posted on December 24, 2004 09:44:48 PM new
Well, Christmas seems to be a time for mean people to get nasty. I had an auction close on Sunday. Offered priority or express shipping. Buyer chose priority and I shipped Monday. Of course it is not there yet and the buyer is demanding her money back withing 24 hrs or she will leave me negative feedback. I printed the shipping from paypal but the post office has not scaned the box. She is now accusing me of never shipping it. I have apologized and explained that priority should be 3-4 days but is not guaranteed. What else can I do?? Threatening emails are a great way to spend Christmas Eve huh?? Happy Holidays to all of you, nice and mean!
posted on December 24, 2004 10:00:40 PM new
I'm going through the same exact thing. Only mine has some friend of hers writing me ugly e-mails also. Telling me about my terrible customer service.
And get this, the friend Donna actually did a little advertising by adding a link to her two websites after her name. On one site is a picture of her baby along with her address and phone number. Now would you send a complete stranger that you know nothing about an insulting e-mail telling them exactly where and how to find you and your baby? What if I am a lunatic like that woman who murdered that girl and cut her baby out? People are so stupid.
Be kind. Everyone is fighting their own secret battles.
...Author Unknown
posted on December 24, 2004 10:03:34 PM new
Did you keep your receipt from the post office. If so it will show that you mailed the package to what area and also the tracking number will be on that. It will show that the tracking number you sent them matches the tracking number on the receipt. Make a copy and send it to them. That should be proof enough that you mailed it. Since you mailed it don't refund the money because then they will have both their money and the package when it arrives. They need to realize that it takes longer during this time of year. Good Luck
_________________
posted on December 24, 2004 10:14:49 PM new
I cannot believe someone would send that link, ugh, some parents just don't think about their childrens safety, just how cute they think they are. As for the shipping, I have sent her the tracking info but the post office has not scanned it. She knows I paid for the label but thinks I did not mail it I guess. Our local news tonight was reporting how things in the midwest are not being mailed because of the weather. Too much ice and snow. Fedex employees have offered to work overtime in order to get things out asap. She says the post office and weather is my problem, she paid me for 1-3 day shipping with insurance and wants her money now. You are right though, come early next week she will have her item and my money if I sent it back now. Since when was priority guaranteed 1-3 days? I offered express mail. Well, I will let her file her complaints with ebay and paypal and she will get a rude awakening when they will not do anything because it has only been 5 days since the auction closed. It irritates me when I try to be nice and people get crazy. I shipped 19 boxes that same day, some got them, some are still waiting. One crazy lady is not bad this time of year I suppose. I will knock on wood and consider myself lucky. ha ha.
posted on December 24, 2004 11:32:09 PM new
I haven't seen a Priority Mail package scanned at pickup in over 6 months here in NW Florida. So much for E DC!
Also, the USPS says Priority is an "AVERAGE" of 2-3 days, with no delivery time guaranteed. With the heavy snows in the mid-west, if your customer is in IN, KY,IL, or OH, she will be lucky if she sees her package by Monday.
and if you are lucky, her carrier will scan it when he delivers it.
Don't let her bad energy spoil your Christmas. She should not have waited so long to buy XMAS presents.
posted on December 24, 2004 11:50:10 PM new
ltray is correct. Priority Mail delivery has never been guaranteed. Also, during the Christmas season from about Dec. 10 to the first of the year, FedEx and UPS ground suspend their delivery guarantees. From about the 15th, they both suspend their Express guarantees. Shipping at Christmas is a crapshoot no matter what carrier you select. I have been following my tracking screen all evening, and in spite of the storms, FedEx ground has delivered 5 out of 6 of my packages scheduled for today. No update yet on the sixth which is in Texas. A remarkable effort on their part, which is why I deal with them almost exclusively. I have one via Priority mail that should have delivered yesterday, but it still hasn't been scanned at destination yet. Don't let this last minute shopper spoil your Christmas. And I'm not knocking last minute shoppers, because I'm one of them
A $75.00 solid state device will always blow first to protect a 25 cent fuse ~ Murphy's Law
posted on December 25, 2004 04:47:55 AM new
I'm kind of surprised that I haven't gotten ANY "Where's my stuff" mails this time. Now I did shut down my auctions on the 14th, but there were still people paying and sending checks as late as yesterday morning.
One thing is for sure, UPS daily pickup has saved me hours of Post Office Stress this year.
I'll probably get a dozen negs Monday to make up for the lack of email problems
--------------------------------------
Replay Media - The best source for board games, card games and miniatures on the web!
posted on December 25, 2004 05:14:58 AM new
Hopefully, your buyer is not in one of the states Itray listed! We have over 2 feet of snow in Northeast Ohio. Hardly anyone has shoveled their sidewalks for two reasons: 1. this snow is extremely heavy and is laden with ice 2. If you shovel your sidewalk and someone falls, you are liable. If you don't shovel your sidewalk, you aren't. Simple.
