posted on March 5, 2001 08:47:51 PM new
Anyone else finding themselves spending as much or more time fretting over shipping issues as selling? It's getting to the point where I dread looking at my feedback. It's all still wonderfully positive, but I feel like The Day is coming when I'm going to take it on chin for some shipping problem.
Just recently it's been a spate of things. One half.com package arrived apparently broken apart. Tonight an ebay buyer says the box arrived held together only/barely by the tape I used [she mentioned the film from Xmas of postal workers throwing boxes around]. At the PO today I asked about tracing a media-mail package that hasn't arrived in over a month, and they all but put out a sign that read "Abandon All Hope Ye Who Enter Here".
Plus, noone uses Priority anymore so I just spent $$$ on uline for boxes and bubble mailers.
No big deal I guess...but it's getting me down! I don't even feel great about some wonderful sales I made today!
posted on March 5, 2001 09:05:58 PM new
Funny you should mention it. I have been engaged in a protracted game of email tag with a buyer over his "missing" package.
I mailed it on Feb. 27- his first "Where's my item?!?" email arrived on Mar. 1, and I have been receiving them regularly since then. Of course, included with the "Where's my item?!?" question is the obligatory threat of negative feedback if he doesn't get his item RIGHT AWAY.
Also included are various references to my poor performance, lack of ethics, and comments indicating that I am a cheat.
What is the item I sold? A lot consisting of 115 Mexican pesos (for about a nickel each), which, just incidentally, are the size of a quarter, and which the buyer is anxious to receive because, he says, they work great in vending machines.
And I'm a cheat? Go figure.
edited... punctuation
[ edited by mrpotatoheadd on Mar 5, 2001 09:08 PM ]
posted on March 5, 2001 09:47:56 PM new
It was clear sailing for me over the past year. This past month, I've had a media mail package take 6 weeks to get to Hawaii from MI. Luckily he was great about it and left me pos feedback. Now I just had someone tell me a video arrived cracked in several places and not viewable in a bubble mailer. This is my first damaged shipment in about 2000 mailings. Then I had my first bounced check. Lady takes 4 weeks to pay me then it bounces. I send out a NPB. She writes and says, I swear I paid you a couple of weeks. I tell her, "Yes you did with a bouced check". She writes back and says, "thank god I'm not going crazy". Still hasn't paid me.
posted on March 5, 2001 09:56:45 PM new
With the ebay auctions add the delivery confirmation fee into your shipping charges. Also a "Insurance is highly recommended if you'd like reimbursement for postal service damage, loss, or theft" may be helpful.
I recently sent a refund to a buyer who never got his package. It took him over thirty days to notify me that his package never arrived. Too late for him to neg me but I gave him the refund anyway. Now I clearly state that I do not give refunds on uninsured items.
I've also noticed that many sellers are not posting feedback until the buyer notifys them that they've received the merchandise. I supose this technique (along w/delivery confirm) could be helpful if you do get a neg for lost packages. You could always neg them back with "auction clearly states that refunds are not given without insurance", etc..
posted on March 5, 2001 10:15:28 PM new
Hi and I'm new to AW and selling on Ebay also. I've been selling at Half.com for almost a year and after initially closet-diving for shoeboxes and such to mail my items to buyers, I decided to go to a large office supply store and invest in bubblewrap, mailers and packing tape so it'd look a bit professional and also to avoid shipping disasters. So far its worked but then I'm not responsible for all US postal workers either. Now being a new seller at auctions, I constantly fret at what to charge for shipping, esp internationally. I find that I prefer to ship in US Priority/Insured/Del confirm to protect me and my buyer. Buyer pays and I have that in my auctions. Of course, havent sold much yet, maybe shipping is too steep, LOL. But the few buyers I've had received their items in great shape cause I used those sturdy Priority boxes. Did have one Priority shipmentnot show up after 2 weeks.My buyer and I communicated daily because I keep tabs till item received. I finally called the recipient post office and some &#*!idiot clerk there gave me 5 different, lame excuses why my box was received 2 days after I shipped and it sat under his counter for 2 weeks(no delivery attempt). So sometimes it pays to call and follow up. I'm also filing complaint against that P.O. clerk and billing them for my 3 long distance calls,he heh. One thing I've been doing at ebay and elsewhere, is reading other auctions and how they word shipping, etc. Very helpful. Thanks for listening to me!
posted on March 5, 2001 10:45:29 PM new
Someone paid my wife with a bounced check. No big deal I thought because we had not shipped the package. Then when cleaning up around the office I absent mindedly put the already packaged item with some other packages and mailed it.
