posted on February 9, 2005 05:44:56 PM
I may be jumping the gun on this transaction but want some advice before it happens if it does.
I sold a couple items from my Ebay store and sent it out USPS First Class with Delivery Confirmation. It was sent out on February 2nd and it is now the 9th and buyer still has not received it. It was going from OK to FL. My buyer chose not to insure it. The order was for less than $4.00.
It appears that USPS did not scan this Delivery Confirmation because when I tried to bring it up on their tracking there was no record of it. If they scanned it originally when they sent it out there should be some record of it right?
Anyway, I guess what I am trying to ask advice on is
#1) If my buyer files a chargeback with Paypal for non delivery and I do show that I did get a delivery confirmation but the post office didn't scan it am I still responsible for the chargeback even though the post office was lazy or will Paypal accept my proof from my receipt that it was sent? What's the use of protecting yourself with Delivery Confirmation if the post office isn't going to scan it?
#2) If the post office did indeed lose this package should I be nice and refund my buyer and refund amount even though they didn't choose insurance? (I have in my auctions that I am not responsible if item is lost or stolen w/out insurance but dummy me forgot to put it in my store listings)
I am trying to build up my feedback and do not want any negatives looming in the horizon.
This is the first time that this has happened with the post office not fulfilling their obligations with the delivery confirmation so I want to be prepared.
posted on February 9, 2005 05:51:04 PM
try calling your local PO tomorrow with the tracking number.
I've had items I've had a tracking number for that don't show up on the USPS website, yet the PO has a point to point schedule on that number. Don't ask me how it works.
I just called on one last week. Website? Nada. USPS phone call told me where the item actually was.
posted on February 9, 2005 06:13:16 PM
PLEASE review WHAT DC is:
It is "proof" of delivery & nothing else...
The PO specifically states that for yer $0.00 or $0.13, you are NOT getting TRACKING...
RETAIL DC has to be scanned in at time of purchase because that is how they are able to charge you for it! But, it you use a SUB-STATION that does NOT have computer hook-up (like mine), then even RETAIL DC will NOT be entered into the system...
And, about 50% of my eDC's are never scanned UNTIL DELIVERY...
WHY?
BECAUSE IT IS NOT PART OF THE SERVICE!
All you get for your $0.00 or $0.13 is a SCAN upon DELIVERY & nothing else. Even then, the PO admits to a 5% "no-scan" rate, which is pretty good...
My eDC's are running around 99% SCANNED at DELIVERY. But, I place a big sticker on all my items stating:
"DELIVERY PERSON: PLEASE SCAN ME!"
If yer packie does NOT show up, then, after 30 days, you can have yer PO run a TRACE.
As to whether PP will accept yer DC -- good question if it never shows nothing...MY guess is NO, but why not wait a liddle longer before calling up the Curse of Ralphie's Revenge? I've had 1st class items take 2 weeks to go from Intercourse, PA all the over to Bird-In-Hand,PA, so donna give up yet...
"Who could have possibly envisioned an erection — an election in Iraq at this point in history?" Prez.Jim Beam, at the White House, Washington, D.C., Jan. 10, 2005
posted on February 9, 2005 06:16:14 PM
If it were me, for a $4 order I would refund or reship if you have this in stock...
"It is better to have none than to have some, but if you must have some, it is better to have few than to have many" - Ronald Reagan
posted on February 9, 2005 07:28:43 PM
"#1) If my buyer files a chargeback with Paypal for non delivery ..."
Yer screwed, dude. You think Paypal's going to eat this? Think again.
"#2) If the post office did indeed lose this package should I be nice and refund my buyer and refund amount even though they didn't choose insurance?"
For four bucks I wouldn't even consider arguing with a customer. Just refund him and grovel a bunch, maybe he won't neg you.
The insurance is there to protect YOU, not the buyer. Whether he paid by Paypal, credit card or whatever, the various protection features work in HIS favor, not yours. The insurance is YOUR insurance, not the buyers.
Don't get me wrong, I wouldn't bother buying insurance on a $4 item either. But I also wouldn't make a fuss if it disappeared.
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Replay Media - The best source for board games, card games and miniatures on the web! http://www.replaymedia.com
posted on February 9, 2005 07:50:33 PM
I'm just more concerned with the post office not scanning DC when it's supposed to. I'm paying them money for this service. I understand it's not a tracking service and I don't expect to have tracking detail for it.
My buyer just sent me an email earlier wanting to know where her stuff was since it had been 8 days from the time she purchased these. I told her I had sent it out Feb 2 and basically told her to wait and hopefully package will arrive.
I will refund her money but I am just trying to get advice from anyone who has had the same experiences.
Right now I am trying to get a tracer done on a package I sent UPS from OK to Arkansas January 15 and it still hasn't arrived. The UPS site shows it's still in Oklahoma City as of January 17 so I don't need anymore packages "lost in transit" right now.
posted on February 9, 2005 07:54:18 PM
Meow, yes it happens all the time. I wouldn't even go so far as to call it a small percentage of the time. It's pretty common.
Face it, government workers are LAZY and the post office is a monopoly.
For the most part, the PO is a good deal, but DC is notoriously unreliable. If you sell something EXPENSIVE, pay extra and get a signature confirmation.
DC has saved my butt plenty of times with buyers, so I still use it on every package. But the whole non-scanned-situation comes up plenty too.
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Replay Media - The best source for board games, card games and miniatures on the web! http://www.replaymedia.com
posted on February 9, 2005 08:01:09 PM
"I'm just more concerned with the post office not scanning DC when it's supposed to."
