How can I avoid a defect when shipping an untracked item?

[nicdou27]

I have received 2 defects for items that were shipped untracked because actual postage was less than $2.00. How can I avoid a defect in this situation?

[vintagecraze50]

You would be wise to put tracking on all your merchandise here. People can make claims that they never received your items if you do not use tracking.  Saving money on something like this is not a good idea.

[duncanvr]

Make your handling time 3 days that should extend the lead time. Most of my stuff goes untracked using postage stamps. I loose the top rated plus 10% discount but I can offer free shipping and still stay top rated. But it depends what you sell if its an expensive item I'd recommend tracking. The other point is I have many regular buyers so they all trust me and 11,600 feedback. Since your selling clothing and have low feedback I would not recommend shipping without tracking in your case.

[nicdou27]

I also sell military patches, most under $5.00. I send them out for the next day for $1.00 in postage. I mark the items as shipped. Ebay gives me a defect for not tracking. Not too many buyers will purchase something for $5.00 and then pay $3.00+ for postage.

[nicdou27]

Duncan: Does your seller dashboard show a defect for an item shipped untracked? Mine does. I send the patches in a 6"X9" envelope with stamps.

[fern*wood]

If you don't ship with tracking, there is no way to avoid a hit to your shipping metrics for uploaded tracking.    

[gracieallen01]

"How can I avoid a defect when shipping an untracked item?"

You can't, I don't think.

[dirk12955]

What are we calling a defect? I shipped several thousand orders without tracking in 2018

The only penalty I received was I can't be a TRS. Instead I'm a constant "Above standard"

But I don't sell clothes, either.

[southern*sweet*tea]

---

@fern*wood wrote:

If you don't ship with tracking, there is no way to avoid a hit to your shipping metrics for uploaded tracking.    

---

If you ship untracked and the buyer marks it LATE, then yes there is a shipping ding.

If the buyer marks it as on time, there is no ding.

If the buyer does not mark at all, the transaction is not counted toward metrics.

I have two accounts where I don't ship with tracking - everything goes in an envelope with a stamp. I have a zero percent tracking upload and 100% on time. The  majority of buyers on those accounts don't leave feedback so they don't mark anything, therefore those transactions aren't counted in shipping metrics.

https://www.ebay.com/help/policies/selling-policies/seller-performance-policy?id=4347

You'll be recognized for on-time shipping if tracking shows your item was either shipped within the stated handling time or delivered by the estimated delivery date. If there's no tracking available, we'll check with your buyer. If your buyer confirms the item was delivered on time—you'll be recognized for on-time shipping.

We'll only consider a shipment as late if:

• Tracking shows the item was delivered after the estimated delivery date, unless there's an acceptance scan within your handling time or there's confirmation from the buyer of on-time delivery
• The buyer confirms the item was delivered after the estimated delivery date, unless there's an acceptance scan within your handling time or there's delivery confirmation by the estimated delivery date

[robot-hands]

---

@nicdou27 wrote:

How can I avoid a defect in this situation?

---

You don't.

Open another ebay account and use it for shipping super smalls like your $2 whatsit.

That will keep your main account clean...or just just don't bother with $2

[fern*wood]

---

@southern*sweet*tea wrote:

---

@fern*wood wrote:

If you don't ship with tracking, there is no way to avoid a hit to your shipping metrics for uploaded tracking.    

---

If you ship untracked and the buyer marks it LATE, then yes there is a shipping ding.

If the buyer marks it as on time, there is no ding.

If the buyer does not mark at all, the transaction is not counted toward metrics.

I have two accounts where I don't ship with tracking - everything goes in an envelope with a stamp. I have a zero percent tracking upload and 100% on time. The  majority of buyers on those accounts don't leave feedback so they don't mark anything, therefore those transactions aren't counted in shipping metrics.

https://www.ebay.com/help/policies/selling-policies/seller-performance-policy?id=4347

You'll be recognized for on-time shipping if tracking shows your item was either shipped within the stated handling time or delivered by the estimated delivery date. If there's no tracking available, we'll check with your buyer. If your buyer confirms the item was delivered on time—you'll be recognized for on-time shipping.

We'll only consider a shipment as late if:

• Tracking shows the item was delivered after the estimated delivery date, unless there's an acceptance scan within your handling time or there's confirmation from the buyer of on-time delivery
• The buyer confirms the item was delivered after the estimated delivery date, unless there's an acceptance scan within your handling time or there's delivery confirmation by the estimated delivery date

---

Yes, that discussion is for the second shipping metric, I was only referring to the upload tracking metric.   Missing either metric is not a defect.

[southern*sweet*tea]

---

@fern*wood wrote:

---

Yes, that discussion is for the second shipping metric, I was only referring to the upload tracking metric.   Missing either metric is not a defect.

---

Right, if you ship untracked and the buyer marks either late or on time there is no way to avoid the tracking uploaded metric. However, if the buyer doesn't mark the transaction either late or on time, it doesn't count at all. Buyers who don't leave feedback at all are beneficial to sellers in that respect.

[luckythewinner]

---

@nicdou27 wrote:

I have received 2 defects for items that were shipped untracked because actual postage was less than $2.00. How can I avoid a defect in this situation?

---

What do you mean by "defects"?

eBay only counts two types of transaction defects, and late shipping or lack of tracking does not create either of them. 

Or are you talking about transactions that count against your late shipment rate or your tracking uploaded and validate rate? 

[duncanvr]

My dashboard shows late delivery rate 0.37% but nothing for a a defect for an item shipped untracked. I'm top rated and honestly my airmail shipments make it to some countires quick, but other parts of the world take weeks and I don't get dinged for that. I always alert buyers to expect delays. Are your buyers rating you late shipment? My handling time is two days which strecthes the lead time. I don't live in UK but I list directly onto eBay UK. Many buyers for smalls over there. I leave a sticker in each asking for five star good feedback.

[gamersbaystore]

No way, I would never ship anything without tracking. You got defects because you refused to use tracking for your orders, thats how it works.