(beating my head against the wall)
The buyer is NARU. Now we are out the cost of the item, shipping and bank charges and it's my fault for being absent minded. We don't even get to neg the guy......
Does anyone know of a good collection agency for NSF checks?
posted on March 5, 2001 11:06:09 PM new
Here are a few packing suggestions:
You can ususally get boxes, peanuts and sometimes bubble free at local stores--they just throw the stuff out.
I used to pay my kids to box the stuff up. It gave them spending money and saved me the trouble. They would do it while watching TV. Unfortunately they have now both left for college.
I self insure everything. I add a $1 to the shipping price and if it breaks I refund the money or replace it. It saves a lot of paperword and hassle if dealing with the PO and in the long run I about break even. (I sell all porcelain and glass.)
posted on March 6, 2001 12:14:11 AM new
I purchased an item with insurance some time ago, and the seller never disclosed the fact that it wasn't P.O. insurance--I could tell it was self insured when it came. For some reason, I got really irritated at that--but having gone through a P.O. insurance claim recently, I'd much rather deal with a self-insured package!!
If you DO self-insure, just be up-front about it so the buyer doesn't get surprised when they receive the item. If you get flack or skepticism from buyers, consider undercutting the P.O. just a bit on the fee--I bet you'll get no complaints then!
posted on March 6, 2001 04:16:39 AM new
Self-insurance....is that just a fancy name for charging extra for shipping, then giving out a refund at your own expense from time or time? Or do you mean that you take each extra dollar and bank it in some separate account against the day you have to refund? Or is it a category in your recordkeeping for taxes?
posted on March 6, 2001 04:46:18 AM new
I've been lucky thus far, 400+ priority shipments with no losses and 1 damaged package. I normally eat the insurance cost on higher priced items to protect myself.
What really cranks me is the sellers who want to make a killing on shipping. I've paid priority rate a few times and recieved the items regular mail!
posted on March 6, 2001 06:09:12 AM new
We've been having problems in the last two months with the post office. For two years, everthing was perfect. We still have a 100% get there rate, with only one in transit damage case, but we've been getting a lot of "where's my package" emails recently. Of course these people think I work for the post office, and personally handle their package. All the packages get there eventually, but it is a little nerve racking.
N is for Neville, who died of ennui.
posted on March 6, 2001 08:16:03 AM new
Yesterday I had a a buyer inform me that their package has not arrived AFTER THREE MONTHS. It was shipped air small packet (insurance not available) from Canada to Japan on Dec. 4th. Has anyone had such slow shipping experience to Japan? Could there be a problem with customs? Interestingly, all my packages shipped surface around the same time all arrived safely.
posted on March 6, 2001 08:20:58 AM newSelf-insurance....is that just a fancy name for charging extra for shipping, then giving out a refund at your own expense from time or time? Or do you mean that you take each extra dollar and bank it in some separate account against the day you have to refund? Or is it a category in your recordkeeping for taxes?
Assuming the seller honors a claim for a loss and makes a refund, does it matter what it is called or how the account is set up?
posted on March 6, 2001 09:10:19 AM new
It doesn't matter in my mind, but I was curious because this year I've been working very hard on keeping all my records straight, and I wondered if by "self-insurance" people meant they keep some separate little account going. When I give a refund I just record it in my debit column.
posted on March 6, 2001 09:26:56 AM new
I am pretty easy going and flexible on just about every area of my auction buying except insurance!
I want insurance on everything I buy and will not buy from someone who doesn't offer it. When I get my package I want to see the insurance sticker or stamp!!!!!
It's a compulsion with me! I would not be a happy camper if someone "self-insured" my package! Sorry, it's just how I feel. I would also mention my unhappiness in my FB for the seller.
I guess if you are a "self-insurer" you could buy a rubber "insured" stamp to make people like me happy!
posted on March 6, 2001 09:37:21 AM newI guess if you are a "self-insurer" you could buy a rubber "insured" stamp to make people like me happy!
U-PIC is a well known insurnce company that many sellers use, and they reccommend that packages not be marked in any way, as it is an indication that the item is valuable. Maybe you could give your sellers a break and trust that they will refund your payment in the event of a loss?
edited to add...
