Need serious help dealing with a 'Karen'! Please help!

[theofficefan4life]

In all my years selling i havent had the displeasure of a buyer as the one im dealing with now. I sold an ICEE slushie machine using best offer for the VERY REASON of hoping to "shop" for a potential buyer with an established history on ebay and of good fb left for sellers! And a lot of good that did me! So, i accepted "Karen"s offer which was $150 which to me is a lot of money. We are living in a time when porch thieves are rampant and especially so during the holidays. So I decided to ship UPS with signature required. That sent Karen into a rage. How dare I not list that in my ad! How dare I inconvenience her! Talk about a darned if i do, darned if i dont scenario! I didnt want to wait for her to give the go-ahead for signature required lest I be deemed Im waiting to long to ship.

So not thinking its any big deal I sent it requiring signature. Fast forward to today. The package is being held safely at a UPS store practically across the street from this Karen's house (after having done a quick google maps search), but I just received a nasty email how she is too inconvenienced to go pick it up and wants me to have them return it to me and how she is soooo hassled. I honestly don't get why she bought this???? Is it unreasonable to send something needing a signature so as to avoid a thief??? I digress....

So at this point, what do I do? I already know a negative is in the future. My question is do I call that UPS store and ask them to ship it back to me? Or do I wait until this Saturday which is the last day they will hold it and have UPS ship it back automatically? Please advise me on what will have the least worse consequences to me as a seller trying to do the right thing to protect myself. Should I take her up on her offer to have them ship it back to me? Or insist she go claim it? Or tell her if she really doesn't want it, then she simply doesnt need to retrieve it and it will get sent back to me?? I'm wondering if I should take her up on her advice and call UPS to have them ship back to me and HOPEFULLY ebay will remove any impending negative this hag will leave. Any advice is appreciated!!!

[maxine*j]

---

@outdatedrecreated wrote:

... whats the big deal with having to sign for something? I guess I prefer to be "livid" about things that really matter, and having to sign for a package surely doesn't matter that much....

---

It can be a big deal for some people:   

- People who work full-time, and their hours of work coincide with those of the P.O.  Not all Post Offices have Saturday hours and many, like mine, are open only half a day on Saturday.  Tt can be the very devil for them to manage a trip to the P.O.

- People who live further than walking distance from a P.O. and have to arrange transportation there because they have none of their own.   This is more common in cities than you might think, and not at all uncommon in rural areas.

- People who, right now, are reluctant to be out unnecessarily because they worry about contracting Covid-19, and may have good reason to, depending upon age and/or health. 

- People who find it difficult to lift and carry large or heavy packages.

- People who, for whatever their reasons, shop on line because  they want home delivery.

I'm sure you can think of other reasons why it can become "a big deal" to get a notice that something you expected to arrive at your residence is now blocks or miles away, available only if you get there in person during specified times.

None of this may occur to people who can hop in their cars, zip down to their P.O.s  whenever it's convenient, easily handle big or heavy packages, toss them in their vehicles, pop home, and carry the packages inside.

[maxine*j]

Well, after typing all that, I see OP sent the parcel UPS, not USPS.  It still applies in most regards, but my apologies for not reading as carefully as I should have.

[3d_discounts]

People and their "feelz".    Words are only given as much power as you give them.  So tired of this "I'm offended" culture.

[goldguy22k]

---

@maxine*j wrote:

---

@theofficefan4life wrote:

I had no idea. I was under the impression that if a package was left at someones porch, UPS marks "delivered" then a porch pirate steals the package, buyer says never received, then how am I not on the hook for that??? Should I have sent it insured instead???

---

You are not on the hook because it is up to each of us to provide a secure place to which our mail and packages from other carriers can be delivered.  That's why your responsibility ends once tracking shows the package was delivered to the right address.  

---

This is a key, but not insignificant point that often gets overlooked!

Scammers will send something (a feather) to an address in the same zip code and thus tracking will show "delivered" and they CAN technically win an INR Case because tracking shows "delivered!"  The eBay 'system' apparently only works with the tracking number and the zip code, not the actual address.

But IF the carrier scans the package, as they are suppose to do, when they (or as they) drop off the package at the door of the delivery address, then that scan tool records the GPS coordinates.  Those GPS coordinates relate back to an address and acts as "proof" of where the package was delivered.  Providing proof to eBay that the GPS coordinates (address) where the package was delivered does not match the address on the order, results in a win for the buyer.

What gets many sellers is that they think that just a 'delivered' scan is enough and they can wash their hands of it.  But if tracking shows otherwise, then eBay policy is against the seller- seller is responsible for delivery to the address on the order.   Yes, the seller has no control over what the shipper does, but eBay policy doesn't say that, it says seller is responsible for delivery to the order address,

Just some food for thought.

[sansgirlygirl]

Agreed.  Does op realize how many people really named Karen are insulted?

[gracieallen01]

Really interesting thread.

