posted on May 28, 2005 09:34:03 PM new
I can't quite figure out how these new shipping & insurance changes are a 'possitive' thing for us.
Prior to the 'change:
For quite a few years now I had 'international shipping' listed under the 'other' shipping options in my global prefs. I charge one flat rate for any number of items shipped together. It has worked beeeeautifully- never a glitch- it combined items and always gave the one shipping charge (no mark-up).
NOW, after the change and after a few frustrating hours, I figured out that I had to check off that teeny-tiny box that says to 'allow international shipping' so that my customers could choose 'international shipping' (without doing this, it would not even allow them to proceed thru the check-out, even though I had my own 'international shipping' choice there (under 'other'). I entered my flat rate charge in my global prefs- with no mark-up for additional items.
Now, ya might think that solved the problem? Wrong. Now my check-out shows the new 'international shipping' of $6.00 (correct) with no mark-up for additional items (correct) HOWEVER it also shows my old 'international shipping' of $6.00 (correct) WITH a mark-up of $2.15 for addt'l items (Incorrect). I never changed anything with that figure, yet somehow a mark-up was added.
Since there is a new 'Int'l shipping' showing you'd think this wasn't a problem- but it is. Now my int'l customers are given 2 separate Int'l shipping options- both appear to be the same amount ($6.00), however if they choose the old shipping, they will incur extra shipping charges for each extra items they purchase (I do alot of multi-purchases so this is a big problem).
Yes, this is all fixable and that is what I have been doing for the past few days. Mind you- I have not listed ANY new auctions since this change because I have spent my whole time editing and fixing this problem. I have edited one-at-a-time 293 ebay store items that had closed. I have aproximately another 200+ more to edit before I can relist them AND over the next 2 weeks I have another 500 ebay store items that will be cloing and all will have to be edited. I am still trying to figure out when I will finally be done and be able to list new items.
All of the above doesn't take into account that my USPS 'insurance' scale- which has always worked just perfect, has now changed and I can only charge a flat insurance fee of $1.30 now that it has been 'improved'...guess I will have to bite any amount over that myself.
I know some of this has to do with my opting for the 'ebay check-out'. However my experience has been to make it as easy as possible for the customer- and many customers prefer the ebay check-out rather than the Vendio check-out. I don't care where they check-out, as long as they check-out somewhere, and in letting them choose, only about 20% fill out the Vendio check-out. That tells me I have to allow the ebay check-out.
My holiday weekend will be spent editing my auctions- woohoo.
posted on May 29, 2005 04:46:43 AM new
Thank you for posting this. I have had the EXACT same problem. I was assured that creating listings from SMPro would not impede international checkout, but it seems that that is not so. Why? Because the button on the INDIVIDUAL listing is not checked.
I have decided just to change my 800 as they close rather than do what you are doing. My next question is...what about the 8000 in my VD store?
posted on May 29, 2005 08:49:07 AM new
I'm not editing active auctions (I'd snap!)- I am waiting for them to close to edit and relaunch. I had 500 or so in my 'unsold closed' and I edited through about 300 so far- only another 200 to go. But alas, another 500 will be closing over the next 2 weeks and they will all have to be edited.
But you have 8000 [gulp] to edit & change! there goes your June! ...enjoy the holiday weekend!
