posted on January 10, 2011 11:49:46 AM new
Wow, this is a new one. This buyer buys 3 items all are free shipping. Pays for 2 (separate payments) and then emails me the following:
"Hi! I am purchasing 3 sets of the XXXX you have for sale. I wanted to contact you and see if you would be willing to compromise on the shipping costs since I am buying 3 sets at one time. If you would be willing to refund some of the shipping costs back to my pay pal account that would be very much appreciated. I will leave the amount up to you since I do not now your exact shipping costs. Thank you very much and I look forward to receiving them!"
Naturally, I prefer to ship all 3 items together to save some on shipping costs and I wouldn't have a problem issuing a small credit back to a buyer, but shouldn't she have emailed me prior to purchasing these and paying for them individually? Seems a bit tacky if you ask me.
posted on January 10, 2011 12:55:11 PM new
How interesting!
There was a thread on the EBay discussion Boards some time in the last month either the Stores Board or Seller central (those are tho only ones I read) that had the exact same situation. I can't find it now.
The Buyer sent an e-mail identical to the one you received. It may be the same buyer and they may have found a great way to save even more money assuming Sellers go along with her idea!
posted on January 10, 2011 01:34:00 PM new
Seasoned buyers know sellers often mark up the opening bid price to cover free shipping. This turkey wants you to rebate the free shipping on one item I would tell them no deal.
posted on January 10, 2011 01:43:53 PM new
You should ask eBay customer service about this request. Perhaps they have some advice on how to proceed. I'm curious if eBay would help remove a negative in this situation.
posted on January 10, 2011 01:50:00 PM new
One thing I thought of was that I should also get a refund on the FVFs if I offer a further discount. This is of course if I go through the trouble of requesting such refund.
The issue I have is that this was done after the fact and it will require additional work for me to offer such a discount. I would have to refund her the two payments, send a new invoice, etc.
posted on January 10, 2011 03:55:09 PM new
I would not put myself through the work involved.
I also agree with Bill that it would be valuable to know what EBay would do if you got a less than perfect Feedback just for saying no.
I have been trying to find that thread on the EBay boards but no luck yet.
posted on January 10, 2011 05:12:01 PM new
WOW A discount on free shipping what next? If sellers do not draw the line soon they will be giving items away at whatever bidders want to pay.
I sell on eBay to make money not to give items away and pay the shipping too. If I want to work for free I will work for a charity or some place where they will appreciate my time.
posted on January 10, 2011 07:31:56 PM new
I have no issues in offering a discount for shipping if I am shipping 3 items together. I offer free shipping so that I receive 5.0 on shipping fees. I tend to ship numerous Over size packages and I have had problems with getting good ratings because many buyers don't understand that it can be expensive to ship larger pieces. Lamps, particularly lampshades can seem very expensive to buyers. A lampshade that measures 14 inches diameter x 1-12 inches wide can weigh only 2 pounds, but gets rated at OS2, which is like shipping a 30 pound package.
When I offer free shipping, I most definitely include my shipping costs. It isn't a big deal to me to offer a shipping discount if I can pack everything together... but there is right way to do it.
1) Ask before using Buy It Now. For one thing, not everything can be combined. 2) If you want a discount, don't make the seller work more to provide it. They bid on 3 items, paid for 2 and then asked for a partial refund??? Now I have to 1) issue full refunds on two items 2) send a combined invoice for 3 items 3) seek a partial refund from eBay for the price items actually sold 4) locate a box that these items can be combined in.
Sure, if I went ahead with how she purchased everything I would have to pack them individually, but that isn't a big deal. Amazingly, she'll only save about $8 by having me do all of this. A single item is about $8 to ship or all 3 separately for about $24. Together it is about $16.
posted on January 11, 2011 05:40:57 AM new
If you have been paid for the 3 items I would ignore the request for a refund to see if you get a second email from them. This one may be the threat to withhold FB or give you a neg. Don't be too hasty to refund and if you do think small 3-4 bucks tops!
posted on January 11, 2011 08:18:23 AM new
I think you have to ask yourself if you want this woman back as a repeat buyer. If you do, sure, give her back some of the money she didn't pay for shipping.
