Got a negative from a buyer for using the post office
Mailed it free of charge, they say they didn't get it until 5 days later even though tracking stated it was delivered. My fault for using the USPS! Yes, I actually mailed it, and quickly too. They contact me saying I should not have used the USPS for mailing since their post office is terrible. It was a first class weight item, I would not have mailed any other way, but never mind that, I was just suppose to know this. Oh the powers some of these buyers think we have! So thinking since this was out of my control, eBay would remove it. WRONG! They gave their general canned answer..."Its the buyers experience and it did not violate any of our policies so we cannot remove." I just needed to vent.
37 comments
vintagecraze50
·2 years agoReply in feedback, “USPS experiencing documented delays in shipping†If you are continuing to experience problems with lower cost shipping service like first class switch to Priority Mail and add that cost to the cost of your items until USPS gets their act together again.
slyders_finds
·2 years agoSome people. Smh. I like the ones that give negs of "The movie wasn't very good." or "I didn't like the music." These people must think they are on Yelp.
baantiques
·2 years agoJust reply politely and move on. I get people getting angry all the time because they claim "you never sent it" because the tracking just says that a label has been created and "my friend who works for the Post Office says it's because YOU NEVER MAILED IT", when the reality is they could take the package around the world 5 times but if they never scanned it, it will still say just "label created".
The reality is, the post office sucks, but most of the time it's the only real option as the customer isn't going to pay $12 for UPS or FedEX to ship an 8 ounce package.
freebrydflying
·2 years agoThat is horrible, makes no sense on ebays end either. Did you happen to look to see if this buyer has left odd reviews for other purchases as well or were you singled out? Just makes you wonder.
rdjchrist
OP2 years agoUpdate: eBay removed the negative, yea!!! It pays to remind them of their policy sometimes. Shouldn't have to but thats the way it goes here.
az93
·2 years agoSo unfair. Only usps can mark an item as delivered. Even ebay cannot mark an item as delivered. You would think positive feedback would even prove delivery, but it does not. Ebay should have removed the negative, as you, the seller, mailed promptly and did nothing wrong. Why it took more time to actually be delivered is a mystery. I had a similar case recently, item marked as delivered but not received, until a neighbor handed it to my husband and said it was put in his mailbox by mistake.
albertabrightalberta
·2 years agoWhen you're ready, I'd reply with something to the effect of, "I'm sorry you aren't happy with USPS's delivery speed. Note that seller doesn't "mark item delivered." Post office does that. Item with "free" shipping was purchased on (date) and shipped on (date). Once the item is shipped, how quickly it's delivered is controlled by USPS."
@rdjchrist
You might try sending a private message to Facebook Ebay for Business with an explanation that the feedback is rating USPS speed, item was purchased and shipped within x-days and according to ebay policy (include link to the policy), negs will be removed for factors out of your control. And certainly, you can't control the postal service's speed once they're in possession of your package.
rdjchrist
OP2 years agoI did contact the Facebook eBay for business. They no longer have the power to change feedback but one of the agents said they submitted it for a closer look and would let me know.
12345jamesstamps
·2 years agoDid you check the buyer's previous feedback?
Anyway, We have all gotten one feedback as such.
Shouldn't affect your selling at all.
Ask for a buyer revision.
Then maybe do a funny reply...something like....sorry to spoil your soup dinner for the night. Just kidding.
rdjchrist
OP2 years agoYes that was my next move so waiting since they have until the 28th. I would be surprised if they did as I have not been greatly successful asking for a revised feedback.
cardsforauction
·2 years agoDid you explain to the buyer that Ground Advantage takes normally 5 to 7 business days to get to them? So if the item got there in 9 days from shipment, there is no issue. Sounds like the buyer does not know how the USPS works. What does their "terrible" post office have to do with you? Tell them to make a formal complaint and either fill out the form online or write a letter to USPS and let them know about the problems at their post office.
