eBay Combined Postage Problem

zackary71

Hi. Seeking help and advice from members please, as eBay website Help page hasn't solved the conundrum. 
When Buyers add multiple items to Basket, the option isn't offered to request a combined Invoice from the Seller. I have 'Combined Postage' set, but it means I'm having to do manual partial refunds for multiple purchases.  This costs me more, as I incur the 25p flat fee each time. 
The only thing I thought might be the issue is I also have 'Immediate Payment' set on B.I.N. listings. Could this be the spanner in the works, as Buyers are automatically directed to Payment page ? Appreciate any help.

tightauldgit

I think if buyers are doing BIN separately on the items then they'll be paying in full up front each time but not sure. 

goodfella66

The "Immediate Payment" setting may be the problem if buyers are using the Buy-It-Now option rather than putting the items in their basket to pay for them altogether. 

I don't bother with the immediate payment setting as you get very few buyers who don't pay. Those that don't are either from auctions or GSP usually.

zackary71

goodfella66 said:

The "Immediate Payment" setting may be the problem if buyers are using the Buy-It-Now option rather than putting the items in their basket to pay for them altogether. 

I don't bother with the immediate payment setting as you get very few buyers who don't pay. Those that don't are either from auctions or GSP usually.

Thanks. Yes, I've taught Buyers through 'Add to Basket' but still doesn't offer the Invoice Request option. Think I'll just remove the Immediate Payment tick box going forward.

martindow

Removing immediate payment could solve the combined postage problem, but it would leave you open to buyers not paying for orders at all.  Judging by other threads this seems to be an increasing problem and the suggested remedy is to ask for immediate payment!

soolin

There is absolutely no way I’d allow people to buy something on a BIN and not pay immediately, I already have far too high a percentage of buyers not bothering to pay after accepting or having an offer accepted. I’d rather lose the 30p transaction fee and just refund the rest of the overpayment. 

jon81uk

If you aren't promising comibined payment and the buyers are happy paying the quoted price for the items and postage I wouldn't bother with refunding. Only if someone messages to ask upfront (in which case the immediate payment option needs to be off to allow you to invoice) for combined postage is it worth doing.

zackary71

Problem solved.
Thanks for all your comments and feedback. So it was the 'Immediate Payment' setting which was the issue. Obviously don't want to lose that. I already include text offering combined postage,  but now I include a message asking Buyers to message me with item numbers/ products. I simply remove the 'Pay Immediately' tick box, the Buyer adds to Basket and the 'Request Total Payment from Seller' option appears straight away. Quick and painless. If they don't proceed to purchase, I just revert the Payment settings back.

GrubbyGirl_2

Why not add the postage to the price and offer free postage? Problem solved. 

Rantband

GrubbyGirl_2 said:

Why not add the postage to the price and offer free postage? Problem solved. 

Because you are lying and conning all your customers - the correct offer would be price includes postage, it is certainly NOT free postage if added to the selling price.

A_Frayed_Knot

jon81uk said:

If you aren't promising comibined payment and the buyers are happy paying the quoted price for the items and postage I wouldn't bother with refunding. Only if someone messages to ask upfront (in which case the immediate payment option needs to be off to allow you to invoice) for combined postage is it worth doing.

In my haste - A buyer bought an item from me and I was all ready to head to post office when they bought another item from me, so I popped the wrapped one along with the other item just bought and posted the two together, with the intention of refunding the difference - then I forgot to do so when I arrived home. Result - My first Negative.