to learn -- and I've been a member since 1999.  Sigh.

[ypdc_dennis]

That happens when you have "immediate payment" checked off and the buyer does not use the cart.