posted on January 31, 2003 09:52:03 AM
Last week I won a auction. The TOS was "$8.00 shipping $.45 Delivery Confirmation". I paid $8.00 + ending bid amount via Paypal, without including the $.45 Delivery Conf. fee.
I get a polite email from her, stating that my auction item has been shipped and that, for future reference (should we transact any future business) she REQUIRES that buyers pay for DC.
First of all, is Delivery Confirmation NOT for the benefit of the seller? Insurance would be the only thing that I can see that would benefit the buyer. AND, when I received the package, she had used the USPS website to print her label with FREE Delivery Confirmation (just like I do when I ship my items)!!
Now, I realize that $.45 is not a LOT of money....but, as John Stossel would say.....gimeabreak!
posted on January 31, 2003 10:01:30 AM
Write back to the seller & tell them that you know it doesn't cost to use the web site printout for DC. I agree with you that there is no benefit to the buyer.
posted on January 31, 2003 10:06:24 AM
Her mistake was in the wording: She should have stated: "USPS PRIORITY MAIL with DELIVERY CONFIRMATION. Buyer pays $8.45 SHIPPING FEE" Then, with the nice STEALTH MODE from ENDICIA.COM, she gets to hide the ACTUAL POSTAGE from all dem pretzel-choker out there
posted on January 31, 2003 10:07:19 AM
My guess is that you're going to get hammered for this one. And deservedly so. If you had any questions about the TOS you should have asked them before the auction ended, so she could find a less troublesome bidder.
eDC is not the same service as DC. Doubt me? Call the Postal Service helpline (1-800-222-1811) and see if they will give you a status on your eDC package.
posted on January 31, 2003 10:15:19 AM
Fluffy, I didn't have any questions about the shipping charges. Her TOS stated "$8.00 shipping $.45 Delivery Confirmation". Seemed like an option to me. That makes me a "troublesome" buyer??
But, why would a seller gouge a buyer for $.45 for something he/she was getting for free?
posted on January 31, 2003 10:41:12 AM
The seller has a right to require delivery confirmation on packages, as it is the only means they have to insure that the package is delivered successfully. Without it, any buyer could just claim non-receipt of goods and could charge back the Paypal, Billpoint or credit card payment against the seller.
The above service is rightly billable to the customer and is among actual out of pocket expenses that are included in reasonable shipping and handling fees.
Why is it that the sellers are always asked to assume all risks and should pick up all nickel & dime expenses?
posted on January 31, 2003 10:42:11 AM
eDC is NOT free. There is the paper/label it is printed on, the printer ink, any tape used in addition, extra time, etc. The reason most people use the online label is to get the eDC. But it's not free.
[ edited by wendywins on Jan 31, 2003 10:43 AM ]
posted on January 31, 2003 10:58:10 AM
I can see a lot of advantages for the buyer wanting the DC. If the auction item is for a young and immature child that wants the item immediately the online tracking number lets them see where their gift or item is. The DC also lets the buyer see when the item was shipped as many sellers wait a week before they ship. The buyer can then vow to not buy from that seller again if that is a major problem with the buyer.
posted on January 31, 2003 11:04:20 AM
The seller would be smarter to just put the dc into their s/h charge as this would avoid this kind of problem afterwards.
posted on January 31, 2003 11:16:27 AM
"Also, the cost of the inkjet, labels would be incurred regardless of how you ship and what services you require."
Pre-addressed Priority labels are free. Magic markers are a few cents. Neither of these involve the use of a printer. This is the method I prefer but have gone to the eDC to Cover My Assets. It has added time and cost above and beyond what I normally would spend.
posted on January 31, 2003 11:24:17 AM
[i]If the auction item is for a young and immature child that wants the item immediately
the online tracking number lets them see where their gift or item is.[/i]
No, it doesn't.
This is a common misconception about DC. It is *not* tracking. In many cases the package is only scanned at the acceptance and the receiving post offices.
With something like UPS, the package is scanned every step of the way.
[ edited by fluffythewondercat on Jan 31, 2003 11:25 AM ]
posted on January 31, 2003 11:39:30 AM
Well at least you could show the child it was delivered or received at the local post office. The little buggers can get incredibly impatient and annoying.
posted on January 31, 2003 12:03:13 PM
Fluffy - That's not entirely true about UPS scanning the packages. I had a package that appeared to be stuck at one of the UPS terminals. I called and griped about why it wasn't moving and finally got a supervisor. They told me that in fact the package was moving it just wasn't rescanned when it was moved from a broken down truck to another. She then went on to tell me that most of the scans you see in your tracking are "virtual" not physical scans i.e. it's assumed to have arrived a certain place at a certain time. The only definite physical scans are when it's shipped and delivered. Other scans may or may not be physical.
posted on January 31, 2003 12:12:28 PM
With all the fraud out the the seller has every right to require DC confiramtion payment and it seemed pretty clear to me. Me thinks I will join the masses on this one and suggest you get a life and yes "GIMMIE A BREAK" is right
posted on January 31, 2003 12:40:36 PM
Delivery confirmation costs me around $500.00 a month, but it's worth every penny. I add the cost into the shipping.
posted on January 31, 2003 12:43:15 PMIt doesn't really matter what the differences are in eDC vs DC. The seller used eDC....which is free
No it doesn't matter. What matters is that you paid for nothing and are complaining because the seller gave you what you paid for.