I live on a heavily foot-traveled street in So. California, and have for quite a few years.  I find it amusing that there is so much back and forth about signature confirmation because FedEx and UPS just "drop 'n run" here.  I can recall ONE time in over 25 years that either has stopped for a signature - it would almost seem to be a decision on the part of the driver, not the company.  I have anything of value sent to the Santa Barbara house - they do the same thing there, but it is on a secluded street in an older section, all the neighbors have been there forever and it is a nice drive along the coast to pick it up.

[cameron-toys]

I hate to say it, but you failed have it deliver it to where she paid for it to go. I'd try calling customer service of UPS and see if you can remove the signature required.

[jaelzion]

---

@maxine*j wrote:

---

@outdatedrecreated wrote:

... whats the big deal with having to sign for something? I guess I prefer to be "livid" about things that really matter, and having to sign for a package surely doesn't matter that much....

---

It can be a big deal for some people:   

None of this may occur to people who can hop in their cars, zip down to their P.O.s  whenever it's convenient, easily handle big or heavy packages, toss them in their vehicles, pop home, and carry the packages inside.

---

So true. For 10 years I was a 24x7 caregiver for my Dad. I literally could not leave the house unless someone else came over to stay with him. If I was unable to get to the door to sign, it was virtually impossible for me to get my package. If alerted that a package would require signature confirmation, then I could follow the tracking info and try to make sure I would be within range of the door when it arrived.

[smileytown18]

I understand both sides honestly of this conversation....

@gracieallen01 I agree with you.

Here in NYC, UPS & Fedex drivers often literally toss it in the general direction of your home and dont bother ringing, getting signatures, etc. Especially since they often dont even have a spot to park their trucks and just leave it idling blocking the street. Some of these items should be getting signatures.

When I'm upstate, they get a signature literally for every item. Plus some friendly chit chat....

Honestly, I think the drivers just do what works for them.

Again, I feel for those who are named Karen... No fault of their own that it became something sinister

[gracieallen01]

@smileytown18 

Using a common term or name isn't a polite thing to do, I whole-heartedly agree.  It can be difficult to refrain from following current fad/fashion/tackiness to do so.  I must admit that I have known a number of women named Karen over my 80-some years and looking back (and to current acquaintances), there has been one or two that perfectly fit the term 'Karen', while others definitely do not.  Of course, that could also be said for Tammy and Ted and Rose and dear John and Mary and Dick and ......

There is NOTHING 'out there' at which someone isn't going to take offense.

😀

[pburn]

---

@jaelzion wrote:

---

If alerted that a package would require signature confirmation

---

"If alerted" is the operative phrase in this whole discussion. The seller did not include the signature confirmation disclaimer in his/her listing, so the buyer was unaware of the restriction.

---

@jaelzion wrote:

---

. . . I could follow the tracking info and try to make sure I would be within range of the door when it arrived.

---

I'm signed up for Informed Delivery through USPS and both UPS and FedEx alert options. None of the three tell me with any specificity when a package will arrive. They all indicate something like "Out for delivery. Will be delivered between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m." Would you be within range of the door for 12 hours waiting for the item to arrive?

Last week, I had alerts for two items that were to be delivered but did not actually arrive until the next day.

[anstr4434]

I read the description to make sure I don't have to sign for a package.  The USPS is about a 20 mile round trip,  UPS about 50, and Fedex about 60 miles.  I buy on Ebay for the convenience of having my package end up in my mailbox or beside my gate.  I once had a seller do that to me.  Automatic negative and one stars on communication, description, and shipping.  

[snoopwiz]

As long as you purchase the label on eBay and it's shipped to the address provided by the buyer at the time of checkout, you are protected by a not received case the instant it shows delivered. 

Mostly but not fully accurate.  The label does not have to be purchased on or through eBay.  Many use 3rd party postage providers however, if shipped with tracking and tracking shows the item is delivered, then your legal responsibility is fulfilled. 

This does not mean telling your buyer "so sad, too bad"  You should always do what you can, even if its just "lip service"  suggesting ways your buyer can try and find what happened to their parcel that shows delivered. 

[jaelzion]

---

@pburn wrote:

---

---

I'm signed up for Informed Delivery through USPS and both UPS and FedEx alert options. None of the three tell me with any specificity when a package will arrive. They all indicate something like "Out for delivery. Will be delivered between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m." Would you be within range of the door for 12 hours waiting for the item to arrive?

---

USPS and Fedex always come at the same time (different times for each), so if an item is expected that day, I know when to be available. UPS will often show me on a map where my item is when it's out for delivery. The map refreshes automatically and I can follow my item right to my doorstep.

[jaelzion]

---

@pburn wrote:

---

@jaelzion wrote:

---

If alerted that a package would require signature confirmation

---

"If alerted" is the operative phrase in this whole discussion. The seller did not include the signature confirmation disclaimer in his/her listing, so the buyer was unaware of the restriction.

---

Yeah, I understand that. I'm agreeing that the information should have been in the listing.