Due to the age of this thread, it has been closed to further replies. Please feel free to start a new thread if you wish to continue to discuss this topic.
How eBay manages ESE metrics seems to have changed over time. About 10% of my envelopes never get scanned. I know they are delivered because I see the feedback. In the past, if my Top Rated Seller rating was in jeopardy, I would contact customer service to correct the delivered items that I was being penalized for. Now, I don't need to contact anyone - unscanned envelopes will show up against me as unvalidated for a day or two, but then they are removed automatically. My "Tracking uploaded on time and validated" always goes back to 100%.
And for the most part, the "no scan" envelopes seem to always happen when my regular carrier is on vacation. I don't think the subs realize that they are first class metered mail.
How eBay manages ESE metrics seems to have changed over time. About 10% of my envelopes never get scanned. I know they are delivered because I see the feedback. In the past, if my Top Rated Seller rating was in jeopardy, I would contact customer service to correct the delivered items that I was being penalized for. Now, I don't need to contact anyone - unscanned envelopes will show up against me as unvalidated for a day or two, but then they are removed automatically. My "Tracking uploaded on time and validated" always goes back to 100%.
And for the most part, the "no scan" envelopes seem to always happen when my regular carrier is on vacation. I don't think the subs realize that they are first class metered mail.
The biggest thing that I found that contributed to no-scan envelopes when testing was how dark the print was on the envelope. The lighter the print, the more likely the thing sailed through the entire system without ever getting properly picked up.
You can use it but be careful how you use it. Coins are thick and heavy. You can send one but probably two might get a return mail. I think it depends where you live and also in regards to what your post office uses to mail items forward either by machine or whatever. And then there's the final destination post office who might send it back to you. I think populated areas will be OK. I had something go to Montana that came to me from that state. It went through San Francisco but not Montana. Might have been a small town it went through.
I don't have top rated status because you need lots of tracking items. But it's between 10% discount or saving on shipping cost. Comes out the same to me.
Maybe try a few first to see what happens.
Not a lot of responses if any from sellers in regards to mailing coins so be cautious on some advice.
Coins are likely to have about the same 1 percent exception rate I was having with orders shipped in those hard plastic top loaders. 99 out of 100 they make it through, but that 100th one will jam in the machine and the envelope will either shred and you will never see it again or it will end up getting returned insufficient postage or showing up postage due.
In any case it is impossible to be competitive in any standard envelope category if you are using package shipping.
My experience with ESE is scanning is erratic, and there is a finite possibility that the shipment will not be scanned, and you can be hit with the same demerit as if you did not ship.
I use it sparingly, preferring real tracking, but some buyers are unwilling to pay for a conventionally tracked service.
My experience with ESE is scanning is erratic, and there is a finite possibility that the shipment will not be scanned, and you can be hit with the same demerit as if you did not ship.
I use it sparingly, preferring real tracking, but some buyers are unwilling to pay for a conventionally tracked service.
I have shipped about 40,000 of these envelopes and I am now going months at a time without that happening to a single one.
I know 100 percent for sure that they remove standard envelope "Late Delivery" from the late shipment report as I am looking at mine right now and it shows 4 and all of them show removed. Looking at the previous month it shows the same thing.
I also know for sure that they don't ding you for envelopes that never get scanned unless the buyer reports something, as I have a local regular who always picks his cards up in person and I now print a label and throw it in the trash for his orders as that doesn't ding me, but his local pickups previously showed up on my Tracking Report as exceptions. But the label in the trash does not.
USPS treats the eBay Standard Envelope (ESE) the same as all the other hundreds of thousands of pieces of metered mail which it daily receives and delivers. It is NOT a "special service," exclusive to eBay -- eBay has contracted with USPS to be permitted metered mail privileges, identical to nearly all other major businesses.
The ESE is scanned automatically by high speed electronic equipment. It can NOT be hand-scanned at the USPS counters, or by USPS mail carriers.
For the fastest possible metered mail delivery, drop it in the slot in your local post office that reads "For Metered Mail" only. It will then not be mixed in with regular stamped mail, and will save delivery time.
My local post office does hand cancel my thick envelopes at the counter, but I've only done one with the ebay standard label. I'm still trying to verify what ebay considers appropriate for a 'standard' envelope. Nothing like that is listed in their supplies. Mine did not have anything in them as hard as the plastic holders for coins, just lumpy bumpy bits of metal and bows on cards, and some patches. I'm assuming it has to be a regular paper envelope, like a business envelope, or one of those poly-plastic whatevers. I spend more time trying to figure out how to sell than I do on actual selling activities. Whew!
A firm envelope, I use the cardboard flat envelope 8x6. It weighs 1 oz. with self-adhesive label. You can get smaller envelopes but then you have to cut the label smaller.
Our local office will on occasion refuse to process an order that strictly complies with the Ebay Standard Envelope Policy. In my case, it involves low cost trading cards.
