eBay

scottlmusic · ‎08-26-2017

OK, just a brief summary, I had a non-paying bidder followed by a flake sending me emails (in hard to read english) trying to low ball the price. I block this buyer, relist as a BIN with IPR and it finally sold and is paid for. Now here's the kicker, after all the previous weirdness, get this, it's being shipped to Houston, Texas, yup right where the storm is right now where they are predicting 24 inches of rain over the next several days

So I hope the guy is safe and has no damage to his home and belonings but I guess this will be a delayed shipment. Course not being able to ship within three days having recently started selling with this account will screw up my rating on ebay, affect how fast the money will be released, (provided the buyer will be able to go through with the sale) and it looks like it affects seller protection through PayPal.

All I can say is it's been interesting so far. Think I might take a break in ebay selling for a short while after this one.

scottlmusic · ‎08-29-2017

I decided to follow common sense on this matter and talked to UPS who suggested it's best to wait with shippment. Ebay said this is ok to do that and I will not get docked for doing this. All I need to do is check with UPS to find out when it's safe to deliver.

I emailed the buyer again telling him this, although he has not responded to the previous emails.

I also tried calling his phone number and there is no answer. It is a landline so my guess is he did evacuate. I am requireing a signature also because of the special circumstances involved.

While the maps show that his area is not at the moment flooded and knowing total rainfall could be around 50 inches I felt this was the only sensible thing to do.

UPS shows that his address is in the affected area and last I checked it looked like there was still electricity there.

I hope everyone especially with high ticket fragile items follows this plan.

I also was surprised that the calculated shipping charges were off by $13. What good is that feature then? I also found out that the sale through ebay does not automatically show the value of $599 and had I not caught this the item would have only been covered for $100, Again, what good is calculate shipping if it doesn't do what you need it to? So, shipping instead of the estimated $23 is instead $46. I thought the caculated shipping would be more attractive to buyers close by and also save me money if my fixed shipping price was not high enough. Didn't work that way. Ha, and I was going to ship it fixed price at $39. Oh, well.

As far as charging the customer the additional shipping charges I just said screw it as I've messed with this way too much and I'm sure he can use an additional $23 with after effects of the storm, lost work etc.

View Best Answer in original post

mr_lincoln · ‎08-26-2017

@scottlmusic Great post! First, don't panic remain calm. Actually, eBay made an announcement about the storm (Seller News tab above & link below for your convenience) and possible shipping delays so no worries there. As for late shipping defects, if YOU get the Acceptence scan within your Handling time frame then you do NOT get a late defect even if a carrier never delivers. Getting started with all the rules and regs can be stressful to be sure, but hang in there, many here able to offer support and advice when needed.

http://community.ebay.com/t5/Announcements/Hurricane-Harvey-Impacts-Texas-Shipping-Communication/ba-...

Regards,
Mr. Lincoln - Community Mentor

*help_no_brakes* · ‎08-26-2017

Pleased to hear you finally sold the item.

Sorry to hear about the destination.

Um...why are you not able "to ship within three days"?

" affect how fast the money will be released, (provided the buyer will be able to go through with the sale) and it looks like it affects seller protection through PayPal on ebay,"

I am also confused by the astatement.

Your funds will be released 3 days after tracking confirms delivery.

I thought it was sold with IPR...so the buyer must have paid & has gone "through with the sale"

What is the issue with " seller protection through PayPal?

Have you been asked to ship to an address other than the PayPal address?

Is the money in your PayPal account & does it say OK to ship?

phcd1 · ‎08-26-2017

@scottlmusic wrote:
OK, just a brief summary, I had a non-paying bidder followed by a flake sending me emails (in hard to read english) trying to low ball the price. I block this buyer, relist as a BIN with IPR and it finally sold and is paid for. Now here's the kicker, after all the previous weirdness, get this, it's being shipped to Houston, Texas, yup right where the storm is right now where they are predicting 24 inches of rain over the next several days

So I hope the guy is safe and has no damage to his home and belonings but I guess this will be a delayed shipment. Course not being able to ship within three days having recently started selling with this account will screw up my rating on ebay, affect how fast the money will be released, (provided the buyer will be able to go through with the sale) and it looks like it affects seller protection through PayPal.

All I can say is it's been interesting so far. Think I might take a break in ebay selling for a short while after this one.

Whats really funny, (and I thought this LONG before your post), is that my last four sales have been to? TEXAS

Really odd.

scottlmusic · ‎08-26-2017

@*help_no_brakes* wrote:
Pleased to hear you finally sold the item.

Sorry to hear about the destination.

Um...why are you not able "to ship within three days"?

" affect how fast the money will be released, (provided the buyer will be able to go through with the sale) and it looks like it affects seller protection through PayPal on ebay,"

I am also confused by the astatement.
Your funds will be released 3 days after tracking confirms delivery.
I thought it was sold with IPR...so the buyer must have paid & has gone "through with the sale"
What is the issue with " seller protection through PayPal?
Have you been asked to ship to an address other than the PayPal address?
Is the money in your PayPal account & does it say OK to ship?

On shipping within 3 days, I'm thinking I probably shouldn't ship until the buyer or shipper says it's safe to do so because of flooding and whatever else might be involved.

