keziak
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posted on September 7, 2000 02:42:06 AM new
Hi all - One of those days yesterday. Not one, but two buyers saying their parcels never arrived, and one went Priority. Enough to make me paranoid....or consider that Delivery confirmation option! Does anyone routinely use it, but also add it to shipping costs? Do you pay for it yourself?
Then it appears that last night I got not a single bid on anything, and two items closed with no bids. I don't see anything hear that implies ebay was down last night. Was it?
thanks!
Keziak
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DWest
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posted on September 7, 2000 03:03:10 AM new
I have a flat-rate S/H fee. It includes priority postage, delivery confirmation service and U-PIC insurance. In my TOS I state that these costs are included in the flat-rate fee. No one has complained about it, or claimed they did not receive their package. I also feel better knowing that the items are insured for loss or damage. Now I don't have to worry about a customer being disappointed.
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DICKENS
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posted on September 7, 2000 04:49:07 AM new
I HAVE DELIVERY CONFIRMATION ON EVERY ITEM I SHIP AND I PAY FOR IT MY SELF. FOR $.35 I THINK IT IS A CHEAP INSURANCE FOR THE FEW AND FAR BETWEEN FLAKES OUT THERE LOOKING FOR SOMETHING FOR NOTHING. BY PUNCHING IN THE NUMBER ON THE CONFIRMATION SLIP ON USPS WEB SITE, I KNOW WHEN IT ARRIVED.
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keziak
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posted on September 7, 2000 06:21:45 AM new
I talked to the PO about it. My feeling is that my buyers aren't lying to me (maybe I'm naive). They just didn't get the package. So even if I had DC, all I would be able to do is confirm it didn't arrive.
If I had insurance, I am told that after 30 days I could request a claim and be paid by the PO for the value I designated (does that include postage? I'm thinking it doesn't...). At least then I would have some $$ to refund the buyer, rather than out of my own pocket. But at 85 cents, I would want them to pay for the insurance. I am thinking of starting to do that routinely for book rate.
keziak
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DWest
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posted on September 7, 2000 06:30:41 AM new
I use U-PIC insurance. It is cheaper, $.40 for insurance up to $100 for domestic, and $.45 for international. Plus, less hassle for filing claims. If the item is damaged and shipped by USPS, you only need a signed letter from the buyer and a copy of your EOA notice to document the claim. From what I've heard about USPS insurance, it is a lengthy process for filing claims.
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craybaby
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posted on September 7, 2000 07:06:40 AM new
I started using DC after my first package loss. Pay for it myself and hope it shows folks that I care. It's peace of mind for me that the package made it or we at least know where's it's been. Also, it should prevent someone from saying, "I didn't get it- send my money back" when they did. And a tracking number should tell my customers that they won't have to worry about me not really sending the item after taking their money. Mostly, I just want people to get their packages! I felt terrible when that package was lost. Now I will be able to say "Well, it went through Yourtown's PO on this date at this time". So far, I haven't had any packages lost since using it - haven't had to test it yet. I'm a small potatoes operation here. I can DC 45 packages for the money I had to refund on the lost package. At this time it seems worth it.
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sborchert
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posted on September 7, 2000 07:16:05 AM new
I use Delivery Confirmation and include the fee in my shipping. When I send the "item shipped" notice I include the link to the USPS site and the tracking number. Started adding the link and # after one buyer e-mailed and wanted to know where her package was about 3 weeks after it was mailed Priority. I tracked the number and the package had been delivered to the buyer's Post Office 2 days after I shipped it. When I let her know that it was tracked and had arrived she waited 4 days and then e-mailed that she had "found" it. I won't ship without it.
[ edited by sborchert on Sep 7, 2000 07:16 AM ]
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toolhound
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posted on September 7, 2000 07:35:45 AM new
Delivery Confirmation is a waste of .35 cents. I used it in the begining. I found it does not mean anything the USPS will not pay you for the item if it is lost or damaged.
They also will not guarantee that it was delivered.
That means your word against the person it was going to. If it is stolen from the persons mail box you will both be right and you will both think the other is a liar.
Then you can give each other Negative feedback. All this to spend .35 cents. If you spend .85 cents it will be insured and the person can get a refund.
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bunnicula
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posted on September 7, 2000 07:44:44 AM new
I use it on every package I send out. I have *never* had anyone tell me "it didn't arrive." For me, it is worth it.
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abingdoncomputers
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posted on September 7, 2000 07:49:39 AM new
I use delivery confirmation for every package that I can use it with. Not so that I can prove that the buyer received it, but so that I can prove that I sent it. This has saved my butt and nipped fraud in the bud several times.
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macandjan
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posted on September 7, 2000 08:06:02 AM new
I use delivery confirmation on all mail. I can show the irate buyer it was sent and so far I have not lost one piece with it on. before I was "losing" about 2%. I am sure it was postal theft. I send a lot of small video boxes and flat rate envelopes that are just too easy to slide down your pants. Postal employees have told me they are aware that the tracking of these will show a pattern to the postal inspectors if packages keep disappearing in one location.
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kudzurose
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posted on September 7, 2000 08:19:50 AM new
While it is true you can usually track a package if you've bought DC, (I've heard of instances where you could not), it is not proof that the package was delivered.
I sent an item a couple of months ago, and purchased insurance and DC. The company I sent it to swears they never got it. The Post Office, as of now, refuses to pay the insurance claim, because they say it was delivered. The last location on the on-line tracking info is the POST OFFICE in the town it went to - not the address.
