Super Frustrating Signature Tracked Package

[vintagecraze50]

So we get an order for two items from same customer totaling something close to 500 bucks. I combined the ship because we use Fed Ex Express 2 Day and it is expensive so we just combine and put max insurance and direct signature. Buyer is never home before 6 pm. She lives in a remote area 50 miles from the nearest place where she could sign for the package at a fed Ex holding area since they just cannot be there when she is home. I call Fed Ex numerous times asking if they can just leave the darn door tag there and have her sign then deliver the next day. Finally I get a rep there who says he can do that an add instructions for the driver. Today the darn package is back at the Fed Ex location 50 miles from this person’s house. Darned if you use the sig and darned if you don’t and they tell you they did not get it. She says it will just get sent back to me. 36 dollars worth of shipping charges. Ahhhh!!

[pburn]

If it's any comfort, the same thing would have happened if a seller sent me a package requiring a signature when I wasn't expecting it. It would've gone right back to them.

[titipeo]

I feel for you. These type of people should at the very least advise the seller of this additional information, or perhaps use their work address instead. I've always make it a point when ordering something expensive, to have it deliver to my work address rather than home. After all, FedEx, UPS & USPS deliver during regular hours 8-5, and most likely those are the hours where the majority of people would be found at work. Sometimes common sense goes out for some. Good luck. 

[azh-71]

And that's why, when I plan to use signature confirmation, I put in the listing in large red letters.

[coolections]

You do not need signature confirmation and IMO you are wasting $$ using express 2 day. Tracking is sufficient. As others said most people work during the week and are not home.

[lepke1979]

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@titipeo wrote:

I feel for you. These type of people should at the very least advise the seller of this additional information, or perhaps use their work address instead. I've always make it a point when ordering something expensive, to have it deliver to my work address rather than home. After all, FedEx, UPS & USPS deliver during regular hours 8-5, and most likely those are the hours where the majority of people would be found at work. Sometimes common sense goes out for some. Good luck. 

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I've worked at a number of places where it was written in the handbook you can't have personal packages delivered there. Whether or not it was enforced was a different story. But not always an option. Particularly if you don't work behind a desk like I do.

Only option in these cases is to maybe have it redirected to a FedEx, OfficeMax, Walgreens, and I think even some Walmart's now. I believe the buyer can also call FedEx to let them know they can drop it off without being signed which would take away any protections on their end if it got stolen or whatever. In her case, it probably won't be a problem if she's remote. And you should be covered because she opted not to sign it.

[collectfest]

Signature confirmation holds a lot more weight than tracking in my opinion. I lost a case when a customer stated they didn't get item despite item stated as delivered. I've won a case identified as delivered that did not come.

Just this week a customer contacted me asking if item was insured because they advised it shows as delivered but not there. I said no and asked if they could talk to the postal delivery person, sure enough it was marked as delivered but went to WRONG HOUSE if you can believe that. 

Signature confirmation is the only method I believe in despite these obvious issues other posters describe. I'll go as far as to say it's more or equal important than insurance on expensive items.

[vintagecraze50]

Correct. That is why anything that is that much money has to have a signature.

[pburn]

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@azh-71 wrote:

And that's why, when I plan to use signature confirmation, I put in the listing in large red letters.

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I didn't get the impression from the opening post that the OP had intended to use signature confirmation on either item listing, but, rather, decided to use it when the customer bought two separate listings.

@vintagecraze50 

Did you indicate anywhere in either listing, or in a message to the buyer, that you'd be shipping with signature confirmation?

[vintagecraze50]

The problem lies in the fact that we buy these labels on Ebay. Ebay is the account holder. Therefore when something like this happens we cannot nor can the buyer make special delivery instructions. Most people live within a few miles of where they can pick up the package at a Fed Ex hold facility with ID, THAT is what I was told by a Fed Ex rep regarding this package. However, this buyer lives in the wilderness I guess, 50 to 60 miles from Bakersville, California.

[pburn]

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@lepke1979 wrote:

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And you should be covered because she opted not to sign it.

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IMO, it's unethical to ship with signature confirmation without the buyer being aware of it. A seller who would be more concerned with whether the buyer has voided their options under the MBG because "she opted not to sign it" rather than acknowledging that the item was shipped in contradiction to the shipping policy stated in the item listing is not someone with whom I would do business.

Of course, the OP has still not been forthcoming with the details of the shipping stated on the item listing. If signature confirmation was disclosed on the listing, fine. 

[pburn]

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@collectfest wrote:

Signature confirmation holds a lot more weight than tracking in my opinion. I lost a case when a customer stated they didn't get item despite item stated as delivered. I've won a case identified as delivered that did not come.

Just this week a customer contacted me asking if item was insured because they advised it shows as delivered but not there. I said no and asked if they could talk to the postal delivery person, sure enough it was marked as delivered but went to WRONG HOUSE if you can believe that. 

Signature confirmation is the only method I believe in despite these obvious issues other posters describe. I'll go as far as to say it's more or equal important than insurance on expensive items.

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Tracking would have provided the same information and the same outcome.

[slippinjimmy]

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@collectfest wrote:

Signature confirmation holds a lot more weight than tracking in my opinion.

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Unless the value of the shipment exceeds $750 a signature is completely meaningless to eBay, they would not want to see it, they would not look at it if there was one.

The ONLY thing eBay cares about is tracking which shows "delivered". For shipments exceeding $750 tracking alone is insufficient and eBay will not even consider delivered status if it not accompanied by a signature.

[vintagecraze50 · Accepted solution]

Yay! After many messages with the buyer and Fed Ex, the buyer requested the package be sent after 8 pm when they are home. Success!!! And will be safely delivered!!!!!

[vintagecraze50]

Well, I CERTAINLY , am not taking any chances whatsoever on stuff UNDER 750, fir sure mr Jimmy.