Problem with shipping discounts

ems430sMember

I just ran into an apparent issue with shipping discounts or so ebay tells me. I had on sale 3 lots of crimped tubes. For discussion sake, each lot is priced at $5 and shipping is $9, on a instant payment basis. A buyer bought two lots and was billed $10 for the items and $9 for shipping. I did not realize that the bill included only one shipping charge until I went to create two ups shipping labels using paypal. The price for each lot was the same. (As an aside, when I ship two packages to the same destination using ups directly previously the price for the second box was discounted.)

When I contacted ebay help to complain that ebay failed to tally up the shipping cost for the second item, she said that I gave the buyer a $9 discount for shipping and then pointed out that in my site preferences I offer combined calculated shipping discount. I thought that that discount is enabled only when I check the box on Auctiva offering promotional discount and I never do. I could not complain to ebay if the problem was in Auctiva and so I thought it was my mistake and left it at that.

So my first question is does the Auctiva promotional discount enabling box apply only to promotional discounts and therefore the ebay combined calculated shipping discount is independent of thereof?

Sorry to make this a never-ending question, but when I checked the specifics of my calculated combined shipping rule, I found it to be add up all the weights and subtract 16 oz. each box is 8 pounds and so the shipping cost should have been for 15 pounds. So I'm back to thinking that ebay made a mistake in calculations. what comments please?

6/25/095:55 PM

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dannoMember

Hi,

From your description, some possibilities come to mind....

Combined Shipping discount rules and "Promotional" shipping discounts rules are actually two different eBay settings. They actually display (check-off) as separate in the one-page lister for Calculated Shipping. Promotional rules will override the normal combined rules, when applicable. Here's the eBay explanation on Promotional:

http://pages.ebay.com/help/pay...ional_shipping_rules

Also, whenever you change those settings at eBay, it's necessary to sync those settings to Auctiva in your Auctiva "ebay Settings" under the Account tab (note the warning on one-page just under where you check-off for applying the rules as reminder). That's most often the cause of the combined or promotional rules failing to get correct result. However, I've seen that fail on more than one occassion for whatever bug is currently the cause.

Another possible cause is failing to create an "Add Rule" on a single listing, i.e. combined rules are for multiple listings ONLY and the "add rule" is for multiple quantity purchased from a single listing. Add rules are done on the one-page lister for each individual listing. You indicated it was two lots of the same item, so that possibly is probably the more likely cause. Usually, add is automatic for weight(s), but not for S&H.

Your description suggests the 2nd was shipped free using calculated weight, so that does have me slightly puzzled for exact cause. Do you have a lising number(s), as the shipping details might give me a clue?

Danno

6/26/097:18 AM

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ems430sMember

Thanks, I will be checking the coordination between auctiva and ebay.
The item number is 270413631176.
After I posted on auctiva, I revisited ebay help chat. This helper indicated that she could not determine why only one shipping cost was billed, so that she would consult with her supervisor and get back to me through email. It hasn't happened yet.

6/26/099:56 AM

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dannoMember

Hi,

I looked at the listing and see that a buyer purchased qty 2, so I'm thinking there isn't a Combined situation/rules. It should have invoiced shipping by the calculated weight and method for qty 2 on the single line item.

Are you using eBay or Auctiva checkout?

Are you allowing the buyer to adjust the invoice, i.e did the buyer make this change?

BTW...rates to me in Columbus 43229 zip showing on the listing are $13.28 UPS Ground and $17.03 USPS Parcel Post.

Danno

Update: I looked at one of your other "Lot" listings with qty 2 available to see what it would provide for cost to me for qty 1 and 2.

Listing 270414475380 shows me the following for zip 43229:

Qty 1 / UPS Ground $19.20 / USPS PP $24.01
Qty 2 / UPS Ground $32.07 / USPS PP $37.99

It appears that this listing is doing the calc correctly, or at least is making an attempt (no free 2nd).

I would point to this listing with eBay Tech Support as reference of doing it right (at least from my point of view). It's obviously not doubling the number, as buyer (me as example) is assuming a single shipment/packaging. Does that make a different to the problem case?

Oh...and to repeat my result, just fill-in the qty # and zip down in the shipping section on the active listing to get a quote.

6/26/0910:59 AM

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ems430sMember

quote:
Are you using eBay or Auctiva checkout?

Are you allowing the buyer to adjust the invoice, i.e did the buyer make this change?

I am using eBay checkout.

I checked the site preferences and it indicated that I did not allow buyers to adjust the total.

Thanks for checking my other offering. I'll try to follow up with ebay help with that example.

6/26/091:12 PM

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dannoMember

quote:
I am using eBay checkout.

Hi again,

It would appear that eBay Checkout is failing to correctly assess the weight of the multiple qty on the purchase for a correct UPS shippping amount. Combined Shipping rules and Auctiva checkout aren't involved with the problem, so this is definitely something eBay needs to investigate and refund (to you) for their failure. Clearly, an active listing shows you're doing the submission correctly (assumption it's an equivalent example). More bugs....