Ebay does not allow sending PDF files

[hidden-staircase]

I think it's ridiculous that ebay does not allow sending pdf files between sellers and buyers.  Every once in awhile we screw up and we send a book to the wrong customer.  That usually means two customers have received the wrong books.

To remedy this we prepare replacement labels and we need to forward the new labels to these customers so the books can get to the right parties.

Since ebay insists that we only communicate with OUR customers thru their messaging system, we are unable to forward the replacement labels.   That means we have to contact the customer somehow and get their email address and send them the replacement shipping label.   If unable to obtain we have to send the replacement label via the US snail mail.

It's the 21st Century.  Lift the ban on sending pdf files!

This is the 21st century.  The preferred method of sending documents by businesses is as pdf files.    

[ckimodog]

@hidden-staircase 

Items should be tangible.  There are no guarantees that the buyer will receive them via text or code.  Even if the do, they can lie and say they don't.   You can however download them on to a CD/DVD .  I believe that's acceptable. 

https://www.ebay.com/help/policies/prohibited-restricted-items/electronically-delivered-items-policy...

Happy New Year.

[lamber9347]

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@hidden-staircase wrote:

I think it's ridiculous that ebay does not allow sending pdf files between sellers and buyers.  Every once in awhile we screw up and we send a book to the wrong customer.  That usually means two customers have received the wrong books.

To remedy this we prepare replacement labels and we need to forward the new labels to these customers so the books can get to the right parties.

Since ebay insists that we only communicate with OUR customers thru their messaging system, we are unable to forward the replacement labels.   That means we have to contact the customer somehow and get their email address and send them the replacement shipping label.   If unable to obtain we have to send the replacement label via the US snail mail. <snip>

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I don't believe I am understanding you correctly. When you send different buyers the wrong books, which is your error not theirs, you send them a label for the other buyers address so that they can ship their incorrect books to each other? Then your buyer would pay for a book, not receive that book but another, then be expected to ship that book to another person and hope that person in turn ships them the book they initially paid for? 

I'm certain I have completely misread and am absolutely wrong in my comprehension....

[stainlessenginecovers]

You can send a 'photo' to the buyers, so, print the labels, take a picture, send the 'pictures' to the buyers and then they can 'print/cut out/label' and resend...

Which is something THEY may not want to do...but hopefully both are ok with it and both actually 'do it'?? 

[dryophelia · Accepted solution]

@hidden-staircase 

The proper way to remedy mixing up two orders is to send both parties a return shipping label that returns the items back to the seller. 
The seller then forwards the parcels to the correct buyer. 

Inevitably in these situations, the buyer who receives the best deal is not compelled to cooperate. 

If my order is mixed up, I would be furious that the seller gave my personal information to a complete stranger. 

[hidden-staircase]

We send each customer a label to send the book onto the correct customer.  If for any reason the customer has an out-of-pocket cost we will reimburse them.

[kensgiftshop]

I'd be a little ticked if a seller gave my information to another buyer.

You have the items returned to you, then you ship to the correct buyer.

[lamber9347]

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@hidden-staircase wrote:

We send each customer a label to send the book onto the correct customer.  If for any reason the customer has an out-of-pocket cost we will reimburse them.

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In that case if both buyers claimed they shipped the book out but never received the correct book in return, you would fully refund both of them, correct? 

[hartungcards]

Nothing a buyer loves more than going to a lot of extra trouble to fix a seller's mistake.

[monster-deals]

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@lamber9347 wrote:

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then be expected to ship that book to another person and hope that person in turn ships them the book they initially paid for? 

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Only if they want their book.

What is the difference between sending it back and sending it back?

[richard1rst]

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@stainlessenginecovers wrote:

You can send a 'photo' to the buyers, so, print the labels, take a picture, send the 'pictures' to the buyers and then they can 'print/cut out/label' and resend...

Even simpler than that - with the label on the screen, take a "screen shot" which can easily be done on a PC. The key is towards the upper right. In fairness, I am not sure about mobile devices. Save the shot it as a JPEG and that you can attach to an eBay message.

[martin2001]

You did not misread anything. People buying books are generally very understanding and accommodating and there is a great probability that they will do what OP wants them to do.

[lamber9347]

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@martin2001 wrote:

You did not misread anything. People buying books are generally very understanding and accommodating and there is a great probability that they will do what OP wants them to do.

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I would hope that they do. OP hasn't alluded to any specific or collectible book, just two random books. The OP is opening themselves up to either or both of the buyers claiming not to have received the book they initially purchased. Add to that more delays due to first shipping the wrong book out then waiting for the (possible) arrival of the book they purchased. Would need to be very understanding buyers willing to go out of their way just to get a book that another seller most likely also offered....

[stephenmorgan]

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@hidden-staircase wrote:

I think it's ridiculous that ebay does not allow sending pdf files between sellers and buyers.  Every once in awhile we screw up and we send a book to the wrong customer.  That usually means two customers have received the wrong books.

To remedy this we prepare replacement labels and we need to forward the new labels to these customers so the books can get to the right parties.

Since ebay insists that we only communicate with OUR customers thru their messaging system, we are unable to forward the replacement labels.   That means we have to contact the customer somehow and get their email address and send them the replacement shipping label.   If unable to obtain we have to send the replacement label via the US snail mail.

It's the 21st Century.  Lift the ban on sending pdf files!

This is the 21st century.  The preferred method of sending documents by businesses is as pdf files.    

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eBay used to if you had a "Paid Transaction" allowed you to exchange email addresses for two weeks?  With their proper email address, you could send a PDF.  Are you within the two weeks since being paid?

Currently Policy states if you use the temporary Alias eMail that eBay created then you can send a PDF. 

Using the User ID to message them is different than using the temporary Alias eMail and you may get different results.  Try their temporary eMail and see if this works. 

The temporary eMail will disappear from the Order Details eBay after 14 days, see example below, the Alias eMail no longer exists.

https://www.ebay.com/help/selling/resolving-buyer-issues/contacting-buyer-bidder?id=4083

How to contact a buyer through Email

For privacy reasons, eBay is no longer displaying personal email addresses. However, you can still contact the buyer through email using their "Buyer Alias Email Address" which you can find in the View order details page.

This email alias, ending in @members.ebay.com, is unique to your communications with this buyer. You can also give email aliases to shipping carriers, so that they can securely share shipping updates with the buyer.

Messages sent using eBay alias addresses go through our secure servers before reaching a members registered email address and their eBay Messages. eBay email alias addresses support PDF, DOC, TXT, JPG, GIF, JPEG, PNG, BMP, and TIFF attachments up to a maximum size of 10 MB.

[janet9988]

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@hidden-staircase wrote:

We send each customer a label to send the book onto the correct customer.  If for any reason the customer has an out-of-pocket cost we will reimburse them.

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You are NOT allowed to send personal information even through PDF form. 

As a member of ebay you agree to not give out anyone's personal information to someone else.