It would seem so simple for Ebay to post (somewhere) a letter or equivalent that could be provided to the local post office agent detailing the terms of Ebay's master agreement with the USPS on this matter. How frustrating is it to have a handful of envelopes ready to go and then encounter an agent who is unfamiliar, unwilling or unfriendly -- and be unable to complete the order which by definition is a low value proposition. My understanding is that this is not a local post office issue but something that occurs sporadically all over the country.
This is supposed to be a substantial Ebay benefit. But it is not working and not providing the attraction promised.
I have this same problem with my local post office as well.. They will not me ship out any plain white envelopes with Ebay standard unless I use the 3oz $1.12 option. They also charge postage due for all ESE delivered to my address. If a seller uses 1oz or 2oz they charge me the difference. Yeah, its usually. 50 cents or less however, when you get a few of these a week it adds up quickly. It's frustrating for the buyers as seller try to cheap out as much as they can to make more profit!!! This all stems from Ebay slapping that 10 % shipping charge because sellers started charging grotesque shipping charges to avoid paying Ebay their 10 percent.
I don't take the Standard Envelope to the counter. I drop them into the Post Office box. It is then sent to the flat scanner directly and thus avoiding the counter person trying to scan it with their hand held scanner.
I use the same rigid envelope for the same reason, trimming the label. Yes it does weigh 1 oz. and puts me into the 2 or 3 oz weight overall, so I charge $1.21 or $1.34. The 4x6 rigid weighs .4 oz and I could save on postage costs but always using a 1/2 used sheet to trim gets to be a hassle.
Might also want to watch this video about the best way to pack standard envelope, both from a cost basis and from a basis of not having problems with the postal system.
Same here: I sell a lot of standard envelope items with TRS+ and 100% delivered. But, you may get a lot of non-scans if you don't follow the correct procedure.
Go to the link above, provided by another member, and learn the ina and outs. The service comes with $20 insurance for single item orders and $50 insurance for multi-item orders.
kh-shakhib
·2 years agoHi everyone,
Due to the age of this thread, it has been closed to further replies. Please feel free to start a new thread if you wish to continue to discuss this topic.
Thank you for understanding.
packbuster33
·2 years agoI have the same problem as you can see here...
tobaccocardyahoo
·2 years agoI said it was erratic, and stand by that.
I always have a top loader inside the envelope.
The Ebay cardboard 6" x 8" mailer which many sellers say is not permitted has worked best for me..
A number 10 paper envelope gets between 0 and 10 scans, sometimes including the delivered scan, sometimes not.
I would rather not make the sale, than have a customer inquiry, whether I have any further issues about the order.
I have always had more problems with inexpensive sales no matter what I do.
cypress.grove
·3 years agoHow eBay manages ESE metrics seems to have changed over time. About 10% of my envelopes never get scanned. I know they are delivered because I see the feedback. In the past, if my Top Rated Seller rating was in jeopardy, I would contact customer service to correct the delivered items that I was being penalized for. Now, I don't need to contact anyone - unscanned envelopes will show up against me as unvalidated for a day or two, but then they are removed automatically. My "Tracking uploaded on time and validated" always goes back to 100%.
And for the most part, the "no scan" envelopes seem to always happen when my regular carrier is on vacation. I don't think the subs realize that they are first class metered mail.
onefootflipper2
·3 years agoThe biggest thing that I found that contributed to no-scan envelopes when testing was how dark the print was on the envelope. The lighter the print, the more likely the thing sailed through the entire system without ever getting properly picked up.
12345jamesstamps
·3 years agoYou can use it but be careful how you use it. Coins are thick and heavy. You can send one but probably two might get a return mail. I think it depends where you live and also in regards to what your post office uses to mail items forward either by machine or whatever. And then there's the final destination post office who might send it back to you. I think populated areas will be OK. I had something go to Montana that came to me from that state. It went through San Francisco but not Montana. Might have been a small town it went through.
I don't have top rated status because you need lots of tracking items. But it's between 10% discount or saving on shipping cost. Comes out the same to me.
Maybe try a few first to see what happens.
Not a lot of responses if any from sellers in regards to mailing coins so be cautious on some advice.
onefootflipper2
·3 years agoCoins are likely to have about the same 1 percent exception rate I was having with orders shipped in those hard plastic top loaders. 99 out of 100 they make it through, but that 100th one will jam in the machine and the envelope will either shred and you will never see it again or it will end up getting returned insufficient postage or showing up postage due.
In any case it is impossible to be competitive in any standard envelope category if you are using package shipping.
tobaccocardyahoo
·3 years agoMy experience with ESE is scanning is erratic, and there is a finite possibility that the shipment will not be scanned, and you can be hit with the same demerit as if you did not ship.
I use it sparingly, preferring real tracking, but some buyers are unwilling to pay for a conventionally tracked service.
onefootflipper2
·3 years agoI have shipped about 40,000 of these envelopes and I am now going months at a time without that happening to a single one.
I know 100 percent for sure that they remove standard envelope "Late Delivery" from the late shipment report as I am looking at mine right now and it shows 4 and all of them show removed. Looking at the previous month it shows the same thing.
