Feedback for sellers - arrived late and poorly packaged but made it safely - what would you do?

[electrola_man]

I bought two lots recently from different sellers.  It's interesting being on this side of the fence for a change, since I'm usually the seller.  Both items arrived after the expected dates.  One was "guaranteed" by 12/21, but arrived 12/22.  The other was supposed to arrive by 12/21 and arrived 12/24.  Terminology was different for the two, as, "Guaranteed" only applied to one.  I know there is a tremondous amount of activity within the USPS at this time of year, but they arrived late.  Both were packaged, in my opinion, rather poorly.  I could hear things rattling around inside the boxes.  I would never have shipped these items out packed like this, but fortunately they made it safely.  It was interesting to see how beat up the boxes were, which serves as a reminder of what packing must protect against.  So the questions are:

1.  I got what I orderd in the condition stated, though a bit late, and with a bit of luck based upon packaging.  I'm thinking feedback should just be, "Arrived safely.  Thanks."  I don't think it warrants any glowing praise.  Do I say anything privately in messages?  Would anyone actually say anything within the visible feedback?

2.  When I go to leave feedback, I'm specifically asked if the items arrived by specific dates.  The truth is, "NO."  I don't want to make trouble for the sellers, since a day or so isn't a real big deal, yet I suspect that info is already in the system since tracking shows exactly when items were delivered.  Haven't they already been dinged for late shipments?  Should I just go ahead and click "No" as the answer?

3.  Is this a situation in which it is better to just not leave feedback?  As a seller, I know a lot of buyers leave none.

[etacarina11]

Correct...you should not leave feedback.....that's what I would do if i got the item as stated but other aspects of the transaction did not go well.

[pargran3]

The arrived late part of this post bothers me ... A LOT.

If sellers do not know what the guaranteed delivery means and has no clue what estimated is, how can buyers know?

Yes, leave no feedback and I hope all buyers have the same attitude you have. 

Merry Christmas.

Radine

[divwido]

Remember it's Christmas and People are not perfect and be forgiving.  Maybe dock a star here or there.

[divwido]

I would also vote to not leave feedback, but sometimes those people come back and ask can you please leave me *****?

Then what do you say?

[hillbillymedia]

Handling time matters. The problem is that ebay is no longer posting the sellers handling time if it`s 3 days or less. So really, the question is(or should be): did the seller ship the item within their advertised shipping time and in their advertised manner? Example: the sellers ad stated 3 day handling by usps 1st class mail.....did they do as they promised in the ad? If they did as they promised in the ad...the problem of late shipment lies somewhere else other than with the seller.

To the issue of quality packaging. Not all sellers are pros. Many sellers are amatures and may have to learn as they go. With ebays MBG, you are guaranteed to get your items as described or your money back. The seller is held responsible if you don`t get your items as advertised so it`s a sellers risk to take on how they choose to package the item IMO.

All it will take is a complaint or two that cost the seller some money and they will learn quickly to step up their game. I see nothing wrong with sending the sellers emails and giving them the heads up that you weren`t tickled with their packaging skills though.

[creekcoyote]

---

@electrola_man wrote:

I bought two lots recently from different sellers.  It's interesting being on this side of the fence for a change, since I'm usually the seller.  Both items arrived after the expected dates.  One was "guaranteed" by 12/21, but arrived 12/22.  The other was supposed to arrive by 12/21 and arrived 12/24.  Terminology was different for the two, as, "Guaranteed" only applied to one.  I know there is a tremondous amount of activity within the USPS at this time of year, but they arrived late.  Both were packaged, in my opinion, rather poorly.  I could hear things rattling around inside the boxes.  I would never have shipped these items out packed like this, but fortunately they made it safely.  It was interesting to see how beat up the boxes were, which serves as a reminder of what packing must protect against.  So the questions are:

1.  I got what I orderd in the condition stated, though a bit late, and with a bit of luck based upon packaging.  I'm thinking feedback should just be, "Arrived safely.  Thanks."  I don't think it warrants any glowing praise.  Do I say anything privately in messages?  Would anyone actually say anything within the visible feedback?

2.  When I go to leave feedback, I'm specifically asked if the items arrived by specific dates.  The truth is, "NO."  I don't want to make trouble for the sellers, since a day or so isn't a real big deal, yet I suspect that info is already in the system since tracking shows exactly when items were delivered.  Haven't they already been dinged for late shipments?  Should I just go ahead and click "No" as the answer?

3.  Is this a situation in which it is better to just not leave feedback?  As a seller, I know a lot of buyers leave none.

---

I would give a positive feedback and a very polite 'arrived safely, thanks' as you suggested.

And I might private message them and let them know that there could have been issues with the packing but luckily they got through safely.  There are ways to word this that do not exactly show criticism but you get your point across.

As for the shipping time,  they may have easily shipped within thier stated time but the packages got hung up in the shipping service.  They would not get dinged for that.   At Christmas this happens a lot and is not the fault of the seller and should really not be address in Feedback.

[buyselljack2016]

I would seek a voucher from eBay for the "guaranteed" by 12/21 item.

I never mark the arrived box. It is not required. As a seller I understand that even though eBay says it is all on the seller, as they are the one that selected the carrier, and are ultimately responsible for whatever the carrier does, I realize that delays can happen. Not the sellers fault if USPS sends an item destined for Baltimore on a mini vacation to Puerto Rico.

Items arrived without damage making the packaging, in my opinion, a non-issue. I feel that I pack well, but others may think not. Your packing evaluation may be spot on. 

I refrain from offering helpful info to a seller after being slammed/ cursed at for not minding my own business.

