Sold a trading card - Ebay Standard Envelope Question

[melusky]

I sold a trading card to a buyer two weeks ago.  Auction closed for 50 cents and the buyer paid $1.25 shipping.  I shipped it in a sturdy 6x4 envelope and the card had protection.  The weight was 1.1 ounces and the height was under a quarter of an inch (per eBay's guidelines).  I bought a standard envelope from eBay for shipping and handed it to the post office (3oz envelope for $1.25).  

Lessons learned about this, but the tracking on the standard envelope is very limited.  In either case the buyer opened an item not received request.  The tracking on the envelope is not moving.  There was sufficient postage on the letter and it hasn't been returned to me.

What is the best way to handle this?  Should I refund to close the case.  I've noticed USPS slowness of late and I'm guessing the buyer will ultimately receive this envelope.  In either case I'm out the sale, and am going to be shipping items as lots via Ground Advantage since the tracking is much better and I'm not prone to scams.

[klhmdg]

Add the tracking number to the case.

If it doesnt "move" or show delivered you will need to refund the buyer before eBay does it for you.

[1786davycrockett]

@melusky 

"I shipped it in a sturdy 6x4 envelope and the card had protection. "

How "sturdy" was that envelope, and what kind of "protection"?

If it was too rigid, it would not be able to bend sufficiently, to pass through the automatic high-speed roller systems at the USPS Distribution Center -- and then it would be kicked out and marked "non-machinable."

So your card might be winging its way back to you, marked "insufficient postage" -- or (worse) on its way to your buyer, marked "postage due."

One of the biggest issues confronted by sellers using the ESE is the rigidity of the shipment -- either using an envelope which is too "sturdy," or using a rigid top-loader.

You also state that you "handed it to the post office," which sounds as if you physically gave the ESE to a USPS counter worker.  Probably not a good idea -- most USPS counter employees are confused by the ESE, and might set it aside for a supervisor's approval, rather than just adding it to the outgoing mail.

You'd be better off dropping the ESE into the "Metered Mail" slot in the post office lobby, if available -- if not available, just drop it into the outgoing mail slot in the post office lobby.

Using the ESE can be tricky, and it might take several attempts in order to get it to work all the time.

Good luck.

[mantle1951]

I have been using the ESE for 1 1/2 years and I have had 3 or 4 " lost" envelopes. Did you get at least one scan? If you did you can refund your buyer and them claim your money thru the company Ebay uses for claims, good luck.

[bdmh-enterprises]

"I shipped it in a sturdy 6x4 envelope and the card had protection."

If by this you mean a cardboard mailer and top loader, those are too stiff to be processed by the machines and therefore won't get scans. Single top loader in a PWE might get through okay, but cardboard mailers are NOT envelopes and will always be rejected.

Semi rigid sleeves are the only kind that work 100% for ESE. Though for cards that cheap, I have switched to just sandwiching them between 2 bulk cards in a penny sleeve wrapped in a strip of paper and that seems to be working fine.

As mantle said, if you managed to get a scan anywhere the insurance will cover it. Either way you'll need to give them a refund. Be glad the lesson was learned on such a cheap item.

And yes, they will probably end up getting it. Some buyers will actually message to try and pay for it when this happens. If a cardboard mailer was used though it's just as likely to be RTS'd back to you for insufficient postage.

[lygerr]

USPS tracking in general is very limited. I have dropped items in drop off bins inside of USPS facilities to have the packages not scanned, keep in mind these are over $100 in deliveries, only to show up after they reached a depot 50 miles away to be processed after leaving this building. The USPS has very relaxed policies with requiring scans through each leg of a delivery it seems. That is why I now personally hand my items to a desk clerk and watch them input each item into the system and get a tracking receipt. This at least covers you for the insurance.

Sad part is this is a government regulated organization, the cheapest way to ship on ebay and only way to stay competetive with your sales pricing. Easiest way to lose your packages also.

[1786davycrockett]

@lygerr 

@melusky 

"I now personally hand my items to a desk clerk and watch them input each item into the system and get a tracking receipt. This at least covers you for the insurance."

The ESE can not be hand-scanned by a USPS counter employee -- it can only receive "scans" at the USPS Distribution Centers, which are often quite a distance from the post office from which they were mailed -- thus the delay in the initial "scan".

[12345jamesstamps]

Refund the buyer...it's $1.75...is what I would do.

If it shows up...which it probably has or will...buyer will let you know.

I wouldn't keep a buyer hanging for less than 2 bucks.

Happy buyers become 'repeat buyers'.

Sad buyers leave nasty feedbacks.

[cardzfordayz25]

I am having the same issue and buyers will take advantage of this. I am looking at about 20 of these packages that hasn't updated and buyers wanting a refund. There is something going on with the ESU labels as of March 1 they haven't been tracking them.

[cricket-n]

When I experienced missing envelopes, I talked directly to USPS and Ebay.  First, USPS knew nothing about our envelopes going through this other mail provider.  Good communication, huh?  Second, I use 10x5x1 envelopes plus a piece of cardboard but I finally had one get returned for additional postage, haven't figured that out since it registered on my meter as less than 1 ounce.  Third, Ebay told me when I started having problems of missing mail that ebay covers the all costs.  They go by the information showing in the shipping labels info that I used the other provider.  They told me that the buy just has to contact ebay to filing a missing mail claim.  I got notified by ebay saying I didn't need to do anything and they will repay the buyer.  That is how it worked through to the end.  

The info from the mail provider on ebay gives little info but will provide a link to USPS which may have some info but mostly nothing unless enough time has passed where that other mail provider gives info to USP which does work eventually after delivery.  Either way, the good thing is that we don't need to worry about any of that.  Just refer buyer to ebay.

[kus1617]

This from a discussion in the shipping forum. I used it and won an INR . 

Identifying the Issue:

• The original tracking number issued by eBay (ESUS*) directs you to trackmyshipment.co.
• On that page, you’ll see a USPS First-Class Letter tracking number (20-digit number starting with “00”).
• When you click on that number, it redirects to the USPS tracking website, but frustratingly, it shows “Status Not Available.”

The Solution:

1) Copy the 20-digit USPS First-Class Letter tracking number.
2) Go to https://trackpb.shipment.co/track/.
3) Paste the tracking number to get the detailed tracking information (thanks to Pitney Bowes).