posted on March 4, 2001 07:25:01 PM
I was wondering what i should do about shipping for half.com. I wanted to get to the post office yesterday (needs to be mailed tommorrow) but I have arthritis (yeah, I'm under 30, but that doesn't stop it) and all I could do yesterday was lie in bed and rub odd smelling ointments all over my body. I could barely walk. Now, I have some stuff that needs to be mailed tommorrow, but now have no way to get to the post office because of the weather but walk. I hate having to walk 2 miles in this weather (esp. since I don't own a pair of boots or a jacket that zips. I don't go out enough to really NEED them). But that looks like it may be the only way. We're expected to get up to 2 feet of snow tonight.
Do you think people would mind a day or two delay in their packages being mailed? I recevied a package I ordered from half.com last week. I ordered it 24 days before it was shipped. Now, THAT seemed ridiculious, but do you think people would notice since its being mailed media that it was an extra day? I'm not realy that concerned about my half.com feedback since I don't believe it is anything more than a joke.
posted on March 4, 2001 07:29:37 PM
email the buyer and let them know of the delay. Snow in Western NY will also delay things for the next two days. Most people are understanding.
posted on March 4, 2001 07:34:00 PM
How do you e-mail a half.com buyer? I've never seen where you can get an e-mail address from them, or am I just overlooking the obvious?
posted on March 4, 2001 07:47:22 PM
You can't e-mail half.com buyers. You might want to put your half.com listings on vacation for the next few days if you feel you can't get to the Post Office.
Regarding the items that you need to mail, perhaps you could enclose a note saying that shipping was delayed due to snow storm. I think people will understand.
posted on March 4, 2001 07:54:34 PM
jenndiggy1:
I have been buying/selling on half.com for a few months now, and I would not worry about it. I KNOW that there have been times when the seller did not ship within the "next business day" rule, but I have never held it against them. Granted, I am not a neg-happy person (and there ARE many on half.com), but given the circumstances I would ship as soon as it is safely possible.
posted on March 4, 2001 08:09:53 PM
Half.com buyers are quick to leave negative feedback, because it can't be reciprocated or replied to in any way.
So, definitely put a note in the box with your explanation, and hope for the best.
posted on March 4, 2001 08:34:29 PM
I agree with nowwhat and victoria - inclose a note explaining the problem, and then don't worry about it. You can only do what you can do. I buy and sell on Half.com, and have never paid any attention to the postmark on the packages I received.
posted on March 4, 2001 09:07:49 PM
Would your carrier take the item for you?
I never have problems getting them to take priority mail in for me from my home. Once I had no car that day and I gave her 3 big garbage bags full of small boxes and padded envelopes and she was happy to take it all iin for me.
posted on March 4, 2001 09:12:45 PM
I can almost guarantee that there will be no delivery tommorrow. Its bad out already, and suppossed to get worse. Every wire is covered in ice. Hope we don't lose power as that's how we heat the house and have no alternate fuel source.
RARELY does anyone ever leave feedback on half.com
I shipped 95 or so packages and have 26 feedbacks
I have seen sellers that processed 2500+ transactions and they have 218 total feedbacks
Lately media rate (i guess since holiday promo junk mailers are out of season) is actually almost as quick as 1st class. I recieved stuff LAST WEEK that half.com told me would arrive somewhere between the 7th and 14th of march
http://www.lovepotions.net
posted on March 4, 2001 09:27:28 PM
Jenndiggy--You just stay inside and keep warm! I too have never noticed the date a book was mailed from half.com--never even thought to look. I sell on half.com, a little bit, and I try hard to comply with the next day rule but I have missed by a day now and then--and you know what? I've never checked to see if I even have any feedback! I agree that half.com feedback is a joke.
Now, I must tell you that I just noticed something the other day when I got the announcement that I'd sold another book, etc. etc. I'm pretty sure I saw *in print!" that we are supposed to ship by the end of the next day AFTER WE HAVE CONFIRMED THE SALE! If I'm interpreting that right, I suppose, if the weather is horrible again, you could hold off confirming the sale for a bit? Can't remember the rule about how fast we have to confirm--just throwing this out as a thought.
Oh, and I must say that I think it's a bit overweening of half.com to expect that we are all so close to a P.O. that we could comply every time with that rule. I frankly do not understand why they can't give us two or three days to mail the package. As if we have no other life?! As if we want to waste gasoline for a one-errand trip?!
Just stay warm and inside until the storm passes, I say. --Adele
[ edited by roadsmith on Mar 4, 2001 09:29 PM ]
