Tracking

[benchmark]

Is tracking required when shipping?  If not, it should be.

[albertabrightalberta]

It's not required but in cases where the buyer doesn't receive the item, a seller who didn't used a tracked service will end up issuing a refund.

[simba6]

No it's not.   It is needed to show delivery if the buyer files an item not received case.

[kathiec]

Tracking is solely for the benefit of the seller. Buyers are protected by the Money Back Guarantee.

[tobaccocardyahoo]

Sellers who do not track the bulk of their shipments, as well as losing INR claims, will be unable to attain Top Ranked Seller status.

If tracking is important to you, limit your purchases to Top Ranked Sellers.

[bennotbill]

---

@benchmark wrote:

Is tracking required when shipping?  If not, it should be.

---

Go back to the early days of eBay, here in the UK I used to offer basic 2nd class, signed for, next day tracked as postal options.

I don't remember a buyer ever choosing anything other than the cheapest 2nd class. I can't see that anything has changed. A buyer is still going to choose the cheapest option especially now with the money back guarantee covering any loss.

Would you be willing to pay more for tracking if it was an option?

[1786davycrockett]

@benchmark 

USPS does not offer tracking on all of its services.

[mudshark61369]

@benchmark,

Tracking is for the seller's protection against false item not received claims.  If you buy an item on this site that does not arrive within a few days of the last estimated delivery date, you are protected by ebay's Money Back Guarantee (MBG).  The seller would have to prove by providing tracking that shows received by the shipper, and delivered. If they can't, you get a refund.

[nobody*s_perfect]

---

@1786davycrockett wrote:

@benchmark 

USPS does not offer tracking on all of its services.

---

USPS automatically includes delivery confirmation (AKA tracking) on all of its package services.  

Some sellers choose to mail their items as First Class letters or flats without tracking, accepting the risk of getting false "not received" claims, especially if they are low-value, low-fraud items.

[house*of*paws]

Hi @benchmark 

I’m interested in learning your reasoning for wanting to require tracking.  🙂

Buyers are fully protected without it … and sellers voluntarily risk having to refund a buyer if an ‘Item not received’ dispute is filed.

[tinsoldierunderground]

Here's the thing everyone seems to overlook;  let's say a buyer springs for a high dollar item on here, seller ships, leaving the buyer totally in the dark with no tracking and nothing to go on except ebay's estimated delivery date.

Item is delivered.

Porch pirate takes item.

Buyer has no clue item was ever delivered because no one was home that day to receive it.  Buyer contacts seller after EDD, seller uploads tracking to ebay showing delivery.

Now buyer is completely SOL, and ebay's  MBG is rendered ABSOLUTELY useless.

Now if the buyer had the insight of tracking, they could have arranged for themselves or someone else to be home, received the package, or in a case of mis-delivery (which happens about 20% of the time in my zip code), they could,  upon receipt of delivery scan notification,  pursue the mail carrier while they're still in the neighborhood and probably rectify the situation.   If this seems farfetched to some... ASK ME HOW I KNOW.    

In every case where I've bought online outside of ebay, tracking has always been provided, ALWAYS.

It's NOT just about the seller. 

[nobody*s_perfect]

---

@tinsoldierunderground wrote: ...  if the buyer had the insight of tracking, they could have arranged for themselves or someone else to be home, received the package, or in a case of mis-delivery (which happens about 20% of the time in my zip code), they could,  upon receipt of delivery scan notification,  pursue the mail carrier while they're still in the neighborhood .... 

---

Twenty percent? Yikes, if the situation with porch pirates and/or USPS package mis-delivery was that bad, I'd arrange for all my packages to be held at the PO for pickup, and I'd be sure to inform the Postmaster about why I'm doing it.