Cancel eBay order without a strike?

Spoonie_Turtle

I put a few BIN items into my basket almost a week ago, twice asked for an invoice for combined total but no response.  The postage adds up to almost as much as the items cost -clothes, not even bulky or heavy items - otherwise I might just have taken the hit if it were a couple of pounds.

I haven't paid, obviously, but in my basket it says I've committed to buy and that to cancel it I'd have to go to customer service - I haven't yet looked on the 'unpaid items' tab because I don't want to click through to anything that gives me a strike if there's a way of avoiding one.

If it were a private or small business seller I would probably have messaged them but this is a huge business seller so I can't see there's any excuse for ignoring my invoice requests.  If one staff member is dealing with an emergency then surely there should be someone else around, at least to acknowledge my request even if they don't have the authority to do an invoice.

Is there anything I can do without getting a strike?

soolin

Spoonie_Turtle said:

I put a few BIN items into my basket almost a week ago, twice asked for an invoice for combined total but no response.  The postage adds up to almost as much as the items cost -clothes, not even bulky or heavy items - otherwise I might just have taken the hit if it were a couple of pounds.

I haven't paid, obviously, but in my basket it says I've committed to buy and that to cancel it I'd have to go to customer service - I haven't yet looked on the 'unpaid items' tab because I don't want to click through to anything that gives me a strike if there's a way of avoiding one.

If it were a private or small business seller I would probably have messaged them but this is a huge business seller so I can't see there's any excuse for ignoring my invoice requests.  If one staff member is dealing with an emergency then surely there should be someone else around, at least to acknowledge my request even if they don't have the authority to do an invoice.

Is there anything I can do without getting a strike?

Have you actually bought the items, do they show in your purchase history?

Unfortunately unless the seller offered combined postage they are not obliged to combine, many large sellers don't combine as they just pick and pack. If you don't pay then seller can close the sale as soon as 4 days have elapsed- and you will get 2 strikes. Those 2 strikes will prevent you from bidding on many - possibly most sellers items. 

Spoonie_Turtle

soolin said:

Spoonie_Turtle said:

I put a few BIN items into my basket almost a week ago, twice asked for an invoice for combined total but no response.  The postage adds up to almost as much as the items cost -clothes, not even bulky or heavy items - otherwise I might just have taken the hit if it were a couple of pounds.

I haven't paid, obviously, but in my basket it says I've committed to buy and that to cancel it I'd have to go to customer service - I haven't yet looked on the 'unpaid items' tab because I don't want to click through to anything that gives me a strike if there's a way of avoiding one.

If it were a private or small business seller I would probably have messaged them but this is a huge business seller so I can't see there's any excuse for ignoring my invoice requests.  If one staff member is dealing with an emergency then surely there should be someone else around, at least to acknowledge my request even if they don't have the authority to do an invoice.

Is there anything I can do without getting a strike?

Have you actually bought the items, do they show in your purchase history?

Unfortunately unless the seller offered combined postage they are not obliged to combine, many large sellers don't combine as they just pick and pack. If you don't pay then seller can close the sale as soon as 4 days have elapsed- and you will get 2 strikes. Those 2 strikes will prevent you from bidding on many - possibly most sellers items. 

I understand they are not obliged to combine but I at least expect a response even if it's to say they don't, especially as I've requested a total twice.

The items show in my unpaid items section.

soolin

Spoonie_Turtle said:

soolin said:

Spoonie_Turtle said:

I put a few BIN items into my basket almost a week ago, twice asked for an invoice for combined total but no response.  The postage adds up to almost as much as the items cost -clothes, not even bulky or heavy items - otherwise I might just have taken the hit if it were a couple of pounds.

I haven't paid, obviously, but in my basket it says I've committed to buy and that to cancel it I'd have to go to customer service - I haven't yet looked on the 'unpaid items' tab because I don't want to click through to anything that gives me a strike if there's a way of avoiding one.

If it were a private or small business seller I would probably have messaged them but this is a huge business seller so I can't see there's any excuse for ignoring my invoice requests.  If one staff member is dealing with an emergency then surely there should be someone else around, at least to acknowledge my request even if they don't have the authority to do an invoice.

Is there anything I can do without getting a strike?

Have you actually bought the items, do they show in your purchase history?

Unfortunately unless the seller offered combined postage they are not obliged to combine, many large sellers don't combine as they just pick and pack. If you don't pay then seller can close the sale as soon as 4 days have elapsed- and you will get 2 strikes. Those 2 strikes will prevent you from bidding on many - possibly most sellers items. 

I understand they are not obliged to combine but I at least expect a response even if it's to say they don't, especially as I've requested a total twice.

The items show in my unpaid items section.

In that case you face a strike and seller now has the option to do that at any point as you are past the 4 days required for payment.  2 strikes won’t actually harm your account the only issue is as mentioned above many sellers, including me, exclude buyers with 2 or more strikes. 