This makes it very difficult for the mail person to get up and down the street. The secondary roadways here are also very difficult to maneuver unless you have 4-wheel drive. For two days, most were impassible. I know that our mail lady delivers packages first. She pulls up in the mail truck and drops the package off on the porch. Our street is down to one lane and it's a narrow one at that. I haven't seen her stopping at anyone's home the last couple of days. Most of the driveways here have 4 feet of packed and iced over snow at the end of their drives, which makes it almost impossible for her to even get to most homes without climbing Mount Cleveland (couldn't resis).
Bidders need to understand that natural disasters do happen. There's not much we can do about them. Believe me, if I could have prevented this snow and cold mess, I most certainly would have. It has made travel this holiday miserable.
I may lose some sales, but to keep myself protected, if your purchase is not bought and paid for by 12/15 and sent out Priority Mail I will tell you it's not going to arrive in time.
Cheryl
"Success in almost any field depends more on energy and drive than it does on intelligence. This explains why we have so many stupid leaders."
-Sloan Wilson
posted on December 25, 2004 09:20:06 AM new
I guess I don't care if I get a neg over something like that, I wouldn't refund. If they try to dispute, then just show your proof of delivery confirmation, and you will be fine. You didn't sell this item with a Christmas guarantee for delivery. I feel fortunate that I travel on Christmas, so I shut down around Thanksgiving and start again after New Years. My stuff doesn't make for great gifts anyway, I don't deal with this stress!
posted on December 25, 2004 09:49:37 AM new
Wow, sounds like a mess. Maybe the snow stories will remind me to be thankful I live in CA. I don't think I could survive the snow. Nice to visit though. This buyer is in Texas, funny thing is most of the people I shipped the same day to in NJ, IL etc have gotten their packages. Karma! She can't be upset with me she had to buy it locally on Christmas Eve. If she could find it on Christmas Eve what are you buying it from me for??? People. I appreciate all of you responding and making me feel much better. Good luck with all of your sales and Happy New Year!!
posted on December 25, 2004 09:55:49 AM new
Question, would anyone turn her in for feedback extortion? I figure I would if she left me a negative. That is what she is threatening if her money is not received within 24 hrs. She said she paid me not the post office and does not care about the weather problems. Has anyone turned anyone in for feedback extortion before???
posted on December 25, 2004 10:44:00 AM new
I would give it a try. I turned in one person for feedback extortion recently, ebay of course won't tell me what they did, but she is not NARU so she probably got a warning. This person threatened to give me negative feedback if I did not leave them feedback first.
If this person for some reason is successful with their chargeback, definitely file a postal fraud claim. I did on another person, and sure enough the post office sent them a letter telling them that they could face criminal charges. They emailed me probably within the hour of receiving that letter of course claiming ignorance, but agreeing to pay.
posted on December 25, 2004 02:19:41 PM new
Tell the buyer that Monday is the soonest you can mail, and that there are absolutely no refunds if negative feedback is posted. And pay the extra 13 cents for tracking.
posted on December 25, 2004 07:03:05 PM new
You mentioned the 13 cents for tracking, I hired a tech to bring up del confirmation for media mail, parcel post and first class. He could not do it. Can anyone please send point and click directions.? I put in adobe 6 I sometimes think the PO does not want you to ship anything but priority thanks and Merry Christmas.. I hope the problem gets worked out. comebuy
posted on December 27, 2004 12:00:22 AM newWhat is the difference between tracking a package and confirming the delivery of a package?
Tracking services provide detailed information. You will see the item scanned at acceptance, as it travels, and when it is delivered. Tracking information is available for Express Mail® mailpieces only (including Global Express Guaranteed®™* and Global Express Mail™*).
Services that confirm delivery are designed to be a low cost alternative to full tracking. Instead of seeing the acceptance information and updated scans as the item is enroute delivery confirmation services provide assurance of delivery or of attempted delivery. This service is available with the purchase of the following:
Delivery Confirmation™ service.
Signature Confirmation® service.
Certified Mail™ service.
Registered Mail™ service.
International Registered Mail™ service.
Track and Confirm online
posted on December 27, 2004 10:15:18 AM new
I use the USPS shipping assistant to do the labels with electronic delivery confirmation> It does work with Priority, Media Mail, Parcel Post etc. When I bring my packages to the post office I often have problems with the postal clerks forgetting to scan packages to input the electronic delivery confirmation information, this often causes great distress with customers when all the "tracking" info they can get from the USPS web site was the item was "scheduled" for shipment eg,
"Your package is scheduled for shipment on 12/27/2004." Until after the package actually arrives, when packages are "late" this results in lots of unnecessary emails.
