Ebay Help - Dispute As Seller

as a shipper, you can open a claim against the freight company, but I think without insurance you are SOL

It's a tough gig in Canada. Canada Post is a useless organization when it comes to product innovation. The shipping costs here are atrocious. Both domestically, to the USA and almost undo-able to the rest of the world. USPS in the USA has a light packet product that ships for 3.27 within the USA tracked. The problem in Canada is that we have no such option. $1.80 un-tracked or $8-$12 tracked almost irrelevant of weight and size (envelope or parcel). I have no idea why CPC won't come out with an envelope only product under 100 grams for around 4-5 bucks that flat ships across Canada. Last but not least, Canada is the ONLY country in the G20 that does not allow shipping of anything but paper goods registered internationally. The result being is the only option is "tracked packet" to a hand full of countries for around $45 and surface parcel for the rest for around the same price with a 4-6 week delivery window. What sense does that make? I can ship a $1 banknote registered (because it's paper) but not a loonie internationally. I have coins shipped to me from all around the world registered for $8-$15. Not sure why Canada Post can't get it right in reverse.

On the issue of Paypal, I'm actually one of those lucky ones who managed to harass Paypal enough in one case and win a refund dispute of a non tracked $35 coin to Finland. I did it in collaboration with an another ebay seller who also had a case opened against them for non delivery around the same time from the same buyer. After some arguing with Paypal and explaining to them that they had a legal responsibility to investigate potential fraud and as well as preventing further fraud against other sellers by this buyer. They looked at the offending account and determined it to be fraud (I guess the person did it a few times) and released my funds. I'm not saying it can happen easily or often (99% of non delivery refunds stick) but if you have some proof and if you feel you've been defrauded, argue your case. Mail losses do happen but they are rare. I take the following steps when I loose a coin shipping. I refund, I report the buyer to ebay (I just state the buyer reported the coin as lost so there is a record in the buyer's account. I do that because ebay has no other way of identifying that), and depending on the scenario I will sometimes block future transactions with that buyer.

I've suggested to ebay (as much as one can) that ebay establish a protocol between the buyer and seller to agree on the shipping method. I suggested that if a buyer chooses the cheaper option (as long as the seller also offers tracked shipping) then the buyer should take responsibility for that shipment.

Trimble. The product is called "tracked packet" and is also available for a handful of other countries. If you have a Venture One card or use Pasypal shipping it should be around 14-15.

I am a VentureOne member with Canada Post - which does not really do much, but it does give you free $100 insurance coverage when shipping expedited parcel with tracking, and you can buy additional insurance at a small discount. Last time a buyer tried to pull a fast one on me, even with tracking, PayPal was being difficult. Canada Post suddenly became very helpful when I took the PayPal information to them, and filed an insurance claim for loss... long story short, they pulled out all the stops on the buyer and PayPal, and the decision was quickly reversed in my favour...

Depending on the item, I sometimes pay for the extra tracking or insurance costs out of my pocket, for me, paying an extra $5 is worth it, especially when sending coins in excess of $50...

Cheap coins can be sent in a padded mailer, USPS first class mail with tracking number for around $3 depending on the weight. Never send anything on ebay without a tracking number because the scammers look at those packages as free coins for them. ebay forgets who pays their bills, the seller.

SPP, The margins in online sales (coins included) for most dealers often don't allow the luxury of tracking a 40$ item within Canada. The average 10$ shipping cost tracked represents over 20% of the item, add another +-9% ( ebay and PP Fees) plus packing materials and you're at 30% before you even get started. Not feasible.

There is another avenue available I have not seen talked about for ebay sellers. Hugh Wood Insurance for coin dealers. In Portland I talked to the USA rep and they do offer shipping insurance to coin dealers. What they do at the end of each year is investigate so called non received items from their ebay clients. They have a certain pool of money put aside and use it for ebay investigations. He said the results are quite interesting when aprivate investigator hammers on the door over a fifty or sixty dollar item. They range from oh.....the neighbour stole it , thief postman, oh the dog signed for it, Gramma died and we were just able to get in the house. He said to me it is only a matter of time before ebay and PayPal are called to task on this buyer scamming. Think about it why would another wise rock solid seller not send an item. The opinion of the insurers is that ebay buyer fraud is prevalent.
My opinion is that one day in the very near future ebay and PayPal will face a class action law suit over this subject.
The trouble is, in most countries that follow the rule of English common law once you post an item for delivery it is Deemed received and the shipping agent and the RECIPIENT are responsible. ebay violates this very principal. Proof of shipping can be various other methods other than tracking numbers. We take pictures of the Stamped Bubble packs at the Postal Counter for every item sent non tracked.. We send quite a bit to Germany all that is required for there is proof that you sent it with a customs sticker and have a valid postal slip. ebay covers it check it out.

Curious are the sellers of notes or bills frequently having the same type of problems. The note being recognizable forever but no so for coins. Any one could alter or switch up a coin in fear of being caught but you cant change the serial number on a bill.