Invoicing

[gnik5126]

Hi everybody, I have never been here before and I have a question regarding invoicing as follows.......

I have sold an item at auction and the buyer has asked for another item, ie. two of the same, I am happy to oblige but I don't know how to invoice for two of the same items on the one invoice as there doesn't seem to be any way of doing it in the invoice section.

Can sombody please explain to me how to invoice the buyer as soon as possible so that I don't look like a complete idiot. The buyer is waiting for their invoice right now.

Thank you all, I've only just started selling and I just don't know how to do it!

[putney32]

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@gnik5126 wrote:

Well I have forwarded on the invoice to my buyer as suggested earlier by sombody more experienced than myself and I just added it to the invoice in the plus/minus box, I really don't know just what all the fuss is about, as I've added it to the invoice, the sale is going through Ebay, so I'm not doing them out of any precious cash, however my invoice can still only show one item to the buyer even though I have charged them for two. Because of the unprofessional invoice that displays this, the buyer has an invioce which does not display the true details of the sale and I as a seller have had to supply them with a **bleep**py invoice, which probably is illegal in this country anyway.

Surely Ebay could do better than this and spend a few bucks to have their software updated considering the size of the Ebay corporation and the revenue that they enjoy collecting from us lot. 

I really only want to do the right thing by everybody......buyer, seller and Ebay....but.....

Thanks for all comments!

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the 'right thing by eBay' would be to pay the final value fee on the TWO items sold, by listing anothr one with buy it now so your buyer could buy it thru eBay and you could pay the fvf on the two sales, and send a combined invoice that looked professional

as it is you have only invoiced the ONE item and will only pay the ONE item fvf.

[gnik5126]

I am trying to do "the right thing" and I did not realise that was the case that Ebay would only collect revenue for one item if two items ended up on the invoice, as this problem has not arisen for me before and as I couldn't find much to help me with it on Ebay after much looking, I took the advise of a more experienced member, that's why I turned to this forum for advise in the first place.

Please tell me why the invoice could not have the amount of items upgraded to reflect the true sale in one operation with all the funds going through Ebay anyway instead of going through the palarver of listing extra items especially for one person, all seems so messy and inefficient.

[jawsnine]

When you pay to have a store you can list multiples of each item and the buyer can choose to buy as many as you have. They then get the professional looking invoice stating however many that they have purchased. Without the store you are limited to one of each item and can only relist another once that one is sold.

[digital*ghost]

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@gnik5126 wrote:

Please tell me why the invoice could not have the amount of items upgraded to reflect the true sale in one operation with all the funds going through Ebay anyway instead of going through the palarver of listing extra items especially for one person, all seems so messy and inefficient.

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Because eBay doesn't work that way - a buyer purchases an item, they confirm and form a contract with you based on what is outlined in a listing, one which they expressly agree to. If, after they agree to buy an item, the seller had free reign to invoice for more items not detailed in the listing and the subject of the contract being formed, there are a variety of problems it could cause, so despite the system not being quite suitable to your need, it prevents messier situations than the ones it creates.

[gnik5126]

So to carify just so that I get this right....as an example, if I have say 30 single items for sale all the same that a buyer could choose either one or want more than one, it would seem that the only way to actually do it would be to....list all 30 items in 30 separate auctions at the same price, and just let the buyer bid/buy on as many auctions as they wish and then once a particular buyer has bid or chosen the amount of items that they require, then just combine thier invoice to them? I would assume that the invoice would then show the correct amount of items and price.

I guess then it is up to the buyer to let you know when he/she has actually finished bidding/buying so that you then can forward an invoice to them.

It would seem then digital*ghost that this would be the only 'legal" way in what you are advocating, is that correct, please advise. Thanks.

[davewil1964]

If they are all auctions - yes.

I would expect a buyer wanting several of an item would contact you and agree a price. You would then list as a BIN for the agreed quantity and price, advise the buyer as to the item number, they would buy and there would be no need for you to even send an invoice as all the necessary info would be in the listing and they could just proceed through checkout.

[gnik5126]

Okay then, I will list them all in separate auctions and if anyone contacts me for more then I will obviously have to list a BIN for the agreed quantity and price and just hope that the paricular person gets to it before any others.

[davewil1964]

Yep. And there are ways to ensure nobody else bids. Like putting a massive price on with best offer, and only accepting the offer from the agreed buyer. Easy. Or do BINs to start. They eat into your listing limits if you have multiples, but I'm fairly sure they don't eat into your freebies.

Why do you auction? Do you get better prices?

Anecdotally auctions are, at best, loss leaders these days.

[gnik5126 · Accepted solution]

Yeah, it is...what it is  -  one must get over it and move on. Thanks to all!