If the answer is "No, her behavior is unacceptable" then a simple "I'm sorry, we don't do business that way" response is appropriate. Then if she doesn't pay for #3 your path is clear.
A partial refund by any other name still stinks, in my opinion. I keep forgetting what a different world eBay has become -- in thousands of transactions on my website I've never had anyone ask for a partial refund.
posted on January 11, 2011 04:29:09 PM new
Also, when discussing refunds or partial refunds on PayPal, you do not get the full amount refunded to you.PayPal keeps a portion. I did not realize that until a little while ago when I was refunding people that paid for 2 or 3 items separately but wanted discounted shipping. In order to cover myself for DC, I refunded their payments and sent one combined invoice and only then did I realize that PayPal had kept part of the payment on each one. I went and read the rules and there it was!! I don't remember the amount, but ain't going to happen again.
posted on January 12, 2011 06:40:34 AM new
Paypal changed the refund policy last year,it is behaving more and more like a credit card provider,when you make a refund,it is a credit entry and they charge a smaller discount fee than a debit entry.
Whoever is or are the merchant account provider(s) of Paypal,charge Paypal for refund,so Paypal starts charging us!
*
There is no 'Global savings glut',only wild horses and loose bankers.
posted on January 12, 2011 06:46:18 AM new
Asking for partial refund?
There is another way to ask for a partial refund,like 'I have not left any feedfback yet,but when I was taking a shower,I notice the gold color (or silver color) washed off,is this really silver (or gold)?
*
There is no 'Global savings glut',only wild horses and loose bankers.
posted on January 12, 2011 10:01:40 AM new
I had another buyer directly email me to purchase an item outside of the eBay venue where she saw it. She didn't have an account, didn't have paypal and wanted to pay using AMEX. I directed her properly and she signed up, did buy it now, and paid promptly. $90 enamelware bowl including "free" shipping.
In the process of reviewing everything I noticed that I had two other offers... both were less than what the shipping rate was for me to ship it. As if someone would sell something weighing 4+ lbs for $10 and then ship it for free. LOL.
I get my fair share of offers that don't cover shipping costs. I guess some buyers assume that free means it costs nothing to ship it. The shipping fairy must show up one day and drop it off at their home the next day (I get a 4 star DSR for shipping time for this prompt service).
posted on January 12, 2011 10:37:35 AM new
We can debate those stupid stars forever and I certainly like doing so since it shows by all sorts of examples how ridiculous and unhelpful to anyone, buyer or seller, they are.
I got my first neg in 3 years from a buyer that said she did not receive an item. DC said she did. She was very mean in all correspondences, I was polite and cool (never know who is going to review these emails, I am thinking no one ever does). Her neg said I was "unkind and rude" It was an $8.00 item. She never gave me a chance to work something out with her.I called Ebay to see if the FB could be removed since the words were untrue. In short, "NO." I asked about the stars, they said she did not post any stars. Well she must have because I got 1s in all categories that showed up the next day. No other FBs have been left and others prior to that one were glowing.She gave me a 1 in shipping time when it was shipped 12 hours after she paid.
Like I said at the beginning of this ramble, we can debate and debate the fairness and usefulness of the stars, but Ebay doesn't give a rat's patuttie!!
posted on January 12, 2011 11:45:11 AM new
Stars are useful to eBay they keep sellers from committing well deserved rash acts of rudeness to rude people. Instead of telling rude customers to go fornicate themselves some of you combine shipping, offer part refunds etc, etc. Listen to fluffy she's trying to help you.
posted on January 12, 2011 12:54:17 PM new
"I keep forgetting what a different world eBay has become -- in thousands of transactions on my website I've never had anyone ask for a partial refund." Fluff is right.
