posted on December 5, 2000 12:35:27 PM new
I currently send almost everything priority with insurance. I'm thinking of going to priority with delivery comfirmation as my norm and insurance instead if the buyer wants it. This would be to keep the shipping costs down for the buyer. Is delivery confirmation going up to .40 after the 1st? Any suggestions or opinions about this? Thanks! Melanie
posted on December 5, 2000 12:41:42 PM new
"IF" your items are basically unbreakable it might be a good risk - but if they are breakable - I can't see any advantage except to the buyer. I occasionally put Delivery Confirmation on a package, along with isurance, when I have a bad feeling about the buyer - and particularly during Christmas I do "Signature Required" on UPS.....
posted on December 5, 2000 12:57:32 PM new
I always use DC, and charge it as part of the shipping fee. Since I don't charge "handling" fees, (a joke in my opinion, how do you mail it if you don't handle it?). I am considering absorbing the cost for DC after the new fees kick in. Depends on the cost of the item(s) sold, since the fee is cheap anyway. I like it because I've never had a DC item not arrive.
As far as insurance goes. I always list it in my auction description as it is the buyers option to insure the item(s). I also make it very clear, if the item is not insured, I am not responsible for postal loss or damages. In my EOA, I give my buyers totals for both insured and non-insured, and leave the choice up to them. And, (very important), I save the EOA notice and all buyers e-mails until receipt of the item(s). Just to protect against, as once happened, "I didn't know" type of comments.
posted on December 5, 2000 01:09:23 PM new
I have never purchased DC and only insure at the customers request which is about 1 out of every 50 packages shipped.
We have yet to have even 1 package lost or missing and this is over 3 years and 2000 parcels shipped.
The idea of tacking an extra 30 cents never mind 45 or 1.45 or whatever they're gonna be selling on each box going out the door doesn't get considered around her for more than a nanosecond.
posted on December 5, 2000 01:27:18 PM new
Almost everything I sell is somewhat breakable or damageable. Not much of it is glass though. I like having the receipt that I sent the package for the buyer if needed. I haven't had more than 2 or 3 people complain about the shipping cost with insurance.
Verymodern Aren't you worried about possible chargeback problems without any proof of shipping? About 1/3 of my customers pay with Pay Direct.
Does anyone know if delivery confirmation go up from .35 to .40? I don't use it now and I didn't quite understand the web site concerning it.
posted on December 5, 2000 02:07:28 PM new
Thanks auctionee! I thought the new rates started Jan. 1. Thanks for clearing that up.
"If man were to be crossed with a cat, it would greatly improve the man, but deteriorate the cat." Mark Twain
posted on December 5, 2000 02:53:38 PM new
moonmen - I do worry about charge backs but I do not think that DC would help me one whit if someone initiated one.
posted on December 5, 2000 08:43:07 PM new
I think DC's are a waste of monies. It doesn't really prove a darn thing to me except to line the Post offices pocket more.
It doesn't prove a package was delivered really, to the person does it.
Just says it is.
If I have any doubts about the buyer or the item being pricey,or breakable, I go ahead and pay the ins myself, if I forgot to mention.
I want to Cover my tush...to put it nicely.
posted on December 6, 2000 08:59:25 AM new
I really like DC and use it a great deal. It has bailed me out more than once when a package has "disappeared" and my customer is questioning it. I have had at least 6 times that I tracked the DC and found that it was either: sitting in a bulk mailing facility for an inordinate length of time which allowed me to contact that facility and get it moving, tried to deliver and left a note, but the note was not received and the item was at the PO waiting for the customer to call and have it redelivered or pick the item up or routed wrong and we were able to reroute the item correctly. Mostly it is just that they have tried to deliver and the little slip was not noted by the customer and the package is waiting at their PO to be retrieved by them.
At any rate, I have found it very helpful and the number of people who "question" whether the item was shipped and arrived has decreased dramatically since I started using it.
