Pretest Validating the Buyer's Address---Much Needed

[getitright1234]

Pretest Validating the Buyer's Address---Much Needed

I had to cancel a Sale yesterday all because when I went to print out the shipping label, the system reported the Buyer's address contained an error/ was invalid.  So why isn't it when a Buyer's enters their address, the system pretests this address; lets the Buyer immediately know, this is an invalid address. 

[luckythewinner]

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@getitright1234 wrote:

Pretest Validating the Buyer's Address---Much Needed

I had to cancel a Sale yesterday all because when I went to print out the shipping label, the system reported the Buyer's address contained an error/ was invalid.  So why isn't it when a Buyer's enters their address, the system pretests this address; lets the Buyer immediately know, this is an invalid address. 

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First, a buyer address does not usually come from eBay - it usually comes from PayPal.

Second, different carriers have different address requirements - what is valid for the USPS might not be valid for UPS (or vice-versa).

It's pain, but one option is to cancel the transaction for "problem with the buyer's address" and ask the buyer to re-buy the item with a good address.

[pburn]

That would make too much sense.

In lieu of that enhancement, you can contact the buyer and have them correct their address so they can repurchase the item. The fact that, in theory, they won't be able to receive an item from any other seller either should encourage them to get it corrected. I assume they were a new member? With no feedback?

[getitright1234]

That is my point, "I"had to cancel the transaction and notify the Buyer his address was invalid after the sale and after "I" attempted to ship the item out.   This problem should have been identified prior to the Sale.   This did not create a happy buying experience for this Buyer.

[pburn]

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@getitright1234 wrote:

That is my point, "I"had to cancel the transaction and notify the Buyer his address was invalid after the sale and after "I" attempted to ship the item out.   This problem should have been identified prior to the Sale.   This did not create a happy buying experience for this Buyer.

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Perhaps the first sentence of my previous post was too subtle. To make it clearer, I agree with you.

[richard1rst]

Actually it might not be an invalid address. Merely an invalid format.

The post office is really wonky on city names. For example they insist on “Saint Louis” not “St Louis”.

BUT they insist on “St Augustine” not “Saint Augustine”.

Merely changing the presence or absence of an abbreviation has solved the problem for me many times.

One little wrinkle. If you use “St” DO NOT put a period after the t. That will also kick it out.

I had one buyer mistype their ZIP code. A quick check with www.usps.com verified the correct code and off it went.

Then there are parts of the rural countryside where it or a “county” or “state” road #xxx. CR and SR sometimes plays havoc.

Yes it is extra effort (keeps your brain sharp). But do you want to MAKE the sale or CANCEL the sale..

[getitright1234]

"Merely changing the presence or absence of an abbreviation has solved the problem for me many times."

Did you know when you alter the Buyer's address even in the slightest way, you have voided your eBay and PayPal Seller protection.  

"Yes it is extra effort (keeps your brain sharp). But do you want to MAKE the sale or CANCEL the sale.." 

I want to keep the Sale, but with my Seller protection still intact. 

[slippinjimmy]

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@getitright1234 wrote:

"Merely changing the presence or absence of an abbreviation has solved the problem for me many times."

Did you know when you alter the Buyer's address even in the slightest way, you have voided your eBay and PayPal Seller protection.  

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Changing the formatting without changing the actual address does not void seller protection, never has and never will. Not to mention many sellers have NEVER availed themselves of this thing called seller protection.

[getitright1234]

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@slippinjimmy wrote:

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@getitright1234 wrote:

"Merely changing the presence or absence of an abbreviation has solved the problem for me many times."

Did you know when you alter the Buyer's address even in the slightest way, you have voided your eBay and PayPal Seller protection.  

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Changing the formatting without changing the actual address does not void seller protection, never has and never will. Not to mention many sellers have NEVER availed themselves of this thing called seller protection.

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In this climate of, the Buyer is always right,  I would not risk it, and the warning is very clear when you alter the address for any reason.  ^^^^^You no know this to be Fact?^^^^^

As posted on the Shipping page:

"Edit Ship to

You may not be covered by the eBay Seller Protection Policy if you ship to a different address. Learn more."

The bottom line: 

There are only (3) carriers:  UPS, USPS and FedEx, a test should be ran when the Buyer enters their address, therefore catching the error should be caught pre-purchase rather if that test comes from eBay and/or PayPal...................that is the gist of my post. 

[richard1rst]

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@getitright1234 wrote:

"Merely changing the presence or absence of an abbreviation has solved the problem for me many times."

Did you know when you alter the Buyer's address even in the slightest way, you have voided your eBay and PayPal Seller protection.  

we will have to agree to disagree on this one. Correcting the spelling is not "changing" the address. The protection is that you do not send it to an entirely DIFFERENT address.

[pburn]

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@getitright1234 wrote:

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In this climate of, the Buyer is always right,  I would not risk it, and the warning is very clear when you alter the address for any reason.  ^^^^^You no know this to be Fact?^^^^^

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Here's my solution:

You can cancel your transaction.

Everyone else can correct the invalid addresses and ship their items, thereby completing their transactions. It's a win/win!

In the end, every eBay seller has to make their own decisions and do what they think is right. Trying to scare people into complicating a process that doesn't need to be complicated doesn't do anyone any favors.

I'm not sure whether you have more selling experience than indicated by the id you're using to post, which isn't much, but you've gotten sound advice from a couple of long-time sellers. Your choice whether to take it or leave it.

[getitright1234]

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@pburn wrote:

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@getitright1234 wrote:

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In this climate of, the Buyer is always right,  I would not risk it, and the warning is very clear when you alter the address for any reason.  ^^^^^You no know this to be Fact?^^^^^

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Here's my solution:

You can cancel your transaction.

