No Tracking

[traditonalproducts]

I need a better understanding of shipping items out with no tracking number. An example of this would be stamps & low-cost items etc. with no tracking number. Isn't there a huge risk in this effecting one's overall performance numbers?  To me, one opens themselves up to a number of bad situations?

[1786davycrockett]

Definitely a big risk -- unscrupulous buyers always look for possibilities to open "item not received" cases against sellers when tracking is not used, since the seller has no proof of shipment.  And 10 times out of 10, the seller will lose.

If the sale price of the stamps (or postcards, coins, trading cards, and paper currency) is $20.00 or less, use the eBay Standard Envelope (ESE), which is USPS metered mail, and includes USPS machine-scanned tracking, which is nearly as safe as USPS First Class (now called USPS Ground Advantage) Package tracking.

For other low-value items, sellers are better off bundling a number of these low-value items together as lots, to take advantage of USPS GA Package tracking.

[southern*sweet*tea]

You can absolutely ship without tracking in an envelope. Sellers of low value items do it all the time - I do on another account. Tracking has never been required BUT if a buyer opens an item not received case you need to close it out with a refund to the buyer immediately as there is no way you can win the case.

It's all risk vs. reward.

As to performance numbers, tracking has never been required, but there IS a requirement for tracking uploaded.  If you go below X % of tracking uploaded you can't be TRS, but there is no other affect to the account.  As for items without tracking specifically, they do NOT count at all  toward any late or on-time shipping metrics UNLESS a buyer physically marks the item as arrived late.

[mn467462]

These usually only apply to low value items. Things under $5. I have purchased items with no tracking, and only ever had an issue once. The seller was quick and easy with the refund of $4, after I contacted him a month later saying I didn't receive it. But that's because I'm a good person. I didn't open up a case. I try not to. Because I am a good person. But bad actors will use it to scam people. So for that reason, always use tracking.