| Author |
 Replies: 23 / Views: 3,443 |
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
4870 Posts |
Do you think if a seller chooses to buy track & confirm on their own on the item they sold you, should they share that information with you if there seems to be a lengthy period of time where you do not receive the item in a reasonable amount of time for your own piece of mind? For those of you that don't know, I am having an issue with not reccieving an item from a seller. https://goccf.com/t/25146On another note, should sellers clearly display on their auction the method of delivery? I ask because many sellers use Media Mail and for some reason that method of delivery is significantly longer than First Class Mail. Should sellers oblige a buyers request for another method of shipping if the buyer asks before bidding? It irritates me that some sellers use the cheapest method of shipping as possible and yet charge you a greater price and pocket the rest. |
|
|
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
560 Posts |
If the buyer is paying for shipping, the seller should make an effort to accommodate them. As long as it's agreed upon by both parties before the sale, that should be fine. Bait-and-switch (advertise high shipping costs and send it cheaply so they can pocket the rest) tactics for shipping costs is another thing - completely unethical.
|
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
549 Posts |
If a seller doesn't advertise 1st Class or Priority Mail in the listing, then the seller has every right to ship via Parcel Post or Media Mail, regardless of what amount is being charged for s/h. Buyers should always expect the cheapest method of delivery, unless expedited delivery is either detailed in the listing or agreed upon with the seller via email prior to bidding. If a buyer feels that the stated s/h rate is too high for anything other than 1st Class or Priority shipping, then the buyer should either buy from somebody else or contact the seller prior to bidding to try to negotiate a different rate. If a buyer needs an item in a hurry, then it's up to the buyer to make arrangements for expedited shipping prior to bidding.
Edited by mahgobbi
02/10/2008 1:25 pm
|
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
549 Posts |
I forgot to answer your primary question.
The seller has no obligation to offer you tracking information, unless it was specified in the listing that a tracking number would be provided.
As a seller, I've stopped supplying buyers with USPS tracking numbers, unless they email me asking for one. I still supply UPS tracking numbers, because they are truly "tracking." With USPS, they are merely delivery notification.
In theory, tracking numbers are great; however, most buyers are ignorant to the way they work with USPS. USPS calls it a "tracking number;" however, carriers are never required to scan the tracking until the time of delivery, except in the case of Express Mail. There are certain post offices which are pretty good about scanning (Memphis, Dallas, Atlanta, and a few other big cities); however, in most smaller cities (and some big ones), the packages are never scanned. Buyers look up the tracking and send accusatory emails to the sellers about printing out a label but never shipping, simply because the tracking only shows "billing information received." In virtually every instance, the package is actually in transit and just not scanned.
I think USPS needs to change the name of their "tracking" numbers to "delivery confirmation" numbers, but I doubt it'll ever happen.
As for sending the numbers to buyers, I do it when they ask as a courtesy, but I'd rather not give out the number automatically and then deal with 10x the volume of "you never shipped" emails.
Edited by mahgobbi
02/10/2008 1:36 pm
|
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
7123 Posts |
quote:
If a seller doesn't advertise 1st Class or Priority Mail in the listing, then the seller has every right to ship via Parcel Post or Media Mail, regardless of what amount is being charged for s/h.
I have to disagree with this ,,If the seller is providing shipping at their expense then they have every right to ship anyway they see fit ,, but as long as they are charging the buyer for shipping then that money should be spent in accord with the wishes of the one who paid . The shipping money does not belong to the seller ! Ever ! This if you don't like what the seller does buy somewhere else is at the best a very poor business attitude and at the worst a way of elevating theft of funds to a normal business practice . keeping left over shipping money is unethical IMO . and shipping in a lower form than the money will buy is out right dishonest . and to answer the second part of the question ,, if the buyer bought Delivery confirmation with the money He sent the seller ,, then He owns the number not the seller . and that number should be given to the buyer at the very first opportunity . |
|
Forum Dad
 United States
24165 Posts |
quote:
The shipping money does not belong to the seller ! Ever !
Disagree. You are paying me to ship the item. I ship it. I pay for it. I'm responsible for it if it doesn't get to you. If you want to take responsibility for the item not arriving after you bought the shipping, then and only then is it yours in my opinion. My responsibility, my money. quote:
keeping left over shipping money is unethical IMO.
So where is the line drawn? The same people that will pay Columbia House $6.95 to ship a single CD (96 cents postage) and think nothing of it, will scream at me for charging $3 to ship a coin. Because in their minds Columbia House is a real business and I'm not. Bubble mailers aren't free. Labels aren't free. Gas isn't free. And my time isn't free. It's up to you to decide if the shipping is high but to expect actual shipping is not fair. quote:
and shipping in a lower form than the money will buy is out right dishonest .
Every seller's situation is different, so a blanket statement like this is not possible. If I quote $4.95 shipping for a mint set are you entitled to assume that I'm shipping Priority because it will buy Priority? Will you then get mad at me when you get it first class, wrapped in bubble wrap, then sealed in a watertight bag, then placed in a brand new watertight bubble mailer, and fully insured? Very unfair. I know people that live out in the sticks with non-postal employee mail carriers that I would trust as far as I could throw them. So they would have to drive 20 miles to a post office. If they want to include this weekly PO trip up front in the shipping and handling so be it. You have the choice to move on. |
|
Forum Dad
United States
24165 Posts |
Here's another little known fact. First class and Priority are no different until it goes more than 2 zones away. Until then they go on the same truck right next to each other. After that, the difference is FedEx usually takes the Priority via airplane.
|
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
7123 Posts |
We will disagree on this forever ,, and thats cool ,but my point was directed specifically at the comment that the seller can choose to ship in the very least expensive shipping method no matter how much they charge .
