Combined Shipping- Double-Check

Lately I have been noticing a lot of sellers fudge a bit when replying to a request for an invoice with combined shipping.

Last week I bought four items from one seller, his listing stated $4 for the first item an $1 for each additional. I figured I'd get an invoice for $7. I got one including $10.50 shipping. I did pay it with that shipping charge but queried why the discrepancy. Within an hour I got a 'sorry my mistake' reply and a refund for $3.50. Second time with this seller.

Not a big deal but this same scenario has played out with other sellers. I have started to double check now before payment and a lot of sellers will bill me more than they should if their listing is to be believed. Interestingly I haven't yet been under billed.

Not a major problem but I have to wonder how widespread this is. Interesting..

It seems that some regular sellers just don't know how things work like combined shipping. After 2 mistakes including sending the wrong lot, even when corrected, I'll just ignore the seller as being too much trouble.

This kind of thing happens more and more in real life, too. I was recently shown a bottle of liquor marked $22.95 but with a shelf tag saying it was on sale for $24.95. A quick check with a self-scanner had the store computer saying it was $24.95. Now I'm pretty sure if you went to the store manager you could get it for the lower price, but that starts to get obnoxious, just like your situation.

The world is a big scam fest,
Australia's leading 4 banks
Internet provider Optus
Everyone is a crook.

Australian online retailer Kogan fined $32,400 for raising prices before discounting goods. AUSTRALIAN online electronics store Kogan has been fined more than $30,000 for artificially inflating discounts in its Fathers' Day sale last year, raising the price of items by more than 10 per cent before discounting them.

5th February 2020

11th February 2020

Actually, my experience tends towards the opposite. Each week, some of my ebay buyers ignore the words "Postage combined where appropriate - please wait for invoice" and make two or more separate payments, necessitating refunds.

And to add to Geoff, that refund amount - the seller pays fees on.

I have had GeoffHa's problem on occasion, as well.
What I do now is to add a paragraph on each item's
description, explaining to the buyers that they should
wait for a revised invoice with combined shipping costs,
in case they buy several items. And, more important,
I warn them beforehand that, if they pay without waiting
for the new invoice, I cannot refund them the excess
shipping costs paid. I don't think it is fair that I
should pay extra paypal fees just because people
cannot take some time to read my instructions in the
description...

In my experience ebay fails to apply combined shipping discounts before in invoice is sent. This may be limited to cases where domestic shipping is free and international shipping is not free.