Sold an item and the buyer claims he did not receive it. Did I do the right thing here?

[cards98765]

I sold an item and shipped using ebay shipping for card under $20.  The buyer claimed he received an empty envelope.  I apologized and asked if the envelope had been damaged as well as I refunded his money.  The card was not high dollar but having just started selling again recently I wanted to make sure I did the correct thing.

The other question I have been wondering is apparently one of the cards I shipped out with the PWE shipping never registered the tracking.  I checked with the buyer and they said they had received the card. They did not however leave feedback. Is this something I should be worried about?  I have watched several videos and read the rules for shipping using ebay standard envelope and think it should have meet all the rules on it.

I am not sure I handled the first concern correctly but it made the most since to me.  On the second issue I am not sure I can do much about as almost everything I sell is on the cheaper side.  So hopefully the standard envelope issue doesn't end up hurting me?

[alltheprettylittlethings · Accepted solution]

The tracking for Ebay standard envelope tracking isn't the most reliable - but then not all tracking is. I use the standard envelope for postcards and have noticed it takes a little while for the item to get to the buyer depending how far they are from me. Feedback isn't required and many buyers do not leave it so I wouldn't worry about it as long as they got their item.

I, too, would have just refunded the buyer who claimed he didn't get his card- it sounds a little suspicious - and I think you would have noticed if you were mailing an empty envelope. I would put that person on my blocked list.

You might think about raising the price a little for shipping to cover the cost of envelopes and sleeves (if you use those). I charge a flat fee for my postcards. Just a thought... 

[soh.maryl]

You do know that feedback for either buyer or seller is optional, not mandatory, right?  

[biggymoe]

The tracking on the eBay standard Envelopes is far from reliable.  The only time they show tracking is when they go through a processing center along the way, and sometimes not even then.  The scanners that the carriers use will not scan them.  Sometimes tracking will show Out For Delivery at 1:34 a.m., which is ridiculous.  That is the last time it went through a processing center.  Many will be delivered without a single scan.

I have shipped 1000's of cards using this method, with almost 100% success.  On the occasional lost card, I will just refund the buyer.  

There is a way you can get refunded, by eBay, on the lost ones.  I have read about it and it requires screen shots, etc. to get it.  To me it isn't worth the hassle, on the low $$ cards.  Hopefully someone will be along and post a link for you to check on it.

I think if you receive buyer feedback, from 50% of your sales, you are doing good, so that is not a concern.

[cards98765]

Yes, not worried about about not receiving feedback.  I'm around 50% received or a little lower than that on the sales.  I was mainly worried about the fact it never registered as sent out so got a late shipping on it (since it never tracked).  I'm not sure if we can get in trouble for that.

Thank you so much for the help you have provided!

[alltheprettylittlethings]

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@cards98765 wrote:

Yes, not worried about about not receiving feedback.  I'm around 50% received or a little lower than that on the sales.  I was mainly worried about the fact it never registered as sent out so got a late shipping on it (since it never tracked).  I'm not sure if we can get in trouble for that.

Thank you so much for the help you have provided!

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The tracking numbers for Ebay Standard envelopes begin with ESUS and then a series of numbers and should show up when you purchase the postage.

I made the mistake of shipping two items (purchased separately by the same buyer) in one envelope  and not going back and putting in the tracking number for the 2nd item. You can get "dinged" for not providing a tracking number on an item so be aware of that. 😊

[stlbbrpm]

Be aware that the tracking on Standard Envelopes can say the item was delivered and then actually wind up being delivered several days later. One of mine was actually delivered 9 days after it said it was delivered.

[deltilogical]

I realized the glue strip on  Staples brand envelopes is not very good and so I now tape all my envelopes.   I had a couple that 'fell out'. 

From reading these board, my first thought was ripoff, but then I realized the poor quality of the Staples envelopes. 

[biggymoe]

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@deltilogical wrote:

I realized the glue strip on  Staples brand envelopes is not very good and so I now tape all my envelopes.   I had a couple that 'fell out'. 

From reading these board, my first thought was ripoff, but then I realized the poor quality of the Staples envelopes. 

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Same problem with the envelopes from Wal Mart.  What I do is place the shipping label on the back side to keep it sealed.  Saves me on tape too.

[alltheprettylittlethings]

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Same problem with the envelopes from Wal Mart.  What I do is place the shipping label on the back side to keep it sealed.  Saves me on tape too.

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@biggymoe 

I tape my envelopes but what you do is brilliant.  Thanks for the tip!