WHY are they susposed to? Where does it say anything anywhere about scanning yer DC EXCEPT upon delivery?
They are very clear in the Manual that the only time that DC is to be scanned is UPON DELIVERY -- it may also sometimes be scanned upon presentation, or along the way, but if it is, that is purely an accident & NOT PART OF THE SERVICE you paid virtually nothing for
"Who could have possibly envisioned an erection — an election in Iraq at this point in history?" Prez.Jim Beam, at the White House, Washington, D.C., Jan. 10, 2005
posted on February 9, 2005 08:04:09 PM
For me, the DC is there for people who claim the item has not shown up, but it shows as delivered. For that situation, I feel like I have a foot to stand on, so to speak. Once I show them that is states it is delivered, that usually ends the complaint.
For those items that never make it, it is one reason why I carry insurance for all items shipped. I file a claim, and get a refund (plus I refund the buyer) - Either way, it is a no lose situation for me, and I like that.
"It is better to have none than to have some, but if you must have some, it is better to have few than to have many" - Ronald Reagan
Got this straight off the USPS website-----------Retail rate Delivery Confirmation that is brought into the Post OfficeTM for mailing will include an acceptance scan.
posted on February 9, 2005 08:26:26 PM
Tom, *I* realize that they are not intended to be tracking numbers (although they often DO work like that).
What *I* was talking about are all those packages that HAVE BEEN delivered and were never scanned. There's just no legitimate excuse for it other than laziness.
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Replay Media - The best source for board games, card games and miniatures on the web! http://www.replaymedia.com
posted on February 9, 2005 08:32:16 PM
I agree with Ebayvet and Parklane. This is a perfect example of why I always ask, "how much money is involoved" to numerous questions. Thank you for letting us know right away before this thread went to 30 posts. In this case, more than enough time has already been spent fretting over what if's and possibilities over a hypothetical $4 loss. Simply e-mail the buyer, tell them to wait another 5 business days, and if they still haven't received it by then, then tell the buyer that you'll send a refund. Most people are honest. The worst that can happen to you if you follow my advice is you wind up losing $4 to a liar. Move on, and make more sales.
posted on February 9, 2005 08:37:50 PM
My PO never scans packages unless the DC is purchased at the window. I sent a package the first week in December, that supposedly was never delivered. It wasn't scanned on either end so I sent her another package. This package never made it either and wasn't scanned on either end also. She gave me two negs saying the PO told her it was never mailed. She was so rude and unreasonable I got the impression that she had the package. I began to wonder if she or a relative worked at the PO. Do you think they could get by with something like that?
Be kind. Everyone is fighting their own secret battles.
...Author Unknown
posted on February 9, 2005 08:46:54 PMI've had 1st class items take 2 weeks to go from Intercourse, PA all the over to Bird-In-Hand,PA, so donna give up yet
Dat's nuttin, takes twice that long to go from Intercourse,PA to Blue Ball, PA
posted on February 9, 2005 08:47:48 PMMy PO never scans packages unless the DC is purchased at the window
That's the problem. How much money is the postal service losing by not scaning all e-DCs as required? 13 cents is due on each item (priority rate free).
When they weigh the package, they must select delivery confirmation, then scan the package and then their terminals lowers the DC rate to 13 cents. I don't work there but I cannot tell you how many front line cashiers don't know this. I try to do it easy since I can imagine how embarrassing it is for them to have their customers to tell them that they've been letting hundrends of packages go through for free.
I'm sure a lot of sellers aren't telling their postal people this thinking they're saving .13 but then you really don't have proof that the package was received by the post office.......
Even if its not scanned on the delivery end; you have proof it was scanned at the window.
posted on February 9, 2005 09:02:29 PM
If you use electronic postage like most of us do, you don't purchase it at the window. Therefore, there is not reason for them to do anything at all. If your package will fit into an outside box, you don't even have to go inside. I just walk up to the counter, set my postal tub down, say "Hi" to the guys at the counter and walk out. If I finish packing after the PO closes I take them to the main PO and put them in the outside box. I don't even get out of the car.
I would think that if the postage amount doesn't include the DC, it won't get scanned on the other end. The PO is not losing near as much as you think they are.
Be kind. Everyone is fighting their own secret battles.
...Author Unknown
posted on February 9, 2005 09:15:19 PMMeow: I SAID THAT RETAIL DC has to be scanned at the window if you take it to the window -- THAT's how the computer picks it up!
If you goto a substation that does NOT have a computer, then yer RETAIL DC ain't gonna be scanned -- obviously.
It may (or MAY NOT) be scanned in at the central receiving PO -- MOST of my eDC ARE (because of STEALTH), but MOST of my RETAIL DC are NOT!
IT IS IMMATERIAL, since the PO is under NO obligation to SCAN EXCEPT UPON DELIVERY.
They are NOT failing you if they don't scan EXCEPT UPON DELIVERY, as that is WHAT YOU PAID FOR!
One may WISH they did scan -- but that DOESN'T make it part of the service.
If ya think about it, the PO does an amazingle GREAT job with DELIVERY CONFIRMATION, considering how little we pay for it!
OTOH, my success with SIGNATURE CONFIRMATION has been DISMAL
"Who could have possibly envisioned an erection — an election in Iraq at this point in history?" Prez.Jim Beam, at the White House, Washington, D.C., Jan. 10, 2005
"What *I* was talking about are all those packages that HAVE BEEN delivered and were never scanned"
If you're having a large number failing upon delivery, & MY rate is 99%, then...???
"Who could have possibly envisioned an erection — an election in Iraq at this point in history?" Prez.Jim Beam, at the White House, Washington, D.C., Jan. 10, 2005
