eBay Standard Envelope
This shipping service has to be one of the worst for sellers. Tracking that doesn’t update leaving buyers open to file not received claims where if we don’t refund we get hit with the negative metric. If you do refund, then have to go the claims route, you lose your shipping cost right off top, then have to sit around over a month to MAYBE get the order value back. There’s no way to check status of these that I have found other than calling the 3rd party company that handles them. Even then, I have never got an email or any kind of confirmation number for any of the claims we have filed.
Of all our claims we have received, we message the buyer on each one. We have not had a single buyer that opened a claim reply to any messages, instead they just wait the 3 more days and get a refund.
Possible improvements:
1) extend the timeframe the buyer has to wait to file for item not received. This is not a regular package but is still being held to the same standards as a fully tracked package. This service is also notoriously slow even when there are no issues.
2) if it comes to a claim needed for the seller after the item is refunded, it would be nice to recoup the shipping cost as well. We as the seller are still out that money. The buyer is made whole including shipping, but as the seller you have to eat that due to no fault of your own.
3) Bring claims in house to eBay instead of a 3rd party company. If you meet the requirements for a claim filing for the 3P company, have that automatically processed when eBay issued the refund to the buyer. eBay will take the money from the seller to give the buyer, but then wants the seller to jump through hoops to get the money back through eBay’s own protection policy. Seems to be more simple to just refund the buyer and leave the seller money alone if it’s a covered shipment.
4) Some kind of back end system that looks at claims and see if the buyer is a habitual item not received filer. This system is so easy to manipulate as a buyer due to the lack of delivery confirmation.
Everything is so buyer friendly, but without sellers there is no buyers. eBay needs to protect their sellers like they do buyer. Make it as easy for sellers to get their money back as it is the buyers. Buyers wait 3 days to get a refund while sellers have to wait over 30 to MAYBE get the money back.
christworks
·10 months agoI started using ESE earlier this year. I've sent cards, patches, and stickers in them. I've not had any issues. Scans are infrequent and may not line up with when I dropped it off or when the buyer receives it, but I've not had any complaints. I normally drop my buyer a message when I'm shipping their order so they understand how it works, and let them know to reach out to me if they don't get it. So far everybody has been honest. On the rare occasion someone isn't, I know I'm covered. Even if for some reason I'm not, I'm not out very much. It all comes out in the wash when I do my taxes and I save a little there.
bdmh-enterprises
·10 months agoIf you are using top loaders or non paper envelopes, those are too stiff to go through the machines. This will result in no scans and slow delivery, possibly also a postage due to the customer.
An ESE that complies with USPS letter mail standards will be delivered as efficiently as your bills and cable offers.
Out of a few thousand sent I've had 4 INRs. All of those were paid by the insurance since I get scans on 99+% of my envelopes. I wouldn't exactly call 6 questions and 2 screenshots "hoops" to file the insurance either.
rivercityhobbyshop
OP10 months agoWhy should it be any harder for a seller to get money back, than the buyer? It could all be completed in the claim process but eBay would prefer you not file a claim then they are net 0. After the claim ebay loses money which would likely be the reason it’s not already automated along side the claim.
Issue with your cable / other bill situation, is the bills don’t include anything of value that can’t be printed again. With this, you’re at the mercy of the buyer to not file a claim even if it’s been received due to lack of proof.
We will get origin scans so they run through the machines. The lack of delivery scans is the issue.
wastingtime101
·10 months agoThat tells us your local sort facility has sorting machinery less sensitive than other facilities. If this is a consistent problem, it comes down to your packaging.
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eBay Standard Envelope (ESE) is a machinable, metered letter mail shipment so it does not receive traditional tracking scans. The clerk at the PO counter cannot scan it and you can't track it on the USPS website. The envelopes are scanned by sorting machinery at distribution centers along the way and tracking will appear on eBay.
Common reasons ESE labels don't get scanned include:
- Overpacking. Envelopes are too stiff. It's not recommended to use stiff trading card top loaders or cardboard mailers. Envelope should be flexible enough to wrap around a water bottle.
- Using ineligible packing material such as a bubble envelope.
- Placement of label. Label should be placed in the upper right corner with approx 1/8"-1/4" clearance from edges, just like you'd position a postage stamp. If it's placed too far from the corner (like in the middle of a long envelope) the machinery may not scan it.
- Securing items like coins in the center of the envelope. The center of the envelope needs to be the most flexible part. It's better to secure single items off to the right (opposite side of label barcode).
- Printer ink is not dark enough, or label color is too bright (stick to white labels if you can).
- Regional issues with sorting machines, volume processing, picky USPS employees, etc.
With ESE, a 'delivered' scan generally occurs at the last sort facility before it gets to the buyer; sometimes the buyer will receive their order a few days after the delivered scan.
If a buyer files a not received claim, you do have insurance coverage and the claims process is outlined on this page: https://www.ebay.com/help/selling/shipping-items/setting-shipping-options/ebay-standard-envelope?id=5308
goodnu9
·10 months agoI have no problems using top loaders with then cardboard protecting both sides of the top loader in a pwe. The trick is do not place the top loader in the middle of the envelope but to one end. Armalope envelopes work well for 1 or 2 cards to mail. Two sides of envelopes, one slot or 2.