For future reference it is always worth asking about a combined invoice before buying, not after. 

Spoonie_Turtle

soolin said:

Spoonie_Turtle said:

soolin said:

Spoonie_Turtle said:

I put a few BIN items into my basket almost a week ago, twice asked for an invoice for combined total but no response.  The postage adds up to almost as much as the items cost -clothes, not even bulky or heavy items - otherwise I might just have taken the hit if it were a couple of pounds.

I haven't paid, obviously, but in my basket it says I've committed to buy and that to cancel it I'd have to go to customer service - I haven't yet looked on the 'unpaid items' tab because I don't want to click through to anything that gives me a strike if there's a way of avoiding one.

If it were a private or small business seller I would probably have messaged them but this is a huge business seller so I can't see there's any excuse for ignoring my invoice requests.  If one staff member is dealing with an emergency then surely there should be someone else around, at least to acknowledge my request even if they don't have the authority to do an invoice.

Is there anything I can do without getting a strike?

Have you actually bought the items, do they show in your purchase history?

Unfortunately unless the seller offered combined postage they are not obliged to combine, many large sellers don't combine as they just pick and pack. If you don't pay then seller can close the sale as soon as 4 days have elapsed- and you will get 2 strikes. Those 2 strikes will prevent you from bidding on many - possibly most sellers items. 

I understand they are not obliged to combine but I at least expect a response even if it's to say they don't, especially as I've requested a total twice.

The items show in my unpaid items section.

In that case you face a strike and seller now has the option to do that at any point as you are past the 4 days required for payment.  2 strikes won’t actually harm your account the only issue is as mentioned above many sellers, including me, exclude buyers with 2 or more strikes. 

For future reference it is always worth asking about a combined invoice before buying, not after. 

With smaller businesses and private sellers I usually ask but I've only ever had 2 people (private sellers) tell me they don't combine postage.  Clearly my reasoning this time was faulty.  By now I'm just more annoyed that they've totally ignored my request, to be honest - even just issuing an invoice with the exact same amounts would have been a response!

soolin

Spoonie_Turtle said:

soolin said:

Spoonie_Turtle said:

soolin said:

Spoonie_Turtle said:

I put a few BIN items into my basket almost a week ago, twice asked for an invoice for combined total but no response.  The postage adds up to almost as much as the items cost -clothes, not even bulky or heavy items - otherwise I might just have taken the hit if it were a couple of pounds.

I haven't paid, obviously, but in my basket it says I've committed to buy and that to cancel it I'd have to go to customer service - I haven't yet looked on the 'unpaid items' tab because I don't want to click through to anything that gives me a strike if there's a way of avoiding one.

If it were a private or small business seller I would probably have messaged them but this is a huge business seller so I can't see there's any excuse for ignoring my invoice requests.  If one staff member is dealing with an emergency then surely there should be someone else around, at least to acknowledge my request even if they don't have the authority to do an invoice.

Is there anything I can do without getting a strike?

Have you actually bought the items, do they show in your purchase history?

Unfortunately unless the seller offered combined postage they are not obliged to combine, many large sellers don't combine as they just pick and pack. If you don't pay then seller can close the sale as soon as 4 days have elapsed- and you will get 2 strikes. Those 2 strikes will prevent you from bidding on many - possibly most sellers items. 

I understand they are not obliged to combine but I at least expect a response even if it's to say they don't, especially as I've requested a total twice.

The items show in my unpaid items section.

In that case you face a strike and seller now has the option to do that at any point as you are past the 4 days required for payment.  2 strikes won’t actually harm your account the only issue is as mentioned above many sellers, including me, exclude buyers with 2 or more strikes. 

For future reference it is always worth asking about a combined invoice before buying, not after. 

With smaller businesses and private sellers I usually ask but I've only ever had 2 people (private sellers) tell me they don't combine postage.  Clearly my reasoning this time was faulty.  By now I'm just more annoyed that they've totally ignored my request, to be honest - even just issuing an invoice with the exact same amounts would have been a response!

For some reason sellers seem to be discouraged from sending invoices now, I don’t know why. On one of my accounts my listings when I sell  say ‘ebay  have issued an invoice on your behalf, no further action required’. I always used to send invoices for everything sold via auction nowadays I tend not to bother unless someone doesn’t pay for a couple of days, then I send an invoice before giving them a strike purely because I don’t feel as guilty then. 

Spoonie_Turtle

soolin said:

Spoonie_Turtle said:

soolin said:

Spoonie_Turtle said:

soolin said:

Spoonie_Turtle said:

I put a few BIN items into my basket almost a week ago, twice asked for an invoice for combined total but no response.  The postage adds up to almost as much as the items cost -clothes, not even bulky or heavy items - otherwise I might just have taken the hit if it were a couple of pounds.

