posted on May 3, 2001 07:53:48 AM
We have been operating on Ebay for about 3 years. About 1 in 10 people ask to have the item shipped to a work address. Over the years virtually all of our claims for lost items are for items shipped to a work address! (We self-insure and ship first class mail)
Now the overall number of lost items is very small, perhaps 1 in 500 or so. But if I sorted out work vs. home shipments I would guess 1 in 50 to work address and 1 in 1000 to a home address.
The obvious conclusion is that co-workers are stealing the packages. Most businesses receive packages by UPS or FedEx, and this goes into a receiving dept that logs everything. But my packages come in with the letter mail, so I don't think there is as much accountability. (Generally we use small boxes, weight is 2 ounces.)
So I have the following questions:
1)Has anyone else noticed this? i.e. lost items sent to Work addresses.
2)What should I do? a) refuse to ship to work address, b) warn people and give them a chance to have it shipped to home addr, c) Forget about it.
posted on May 3, 2001 08:00:39 AM
I haven't had a problem but I do worry about packages going to work addresses for the reasons you've stated.
If the value of your items is over $50, you could insist on insurance (blue label) which must be signed for - or give choice and if no insurance you could pay 40c for DC.
If under $50 I'd go with the DC -- the green ticket insurance wouldn't help since no sig required and the PO would just say it went to the building.
Or you could self insure low cost items if you can eat 1 in 50.
posted on May 3, 2001 08:02:48 AM
I have had bidders email me wondering where package is when shipped to work. Except for one time, the package was in the mailroom.
I insist on DC or insurance if the item is shipped to a place of employment or apartment/mobil home park with community mail section.
posted on May 3, 2001 08:20:01 AM
Well our items are generally under $30, so it's still better to self insure if 1 in 50 are lost. (The insurance for 50 packages would cost $55, and the one lost only costs me $30 max but usually less because I normally just make another one rather than refund)
I usually first class mail so DC is not an option. If they are combined items or expensive items, over $75 or so then I will use insured, or certified, or PM+DC.
But I have had this happen when I used DC, and the person still insisted they didn't get it.
posted on May 3, 2001 08:40:25 AM
haven't yet had anyone ask to have anything shipped to their work address. but as a buyer, i'd want to know this has been a problem, so i'd really appreciate your warning me and advising me to either a) take the risk myself, b) pay an extra $.40 for dc, or c) pay for insurance.
had a seller once insist i get insurance on a $4.99 item. i understood why, and paid it, but it bugged me. i told her i understood the risk was mine; she still insisted. heck, i'm all grown up now and can decide these things for myself
posted on May 3, 2001 08:43:00 AM
I can think of one reason why this might be happening.
The worksite may have employees who do not know the names of all their coworkers. I had this happen with a phone call once. My personal doctor's office called my work (another doctor's office) during the day to give me verbal test results. The person calling asked for me by my formal first name. I happened to walk in on my coworker saying, "XXXXXXX? We don't have a XXXXXXX working here." Of course, I said, "That's me! That's me!" Everyone in my office, along with 90% of the rest of my world calls me by my middle name nickname.
To make it even worse, we share office space with a family practice group. Their employees come and go like the rain. Many of them would never have any idea who "YYYY YYYYYY" is because their turnover is so high that many of them don't get to know us on our side of the office. In those rare instances, when I must have something sent to my work address, I always put "c/o <my dr employer here>". That way whoever the delivery person hands it to will see that it should at least go to our side of the office and I have a much better chance of getting it.
By the way, there are only 5 of us on our side of the office and a total of 25 including the family practice that we share with. I imagine in big corporations, the chance for delivery confusion would be HUGE.
posted on May 3, 2001 08:53:16 AM
This is a new one on me. I've sent over 1200 packages but only about 20 or so to work addresses. I haven't had any disappear BUT I send everything with DC, c/o someone, and make sure that the bidder has a "plan" in the event it shows up on a Saturday.
Since you self insure, are you able to use an "insured" stamper?
My experience is that "noticeably insured" packages arrive in the proper addressee's hands more often!
Your ratio of disappearance is high to me, but it could be the first class v. priority thing.
Wish I could be more helpful!
posted on May 3, 2001 09:02:48 AM
I wouldn't recommend not shipping to work addresses unless your parcels definitely fit inside small, locked mailboxes used in most apartments. I live in a nice apartment complex that will take any packages that don't fit in the boxes -- but at the office which is only open 10 to 6. I'm home before 6 *maybe* once a week, if I try. As a result, I always try to avoid having stuff shipped to my home.
A more widespread issue is people who work all day and don't have someone to take their packages. Any item that's sizable is just risky sitting on the porch.
posted on May 3, 2001 09:48:12 AM
We've encountered a similar experience shipping to business addresses. A higher loss rate than items sent to home addresses. We advise our cusotmers that we will gladly ship to their business address, but it will be their responsibility to collect the package. Insurance or delivery by trackable courier is recommended.
posted on May 3, 2001 10:01:29 AM
I recently had the problem myself. I ordered a book from Amazon and had it delivered to my work (I don't Ebay full time) and it got lost. I had Amazon send me another one but after about a month the original book showed up. Someone had accidentally put it in the wrong mailroom and no one there bothered to let me know.
posted on May 3, 2001 01:13:20 PM
I am like toyamy and live in an apartment where I can't get packages delivered. On the other hand I work for a small company where for the majority of the day I am here alone. I always have my packages shipped to me here at work. I can see where it would be a problem at some of the larger companies. I think it is a good idea to caution your buyers if they request a package delivered to thier place of business.