If I send 4.95 and get my coin in a standard envelope with a 58 cent shipping label I get angry ,, if I pay 4.95 and get a very secure and well protected package with insurance I have no bones with that .
there is a line where the seller has to take responsibility and that is in the packaging and integrity of the shipping method ,if those simple requests are to much for a seller then maybe they are in the wrong business .
irregardless of how the funds are viewed until that package arrives at my door the money is still mine ,, and if the Item never arrives I can prove that statement because the money will be returned to me .
|
|
Valued Member
United States
144 Posts |
I've bought 5-6 different items of electronic equipment (such as cell phone chargers, batteries, etc.) on ebay for 1 cent each!! It should be obvious to everybody that the seller was ONLY making money from the 6.95 shipping charges. I've got no problem with that, it's clearly how they chose to do their marketing, and game the ebay process. But since 6.96 was a great price, I bought the items (Radio Shack prices were 20 - 30). It's the total price to put the item into my hand that I look at. Obviously this changes if we have any agreement to ship it a particular way, but it's still total cost for the agreed service and merchandise. |
|
Pillar of the Community
 United States
4870 Posts |
I totally agree with the following quote. This has actually happened to me. I was furious that I paid ample postage just to have it sent in an envelope and have a postage due on top of that.
Quote:
"If I send 4.95 and get my coin in a standard envelope with a 58 cent shipping label I get angry ,, if I pay 4.95 and get a very secure and well protected package with insurance I have no bones with that."
|
|
Valued Member
United States
144 Posts |
I just think that if you know in advance that one way will make you angry, and the other won't, then you should make that part of the agreement.
|
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
549 Posts |
I live 15 miles from the post office, gas is $3/gallon, and my van gets 11-12 mpg. I have to pay insurance on the van, and the van certainly didn't come free. My packing materials aren't free. My computer that I use to print the shipping labels wasn't free. My printer wasn't free, nor are the toner or the labels. The electricity that provides power to my home office isn't free. The time it takes for me to locate your item in my warehouse, package it, print the shipping label, and get the item to a mail carrier isn't free. The time it takes for me to answer your "where is my item" emails isn't free. I could probably come up with 20 other costs if I wanted to think about it! I have no problem whatsoever charging $4.99 to ship an item with "actual postage" of $2.50. Buyers don't complain at all about the s/h costs from "real" retailers, but they have hissy fits over ebay sellers. It's real simple...LOOK AT THE BOTTOM LINE (purchase price + s/h). Don't bid higher than the highest you want the bottom line to be, and then don't complain about s/h costs. In the end, you are the ones who CHOSE to bid on the item KNOWING what the shipping charges are. If you need expedited shipping, conact the seller BEFORE bidding. Most sellers will agree to ship an item via Priority, but the buyer should expect an extra charge if Priority isn't the sellers' typical method of delivery. Just because you paid $4.99 s/h for an 8oz. item doesn't mean the seller is obligated to ship it in a Priority envelope! Edited by mahgobbi
02/11/2008 7:51 pm
|
|
Pillar of the Community
 United States
5953 Posts |
As with all types auctions I bid based on the max price I want to pay for an Item. This will include buyers premiums shipping handling etc. I have no expectations of shipping method unless its stated in the auction. If someone advertises Priority mail then ships regular first class mail. Then regardless of the fact they will both arrive at the same time I will be angry and do all in my power to get a refund. Even if I have factored the shipping cost into my bid and got the item for what I wanted to pay. The seller has been dishonest claiming one method and using another. It may seem picky but thats the way I am.
|
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
7123 Posts |
The time I spend looking at Items on ebay the time I spend bidding ,making the money that pays the sellers the Internet service the electricity that is spent running the lights computer and printer gasoline insurance for my vehicle and going to the post office to pick up the Item ,,and then the problems that happen when sellers do not consider themselves real retail sellers so they do not have to live up to any standard none of this is free either ! Its always easy to see our own sides of the equation but in reality without buyers there would be no need for ebay sellers ,keep in mind that most of the stuff bought from ebay sellers can be bought at other places in every city in America ,, and as always I shop where the service is the best . I show 198 unique ebay purchases with just about double that total positive feedbacks received ,, I have found some really great people to deal with and those sellers get my business whenever possible . one of the top reasons that I buy from them is their shipping, packaging and service after the sale . summed up in a single word its "integrity" that counts . its that simple . Metalman |
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
549 Posts |
Most people are not like you, Metalman. All else being equal, most people will choose a good price over good service any day. ebay is where you get the best prices...eBay beats the dealers on price just about every time. I certainly don't care to deal with the ebay sellers who offer poor service, but given the choice between getting ripped off by a dealer or saving money from a seller who ships slow and buries his profit in the s/h, I'll choose the bad seller every time. I view paying more for "quality service" to be the real ripoff. We all see things differently. |
|
Forum Dad
United States
24165 Posts |
quote:
The time I spend looking at Items on ebay the time I spend bidding ,making the money that pays the sellers the Internet service the electricity that is spent running the lights computer and printer gasoline insurance for my vehicle and going to the post office to pick up the Item ,,and then the problems that happen when sellers do not consider themselves real retail sellers so they do not have to live up to any standard none of this is free either !
C'mon now Rick you're just getting silly now, get some sleep.  I have to go to Walmart today, I'll stop at Customer Service as soon as I get there and give them my gas receipt and wait.  |
| |
Replies: 23 / Views: 3,443 |
Posted 02/10/2008 1:23 pm
