Let me start by explaining the logic behind the shipping and payment options validations.
Once the buyer has bought an item, he/ she has to initiate checkout to complete the payment for the item. The 1st step in checkout is the Review Your Purchase page. On this page the buyer specifies the following details:
o Shipping address
o Shipping method
o Payment method.
The choice for the shipping method and the payment method done by the buyer should adhere to certain pre defined validations programmed in the checkout logic. These validations are built to confirm that the user is choosing a payment method corresponding to the shipping method chosen.
Let me list the shipping methods available on the eBay India site:
o Flat rate courier – Delivery anywhere in India
o National courier – Delivery outside seller’s city
o Local courier – Delivery within seller’s city
o Flat rate COD – Delivery anywhere in India
o National COD – Delivery outside seller’s city
o Local COD – Delivery within seller’s city
o Will not ship – local pick up only.
The payment methods available on the eBay India site are:
o PaisaPay
o Cheque
o Demand Draft
o Cash on Delivery (COD)
o Buyer Picks Up & pays (BPP)
o Others/ See Description
Local Vs National Shipping Options Validation
The shipping options are designed such that sellers are able to cater to buyers from different locations with different shipping costs. Hence the above shipping options are split into local and national.
The validations in the checkout flow verify the following:
On the basis of the Pin code of the buyer (picked up from the Shipping address of the buyer), we identify if the buyer is from the same city as the seller or not. This is done by mapping the buyer and seller Pin codes.
If the buyer is not from the same city as the seller, the buyer will be only displayed the national shipping options if offered by the seller. In case the seller has not offered any national shipping option, we will display the local shipping options.
If the buyer is from the same city as the seller, the buyer will be displayed all the shipping options offered by the seller including local & national.
The validations work only if the Pin code of the both the buyer and the seller are present in the India database. If the pin code is not present, the validations are by passed and the buyer is displayed all shipping options. We are aware that this is a limitation and are working to update the Pin codes.
Shipping Vs Payment Options Validations
In checkout we also validate if the user has specified a payment options that supports the shipping option. This is specifically applicable for COD and BPP. These are available both as shipping and payment methods.
In case a buyer selects any COD shipping method, then it is mandatory for the buyer to chose COD as a payment option if offered by the seller. If COD is not offered by the seller as a payment option (but offered as a shipping option), then the validation will not work and the buyer can select another option.
Similar logic exists for BPP.
All these validations have been designed to ensure that the buyer chooses a relevant shipping cost and payment option. These validations do not work if the seller has sent an invoice to the buyer, before the buyer completes checkout.
Hope this helps all of you to understand the checkout validations better. Please feel free to ask any questions.
Regards,
Aakash
Product Management Team