Combining orders. What city does this guy live in?

[iamalwaysright]

Happy Dilemma Friday everyone.

So I'm trying to combine two orders from the same buyer (same buyer account). I know some of you never like to combine orders for various valid reasons, but to clarify I do. So let's move on with the understanding that these definitely will be combined. No need to tell me reasons why keeping them separate is more beneficial as I already know the reasons.

Both addresses are exactly the same with exception to the city. One says Markham, IL 60426-4126 and the other says Harvey, IL 60426-4126. I know that the city name doesn't really matter, so I'm probably just splitting hairs here. The google maps show both addresses to be the same house, same photo. Google search results shows about a 50/50 split between the two city names.

I have stamps.com and usually it self standardizes to a "correct" city based on zip code when the addresses import in. But this time it didn't and approved both city names. The Markham address has a phone number with a Chicago area code. The Harvey address has a different phone number that has a Nashville area code.

Which city name do I choose to combine the orders? I wonder if I can even just leave the city name blank since it's not supposed to matter right?

[heckofagame]

If it were me, I would not combine them if the address does not exactly match. But that's me. 

[dbfolks166mt]

     How is it that the buyer has two different city names for two separate orders? Did they change between the orders? 

[soh.maryl]

Have you considered contacting the buyer and explaining the issue? 

[stainlessenginecovers]

The 2 cities are 4 miles apart. Why the buyer did this, who knows- maybe hoping you would do exactly what you are planning and just 'shipping' to one or the other or 'deleting' the city name (not sure you can even do that, at least with USPS (either direct or through eBay) you cannot 'delete' the city. 

It's a gamble, so that gamble is up to you. 

By the way; I 'combine' orders all the time, quite often a buyer will be 1 thing on Tuesday morning, one Tuesday night and another on Wednesday night; since I do 5 business days (build to order) I always combine all 3 of these into 1 package; assign the tracking number to 2 of the orders, then mark them 'shipped' (to make them 'go away off the 'ready to ship' list immediately). (and sometimes I have 'shipping charged for all items, I then 'refund' what I need to; or in the current case (as of 3 months ago; went back to 'free shipping' and then I refund nothing)

Been doing it this way probably well over 5000 times in 13 years. Never a problem 

[1786davycrockett]

@iamalwaysright 

Same ZIP Code equals the same city -- so no big deal.

I live in Arden Hills, MN, which uses a post office in New Brighton, MN -- and both are suburbs of a larger city, St. Paul, MN.

So I receive mail at Arden Hills, MN 55112-1946, and New Brighton, MN 55112-1946, as well as St. Paul, MN 55112-1946.  They're all correct home addresses, for the same home address.

USPS is more concerned about the correct ZIP Code, rather than which variation of the city name(s) are used.

Go ahead & ship to either address -- they're both the same.

[nobody*s_perfect]

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@stainlessenginecovers wrote:

The 2 cities are 4 miles apart. ...

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The two addresses have the same ZIP+4 address, so they are not 4 miles apart, they are the same location. Probably one name is a section of the town/city formally known by the other name. IMHO the seller should just pick one, it doesn't matter which.

[richard1rst]

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@dbfolks166mt wrote:

     How is it that the buyer has two different city names for two separate orders? Did they change between the orders? 

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Well, I don't know about IL but in Boston, the city is broken down into various neighborhoods. Jamaica Plains, Hyde Park, Roslindale, etc.

If you mail a package to Hyde Park with the Hyde Park address  & ZIP it gets there just fine.

I ft you mail a package to Boston WITH THE HYDE PARK address and ZIP code it also gets there just fine

Then, outside of the CITY of Boston is the Boston Metropolitan Area.

There is a town 10 miles north of Boston called Stoneham. The ZIP is 021810. 021 indicates the Boston metro area.

Address is Boston 02180 OR Stoneham 02180 and either way it gets there just fine.

Mountains and molehills.

[ms.rodriguez*]

It's possible that the city got a new name or perhaps 2 cities were combined into 1 zipcode. Perhaps a google search will tell you that. If the items are cheap and the buyer has a lot of feedback, then ship the 2 items.

[stainlessenginecovers]

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@nobody*s_perfect wrote:

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@stainlessenginecovers wrote:

The 2 cities are 4 miles apart. ...

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The two addresses have the same ZIP+4 address, so they are not 4 miles apart, they are the same location. Probably one name is a section of the town/city formally known by the other name. IMHO the seller should just pick one, it doesn't matter which.

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Google maps shows the distance and time to drive from 1 city to the other (although many of these 'cities' are not actually 'official cities' but simply 'townships' (El Modena is an AREA on Orange CA; Valencia is an AREA in Santa Clarita CA) so you could be right. 

Per the interwebs:

Harvey and Markham are two seperate suburbs, but share the same zip code. Markham is a little bit better; the poverty, crime, and unemployment rate is not as high as Harvey. However, Markham is not much of an upgrade either. As far as picking between the two, I say Markham is better.

Moral of the story is, for a $20 and $40 item, I would combine and 'pick one' but for a $200 and $300 items, I would NOT combine them. 

[inhawaii]

I always combine orders but I am very careful now that the addresses are exactly  the same.

A customer once bought 2 identical items minutes apart.

I was going to combine the orders like I always do.

It turns out one was for him.

The other was for his brother who lives in the same city a few blocks away.

[nobody*s_perfect]

USPS assigns a ZIP+4 (i.e., the regular 5-digit ZIP Code plus 4 digits) to a very limited geographic area such as a city block. Two places miles apart would not have the same ZIP+4 number.  Regardless of which town name is used on the label, USPS will deliver based on the ZIP Code.

[iamalwaysright]

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@dbfolks166mt wrote:

     How is it that the buyer has two different city names for two separate orders? Did they change between the orders? 

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Your guess is as good as mine. Whatever the cause, it resulted in the address changing in between the orders. The two orders happened hours apart from each other, not sure if that matters.

[iamalwaysright]

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@soh.maryl wrote:

Have you considered contacting the buyer and explaining the issue? 

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Yes, good news is I have the weekend to decide and will probably kick out a message to them soon.

[iamalwaysright]

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@1786davycrockett wrote:

@iamalwaysright 

Same ZIP Code equals the same city -- so no big deal.

I live in Arden Hills, MN, which uses a post office in New Brighton, MN -- and both are suburbs of a larger city, St. Paul, MN.

So I receive mail at Arden Hills, MN 55112-1946, and New Brighton, MN 55112-1946, as well as St. Paul, MN 55112-1946.  They're all correct home addresses, for the same home address.

USPS is more concerned about the correct ZIP Code, rather than which variation of the city name(s) are used.

Go ahead & ship to either address -- they're both the same.

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Thanks. Can I ask you a question? Okay so I’m assuming you use Arden Hills as your shipping address. In what instances would have your shipping address as New Brighton or St. Paul? I’m just wondering what @dbfolks166mt is wondering in his reply since my buyer’s address did change between his orders.