Can't edit ANY of the address??
Summary: redlinear expressed frustration about not being able to edit shipping addresses on a platform, particularly in regions where address formatting can be problematic. eoma689485 suggested creating labels independently to ensure correct shipping, while stainlessenginecovers shared that shipping without editing has not caused delivery issues. Some participants discussed the challenges and safety of using freight forwarders. Other suggestions included using third-party postage services and ensuring buyers have valid addresses before purchases. bashort recommended requiring valid addresses on file to avoid such issues.
I understand about not being able to edit the zip code. That was fine.
But now, not being able to edit ANY of the address? That's nuts!!
Many people just have no idea how to "format" their address. The farther south ya get, especially in Florida.....the worse it gets.
If that address is in Doral, FL or anywhere near. It's going to have all the wrong stuff, on all the wrong lines, and usually the City, State, and Zip in there twice.
It's as if those buyers think the more info the better.
Usually pretty easy to see how the address should be formated, and edit it so that the package will get delivered.
But now, no choice.
I have to ship it, knowing it's probably already on it's way back.
Sure, not my problem. But an unhappy buyer that could have been happy.
bashort
·1 week agoa lot of the problems would be solved if ebay would require buyers to have a valid address on file before they can make a purchase
mam98031
·1 week agoThat is interesting. I see the problem. We use to be able to edit it. Now they may have changed it because they don't want Sellers changing the ship to address as they they lose all their Seller Protections.
However there are legit times when a buyer enters too many characters on one line and we need to split it up so it will show up completely on the shipping label. That isn't changing the address, it is just splitting it up between the two lines allowed for address so it will fully appear on the label. I've had to do that many times over the years.
This is certainly more work. It would require to cancel the transaction [with buyer permission], have the buyer correct their address, seller repost the item and then the buyer re-purchase the item. That is a lot and very likely will result in the loss of the sale.
Maybe there is a better answer. Lets see if we can get one.
@devon@ebay
@elizabeth@ebay
cellularchampions
·1 week agoI mean I got the thing where the address was too long, and when I went to print the label ebay told me about it and i just moved their extremely long name to the second line, and then purchased the label and everything worked out. Im not if thats just my account or everyone's but it seemed pretty easy for me
kandf_vintage_finds
·1 week agoWhen I run into this I purchase my shipping label on pirate ship, where I fix the label.
Then I plug the tracking number into my item on eBay.
For those of you that are going to tell me I lose my eBay protection by buying my label elsewhere I simply do not care.
iamalwaysright
·1 week agoYou just gave me one more reason why I avoid using ebay to create my postage labels. Glad I went with 3rd party postage services decades ago.
12345jamesstamps
·1 week ago'Doral, Florida'....that screams freight forward to me.
I recommend writing the address on the package.
The number next to the name is the locker number usually...and should follow the name or put it next to the name.
I photo my packages with added postage on it and send that as an email to the buyer...if buyer is listed in another country per 'eBay ID in feedbacks'.
I tell buyer expect another 2 weeks after estimated date of arrival.
femmefan1946
·1 week agoWhen I ship using a label, I leave the label exactly as it is.
I presume most postal workers are literate. And the machines read the bar code.
BUT
On the other side of the parcel, I write the address in the "correct" format
Name
Street/apartment
Town
State/province
Postal Code
Country
Now there may be other information on the label address
A freight forwarder will have the client number.
Parcels for the UK have the VAT paid number.
That information I write beside the postal address.
But again, I don't mess with the label..
stainlessenginecovers
·1 week agoI assume you know not to edit (lose any seller protections) but having an address in their twice, not a big deal. I've probably had 1000 of them the past 15 years, and I just 'print' as it's shown and NOT ONE item has NOT been delivered successfully.
So, If I were you, I would quit trying.
(and if it's true, then good, no more 'fake' tracking deals where seller changes the address)
redlinear
OP1 week agoYou need to ship more to those freight forwarders in Miami and Doral. Well, let me re-phrase that (I kinda like ya). Be glad you don't ship much there! LOL
Anybody that's had much experience with those places, Cringes every time they see one of those addresses. Even if the address appears correct.
soh.maryl
·1 week agoAre you referring to freight forwarders? I thought that, once a package is confirmed as arriving at the FF address, the seller was off the hook for any issues. So that's not true?
powell-collectibles
·1 week ago · EditedNo, sellers aren’t off the hook. If I use a freight forwarder, returning something is harder. Scamming someone would take a lot more effort. In general I think that FF orders are relatively safe for eBay sellers – better than a US domestic location. I find all of it fairly low risk overall – I’m sure others have different experiences.
femmefan1946
·1 week agoMuch of the MBG does not apply when the package is forwarded, so a FF is the second safest address after a PO box.
powell-collectibles
·1 week agoI think even better than a PO box. Easier for a false INAD with a PO box. Again, all of it - for me - low risk. Some have real issues due to what they sell, but I think most that are nervous about FF's are just chasing ghosts.
Every once in a while, we do hear about INAD's with sales going through FF's. From what I recall, there isn't a great way to show that something went to a FF and it wasn't just being delivered to someone that worked there, not to be forwarded on to whatever country. Those issues happen - just not very often. Or, there have been some odd chronic delivery scan issues that seem to have subsided.
12345jamesstamps
·1 week agoDepends if seller is using eBay shipping or not.
I don't use eBay shipping labels and such...I use the post office and my stamps...or whatever item needs for postage.
If item for me doesn't show 'delivered'...that's a refund...period.
Item can show in transit for months and months of any seller's package.
Which means a refund from me or a seller who is using eBay shipping where eBay does the refund and not the seller if it;s covered by eBay.
stainlessenginecovers
·1 week ago@redlinear I've probably shipped to that FF 1000 times since 2011, and I know the 'zip' and 'city' are somewhat interchangeable (usps issue or??) but again. I have NOT had 1 package not make it to it's end destination since 2011, well over 30,000 packages. I just print as it shows and do not edit.
The only time I 'edited' an address was 7,8? years ago when I shipped international and an address was over 40 characters- so I edited a portion of that address to 'address 2' and luckily, didn't have an issue as I would've 'lost' any protections.
redlinear
OP1 week agoI'm pretty sure the over 40 characters thing still pops up prior to printing a label, and will let you edit that. Been a couple weeks, but that happens here quite often.
eoma689485
·1 week ago · Edited"I have to ship it, knowing it's probably already on it's way back."
If I encountered that issue I would not purchase an eBay label, and would make my own label and purchase shipping at the Post Office counter, and when I got back home upload the tracking number.
A pain if you are used to using eBay labels, but I'd rather do that then have the item returned due an incorrect zip or address detail.
redlinear
OP1 week agoYep, plenty of work-arounds to solve this issue off of eBay.
Wonder if I can sell there too? LOL