NEW FVF on postage system A TOTAL MESS

[chameleon54]

I,m trying to work my way through a range of problems with the new FVF system on postage and just finding it a mess. I,ve had a buyer purchase a range of items and pay for them individually. Then they ask for combined post discount. If I do a partial refund, I need to PHONE CUSTOMER SUPPORT ( What the !!! ) to explain what has happened to claim back fees. Questions are being raised on other threads about normal combined post. Are we charged the FVF on total original listed price or combined invoice ? Lots of confusion and different answers depending on who you ask. I,ve had a number of international sales the last few days. With AP's ridiculous costs ( to make up for China imports )  and ebays 10% FVF on international post charges, the costs are out of this world. Frankly I'm embarassed to send the invoices.  COME ON EBAY - Issue some statements to clear up the confusion, answer some of the commonly asked questions ( REAL ANSWERS not just some airy fairy spin to try to deflect criticism ) and review the 10% FVF on International postage costs to bring your policy into line with what you offer sellers in other countries. YES I'M FRUSTRATED AND ANGRY !!!!!

[chameleon54]

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@*crikey*mate* wrote:

see above

fees on postage are NOT attirbuted to your account until the cistomer goes through checkout and pays

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This still raises the problem of buyers paying before items are combined and then requesting a postage refund. I had quite a big one of these today, but is it worth me spending 10-15 minutes contacting CS to have a few dollars refunded to my account ? Time is money, but it annoys me to let ebay get away with this little rip off. Either way its just going to leave me feeling grumpy.

[jorayjen-1]

Gday again,

I checked my activity account and, after noticing that there was fvf on shipping listed after each of the three items (with differing amounts according to individual postage costs), rang CS and was just letting you know how my transaction had worked.

Maybe they are doing it differently for ithers, bt this was my experience.

Take Care

Jo

[jorayjen-1]

Just checked my Account Activity - and the fvf fee for the individual items have now been credited back to my account 

Jo

[digital*ghost]

The three biggest improvements eBay could now (realistically 😄 ) make to the site would be to get rid of the "Buy Now" button so that there is only 'Add to cart', plus make it so that clicking 'Add to cart' doesn't load the cart, but keeps you on the same page so that you can continue to easily navigate a seller's store, plus not only should you be able to see that the number of items in cart via the icon on the top right, it would be neat if you could mouse-over it for a quick summary of those items.

IMHO, that would cut down a lot of the separate payment issues. The postage total (where applicable) could probably stand to be updated and more clearly indicate that it's a preliminary figure if auto-discounts aren't in place, with a prominent 'request invoice' button. 

[jorayjen-1]

The Request Total button in Shopping Cart would be wonderful digital ghost.

At the moment the Shopping Cart does not allow for combining postage though... so, when asked by Buyers, I suggest they use the BIN button instead. - Jo

[*crikey*mate*]

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@chameleon54 wrote:

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@*crikey*mate* wrote:

see above

fees on postage are NOT attirbuted to your account until the cistomer goes through checkout and pays

---

This still raises the problem of buyers paying before items are combined and then requesting a postage refund. I had quite a big one of these today, but is it worth me spending 10-15 minutes contacting CS to have a few dollars refunded to my account ? Time is money, but it annoys me to let ebay get away with this little rip off. Either way its just going to leave me feeling grumpy.

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I know.

and as it stands at the moment, it is a case of "suck it up" it appears, however, hoping this will go back to the table for a system similar to UK's

on the surface with what is in place atm, you don't have to ring, you just fill in an email through CS - maybe even have a template ready to go? but no confirmation that this type of fee credit has been approved yet

also see this from ebay's perspective.

every time someone does pay, the fees are charged. Now it takes more work for them to go back and adjust the fees if people ask for a credit

how many times a day do you think this would happen? Reckon they'd need a whole department and three guesses how they would recoup the costs of staffing that, eh?

ya know, to be fair, when should eBay apply the fees? (never is a desirable option LOL, but I doubt it is an option LOLOLOL) how are they supposed to know what a seller or buyer is going to negotiate after payment?

I don't think it is an intended "rip off" just a pragmatic business solution to be honest.

Hoping it doesn't, but it might just be a case of sayiong to our customers "sorry, the eBay system will not let me combine shipping after payment" or the seller may have to decide if for the sake of good will, they will absorb the cost themselves.

on the surface, i agree, not fair - but....

in time, maybe we will get the system like in the UK where everything goes through the cart first (it's being introduiced there any minute now)

I have started really emphasizing the cart and listing BINs with immediate payment - NFI how it will go yet, just started today and it is still in the works and will no doubt need tweaking, but happy to share with you what I'm doing if you want.

but I have emphasized it prominately in my shop the BIN auto thing and if they want more than one item to use the cart and then give cart instructions.

hopefully most will see it

also trying to work Combined postage available into my titles - and in a way that they know it only applies if they contact me before payment - just need to refine my statement and minimize the letters LOL

[desolate-sellable]

What a JOKE

eBay this may be the last straw.

I pay as I go Why would I want my eBay INVOICE to be charged Postage

What a MESS

[chameleon54]

Crikey, Thanks for your kind offer of advice on the cart system. I have to admit that I know nothing at all about computers & carts ( and my mature aged male customers generally know a little less. ) so will probably leave things as is for now. I will certianly keep you in mind if I need to make changes.

[davewil1964]

There is nothing stopping you from transferring the postage part of a payment into your eBay account, therefore effectively paying as you go.

The difference is that instead of it automatically being deducted from your Paypal account you have to click about three buttons. For a postage cost that is now considerably less than using any other AP service. Other than own packaging.

If, of course, your time is worth more than $120 per hour (assuming it takes 24 seconds to do 3 clicks for a satchel, comparing satchels) then go for it. Or work out what time it takes to find and package 'own'.

I'll use the eBay system thanks.

[ejholden1963]

WOW .... Somebody is certainly watching over me then .....

I make it clear in my listings that I will combine postage as long as buyers contact me for an invoice before using checkout.

I have had one buyer pay for items individually & I just reversed the PayPal payments, added the 30c PP fees to additional charges on the invoice & sent it. The difference in cost was still vastly different & the buyer learned a valuable lesson which has earned me his gratitude & hopefully further custom.

ebay charged the shipping FVF on the postage charged on the invoice.

desolate-sellable

I just transfer funds from PayPal to my ebay account as each transaction is finalised.

I have an indisputable paper trail so if the ebay accounting system fouls up, problem belong them.

More work for ebay maybe .... but that's what they get paid for, isn't it?

davewil1964

I guess my time is more valuable than most, now my use by date has more of less been confirmed.

However, I will still continue to use ebay "own packaging" for now. It will be interesting to see if they support <500gm when the grace period ends. If they don't, AP Click & Send does, so it will just mean that ebay misses out on that turnover .... & that is what this exercise is all about .... being able to report an increase in turnover to Wall St. at the next Qtly Report.