How to combine postage on free postage items?

[fmurphy2005]

Hi everyone, I got sucked into offering free postage for my car posters because eBay said it would be better for my listings and rating, and I wanted to give it a try.  But just I had anticipated, people are still buying multiple items from me at once and I haven't been able to try sending the invoice correctly because people pay for all the items too quickly, resulting in me refunding the triple postage paid.

So I was wondering if someone could give me a few pointers on how to send the correct invoice which removes all the built-in shipping costs from the three items?

Imagine the total of 3 items is $30 ($10 each, or $18 each with free postage on each) but in reality the postage is only $8 for all 3.  The invoice comes up as $54 but I want it to now total $38.  How would I do that?  Do I use the discount field and put in -16?  I just want to make sure I know what I'm doing.

Also, I'm thinking of going back to having separate postage prices because I want to be more transparent to my customers.  What is your opinion as a fellow seller or buyer?

Thanks in advance!

Andrew.

[phorum_junkie*]

I have had free post on my store items for a very long time but I msake it very clear that there are no discounts available for free post items.

I have never had a complaint and my feedback has remained neg and neut free.

[ms_aussie]

I get your point but I sell clothing and my customers have to read the description as it contains vital information regarding measurements & sizing. Even so I did put the message in my listing in very large bold print. So here's hoping 🙂

Have a great day.

[fmurphy2005]

ms_aussie, I think that will be fine, but still expect some queries about it (see below)!

clarry100, very true.  I have info on my listings which discusses discounts and bundling, yet people keep messaging me asking about if I do deals for multi-purchases and if I can bundle items.  One person even left a negative comment on my other account saying they would have bought more if my items were cheaper.  I feel that doesn't warrant a red mark on my profile, but as a seller I'm quite powerless!  They didn't read the discount info!

beautbots01, thank you for the heads up on that.  Sounds quite unfair of eBay, but glad we can get around it by having separate postage.

[fmurphy2005]

I just got an email from eBay suggesting that having a "Top Rated Plus Seal is important to buyers when they shop on eBay."

I wonder really how important it is to buyers.  Sounds ridiculous.  I don't look at any of that stuff when I'm buying, I just look through the comments to see if positive outweighs bad, and what the responses to the negative ones were.

In order to gain this I have to have free shipping on all my items.  Looks like I will just have to go without it!