I just realized I sent a few packages using the wrong shipping method!! :O

I have the problem that I offer three shipping options:

1. Parcel Post
2. Priority Mail
3. UPS Ground

My PayPal receipts always say my buyer chose "Parcel Post", but my Auctiva receipts might say "Priority Mail" or "UPS Ground".

I had been being careful to use the PayPal receipt as the final authority, since people can enter special delivery (or whatever) instructions when they're paying inside PayPal. But now I see PayPal apparently doesn't know which shipping service the buyer chose!

Is this just my problem, or is this a general problem. Is the solution that I just have to be careful to wade through multiple receipts for every purchase??

--Cat Food

Oh yeah... the 'wrong' shipping method also appears on my Order Details page on eBay.

So I'll have (for example):

Auctiva: Priority Mail
eBay: Parcel Post
PayPal: Parcel Post

How can I not make mistakes in shipping when I have such conflicting info?!!

Arrrrrrrrgh!! :O

I don't use Auctiva checkout so I don't have any advice for you, but if you check in PP first, before printing your label, you'll be able to see how much was pd for shipping. It will let you know whether it was Priority or Parcel Post.

Just looking at the shipping amount isn't enough for me -- I sell several different items, with calculated shipping, and even with differend handling costs for each. So for me just looking at the shipping amount gives me little information. Plus sometimes Parcel Post and Priority Mail can be very close in price.

I don't use the Auctiva checkout either, but my gut-instincts on the "processing" suggests that what the buyer chose for shipping on checkout (Auctiva) is probably correct. If that info isn't finding its way back to ebay and paypal, that might need investigation via a Support Case. I'd would take the time to look at one or more of those "Priority" checkouts and check amount paid against what is correct for the calculated amount.

This is another important issue that has me concerned with switching back to Auctiva checkout (which I'd like to do before going full Store). I use PayPal click-n-ship, so I depend on the linkage to checkout being correct. If Auctiva eventually provides that same linkage to create shipping labels, it might give me one less item to worry about. Using the wrong shipping invites at least a bad DSR, if not a NEG from a buyer. However, the crazy checkout "Buyer Experience" thing going at ebay is also annoying customers.....

Danno

Well, the only "solution" I can think of to deal with this annoyingly conflicting/confusing information is to stop using Auctiva Checkout. If anyone can give me a reason I shouldn't stop using it, I'd be interested.

--Cat Food

Hi Cat Food,

The behavior you have described is occurring due to a deficiency in the way Paypal/eBay handles third party checkout systems which, unfortunately, cannot be corrected from our end. When a third party checkout system is used, Paypal will display the first shipping service offered in the listing instead of the actual shipping service selected by the buyer.

We have brought this matter to Paypal/eBay's attention but they have yet to give us any indication if/when it can be resolved. In the mean time, if you are using Auctiva Checkout, I recommend consulting the checkout details displayed within your Auctiva account to verify which shipping method was selected by your buyers.

Any additional questions or concerns? Please feel free to contact our customer support team using the appropriate link on our help page: http://www.auctiva.com/free-auction-software-help/help.aspx

-Mike

Hi Mike,

Thank you for giving me a definitive explanation. I kinda suspected that it was a communication problem with eBay, and even that it was eBay's fault. Frustrating.

Although it's not Auctiva's fault, I think I'm going to have to skip Auctiva Checkout until this problem can be fixed. I already have enough trouble keeping all the details correct, so allowing myself to potentially view incorrect information is just an invitation to disaster for me.

--Cat Food

I also do not use Auctiva checkout. However, I can tell you that if you offer more than one shipping option, the FIRST option is the one that will appear as the default shipping charge on the buyer's invoice. If you list more than one shipping option, you must also indicate in your eBay preferences that you will allow your customers to choose - otherwise, only the first shipping option will be billed. To find out what the customer actually paid for, just check the transaction details either on eBay or PayPal.

Unless you are using Auctiva checkout, shipping options have nothing at all to do with Auctiva - these must be set in your eBay preferences. If you accept PayPal, you must also set-up your shipping preferences there as well.

I personally prefer to avoid third-party checkout options (such as Auctiva) because it basically does nothing more than add another layer of confusion to the checkout process - both for the buyer and the seller. Auctiva checkout offers no financial benefit other than a few pennies in savings for the seller on shipping insurance. Unless you sell a few thousand dollars worth of stuff on eBay every month - and unless you REQUIRE shipping insurance on every item you sell - the hassles of using Auctiva checkout far outweigh the benefits in my opinion.

As for shipping - I prefer to use Priority Mail almost exclusively for most of my eBay selling unless an item is unusual in some way (such as size or weight). The cost difference between Parcel Post and Priority Mail is usually so insignificant (often just 20 or 30 cents) that offering Parcel Post shipping isn't worth it. Plus, the USPS provides free Priority Mail boxes (also available through eBay) which cannot be used with other shipping methods. If I shipped everything Parcel Post, I'd have to either buy boxes or spend a whole lot of unnecessary time trying to locate free boxes at local stores. It's not worth the time and effort for a savings of 20-cents on shipping charges, and my customers appreciate the much faster delivery speed of Priority Mail anyway!

Good luck - and double-check your eBay, Auctiva and PayPal shipping preferences to make certain they all match.