Did some after Christmas shopping on the "web" Was looking for a certain Pandora charm for my sister. Not one that is hard to find. Thought I could find a bargain on Ebay, nah, people bid it up to close to retail and it still had several days to go, so I went to an Authorized Pandora retailer online and bought it, Free shipping and no waiting for the auction to end at perhaps higher than retail.
Daughter #2 decided after Christmas that she wanted a FLIP camcorder. After looking at both Ebay and Amazon and wading through all sorts of old models (some refurbished, which was only mentioned in tiny print at the bottom of the ad/ this was Amazon)bought it at Staples. Cheapest price for 3rd generation, 8 GB and 2 hours and again, free delivery.
Daughter #1 decided she really did need those UGG boots even though you can't wear them in the snow which is all we ever have any more.Again, tried the Amazon, Ebay route, but could not find exactly what she wanted, went to Zappos, free delivery and free shipping on returns, no questions asked!!
So, Fluff nailed it. No one haggles on other websites. If you find the deal you want, you buy it. I don't mind haggling, I think it is the flea market / yard sale mentality of Ebay, but do it prior to the sale. Make your deal before you buy.
And, yes, perhaps the stars work for Ebay, but they do not work for an honest, kind seller that gets jerked around by a rude, dishonest buyer.
posted on January 16, 2011 05:10:50 PM new
Update on my non Ebay internet shopping spree: Ugg boots from Zappos arrived 2 days after purchase at my daughter's house, FLIP camcorders from Staples arrived 2 days after ordering, Pandora charm arrived at my sister's house 4 days after ordering. Plus, the charm retailed for $35, + free shipping at the authorized retailer I bought it from new, in box. The one I was bidding on at Ebay was new, but no box. It sold for $42.50 + 3.00 shipping!! And, I would have had to wait until today to pay over retail instead of buying it 6 days ago. Good for the seller, but buyers beware before you keep bidding.
posted on January 18, 2011 09:14:25 PM new
When I get an e-mail(excuse me....message through the Ebay servers) that's crazy, like this one...the very first thing I do is add that user to my banned bidder list.
posted on January 20, 2011 08:31:16 AM new
she ended up having each package shipped separately after i told her what i had to do for her to save $8. i'm not sure why she thought she would save a ton of money.
watchguy- the problem is that she already purchased the items. my issue was that she didn't extend the courtesy of asking before bidding.
posted on January 20, 2011 08:52:03 AM new
" ... my issue was that she didn't extend the courtesy of asking before bidding."
She probably purchased each item without any forethought. Then, when she proceeded to make payment for each item, realized that most likely, the shipping cost of each item was folded into the selling price.
So, she followed the old adage - you never know until you ask. Many eBay sellers would just give the reduced price to her.
posted on January 21, 2011 08:41:45 AM new
"Many eBay sellers would just give the reduced price to her."
That wasn't as clear as intended. Many eBay sellers would reduce shipping in an attempt to receive positive feedback, and in hope for higher star ratings - even lose money in doing so.
posted on January 21, 2011 08:44:34 AM new
I'm waiting for the day that a buyer emails me and says, "I know you offer free shipping, but I am located in Seattle and know that it costs 1/3 of what it ships this item to New York. Please give me a 66% discount on your shipping costs.
Trust me... when that happens, everyone will know.
posted on February 5, 2011 02:21:10 PM new
It figures it would come to this. ebay encourages sellers to give free shipping, and buyers expect sellers to pay them for the privilege of sending items to them.
posted on February 24, 2011 01:16:32 AM new
why would anyone offer free shipping. This just allows ebay to make money off of your shipping.
If I offer a $10 item for $15.88 and use "free shipping", I pay ebay final fees off of $15.88, not $10.
Feebay get extra 50%+ fees off of your sale. I have only sold 5 items with free shipping, and that was by accident.