Everyone else can correct the invalid addresses and ship their items, thereby completing their transactions. It's a win/win!

In the end, every eBay seller has to make their own decisions and do what they think is right. Trying to scare people into complicating a process that doesn't need to be complicated doesn't do anyone any favors.

I'm not sure whether you have more selling experience than indicated by the id you're using to post, which isn't much, but you've gotten sound advice from a couple of long-time sellers. Your choice whether to take it or leave it.

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You might feel comfortable changing Street to St, Avenue, to Ave, in my situation, the Buyer misspelled his street name.    I could have asked him for the correct spelling, but eBay has made it clear to me, if I change the address I could lose my Seller protection, it is in writing and was verbally re-inforced by the eBay rep.  So, its not me who is scaring anyone, its a warning from eBay. 

This has nothing to do with how long anyone has been a Seller, it has everything to do with heeding the written and verbal warning spelled out by eBay. 

[pburn]

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@getitright1234 wrote:

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@pburn wrote:

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@getitright1234 wrote:

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In this climate of, the Buyer is always right,  I would not risk it, and the warning is very clear when you alter the address for any reason.  ^^^^^You no know this to be Fact?^^^^^

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Here's my solution:

You can cancel your transaction.

Everyone else can correct the invalid addresses and ship their items, thereby completing their transactions. It's a win/win!

In the end, every eBay seller has to make their own decisions and do what they think is right. Trying to scare people into complicating a process that doesn't need to be complicated doesn't do anyone any favors.

I'm not sure whether you have more selling experience than indicated by the id you're using to post, which isn't much, but you've gotten sound advice from a couple of long-time sellers. Your choice whether to take it or leave it.

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You might feel comfortable changing Street to St, Avenue, to Ave, in my situation, the Buyer misspelled his street name.    I could have asked him for the correct spelling, but eBay has made it clear to me, if I change the address I could lose my Seller protection, it is in writing and was verbally re-inforced by the eBay rep.  So, its not me who is scaring anyone, its a warning from eBay. 

This has nothing to do with how long anyone has been a Seller, it has everything to do with heeding the written and verbal warning spelled out by eBay. 

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Okay. I understand your position. With your interpretation of the "written and verbal warning spelled out by eBay," canceling the order for "problem with buyer's address," then having the buyer correct their address and repurchase the item would be your only option.

Let's see if maybe we can get one of the Blues to provide clarification on the issue. One of them might be able to suggest whether to cancel (which several other posters and I have mentioned) or whether it would be okay to correct errors in an address (which has also been suggested).

@Anonymous 

or 

doug@ebay 

Could you provide some guidance and clarification on the OP's interpretation of eBay's policy on changing addresses: "You may not be covered by the eBay Seller Protection Policy if you ship to a different address."

Would that include correcting an abbreviation or the spelling of a street name? The OP stated: 

"Did you know when you alter the Buyer's address even in the slightest way, you have voided your eBay and PayPal Seller protection."

" . . . the Buyer misspelled his street name.  I could have asked him for the correct spelling, but eBay has made it clear to me, if I change the address I could lose my Seller protection, it is in writing and was verbally re-inforced by the eBay rep.  So, its not me who is scaring anyone, its a warning from eBay. "

Thank you, gentlemen!

[gracieallen01]

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@richard1rst wrote:

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@getitright1234 wrote:

"Merely changing the presence or absence of an abbreviation has solved the problem for me many times."

Did you know when you alter the Buyer's address even in the slightest way, you have voided your eBay and PayPal Seller protection.  

we will have to agree to disagree on this one. Correcting the spelling is not "changing" the address. The protection is that you do not send it to an entirely DIFFERENT address.

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With all due respect, there could still be difficulties - I have a friend that lives on a street called Harbor Blvd.  In that same town, there is a street called Harbour Blvd (as well as one called Barbour Blvd).  How would one self-correct this if there were an error?  Can you imagine the headaches this could cause?

[slippinjimmy]

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@getitright1234 wrote:

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@pburn wrote:

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@getitright1234 wrote:

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In this climate of, the Buyer is always right,  I would not risk it, and the warning is very clear when you alter the address for any reason.  ^^^^^You no know this to be Fact?^^^^^

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Here's my solution:

You can cancel your transaction.

Everyone else can correct the invalid addresses and ship their items, thereby completing their transactions. It's a win/win!

In the end, every eBay seller has to make their own decisions and do what they think is right. Trying to scare people into complicating a process that doesn't need to be complicated doesn't do anyone any favors.

I'm not sure whether you have more selling experience than indicated by the id you're using to post, which isn't much, but you've gotten sound advice from a couple of long-time sellers. Your choice whether to take it or leave it.

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You might feel comfortable changing Street to St, Avenue, to Ave, in my situation, the Buyer misspelled his street name.    I could have asked him for the correct spelling, but eBay has made it clear to me, if I change the address I could lose my Seller protection, it is in writing and was verbally re-inforced by the eBay rep.  So, its not me who is scaring anyone, its a warning from eBay. 

This has nothing to do with how long anyone has been a Seller, it has everything to do with heeding the written and verbal warning spelled out by eBay. 

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When eBay looks up the tracking number you provide them all they see is the zip code where the delivery took place, they have no way to know what modifications if any you have made to the address. If the zip code matches seller protection applies.

Getting back to the "does eBay seller protection apply if you have a message from the buyer requesting a change". eBay has said they will and I believe them. In THIS thread, the OP has received a message BUT it's not from the actual buyer, obviously only messages from the buyer of record would be accepted by eBay not a message from an unconnected third-party.