shipping cost stated in the listing is higher than the actual shipping cost

[ric88b]

What if I charge more in the listing,and the buyer bought 3 of my listing items and paid the shipping separately but apparently, the actual shipping cost in much lower because I combined the shipping. Can the buyer ask for refunding the rest of it?

[2106greencat]

The buyer can,  but you should do it without waiting to be asked. Once you know the postage, factor in a small amount for handling and materials, then refund the difference. Put a note in with your parcel advising the buyer that $xx amount has been refunded to their paypal account as postage only cost $xx. You should get 5 stars and a big green dot if you do it without being asked.

[digital*ghost]

When a buyer purchases and pays for items separately, I usually send them a message explaining that I can refund X postage if I send them in one parcel. Then I say that to avoid delays in postage, I will send them separately if no reply by a certain time, which is when I will package and post the items (I try to leave at least a 4 hour window). Sometimes people get back to me and say, yes, please send together, sometimes I get no reply, even if there's been more than a day for them to (eg over a weekend).

I do that because, if a buyer pays for separate postage and without a reply telling me otherwise, I have to presume they paid for individual postage because they want them packaged and posted separately, even if they are all going to the same address. 

[motherbear2003]

If items are paid for separately my understanding is that they are supposed to be sent separately otherwise your seller protection under PayPal is null and void.  I do stand to be corrected on this:-)

[digital*ghost]

If items are paid for separately my understanding is that they are supposed to be sent separately otherwise your seller protection under PayPal is null and void.  I do stand to be corrected on this:-)

No, that's true - each payment, in the event of any INR disputes, will require separate proof of shipping.

If the items are going to be combined into one parcel, and you want seller protection, you should refund all payments and re-invoice for all items together. Most of my items go at large letter rate, which has to be registered for protection, so I generally don't bother getting a single payment if the buyer wants them combined because I wasn't going to have protection anyway - although, if my items were of higher value I would reconsider the practice.

[motherbear2003]

My postage costs are included in my selling price for most items, and occasionally I will ask the buyer if I it's okay to send multiple items together; haven't had anyone say no yet:-)  I then post using C&S and the tracking number is sent to the buyer - so far no problems.  Like you, with small items, I just send them separately at letter rate, large letter rate or extra large letter rate - whatever the case may be:-)

[thesoulyearns]

If the items are going to be combined into one parcel, and you want seller protection, you should refund all payments and re-invoice for all items together.

Thanks, D*G. Some good advice and facts in this thread in the first few posts alone, which is not uncommon.