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 Replies: 13 / Views: 1,765 |
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Pillar of the Community
Canada
579 Posts |
I recently just started selling on ebay and everything has been going smoothly until I got the dreaded 'item did not arrive' message on ebay. I didn't bother to think to get tracking since it was in Canada and I didn't think our Postal System was that bad. Oh well, I asked him to wait a couple more days just in case and offered to refund the purchase. Nothing more I can really do. Luckily it was only 8 bucks but 8 bucks is still a little bit and I lost a decent coin out of it. I guess I fooled myself into thinking 'nah that won't happen to me'. Thankfully my expensive coins arrived all right! |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
7375 Posts |
Yeah, if I sell a coin for a few bucks I don't get a tracking number, and the buyer knows they aren't paying for it......but more than a few bucks, I'll add tracking, and it reflects in the shipping cost.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
7641 Posts |
Don't let it get you down. Tracking is your friend. Unfortunately, there are many buyers that immediately file that INR dispute as soon as they see there is no tracking barcode on the package. For them, it's a freebie. One of these days the tracking will be done with a GPS device and the infamous barcode will be a thing of the past.
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Pillar of the Community
 Canada
579 Posts |
The stupid thing is though that if I want to send an item 'Registered' it adds another $8.50 to the cost of shipping.
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Bedrock of the Community
13014 Posts |
Registered definitely is expensive and really not worth it for most things. For ebay (in the US anyway) tracking alone protects sellers up to either 200 or 250 dollars, at that point you need to add signature confirmation as well for the seller protection. |
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Pillar of the Community
Canada
2124 Posts |
What you can do is to set your shipping costs in ebay like lets say 5% higher so if you charge let's say $2, start charging $2.25 and that $0.25 of every item you sell cover you for the items not received (less than 5% of the times). |
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
1949 Posts |
I agree with arizanzo, you are essentially self insuring when you send items without tracking number, and considering how many packages I've received with no tracking number (even some fairly valuable ones) and never having one 'disappear', I think it has less to do with the Post Office and more to do with dishonest people
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Pillar of the Community
Canada
579 Posts |
Yeah I do charge a little more on shipping than it costs me. I never though of it that way. I always charged that extra little bit since I usually sell lower value items as covering my ebay fees. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
7375 Posts |
Not sure how much tracking costs in Canada, but if I'm not mistaken, we can send up to 3oz anywhere w/tracking for $1.69.......that's a pretty good deal.
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Pillar of the Community
Australia
539 Posts |
I factor self insurance into my cost now. touch wood I have only lost 2 loads and refunded the money quick as the bad rep is not worth it when I am trying to establish a good rep on ebay. I hope people are honest but if they are not then tracking or no tracking they will find a way to rip you off. I just try to mitigate my losses with small sales. having said that I did make one sale early on worth over a grand that was international. made me nervous but worked out in the end and I saw the buyer resell the token in the states with a $500+ profit!! |
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Pillar of the Community
Canada
579 Posts |
I asked the post office lady what it would cost to add tracking to the package I sent out for Secret Santa on the forum. She said for a package such as this it would cost $13 total. Just by itself with a stamp it would cost ~1.60. I didn't ask for shipping to the States though.
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Pillar of the Community
Canada
579 Posts |
I just got a letter today from the buyer that the coin arrived! Canada Post managed to get it there. This was even after I had refunded the purchase and the buyer contacted me saying he would like to repay me once again.
I am so relieved.
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Moderator
 United States
14463 Posts |
I am very glad the buyer was honest to tell you it arrived.  place a star by their name  |
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Pillar of the Community
Canada
2124 Posts |
Very honest buyer !
CP is soooo slow nowadays.
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Replies: 13 / Views: 1,765 |
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Posted 12/04/2013 10:07 pm
