posted on May 18, 2001 04:57:18 AM
Hello. We been sellers on EBay since 1998. Within the past 6 weeks, we are starting to pick up some bidders who claim they have not received their items that they paid for. As being in the retail business as a store front, we have been issuing a refund as good customer service. Been working real fine. But lately it seems we are getting a little more refund requests than we should. We ship out etremely fast as our Ebay feedback states. Most are little $3-$7 sale items. How do you handle it? We never put anything into our ads about not paying insurance or anything. I was looking at some ads on Ebay and see some sellers now mention that they are now not responsible for lost mail without the bidder paying insurance. Do you risk feedback for that? Also how do you word it in your ads. Thank you.
posted on May 18, 2001 05:00:43 AM
on small items require dc its about .40 its proof that at least you shipped it can be traced ts to where it was last scanned. On larger items I just quote insured shipping price.
posted on May 18, 2001 06:48:53 AM
If you're getting more than usual requests for refunds because of losses, you may be getting scammed.
I build the DC into my shipping, i.e.,
If a book is $1.30 Media Mail, I state shipping as $1.80.
If an item ships $3.95 Priority, I state shipping as $4.35.
Insurance is then offered as the difference, i.e. Insurance is an additional 60 cents (or 70 cents) and is the option of the buyer. With a disclaimer that I'm not responsible if they don't insure.
This means that I have a receipt for everything I ship except the occasional uninsured 1st class item.
Sure you risk a neg, but if you have proof you mailed, only a real jerk would neg you.
In your situation, if you use USPS to ship, you might want to tell your buyers that you'll put a trace on the item and if s/he doesn't receive it 30 days after you sent it, you'll refund the purchase price. If they are scamming you for a $3-7 item, at least you'll have the satisfaction of knowing they had to keep track of their rip-off for 30 days.
