Receiving an item with no receipt enclosed

[wmmh_17]

Hi

     I am new to buying here on Ebay.  Since beginning a couple months ago I have been busy. I have purchased a couple hundred items to support a new small business venture. Items are all less than $40. On some days I have received 5, 6 or more items. I get back home and eagerly open the parcels. Many are single items that have no form of I.D. (order details).  The listed personal return address has nothing to do with the order data. Often the only hint of any order connection is the 16 digit tracking number. ..which is not easily transposed

     Personally, I am concerned about the health risks associated with every item. The items could come from an individual who is ill or a house with ill people. With the speed of shipping, it is possible that only a few days have passed since it was mailed by the seller. Additionally, handling by the USPS, FedEx, UPS and others  add to this risk factor. We are talking international health risks...China, India, Australlia, South America, Africa ...etc.

     My procedure for receiving goods is to open the package outside. The box and the packing does not come inside. Only the product enters my clean work space. Often this separates the item from the last chance of ID ..the tracking number. Beyond that process of unpackaging, I need to log the "Order Details"  into my inventory for taxes, cost, resale amounts...or returns.  At this point, I have to locate the specific item from my Ebay data and print it. This is easier when there is only 1 or 2 items, but when receiving many items, it requires lots of effort to search my logs for the correct data and record it. Buying similar items on different days or from different sellers presents particular challenges. Often taxes require verification with receipts.

     I am quite surprised at the amount of boxes and packing materials involved in this process. I cannot keep a box or plastic wrapper just for the 16 digit tracking number. To me, the item wrappings become a conduit  for dirt, bacteria and virus inside my sanctuary. ..my home.  I believe part of the solution to the mystery product as well as the pollution issue is a "Seller"  attached copy of the Ebay provided  "Order Details" or similar documentation. I do buy from sellers who combine shipping costs and provide a Inventory of the enclosed product. They get 5 stars. Without paperwork the situation quickly gets out of control and standard business practices go out the window

     So in summary

I want this health concern to be addressed. As well, a receipt needs to be attached to the item. This would be relatively easy and would take this burden off the buyer and onto the seller. After all, the seller is the one who controls the information

Thanks for reading

WM

[comics-scifi-collectibles]

@wmmh_17   eBay can't help with your health concerns as they are a marketplace that sells ad spaces to sellers.  You have to choose what countries and sellers you wish to buy from if you think some are too risky. 

 Personally I think that the chances of catching something from a package is trillion to one, if even higher odds than that.  Viruses and germs like moist environments, they dry out and die in the mail.  

As for the seller enclosing a packing slip, just ask your seller if they are willing to enclose a packing slip BEFORE you make a purchase.    I personally have not used packing slips for the 20 years I have been selling because it is extra ink and paper but I would be happy to provide one if a buyer asked.   

eBay actually showed an example at one of their eBay Open events how that ONE piece of paper can bump the package up into the next price point for shipping if it's already really close on the fraction of ounces.