A lot of sellers accept personal checks and trust buyers not to send ones that will bounce, so it shouldn't be too much of a stretch for the buyer to extend a little trust to the seller when they say the item is insured.
[ edited by mrpotatoheadd on Mar 6, 2001 09:45 AM ]
posted on March 6, 2001 09:41:47 AM new
What I think is happening is that USPS is sacrificing all other forms of mail (including first class) in favor of the highly-profitable priority service.
It takes a check longer to get to me than it takes the package to get to the customer. I'm basing this on postmark dates, and not anyone's word.
I frequently get payments with a postmark date of 4-10 days, average 5-6 days (and this is within US). My priority shipments reach the customer in 2-3 days.
According to USPS, first class and priority are supposed to be the same thing, and receive the same handling, but obviously that is not true.
posted on March 6, 2001 09:55:57 AM new
Concerning postal rates....I've been down right depressed over them. I haven't listed anything for 2 weeks now.
I sell at times glassware & pottery, it can be quit heavy. With this last round of auctions I put up, the postage rate I did quote I know slowed the bidding way down. And then to top it off I was way off on my shipping charge costing me an extra $1+ to ship it to them.
Its hard for me to justify selling a Frankoma piece of pottery or Fostoria set of 4(cups, sherberts, plates, ect.) and having to charge them $6 to $8 to get it. Its just not going to bring the bids that piece(s) should be getting.
I don't make money off shipping but the buyers are sure figuring that cost in to determine the value of the piece.
As the heating bills go down and the tax refunds come in are things going to get better?
Lets talk about SELF INSURANCE....
I've considered it on items that sell for less the $25.00 and for those that want insurance. But I think we are setting ourselves up if we tell the buyer that we self-insure.
My thinking is it would be much easier for them to yell foul knowing that they don't have to sing to the tune of the PO to get a refund.
It is a BIG hassel getting a refund from the PO on the part of the SELLER & BUYER.
So, how can we reasure the buyer their package is insured without telling them it is self-insured?
posted on March 6, 2001 10:34:15 AM newmrpotatoheadd-nope, I don't expect a seller to trust me. I know I am trustworthy, but they don't! I will send a cashier's check or use a payment service, but no personal check. Even if I did send a check, the seller has the option of holding off shipping until the check clears! It would not offend me in the least.
I may be the only buyer who feels the way I do about insurance, but it's how I feel. I also do not like items shipped to me by any method other than USPS. Why? Because both UPS and FEDX just leave the package whereever! I have had them left with neighbors, inside an ice chest on my back porch (didn't find that one for a month)and left in plain site on my front porch!!!!! My local PO does not leave packages at all if I am not home and instead leave a notice for me come and pick the package up at the PO. The USPS may not be perfect, but I think they are still the best game in town!
If I am interested in bidding on an item, I will email to ask if it can be shipped Priority and insured through USPS. I will pay whatever the seller wants to charge for that. If the seller says yes, I bid. If they say no, I don't. If I pay for USPS insurance, I expect to get it.
posted on March 6, 2001 10:46:54 AM new
I love all my buyers who pay me money...I don't care if they have special little requests.
What I don't love are those new Priority rates which nobody will pay anymore. All those lovely free boxes sitting at the Post Office and nobody to use them.
posted on March 6, 2001 10:52:35 AM new
re: insurance - on smaller $$ item, I self-insure. On larger $$ items, I insure through upic, so there's never an "Insured" sticker on anything. Since the buyer needs my cooperation even if I insure through USPS, I don't see that it matters that much whether I self-insure or insure through a third party - I can still screw the buyer either way. My belief is that I am the one ultimately responsible for making sure the item gets there safely. I would think that most buyers would prefer to just have to deal with me rather than deal with the USPS.
re: postage charges. I've just started listing a flat fee for USPS priority mail shipping - one high enough that I know I'm covered. I usually also throw in delivery confirmation so that I know that a package has made it. Don't think the increase in charges has anything to do with the slow-down, there's just been a slow-down in general. mary
posted on March 6, 2001 11:21:09 AM new
I think putting self or private insurance in the TOS is a turnoff, but how about putting in your EOA notice that "insurance will be XX dollars (we reserve the right to privately insure on selected items)." If they squawk, you could then offer the choice of USPS insurance at XX dollars or private insurance at XX dollars.