I suppose there is a chance this guys house etc is totally ruined and could request a cancellation and a refund.

As far as seller protection on PayPal I was reading that the protection is good as long as it is handled within a certain time period.

Since this is a new account even though it was a IPR the money is held by PayPal until it is received and all appears ok. It says it can hold the money up to 21 days. Although my last sale it was released as soon as it was delivered.

The address is ok and PayPal says ok to ship.

reallynicestamps · ‎08-26-2017

I understand that Texas is fairly large. Your buyers may not be in the hurricane -hit region.

scottlmusic · ‎08-26-2017

@reallynicestamps wrote:
I understand that Texas is fairly large. Your buyers may not be in the hurricane -hit region.

He's in the thick of it at the moment in Houston

scottlmusic · ‎08-26-2017

@mr_lincoln wrote:
@scottlmusic Great post! First, don't panic remain calm. Actually, eBay made an announcement about the storm (Seller News tab above & link below for your convenience) and possible shipping delays so no worries there. As for late shipping defects, if YOU get the Acceptence scan within your Handling time frame then you do NOT get a late defect even if a carrier never delivers. Getting started with all the rules and regs can be stressful to be sure, but hang in there, many here able to offer support and advice when needed.
http://community.ebay.com/t5/Announcements/Hurricane-Harvey-Impacts-Texas-Shipping-Communication/ba-...

Thanks that's good to know.

*help_no_brakes* · ‎08-26-2017

@scottlmusic

Well it all sounds ok.

Are the funds in your PayPal account & is it ok to ship?

If so I think you need to ship within your handling time...see the link mr_lincoln provided.

The only protection you have is for INR.

What I find strange is that before I had no problem finding the item on your ID...now I do not see it in Sold or Completed.

scottlmusic · ‎08-26-2017

@*help_no_brakes* wrote:
@scottlmusic

Well it all sounds ok.

Are the funds in your PayPal account & is it ok to ship?
If so I think you need to ship within your handling time...see the link mr_lincoln provided.

The only protection you have is for INR.

What I find strange is that before I had no problem finding the item on your ID...now I do not see it in Sold or Completed.

Funds are in PayPal and says ok to ship. But the funds as I understand as a new account are not released until delivered and you'd better believe I'm getting a Signature Confirmation on this one. Don't know if anyone signing is ok or if I should request adult signature in this situation.

Sorry, I goggled INR and don't see any meaning attatched to that . What are you referring to?

Well, it shows in my Sold listings.

I guess then I should plan on shipping as normal within 3 days and then let UPS handle when it will be delivered, if it can be delivered. The only thing about this is though a high ticket electronic musical instrument is best off being delivered as quickly as possible. The longer it is in transit the greater chance of it getting damaged. I was in the music industry for 30 years so I am certain about that potential issue.

a_c_green · ‎08-26-2017

scottlmusic wrote:
I guess then I should plan on shipping as normal within 3 days and then let UPS handle when it will be delivered, if it can be delivered.

Of course. Your obligation is to get it shipped once PayPal says that it's okay to ship. UPS is in charge of getting it delivered, but they're not going to stop at a flooded crater where the house used to be and throw it into a basement full of water (insert your favorite UPS delivery horror story here), so just get it on its way and let them take it from there.

As for Signature Confirmation, that's only required for seller protection on sales of $750 or higher. Below that point, it adds no protection and may be a hassle for the buyer, if there is no adult at that address to sign for it at delivery time.

The funds hold is lifted within three days of the tracking number showing a Delivered status in the buyer's City and ZIP. Whether they're satisfied with it does not enter into whether the hold is lifted. If they're not happy with it, they may file a dispute about it, but that's a separate hold issue that may pop up later.

rfund2021 · ‎08-26-2017

That is because those of us in Texas have nothing better to do than shop on the internet, since it is pouring rain all day and all night. I am fortunate that I am only getting heavy rain and no flooding (yet).

scottlmusic · ‎08-26-2017

@a_c_green wrote:
scottlmusic wrote:
I guess then I should plan on shipping as normal within 3 days and then let UPS handle when it will be delivered, if it can be delivered.
Of course. Your obligation is to get it shipped once PayPal says that it's okay to ship. UPS is in charge of getting it delivered, but they're not going to stop at a flooded crater where the house used to be and throw it into a basement full of water (insert your favorite UPS delivery horror story here), so just get it on its way and let them take it from there.

As for Signature Confirmation, that's only required for seller protection on sales of $750 or higher. Below that point, it adds no protection and may be a hassle for the buyer, if there is no adult at that address to sign for it at delivery time.

The funds hold is lifted within three days of the tracking number showing a Delivered status in the buyer's City and ZIP. Whether they're satisfied with it does not enter into whether the hold is lifted. If they're not happy with it, they may file a dispute about it, but that's a separate hold issue that may pop up later.

Ha, that's funny about the basement. Even worse than my worst imaginings.

My comment "a high ticket electronic musical instrument is best off being delivered as quickly as possible. The longer it is in transit the greater chance of it getting damaged. I was in the music industry for 30 years so I am certain about that potential issue" is still a valid concern of mine.

So I guess I can skip the Signature Confirmation. It makes me a little uneasy though I'll have to admit.

Maybe I worry too much about stuff. I am just trying to think ahead and avoid possible problems is all.