Got a defect because Post Office

[b86fiero]

I understand why so many sellers are furious with the eBay system of punishing sellers who do their job of shipping on time only to be deemed DEFECTIVE because the item arrived ONE DAY after the estimated delivery date because the USPS could not handle the holiday shipping volume.  This is the USPS not delivering.

WT....??????

How is this my fault????????????

What a hateful thing to do us!!!

[fern*wood]

There are metrics for shipping time but none are defects.

Did you obtain an acceptance scan within your handling timeframe?   If so, you could probably get this removed.

[southern*sweet*tea]

If you have an acceptance scan within your handling time you won't get a defect or ding.  I have had two or three packages delivered outside their estimate - one getting lost completely for two weeks and eventually returned back to me, and my upload is 100%, my on time is 100% and I have zero defects. All my packages get an acceptance scan when I mail.

[*eponymous*]

You obviously did not get an acceptance scan within your handling time AND the buyer marked "no" in that portion of feedback.

Which sellers are still unhappy, even though sellers are in total control of ALL SELLER METRICS?

[b86fiero]

Thanks to all for replying.

I opted into the 1 day handling only of the guaranteed delivery program.

Here's the order info:

Buyer payment received at 7:38 PM on Dec 4.

USPS scanned first class package at 11:07 AM Dec 5.  (1 day handling)

USPS tracking confirms package delivered Dec 11.

Buyer did not claim as late delivery.

My dashboard under late delivery shows just a red dot under the post office delivery position.  Nothing under buyer.

Called eBay this morning and was told too bad - the defect stays.

What a load of ...................!!!  Yepper, I am furious.  I resent being labeled DEFECTIVE because the post office did not do their job of delivering according to eBay's estimates.  How is this my fault?

I just opted out of guaranteed delivery and changed my shipping to economy 1 - 10 days.  How are we supposed to protect our accounts?  If you look at my feedback you will see almost every buyer mentions my fast shipping.

[southern*sweet*tea]

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@b86fiero wrote:

guaranteed delivery 

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Well there's your problem 

But hey, if your buyer files a late claim, Ebay's got your back

[b86fiero]

Buyer left positive feedback Dec 12 --- Thanks. Can't' seem to find this in stores............. 

As to guaranteed delivery, I did not guarantee portal to portal.  

I guaranteed 1 day handling only.  Buyer paid at night, I shipped next morning.

[retrose1]

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@b86fiero wrote:

Thanks to all for replying.

I opted into the 1 day handling only of the guaranteed delivery program.

Here's the order info:

Buyer payment received at 7:38 PM on Dec 4.

USPS scanned first class package at 11:07 AM Dec 5.  (1 day handling)

USPS tracking confirms package delivered Dec 11.

Buyer did not claim as late delivery.

My dashboard under late delivery shows just a red dot under the post office delivery position.  Nothing under buyer.

Called eBay this morning and was told too bad - the defect stays.

What a load of ...................!!!  Yepper, I am furious.  I resent being labeled DEFECTIVE because the post office did not do their job of delivering according to eBay's estimates.  How is this my fault?

I just opted out of guaranteed delivery and changed my shipping to economy 1 - 10 days.  How are we supposed to protect our accounts?  If you look at my feedback you will see almost every buyer mentions my fast shipping.

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You chose to jump through the hoops, knowing that ebay glitches, punishes and the PO has a poor history of 100% scans.  All for a badge, a few scheckles and false promises ebay makes.

I ship at the counter - I almost never enter tracking and I have been above standard for years now and never get late defects.  Mostly because ebay has no idea if I am shipping late or not.

Saves me a huge amount of stress, frustration and anger.

[duggmills]

Here's an opinion. 

I don't see much, if any seller value in eBay's Guaranteed Delivery Program.  I hesitate calling it a program and it may not be a program if eBay doesn't call it that.

 Anyway....

I guess the objective is supposed to offer sellers some searching advantage and  an enticement to purchase from you rather than someone else who chooses not to participate in it.

I wonder if some buyers believe this guarantee means the goods will be in their hands of three days or sooner. I don't know. But then, we all know there are no shortages of what we and others believe... lol.

Many of us have seen  or experienced or the shortcomings of the "program".

To be a program by my definition means there are as many tangible, quantifiable advantages to sellers as there are tangible, quantifiable disadvantages for sellers.  Those would be defects and accumulating defects that are actionable by eBay.

The fact that by being eBay members we have agreed to have a monkey on our backs, so to speak . That monkey is the Post Office and other shippers over whom we have no control and yet are charged with actions.

[b86fiero]

Thanks Rose, I appreciate your opinion.

I have a strong work ethic.  I get paid, I ship right away.  I strive to treat my customers as I hope to be treated by other sellers. 

Been selling here for over 16 years (January will be 17 years) and this is how I've always conducted my business.  Get paid, ship next morning.

Hence, probably why I'm so upset at being labeled "defective" and having the CS rep basically say tough noogies to me.

[southern*sweet*tea]

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@b86fiero wrote:

Buyer left positive feedback Dec 12 --- Thanks. Can't' seem to find this in stores............. 

As to guaranteed delivery, I did not guarantee portal to portal.  

I guaranteed 1 day handling only.  Buyer paid at night, I shipped next morning.

---

Yes, BUT...

Guaranteed delivery means just that. Be it your fault or not, even getting your package in the mail on time, can you trust that there's no unwritten rule that says you get dinged even if you did what you're supposed to do? After all, it was late, you chose the carrier, therefore YOU caused the buyer to have a poor experience.  I mean, sure Ebay will cover a claim IF the buyer files one, but since you were opted in to GD you're expected to do your job.

(No, this is NOT how I see it, it's how I think Ebay sees it. With their history of unwritten policy it would be entirely feasible and certainly no surprise.)

[tealt]

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@*eponymous* wrote:

You obviously did not get an acceptance scan within your handling time AND the buyer marked "no" in that portion of feedback.

Which sellers are still unhappy, even though sellers are in total control of ALL SELLER METRICS?

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I am.

And somehow I don't feel I am in "total control" of the USPS.

For the last 3 months I have had no problems with getting Acceptance/Received/In-the-Hands-of scans upon pick-up.  I use a scan sheet even if I have only one package.

On Monday the sub/new/temp carrier on my route failed to properly scan my scan sheet.

The first scan 2 of my packages (one 1st class, one priority) received were at the main PO in my city between 1AM and 3:30AM.  The. Next. Day. 

So now I must depend on the USPS getting my packages into buyer hands very quickly to avoid  "late shipment" dings.  I'm very low volume, and even 2 dings could push me near the brink of losing my TRS+ status.

Could I have had "total control" on Monday  by standing in line at my branch PO for 30-45 minutes to hand my packages to a counter clerk (dropped off packages at my branch are not scanned until they reach the main PO).  Yes, I suppose so.  Is that a definition of "total control"--spending 20-40 minutes in line every time I need to mail a package?

[fern*wood]

Are you saying if one signs up for guaranteed delivery then the acceptance scan does not insulate you from late dings on the shipping metrics if delivered late?  

[b86fiero]

Well spank me twice with the ruler and hand me the dunce hat  

[b86fiero]

fern*wood - that is apparently what happened to me.