I really like the idea of a rubber stamp--at least you can't have a buyer claiming that they paid for insurance and you didn't provide it!
posted on March 6, 2001 11:36:29 AM new
On my shipping label i put the item number, brief description of item and NOW lately I put insurance if insurance is requested.
I started doing that so I could keep it straight which ones required insurance and to alert the postmaster.
So if I self-insure and I have "insurance" on the label, that should tell both of us that the item is insured. Right?
Why should it matter to the buyer how it is insured as long as in thier mind it is.
I recently had a buyer get a dish and it had a crack in it that wasn't there when I shipped it. Anyway, she reminded me that she paid for insurance but the box wasn't stamped.
What happen was in the process of takeing better then a dozen packages to the PO with hers it got overlooked by the postmaster and myself.
I explained what happened and had her return the item at my FULL expense.
She only paid $10.00 for the darn thing, no way would I hassel with a PO claim for that amount. So you see the PO would have gained and I would have lost anyway.
posted on March 6, 2001 11:47:04 AM newAssuming the seller honors a claim for a loss and makes a refund, does it matter what it is called or how the account is set up?
It sure does.
While seller is responsible to deliver the stuff, and insurance is in that regard for the seller and not the buyer, USPS insurance is of some value to buyer as well. It make some buyers feel more safe, but most intensely, it makes a buyer feel cheated if it was charged for but not purchased.
A promise of "insurance" is a promise of formal insurance from the shipper.
I ship 90% of my stuff "self insured", but I don't tell buyer that. When asked, I simply reply that I'm a responsible seller, I've had a lot of success shipping this kind of thing in the past, I'm confident that this experience will be successful also, and if anything goes wrong, I'll fix it.
posted on March 6, 2001 11:56:27 AM new...USPS insurance is of some value to buyer as well. It make some buyers feel more safe...
Well...
If said buyer, in order to feel more safe, requires a specific method of insurance, this particular method is not specified in the description, and the buyer will be unhappy if it is not provided, it would be in the best interests of that buyer to inquire as to the availability of their preferred insurance method (and probable increased cost of such) before bidding.
Of course, the above does not apply if the seller advertises USPS insurance and does not purchase it.
posted on March 6, 2001 01:26:46 PM new
I just got a negative feedback because of the Post Offices error. I sold a $2 used book on ebay and when the seller got it she said her carrier had left it on her doorstep in heavy rain. It had gotten wet and had some water damage. It was still in okay condition but not able to be given as a gift. I responded it was the post offices fault and since it was only $2 she should donate it to charity. Well, about 3 weeks later, I find she dropped a Negative on me about not packaging it properly. Now who among us ships our packages in waterproof containers? Especially when shipping library rate! If she would have emailed again I probably would have just paypaled her $2 to get rid of her. I couldn't believe it!
** added 3-7 ** Thanks, I get your point, I should have waterproofed it. I don't know what I was thinking! The whole point of my post was was that the letter carrier should not have left a library rate (obvious book) out in the rain! I don't want to drag this out, but order a book from Amazon, it will come in a simple (unwaterproof!) cardboard box! Second, I wish the buyer would have given me advance notice that a NEG was coming. Her first email was rather matter of factly written. I expected POS if any feedback at all!
[ edited by oranthal on Mar 7, 2001 07:44 AM ]
posted on March 6, 2001 01:46:26 PM new
I'm another who hates the high cost of priority mailing. Seems like you can't win, either pay for boxes or high mailing costs. In response to the waterproofing, I wrap each item in tissue paper then put it in a plastic bag before mailing it. I discovered the hard way that tyvek bags aren't waterproof. I have a lovely white blouse that is now red and blue stained. I always ask sellers to package anything I buy in plastic inside the packaging. Makes sense to me to add a thin layer of protection from the elements.
posted on March 6, 2001 01:51:53 PM newAnyway, I responded it was the post offices fault and I suggest she donate the book to a charity and write it off on her taxes since it was only $2. Well, about 3 weeks later, I find she dropped a Negative on me
The negative wasn't for packaging, it was for attitude.
Consider how you would have felt if buyer's check arrived in an uncashable state, and when you advised buyer of the problem, you received this tone of response.
I would not be a happy camper if someone "self-insured" my package! Sorry, it's just how I feel. I would also mention my unhappiness in my FB for the seller.
packer