Most of what I mail is books, at Special Standard "Book Rate". Delivery Confirmation for that rate is more than .35 (I believe it is .60).
I will never purchase DC on another insured package. If the USPS was honest and up-front with its customers, they would tell you when you purchase both that if the person says it never arrived, and their tracking says different, you are just up the creek with your insurance claim.
IMO, the whole insurance and confirmation part of the USPS is a giant rip-off anyway. Why should we have to pay extra to INSURE that they are going to do what it is their BASIC JOB to do? Can you imagine if we put in our EOA email: $5.00 plus 2.00 Shipping and Handling, plus .50 to insure that I will wrap the item and mail it? Isn't that called extortion?
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Buckster96
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posted on September 7, 2000 08:26:09 AM new
I send everything Priority Mail and use DC. The .35 is worth the peace of mind. I had one person tell me they never received their item. I checked the DC tracking number and it was delivered. I told the buyer this, gave them the tracking number to check it themself and I never heard from them again.
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mballai
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posted on September 7, 2000 08:27:39 AM new
I have never, so far, lost a package. I use DC on an as needed basis. A package over a certain dollar amount warrrants DC and insurance.
DC depends on scanning at receipt and delivery. This is not yet perfected, but it works most of the time.
Many "missing" or undelivered packages are at the buyer's post office and the buyer is not given a notice until the post office is planning to send the item back.
If you aren't using a computer printed label with zip+4 and barcode, you will have a higher percentage of slower deliveries and wayward packages.
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keziak
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posted on September 7, 2000 09:40:28 AM new
DWest - Can you give me a URL or other place I can read more about U-PIC?
thanks!!
Keziak
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Borillar
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posted on September 7, 2000 10:10:15 AM new
http://www.u-pic.com
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jtw74
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posted on September 7, 2000 10:21:49 AM new
Folks!!!!! I had a prescription medication leave Tennessee via Priority Mail on August 25 with delivery Confirmation. Here it is Sept 7 and it still has not arrived. The delivery tracking just shows it was accepted for mailing in Tenn. on 8/25. There is either one happy postal worker somewhere or else it is stuck in the bottom of a mailbag!! And guess what?????? The online pharmacy, which I have used before with great success, says they cannot do anything for 14 business days and THEN they have to phone my physician for authorization to replace the medication!!!!!! So nothing is absolute...... 
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mballai
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posted on September 7, 2000 10:24:47 AM new
FWIW Priority mail is highly automated--the screw up potential is enormous when something goes wrong.
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mssherry
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posted on September 7, 2000 01:39:09 PM new
I asked our post office about DC and they said we don't have a computer at our post office in hurley, mississippi so it really doesn't get entered into the computer until it is actually delivered!! no way to track is what i was told - from our post office anyway!
mssherry
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mssherry
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posted on September 7, 2000 01:39:11 PM new
I asked our post office about DC and they said we don't have a computer at our post office in hurley, mississippi so it really doesn't get entered into the computer until it is actually delivered!! no way to track is what i was told - from our post office anyway!
mssherry
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upic
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posted on September 7, 2000 01:52:01 PM new
Borillar,
Thank you for passing on the address.
Keziak,
Please feel free to post any questions, e-mail me direct or call me on my toll free line.
Have a great week
[email protected]
1-888-955-0440
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pickersangel
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posted on September 7, 2000 05:19:51 PM new
I use DC on every package I ship, at my expense. I've never had a package go missing nor a buyer claim that they never received their merchandise. It may not be absolutely foolproof, but it's more protection than doing nothing, saves me $0.50 over insurance, and allows me to track the package and know when I should expect to hear from the buyer. Buyers are free to ask for and pay for insurance, if they wish.
The thing that bugs me about USPS insurance is that it pays off in the event that the merchandise is damaged in shipment, right? It doesn't cover what you paid USPS to carry the package, right? In essence, when you file a USPS insurance claim, you still have to pay for giving them the opportunity to screw up your customer's merchandise!
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guyuellas
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posted on September 7, 2000 08:59:16 PM new
I put in my ads that they pay for insurance and/or delivery confirmation besides the shipping fee. They don't have a choice about it except to choose insurance or delivery confirmation. Otherwise they don't need to bid. Haven't had a problem with anyone on this and I've been selling since 96 on eBay and longer than that on Nets and the Internet.
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borgt
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posted on September 7, 2000 09:10:45 PM new
Add me to the "DC is a waste of money" camp.
I tried it a few times and it never got scanned at the end. And, as many have said, it proves nothing except that you mailed it. I've never (in over 3000 transactions) had anyone accuse me of not mailing something. (and i mostly use book rate!)
Let's see. DC is 35 cents (actually 60 cents for my book rate stuff) and I get absolutely nothing if the package is lost. U-Pic insurance is 40 cents for up to $100 coverage for loss or damage.
No-brainer to me!
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cassiescloset
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posted on September 7, 2000 10:20:37 PM new
I have found U-Pic is flaky. They never sent me a log, but were quick to complain about not receiving a payment.
How am I supposed to send the payment without the official log? The rep assigned to me keeps promising to send log but never does. Oh well. I will use USPS for now.
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keziak
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posted on September 8, 2000 02:46:35 AM new
Pickersangel - I asked the clerk at the P.O. yesterday about the insurance -is the value what the buyer paid for the item, or does it include the postage? He said it includes the postage. This wasn't how I handled it the one time I insured an item I bought and it broke. I only got back what I paid for the item. But maybe that was my ignorance, I should have claimed more. Details details...
Keziak
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