double purchase

[leorx]

Something is wrong with Ebay Lately.  I accidentally double purchased items twice in two days.

The first one was at check out,  ebay wouldn't let me pay for the items as the seller put down "freight" and wants me to press the "request for total" button.  After I click on the request for total button, it took me back to the same page.  It was then, I realised the delivery address I've given on the transaction was my work address.  So, I updated my address and clicked on "request for total" again.  The glitch aside, how could ebay possibly made me commit to a purchase without getting the freight cost from the seller.  its crazy.  what if the seller tells me its 1 billion dollars for freight, am I still legaly bound to purchase the item?

The second time was through its mobile app.  after I click "place order", it showed an error and took me back to the same check out page.  so I pressed it again, now I have two purchases on my account!  What is going on here!?

I've sent emails to each seller.  hopfuly they are understanding and allow me to cancel the orders.  EBAY please fix these glitches, I've been a long time ebay shopper and never had this kind of issues before.

[lyndal1838]

---

@typhoon4u wrote:

I asked the seller.....

Said he couldn't see what I had in the cart.......

It all go too hard and I moved on....

---

Yes, it is true that the seller cannot see what is in your cart.

You need to open the listing and go to the Ask Seller A Question link at the bottom of the page before you commit to buy.

The only real function of the Cart is to be able to combine items.....either from the same seller or from different sellers (very useful if you want to maximise the use of a discount voucher IMO).

If you don't want a combined invoice just bypass the cart and use the BIN button which takes you directly through Checkout.

[leorx]

Electronic shopping is based on real life shopping experince.  If my credit card scan didn't work the first time at Woolworth, how can I possibly go to the bank to see if my card has been charged, then come back to Woolworth to and purchase it again.  What is in my shopping cart is what is in it.  Swipe it again does not mean I go and get the gazillion items I've put in my shopping cart.

the item in question is 

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/DARCHE-AT-4-AIR-TENT-4-PERSON-NEW-MODEL-INFLATABLE-TENT-WITH-PUMP-/281966...

Anyway,  I have sent email to both seller.  hopfuly the seller understand it an update the purchases.  It is a glitch within ebay I hope they can fix this up to avoid further issues.  this is the first time that happened to me after 600+ purchases!

[digital*ghost]

---

@leorx wrote:

Electronic shopping is based on real life shopping experince.  If my credit card scan didn't work the first time at Woolworth, how can I possibly go to the bank to see if my card has been charged, then come back to Woolworth to and purchase it again.  

---

Not really a good comparison - we're talking about electronic functions, not the entire experience of shopping, and online shopping doesn't exactly mirror shopping in stores - you don't have to go anywhere to check if something you told a website to do was actually done, you just have to click to go to your account (in saying that, it's also possible to do that in a store. I used my phone recently to check my bank balance after an ATM failed to dispense the cash I withdrew). 

Just thought I'd mention the seller of the tent currently has their store in holiday mode until the 16th, so while I'm sure they'll be able to help resolve this, they may not be able to respond immediately. 

[digital*ghost]

---

@typhoon4u wrote:

Slightly off topic, but how crazy is it that you have to "Commit to buy" to find out what the postage/freight cost is?

Surely there is some trade practices act breach there....

I've come up against this a couple of times and just backed out of the deal.

---

When eBay first introduced the cart and the 'request total' button, I said it would make things so much easier for everyone if it worked more like a 'request quote' function without purchasing the items, but eBay never listens to me. 

As others have said, the only way now is to message the seller directly without buying it - rate tables eliminate the need for having to request a quote, but I guess they're not always suitable, plus it makes items show as 'free postage' in search results (the P&H shows properly once you view the listing, though). 

There are a lot of wholesalers who can't / won't provide the postage amount on an invoice until you submit an order, personally I couldn't buy like that, unless I was very familiar with the business. 

[leorx]

I've submitted this feed back to ebay.

I understand how electronic function works.  same as when you press submit button multiple times, it literally submit whatever multiple times.  the problem is the programming of the solution.  

In this case.  each time a item is added to shopping cart, there should be a unique identifier created.  it will avoid situation such as this and ensure only items are only processed once.  its a system issue and the system should be created to safeguard this, especially you can't expect everyone have perfect internet connection for all ebay clients.

imagine a system allows you to put in 10% off promo code multiple times without the checks to prevent you doing it.  it will be a day I'll give my finger a work out when that happens.  

Also, I only noticed the seller was not in store after i already committed to buy and needed to request for total.  I was trying to purchase the item before the 10% promo expired.  😞  my bad for not see this earlier.  the commited to buy should only comes in after request for total.

However, the reason I pressed request for total twice was because i noticed the delivery address was incorrect.  I assume this is important as the need to request for total is due to the delivery cost for one single item.  its only normal to update the address to request for total again.

[springyzone]

you need to "commit to buy" your order even before you know the postage discount or even if the seller is going to give one at all. So you have no idea of the total price, but you're expected to commit to the purchase..

The system is broken....

-------------------------------

I agree.

I have been on a couple of other websites-not many, mind you, but the occasional one-where they haven't shown the postage cost. They expect you to hand over credit card details etc then I presume it  takes you to the total cost, including postage.

I don't usually get that far as it turns me off buying. Of course most people want to know freight charges before they commit.

[*tippy*toes*]

A seller on the sellers forum put up a thread about double orders, I wonder if this is what happened with his buyers?

[panoramic7]

I'm a seller of mostly freight items. Buyers do have to contact me to find out the freight cost, as I cannot automatically have the listing calculate for Startrack, and the cost varies dramatically depending on a buyers location. It's pretty easy to just send the seller a message and ask the post cost (remember to tell the seller your post code/suburb). Do this before you buy. 

Sellers cannot see items in your cart. Putting an item in your cart is not committing to buying. Clicking Buy It Now is a commitment. 

[leorx]

I must admit ive never really purchased bulky items that requires freght. Or at least run in to situation like this. Its a little late now. The seller is also away and will not be back till next week. Ebay is constantly hassling me to pay for the item, but i cant because the seller hasnt responded to my request for total and wont let me pay. Now you see how broken the system is.
On the other hand. If i commited to buy during the 10% off promo period. I should probably retain the offer even if i pay for it next week. But i very doubt this will be the case. Ill try regardless.

[lyndal1838]

---

@leorx wrote:
I must admit ive never really purchased bulky items that requires freght. Or at least run in to situation like this. Its a little late now. The seller is also away and will not be back till next week. Ebay is constantly hassling me to pay for the item, but i cant because the seller hasnt responded to my request for total and wont let me pay. Now you see how broken the system is.
On the other hand. If i commited to buy during the 10% off promo period. I should probably retain the offer even if i pay for it next week. But i very doubt this will be the case. Ill try regardless.

---

To use the 10% discount offer you have to have bought and paid for the item before midnight on the last day of the offer....the code becomes invalid after midnight.

If you wanted to use the discount offer you should have bought from a seller who was not away....or at least ordered early enough for the freight charges to be added.

Ebay is not hassling you to pay....they send one reminder after 48 hours and that is it.  It is completely automated and you will hear nothing more from them.