rdjchrist
OP2 years agoTheir complaint was that it was marked "delivered" but they didn't have it. That "I should have sent it, not by the USPS because their PO service is terrible and they said they should have reached out before I shipped it to advise against it." But they didn't so...
chapeau-noir
·2 years agoAnd of course you should have KNOWN that their local PO was terrible. It's part and parcel of being a seller here to be intimate with the details of every single one of the 31,132 post offices in the US. I mean, it stands to reason. /s 🙄
cardsforauction
·2 years agoA seller uses the shipping service and carrier of their choice, not the buyer, unless the buyer is given options in the listing. You can tell them I always ship this item with (this service). If you used ESE then they usually get marked "delivered" and show up a day or more later. This is normal USPS delivery for ESE. This customer is unreasonable.
fbusoni
·2 years agoHave you thought about signing up for top rated seller status? If you can ship in under 24 hours and will pay for returns, eBay will prevent this sort of feedback from registering. (I know because I have been a top rated seller for years and eBay has removed a few negative feedbacks for me without question.). regards
chapeau-noir
·2 years agoI think you're talking about top rated seller PLUS which applies to the listing, not the seller.
ETA: Top rated itself applies to the seller and doesn't require free returns or 1-day shipping.
brightlightbookseller
·2 years agoTop Rated isn't something you can sign up for. You just meet the requirements or not.
Also, you cannot get anything removed that doesn't violate policy, Top Rated or not, anymore. They used to do some courtesy removals at times, but in the last few months they removed that.
mam98031
·2 years ago@fbusoni
No one can sign up for TRS. That is a status that is EARNED. To become TRS you do not have to ship in one day nor do you have to offer free returns.
Qualify as a Top Rated Seller
To become a Top Rated Seller, you must meet the following guidelines:
Once you meet these requirements, we will automatically upgrade you to the Top Rated Seller status at your next evaluation.
fbusoni
·2 years agoDuring a phone call I had a few years ago with an eBay manager, I was invited to apply for top rated plus seller membership. I did so and was accepted into the program immediately. I omitted the plus from my initial post.
I was not aware that there was a top rated seller category (without the plus).
Regards
mam98031
·2 years agoInteresting. I've been TRS since the beginning of the program. I wasn't invited, I just met the requirements to achieve that status.
TRS+ is not by category, it is a status that each listing must meet the requirements to obtain the TRS+ badge. A seller can have some listing qualify and others that don't. It isn't all or nothing.
The requirements to have the TRS+ badge on your listing, give the sellers a single perk, 10% off their FVFs on the listings. TRS+ is a LISTING designation only.
Top Rated Plus
As a Top Rated Seller, you can qualify for a Top Rated Plus seal and additional benefits when your listings offer the following services:
You can choose to offer these in some or all listings. For listings that qualify, you earn the following benefits
https://www.ebay.com/sellercenter/protections/top-rated-program
Some sellers in certain categories can have a 14 day free return policy.
sextons-sweet-deals
·2 years agoAh! The whining buyer who can't wait or trying to make excuses for a freebie or partial refund.
An item cannot show delivered and take 5 more days to actually be delivered. The only way this could be possible is if the buyer is lying / twisting story and the package was shipped to a P.O. box and the buyer went days later to check their box.
You have the opportunity to reply to their feedback for everyone to see. State your case with details / timeline. I would then add them to your BBL.
rdjchrist
OP2 years agoThey are blocked but I am waiting until I have exhausted all of my options to change this before replying.
kus1617
·2 years ago"An item cannot show delivered and take 5 more days to actually be delivered."
It can if using ESE...I have seen this on multiple occasions.
sextons-sweet-deals
·2 years agoPlease explain what ESE is.
This can help all of us sellers who don't know.
thank you
itscalledapostingid
·2 years ago@sextons-sweet-deals
https://www.ebay.com/help/selling/shipping-items/setting-shipping-options/ebay-standard-envelope?id=5308
buyselljack2016
·2 years agoAn item cannot show delivered and take 5 more days to actually be delivered.
___________________________________________
cannot should be changed to should not as it is quite possible for it to happen.