I haven't paid, obviously, but in my basket it says I've committed to buy and that to cancel it I'd have to go to customer service - I haven't yet looked on the 'unpaid items' tab because I don't want to click through to anything that gives me a strike if there's a way of avoiding one.

If it were a private or small business seller I would probably have messaged them but this is a huge business seller so I can't see there's any excuse for ignoring my invoice requests.  If one staff member is dealing with an emergency then surely there should be someone else around, at least to acknowledge my request even if they don't have the authority to do an invoice.

Is there anything I can do without getting a strike?

Have you actually bought the items, do they show in your purchase history?

Unfortunately unless the seller offered combined postage they are not obliged to combine, many large sellers don't combine as they just pick and pack. If you don't pay then seller can close the sale as soon as 4 days have elapsed- and you will get 2 strikes. Those 2 strikes will prevent you from bidding on many - possibly most sellers items. 

I understand they are not obliged to combine but I at least expect a response even if it's to say they don't, especially as I've requested a total twice.

The items show in my unpaid items section.

In that case you face a strike and seller now has the option to do that at any point as you are past the 4 days required for payment.  2 strikes won’t actually harm your account the only issue is as mentioned above many sellers, including me, exclude buyers with 2 or more strikes. 

For future reference it is always worth asking about a combined invoice before buying, not after. 

With smaller businesses and private sellers I usually ask but I've only ever had 2 people (private sellers) tell me they don't combine postage.  Clearly my reasoning this time was faulty.  By now I'm just more annoyed that they've totally ignored my request, to be honest - even just issuing an invoice with the exact same amounts would have been a response!

For some reason sellers seem to be discouraged from sending invoices now, I don’t know why. On one of my accounts my listings when I sell  say ‘ebay  have issued an invoice on your behalf, no further action required’. I always used to send invoices for everything sold via auction nowadays I tend not to bother unless someone doesn’t pay for a couple of days, then I send an invoice before giving them a strike purely because I don’t feel as guilty then. 

That's interesting, but I imagine if someone actually requests one you would respond - the copy of the message that came through (same as what's sent to the seller, because there's the option to tick to 'send a copy to my e-mail address') says "Action needed: Please send buyer total amount due.
Invoice request
A buyer has requested a total for their committed purchase"

eBay definitely haven't sent one on their behalf.

I guess I could pay then return using PayPal's Returns On Us so I wouldn't be out of pocket nor have a strike (I hope).  I can't imagine the seller would be out of pocket on initial postage costs either; there is no way a parcel containing 4 small items of cheap clothing can cost almost £15 to send via Hermes!

theoretica

If they are only in your basket and not bought you can open your basket and take them out again - or could last time I used it!

Spoonie_Turtle

theoretica said:

If they are only in your basket and not bought you can open your basket and take them out again - or could last time I used it!

No I can't - when I requested the invoice the first time I committed to buying them, which I thought would be fine because I assumed they would respond to the request.

cymruchris

If they are a big operation - it may be that items are pre-packed and across a warehouse - and when sold - it gets picked, labeled and dropped in post bag. (They might not even have all the items in the same warehouse - it might be that item one is in Birmingham, Item two is in Glasgow etc. - just because they advertise under one brand/username - doesn't mean everything is sat in a pile in one place waiting to go).

They might not have the 'system' in place to go here, there and back again trying to combine items into one pack - they sell at X price for the product and Y price for the postage - and that's the deal take it or leave it. It's certainly something you can ask about prior to purchase, but it's not necessarily something they'd be able to do easily. It is a bit off that you didn't get a reply - but you did commit to buying your X items with Y postages - that was the deal on offer - and that's what you bought - so for this one if they're not responding - I'd get it paid and done, and then in future, ask first. 

Spoonie_Turtle

cymruchris said:

If they are a big operation - it may be that items are pre-packed and across a warehouse - and when sold - it gets picked, labeled and dropped in post bag. (They might not even have all the items in the same warehouse - it might be that item one is in Birmingham, Item two is in Glasgow etc. - just because they advertise under one brand/username - doesn't mean everything is sat in a pile in one place waiting to go).

They might not have the 'system' in place to go here, there and back again trying to combine items into one pack - they sell at X price for the product and Y price for the postage - and that's the deal take it or leave it. It's certainly something you can ask about prior to purchase, but it's not necessarily something they'd be able to do easily. It is a bit off that you didn't get a reply - but you did commit to buying your X items with Y postages - that was the deal on offer - and that's what you bought - so for this one if they're not responding - I'd get it paid and done, and then in future, ask first. 

They do all have the same item location, so I naïvely assumed that items in a single order would have a single label generated and sent together like other non-eBay big businesses.  Still, you live and learn I suppose.