It seems to me it would be a whole lot better if the postal clerks always scanned the items in. Second complaint for today. Since I have to type in the complete mailing address to generate the label I assume (maybe wrongly) that the addressee address information is either encoded or linked to the EDC bar code in the postal office computers (If not they really need to hire much better systems analysts) so wouldn't it make a lot more sense for the clerk at the P.O. to scan the Bar code to automatically get the cost of the postage rather than manually punching in the zipcode? Seems it would both save a step and eliminate possible errors. Don't get me wrong, my Post Office does a great job the vast majority of the time, the clerks are competent, polite, efficient and really are a pleasure to deal with, but sometimes the way the post office does thing just seems strange!
posted on December 27, 2004 07:53:39 PM new
Being "not required" to do something does not necessarily equate with "doing the RIGHT thing". In my post I clearly indicated WHY it is a very good idea to scan items at intake. Perhaps it is YOU who did not read MY post!
posted on December 27, 2004 08:24:32 PM new
It would be nice if they scanned every package mailed. However, if every post office is like the one I use, it's not going to happen.
The branch I use has 3 counters. These guys have been there for years. They are very good and very fast. They know almost everyone by name. Every day when I go in there is a line out to the door.
There are 5 or 6 people that I know of who come inside and get one of those rolling carts with the huge canvas bag, take it out to their car and fill it up. Some take two or three. I usually have two or three of those tubs the PO gives out. I can't imagine how many packages they take in every day. If they scanned them all, customers would be waiting in line for an hour. If they hire more people, postage will go up.
I can't comment on the other complaint. I use Endicia. I walk in, put my packages on the counter, smile at the people in line and walk out. About twice a week I find empty tubs on the floor across from my PO box.
Be kind. Everyone is fighting their own secret battles.
...Author Unknown
posted on December 31, 2004 09:56:28 PM new
Well, well, well. The buyer did not leave me negative feedback in 23 hrs as threatened. Instead I did not hear from her for days and then I got positive feedback that said "quick shipping, new as promised" Quick shipping?? She threatened me because shipping was too slow. The day after the feedback was left I got an email that simply stated "item arrived". The tracking number still does not show delivered but the "item ready for shipping" message. She said she was going to go buy a different color leapster and would return the one I sent. Guess not. I think she got it before Xmas and just wanted to see if she could get her money back because of the tracking not being scanned. I do not feel I should leave her positive feedback at all. What would you guys do?? Leave her none or neutral?
posted on December 31, 2004 10:35:34 PM new
My wife and I stopped in at WalMart on the 24th. We already had all our Christmas shopping done, just wanted to look at a few things for possibly an after holiday purchase. It was an absolute blast watching all the desperate and panicked last minute shoppers, white knuckles grasping the bar on the shopping carts, ramming their carts into each other with tempers flaring and obscenities being exchanged exchanged. I suspect the vast majority of these people are normal, well adjusted citizens the other 364 days out of the year, but become irrational when faced with a deadline that they may miss. I think you may have found one of these types who became hysterical at the thought of it not arriving in time for Christmas. If she left you positive, I would return it and move on and remember this incident next Christmas season. She is probably too ashamed of her behavior to apologize directly, and leaving a positive for you was her way of doing it indirectly. I'm certainly thinking of adding a piece of default text to my listings next Christmas to suggest express service for items in which I receive payment after the 15th. of December.
A $75.00 solid state device will always blow first to protect a 25 cent fuse ~ Murphy's Law
posted on December 31, 2004 10:41:48 PM new
I know that you are probably right......I am just a bee otch when I am nice and it doesn't seem to matter to people. Then I get mad and beee otchy!!
posted on January 1, 2005 05:11:27 AM new
I use the USPS Shipping Assistant also. The clerks at my PO scan every single package because this is the way the fee for DC is added to the postage. When they are processing the package, they select DC and it displays the full price; then they scan the bar code on the label, and it automatically gives the discounted rate for eDC.
To those of you who use the Shipping Asst - if your postal clerks aren't scanning your packages, how are you being charged for DC?
__________________________________
"The more I want to get something done, the less I call it work." - Richard Bach
posted on January 1, 2005 06:05:44 AM new
Findingtreasures4U - Since Ebay has so many new Jerks!!!! and Lowlife!!!! Buyers and there Nasty Demands and Ebays Terrible Feedback System. Don't put up with these creeps, get rid of them, you should not care about getting a negative, it will not effect your sales. Don't forget too Neg. them back.
Remember you cannot please everyone.
posted on January 1, 2005 06:09:42 AM new
"Being "not required" to do something does not necessarily equate with "doing the RIGHT thing". In my post I clearly indicated WHY it is a very good idea to scan items at intake. Perhaps it is YOU who did not read MY post!
and have a nice day!"
Well Thomas....I guess he told you !!
now that you've been spanked..go to your
room, take Ralphie with you and behave yourself<snicker>
[ edited by classicrock000 on Jan 1, 2005 06:14 AM ]
posted on January 1, 2005 08:22:23 AM new
My DC is created when I print my label online. I also use hidden postage on my labels.
So... you all have brought up a good point. How is DC not getting posted if they are scanning my label to check and see if correct postage was affixed?