No need to get into all the whys and what ifs, but it is entirely possible to have it happen.
hollysfinds
·2 years agoSo sorry you got a bad buyer.
People today want things in a microwave minute & it's ridiculous !
Entitled & impatient is how a lot of people are.
Oh dear, they had to wait a whole 5 days longer, how terrible !!
I bet whatever they ordered was a matter of life & death.
Just leave a professional reply to that feedback & move on.
Your reply is for future buyers to see.
The buyers feedback comment just makes them look like a jerk.
Don't make your comment make you look like one too.
rdjchrist
OP2 years agoI always reply to feedback that is less than positive (well, the positives that hint of negativity too) but in this case I am not replying for awhile until I have done all I can do to remove it. As for content yes I agree how one responds is vital.
chevymontecarlo88
·2 years agoIts hard to predict or understand why or when buyers do this. It's not fair and there really is not much more you can do besides adding a sentence or two in your description field explaining it.(Type of shipping used and the possibility of delays ect.) That being said, allot of buyers do not read the descriptions and assume whatever they think. You could have a form response message saved that you could send each buyer that thanks them and gives them details on the shipping process (what type of shipping used and any other relevant info). This is not too much for small buyers but can be time consuming for buyers that sell many items per day.
Question for any other problem solvers out there.... Is there a way to set up each sale to receive an automated message (via Ebay messages) that you can choose from? Have all first class mail listings send a specific message regarding first class shipping? Can you set up different auto replies for other types of shipping that you can select to send once they purchase?
Personally i would message the Ebay Facebook customer service group to see if they can remove this feedback. Does not seem fair.
-Good Luck
rdjchrist
OP2 years agoFacebook eBay Business cannot remove feedback anymore, but they can submit it again for a closer review as I was told by them so I will wait and see.
iamalwaysright
·2 years agoSimilar situation here. I just got a message and a negative from a buyer who is angry that USPS delayed their package because they misdelivered it cross country and back to the buyer's city. He so angry at me he says I have some nerve and how I can justify a package taking 2 weeks to get to him. "I can't justify it. Maybe USPS can when you ask them."
I hope ebay can remove that negative, but honestly with the way they've been lately I'm not holding my breath.
rdjchrist
OP2 years agoOh no! Well, I guess the buyer needs someone to blame. Can't blame the USPS, doesn't do any good, I know, I am dealing with them on a damage claim they rejected. Can't blame eBay, they just duck and point to the seller. Oh well, I am not impacted other than having less than 100% feedback now. It just irks when you know there is nothing you could possibly done.
chapeau-noir
·2 years agoThis person is negging the USPS, not you - hrrrrr.... How stupid. ETA: Try again to get rid of it - I got two negs for a buyer's package being stolen from their porch and eBay got rid of them because their porch piracy is out of my hands. Sometimes it takes a little persistence.
Anyway, if it sticks, it's a chance to show off your excellent customer service skills by responding to reassure your future buyers that you ship promptly with the USPS being the most effective solution for this buyer's free shipping. OR if the buyer decided that some kind of abracadabra happened where the item was marked delivered days before he got it (FIVE days...heavens!) just record date purchased, date shipped, date marked as delivered.
We can thank Jeff Bozos for this.
carlmarxx
·2 years agoebay has 2 to 3 day delivery estimated for the old 1st class shipped by air is listed .
carlmarxx
·2 years agoWell 1st class mail isn't same since it was combined with parcel post into their new Ground Advantage that goes by ground .And some locations the sorting centers and That buyers have both bouncing around and delay's . The buyer shouldn't have neg you . in the past 1st class parcels used to be shipped by air .
rdjchrist
OP2 years agoYes it was shipped the ground advantage, I was just stating it was a "first class weight" package.
rockyroadtradingpost
·2 years ago@rdjchrist It's a shame eBay allows a buyer to neg you on an issue clearly out of your control. You should reply to the neg and point out that the listing provided for USPS shipping, and you mailed it quickly but cannot be responsible for USPS delay.