I also know for sure that they don't ding you for envelopes that never get scanned unless the buyer reports something, as I have a local regular who always picks his cards up in person and I now print a label and throw it in the trash for his orders as that doesn't ding me, but his local pickups previously showed up on my Tracking Report as exceptions. But the label in the trash does not.
1786davycrockett
·3 years ago@etrader61
USPS treats the eBay Standard Envelope (ESE) the same as all the other hundreds of thousands of pieces of metered mail which it daily receives and delivers. It is NOT a "special service," exclusive to eBay -- eBay has contracted with USPS to be permitted metered mail privileges, identical to nearly all other major businesses.
The ESE is scanned automatically by high speed electronic equipment. It can NOT be hand-scanned at the USPS counters, or by USPS mail carriers.
For the fastest possible metered mail delivery, drop it in the slot in your local post office that reads "For Metered Mail" only. It will then not be mixed in with regular stamped mail, and will save delivery time.
retrobiz
·2 years agoMy local post office does hand cancel my thick envelopes at the counter, but I've only done one with the ebay standard label. I'm still trying to verify what ebay considers appropriate for a 'standard' envelope. Nothing like that is listed in their supplies. Mine did not have anything in them as hard as the plastic holders for coins, just lumpy bumpy bits of metal and bows on cards, and some patches. I'm assuming it has to be a regular paper envelope, like a business envelope, or one of those poly-plastic whatevers. I spend more time trying to figure out how to sell than I do on actual selling activities. Whew!
etrader61
OP2 years agoA firm envelope, I use the cardboard flat envelope 8x6. It weighs 1 oz. with self-adhesive label. You can get smaller envelopes but then you have to cut the label smaller.
caughtlooking2000
·2 years agoI think this program needs help.
Our local office will on occasion refuse to process an order that strictly complies with the Ebay Standard Envelope Policy. In my case, it involves low cost trading cards.
It would seem so simple for Ebay to post (somewhere) a letter or equivalent that could be provided to the local post office agent detailing the terms of Ebay's master agreement with the USPS on this matter. How frustrating is it to have a handful of envelopes ready to go and then encounter an agent who is unfamiliar, unwilling or unfriendly -- and be unable to complete the order which by definition is a low value proposition. My understanding is that this is not a local post office issue but something that occurs sporadically all over the country.
This is supposed to be a substantial Ebay benefit. But it is not working and not providing the attraction promised.
packbuster33
·2 years agoI have this same problem with my local post office as well.. They will not me ship out any plain white envelopes with Ebay standard unless I use the 3oz $1.12 option. They also charge postage due for all ESE delivered to my address. If a seller uses 1oz or 2oz they charge me the difference. Yeah, its usually. 50 cents or less however, when you get a few of these a week it adds up quickly. It's frustrating for the buyers as seller try to cheap out as much as they can to make more profit!!! This all stems from Ebay slapping that 10 % shipping charge because sellers started charging grotesque shipping charges to avoid paying Ebay their 10 percent.
etrader61
OP2 years agoI don't take the Standard Envelope to the counter. I drop them into the Post Office box. It is then sent to the flat scanner directly and thus avoiding the counter person trying to scan it with their hand held scanner.
etrader61
OP2 years agoI use the same rigid envelope for the same reason, trimming the label. Yes it does weigh 1 oz. and puts me into the 2 or 3 oz weight overall, so I charge $1.21 or $1.34. The 4x6 rigid weighs .4 oz and I could save on postage costs but always using a 1/2 used sheet to trim gets to be a hassle.
onefootflipper2
·3 years agoMight also want to watch this video about the best way to pack standard envelope, both from a cost basis and from a basis of not having problems with the postal system.
https://youtu.be/f9SPX370_IE
cardxcraft
·3 years agoSame here: I sell a lot of standard envelope items with TRS+ and 100% delivered. But, you may get a lot of non-scans if you don't follow the correct procedure.
Go to the link above, provided by another member, and learn the ina and outs. The service comes with $20 insurance for single item orders and $50 insurance for multi-item orders.
Here is some important information to keep:
1. Filing Claim
https://www.pip-claim.com/PIPClaim/eBayIntClaim/CreateeBayClaim
 
onefootflipper2
·3 years agoNo.
This account of mine sells 90 percent standard envelope items and is top rated.
stuff4divas
·3 years ago@etrader61 here is the eBay link for info on ESE>
https://www.ebay.com/sellercenter/shipping/choosing-a-carrier-and-service/ebay-standard-envelope
buyselljack2016
·3 years ago@etrader61
"In theory" you should not lose "top rated", but "in theory" also............. you could.
I don't use it, but the way I understand it:
1) If you use ESE, and the # gets scanned anywhere in processing along the way you are good to go. Good for "top rated" and insured by eBay.
2) If you use ESE, and the # never gets scanned anywhere in processing along the way you are not covered for "top rated", nor insured by eBay
stuff4divas
·3 years ago@etrader61 No