The "Ebay Standard Envelope" postage service doesn't work!! -it's a RIP-OFF!!!
"Ebay Standard Envelope" service doesn't work!! -it's a RIP-OFF!!!
It's supposed to be an inexpensive/economical way to ship small items weighing 1oz to 3oz with tracking. In theory, that's great.
But like usual, ebay screws it up:
1. The tracking, is unreliable (7 out 10 times) it's not updating, not showing any tracking including postal acceptance, nothing (as if you never mailed it)! -there is no way for the seller to get an acceptance scan (there's no normal barcode), we simply drop it off at the PO.
2. Lost in the mail: quite often these small 5" x 4" A2 envelopes are lost in the mail or gets mixed up in-between junk mail;
3. PIP insurance won't pay because of "no tracking" (no postal acceptance scan -it's ebay's responsibility, nothing we, sellers, can do...) or due to some flimsy PIP excuse...
4.USPS can't do anything about as it's an ebay issue.
5. Customers complain and give negative feedback that there's no tracking, or the item was never delivered and lost. We, the seller, get chargebacks for something we have NO CONTROL over and that is ebay's responsibility! -either way, we loose the money!
I provided ebay support a list of 27 orders from this past year, that were using "Ebay Standard Envelope" postage/service, that tracking was never updated, the envelope/order was lost, ebay did nothing to help/fix, and Insurance refused to pay! -and we completely lost the money for the items and postage, as well as the huge amount of time lost and the frustration!!!
I have reported these issues to ebay multiple times (at least once an month) over the past 3 years and ebay does NOTHING! ..and doesn't care!
And now, we find out (we wanted to void an unused label purchased from 2 days ago) that these labels are NON-REFUNDABLE: When you purchase them, NO WHERE does it say "nonrefundable" (unless you click on at the bottom of the "purchase postage" page, "Terms and conditions" hidden there, it states they're nonrefundable). -HIDDEN in "the small print" like shysters (unscrupulous, fraudulent, or deceptive business practices).
I contacted ebay seller customer support after being transferred 3-4 times and was told that this is the policy and they don't care...!!
I'm reporting ebay to the FTC and the BBB. -ebay sucks!
ryry-jj
·8 months agoI tend to think if individual sellers have continuous problems using ESE, most likely it is their method of packing and labeling that envelope that might be at error.
There are pros/cons to using all services....unfortunately ESE has no value added to provide for full tracking, lost envelopes, or delayed envelopes
usa_biker_goods
·8 months agoI ship all of my orders ESE and haven't had any issues or INR claims ever.
12345jamesstamps
·8 months agoI use stamps and don't have many issues with the USPS.
Tracking...guess who makes money using that to send out a card?
Why do you need tracking for a $3.00 card?
A forever stamp at .78 cents will work.
bdmh-enterprises
·8 months agoYou know that ESE only costs 74 cents and comes with tracking? Which we do need on $3 cards to maintain TRS for the fee discount..
bonanza125
·8 months agoI haven't had a problem with it whenever I shipped ESE. If you are having this much trouble with ESE then do not use the service. Start using Ground Advantage then.
"I'm reporting ebay to the FTC and the BBB."
Nothing will happen. Good luck with that.
movieman630
·8 months agoI have more widespread issues with Fedex then I ever did with ESE.
squinkercat59
·8 months agoI've been using Ebay Standard since it began for patches, and have not had one problem. My post office won't allow coins that way, they will give it back to you or charge more, and I think that varies from post office to post office. But the patches have not had any problems.
NOTE TO MOVIEMAN: You can still use it for non-military or non-scout patches, you just have to go to Crafts - Sewing - Embellishments and Finishes - Patches. If a good description is in the title, your customers will find them.
wastingtime101
·8 months ago90% of eBay Standard Envelope shipments receive delivery scans. The vast majority that don't are because the item was not packed in accordance with the guidelines - typically too rigid.
eBay's help page on cancelling labels clearly states ESE labels are final sale; the information is not hidden.
https://www.ebay.com/help/selling/shipping-items/labels-packaging-tips/buying-printing-shipping-labels?id=4157#section6
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eBay Standard Envelope (ESE) is a 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 generally be flexible enough to wrap around a water bottle, like a greeting card.
- Securing items 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).
- 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.
- 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.
movieman630
·8 months agoI used that over 1000 times last year and I can count on one hand the amount of problems I had. The sales I'm able to generate because I don't have to charge $10 for a patch that's only worth $4 is well worth the risk in shipping this way. I'm sorry you've had bad experiences with it but mostly the benefits outweigh the negatives in my experience and I can't imagine ebay without it.
My only complaint is that there are other categories that should have it as a shipping option because they do have patches in those categories. (ie: Schools & Universities, the 1970s-80s militaria category, etc.)
christworks
·8 months ago@stsch-orthodox-bookstore Well, you go right ahead and report eBay to the FTC and the BBB. I'm sure that will show them! Go get them, tiger!
Meanwhile, I'll keep making money right here on eBay...and even using eBay Standard Envelope for eligible items.
Seriously, tracking is limited with ESE. eBay explicitly states this because ESE is not a package. ESE is first class mail that goes through machines to get scans. Sometimes scans are missed. That's okay, because despite what you say, you are covered as long as you used ESE within the rules.
It is your job to communicate that to your buyers. 95% couldn't tell you the difference between ESE, GA, and Priority. I always note in the listing what ESE is, and that there is limited to no tracking with it. Amazingly, communication significantly cuts down on negative feedback over this because buyers know what to expect. I also give them the option to upgrade to GA if they would like traditional tracking.