[dogofwar777]

When I buy, as long as the seller sends me a valid tracking number, I usually don't worry about when it gets here because I know a seller has no control over shipping once it is out of his/her hands.  As for the condition of the item, when it arrives if it came as described and even if the seller didn't pack well, I will leave positive feedback usually just a "Thanks"

[lex-talon]

---

@electrola_man wrote:

I bought two lots recently from different sellers.  It's interesting being on this side of the fence for a change, since I'm usually the seller.  Both items arrived after the expected dates.  One was "guaranteed" by 12/21, but arrived 12/22.  The other was supposed to arrive by 12/21 and arrived 12/24.  Terminology was different for the two, as, "Guaranteed" only applied to one.  I know there is a tremondous amount of activity within the USPS at this time of year, but they arrived late.  Both were packaged, in my opinion, rather poorly.  I could hear things rattling around inside the boxes.  I would never have shipped these items out packed like this, but fortunately they made it safely.  It was interesting to see how beat up the boxes were, which serves as a reminder of what packing must protect against.  So the questions are:

1.  I got what I orderd in the condition stated, though a bit late, and with a bit of luck based upon packaging.  I'm thinking feedback should just be, "Arrived safely.  Thanks."  I don't think it warrants any glowing praise.  Do I say anything privately in messages?  Would anyone actually say anything within the visible feedback?

2.  When I go to leave feedback, I'm specifically asked if the items arrived by specific dates.  The truth is, "NO."  I don't want to make trouble for the sellers, since a day or so isn't a real big deal, yet I suspect that info is already in the system since tracking shows exactly when items were delivered.  Haven't they already been dinged for late shipments?  Should I just go ahead and click "No" as the answer?

3.  Is this a situation in which it is better to just not leave feedback?  As a seller, I know a lot of buyers leave none.

---

I've bought cd lots of 25-40 that were just placed in an over sized box with no bubble wrap for protection and most of the jewel cases were damaged. I did not leave any feedback for the seller. 

In your case, it's up to you whether to leave feedback or not.

[castlemagicmemories]

---

@etacarina11 wrote:
Correct...you should not leave feedback.....that's what I would do if i got the item as stated but other aspects of the transaction did not go well.

---

I agree but there are sellers who chastise buyers who don't leave negs to warn other buyers, although they might say something else if they received the neg.  Still not every issue, IMO, warrants negative feedback; so like you, I just don't leave it.

[castlemagicmemories]

---

@divwido wrote:

I would also vote to not leave feedback, but sometimes those people come back and ask can you please leave me *****?

Then what do you say?

---

I have actually had that happen. The message usually starts with, I left you positive feedback could you leave me positive feedback, as if it is somehow owed or guaranteed.   I just explain that I am very intentional about feedback.  When I don't leave it, there is a valid reason.  I did not think you would want potential future buyers to see that the rare, vintage, fragile porcelain figurine was shipped in a poly mailer.  Or that the item had significant undisclosed damage and I then detail it.  Of course this is when I have decided to live with whatever it was I received, and you can just fill in what the particular issue was.  I explain that not leaving feedback for this was to your advantage.

Then the apologies roll in.  

[castlemagicmemories]

OP, since Ebay doesn't show the handling time unless it is fast and free or has an extended handling time, you may not know what that handling time was.  

Given that this is the holiday season, and carriers are slammed, a day delay is nothing.  All of my packages have been delivered 4 to 5 days past the last date of the estimated delivery time frame.  One sat on out for delivery for all that time.

Those sellers may have shipped within their handling time.  Delays are not uncommon this time of year.

[startmark]

As far as late shipment-- as long as they shipped and loaded tracking within handling time they did their part. I shipped priority mail last monday so it should have been deliver wed/thursday with the 2-3 day priority mail. They just received last saturday instead. So mail this time of year usually runs late and not a sellers fault. So you should not judge them on the late package. As far as packing goes, that can also be a personal preference like you not being happy with how 2 different sellers packed your auction. If I was interested in buying other items from that seller, I would simply ask if they can package it the way you expect before bidding in the future. For instance, I did have a buyer comment on packaging from an auction I mailed. I usually receive these same items loose in a bubble envelope and never have a problem. I ship with the item wrapped and then in bubble envelope and the buyer expected better packaging. So like I said the way something is packed can truly be your preference versus the seller. Packaging the way you want may increase shipping costs and the seller was trying to keep the cost to a minimum. So again, communication is key. So if the seller got your item there safely and shipped on time-- they deserve positive feedback in my book.

[electrola_man]

---

@castlemagicmemories wrote:

OP, since Ebay doesn't show the handling time unless it is fast and free or has an extended handling time, you may not know what that handling time was.  

Given that this is the holiday season, and carriers are slammed, a day delay is nothing.  All of my packages have been delivered 4 to 5 days past the last date of the estimated delivery time frame.  One sat on out for delivery for all that time.

Those sellers may have shipped within their handling time.  Delays are not uncommon this time of year.

---

Yes, it was interesting to see that I, as buyer, didn't have visibility to handling time (which is good for me to know as a seller, too).  It took quite awhile for the tracking number to be assigned, and then it took awhile for another update as a scan from USPS, but I know they're busy and may not have done as much scanning due to the busy season.  I don't know the handling time, but it seemed long, though I know lots of sellers have jobs and other things to work around.   One of the packages showed "out for delivery" on the 24th, and I was surprised to see the mail truck deliver the mail to my box, but no package.  I kept checking, and eventually the carrier must have realized he had a package to deliver to my address, too, because about an hour later, a package was sitting on my front steps.