Perhaps if you had paid the 45¢ as the seller's terms requested you would have gotten the "paid" version of DC. Since you didn't, you have no right to complain about her using the free version.
posted on January 31, 2003 12:43:39 PM
I still don't see where the seller has done anything wrong.
The buyer made an incorrect "ASSUMPTION", based on what he read in the listing, which could have bee immediately clarified if he had taken the opportunity to contact the seller prior to bidding. He would have been told that the DC was required at a cost of .45, just like he was told after the auction ended. This is hardly the sellers fault. If the seller requires delivery confirmation, it's his/her right to do so.
The issue was obviously a big enough deal for the buyer to want to slam and question the seller in a public forum, so why was not the same effort extended in contacting the seller with the question beforehand?
posted on January 31, 2003 12:56:05 PM
If the terms of service was $8.45 and you paid $8.00, you are in the wrong. It is irrelevant how much was charged or what she made on the shipping, the fact is that it was in the terms of service and you only found out afterwards that she used eDC - Maybe if you included the 45 cents she would have used regular DC...
posted on January 31, 2003 05:04:47 PM
WHY NOT JUST SAY SHIPPING IS $8.45......WHY ALL THIS BREAK IT DOWN,,JUST CAUSES PROBLEMS...OR,,,, TOTAL IS $18.45......THANK YOU.
posted on January 31, 2003 05:19:07 PM
WHY NOT JUST SAY SHIPPING IS $8.45......WHY ALL THIS BREAK IT DOWN,,JUST CAUSES PROBLEMS...OR,,,, TOTAL IS $18.45......THANK YOU.
Right on Jack, Seems some are to busy lecturing and not spending enough time selling........
posted on January 31, 2003 06:40:40 PM
DAC,,,,,THANK YOU,,,,,,I GAVE UP ALONG TIME AGO,,ALL THIS E MAILING IS FOR THE BIRDS,,,,,SEND THE MONEY,,,,,,THAT'S IT,,,,OVER WITH,,,,,NEXT DEAL,,,,,,BIG BUSINESS DON'T WASTE THEIR TIME WITH THIS PENNEY ANNIE STUFF,,,,,SHIPPING IS $8.95.....YA EVER HEARD THEM SAY,,,PLUS .45 CENTS DELIVERY CONFIRMATION,,,NO!!!!! TOTAL AND THAT'S IT.....OR,,,,EVEN INSURANCE WHEN YOU HAVE SOMETHING THAT MAY POSSIBLY ,,,,,BREAK,,,,,,JUST ADD IT AND TALK NO MORE OF IT....
posted on January 31, 2003 06:53:25 PMAgain, I will say that the seller's TOS stated $8.00 shipping $.45 Delivery Confirmation. This is NOT the same as $8.45 with Delivery Confirmation.
"It depends upon what your definition of "is" is." - Bill Clinton
How is it any different? Did it say that the Delivery Confirmation was optional? No? Then it wasn't!
posted on February 1, 2003 05:27:32 AM
I had a really fragile 'item' and put in the TOS that shipping was xx and insurance was required and another xx. You guessed it, they only sent the postage, so I shipped it without insurance and sent them a note to let them know. They also stiffed me .50 but that is not a biggie. I can't wait to see what they do if it breaks. I will take the advice and list 'shipping' and include the insurance in the cost in one number. Thanks all!
posted on February 3, 2003 01:48:41 PM
If I pay 45 cents for retail DC and seller uses 0 cent electronic DC then I'd probably not kick up a fuss, even though I don't think that's right..
I'd probably just make a note not to buy from that seller again.
If I don't pay for DC and seller uses free DC - what is there to complain about there?
I roll my first class/media mail e/DC fees into the S/H charges... easier and less confusing.
posted on February 3, 2003 07:43:13 PM
The word "optional" is listed nowhere
in the TOS. I read it as you will pay.
Granted, she may want to reword it for
future use though.
This is why I do NOT offer DC. It is
a scam anyway. Paying the post office
to verify that they do THEIR JOB! Indeed!
I offer optional Insurance with Return
Receipt. Buyer gets peace of mind because
item is insured and I get peace of mind
because I get a signature proving delivery.
Buyer pays. Clearly listed in TOS.
---
"Cannot say. Saying, I would know. Do not
know, so cannot say". -- Zathras (Babylon 5)
posted on February 3, 2003 08:02:27 PM
Hey, Jackswebb, if your Caps Lock key
is broken, OfficeMax regularly has
keyboards for $10.00 or less after
rebate. Otherwise, you do know that
typing in all caps is considered
yelling (and rude), right?
---
"Cannot say. Saying, I would know. Do not
know, so cannot say". -- Zathras (Babylon 5)
