eBay

quepasowilly · ‎01-08-2019

Hi everyone, i have recently begun selling on here after a couple year hiatus. I recently sold a higher priced item (iphone xs max) to a new member id. I normally dont sell to new members because of the fraud that seems so rampant especially on higher priced items. After payment was made, i exchanged some messages with the buyer and i decided to ship the item. The buyers address was showing confirmed and eligible for seller protection on paypal.

Buyers address was in Wilmington, Delaware 19805. (im also concerned that the address may be one of those freight forwarder business??)

Package was delivered however when i requested the proof of delivery through USPS the pdf file just shows a BLANK BOX UNDER RECIPIENT AND ADDRESS OF RECIPIENT! Very frustrating to say the least. It does state that package was delivered but there is no signature visible.

What protection do i have if the buyer decides to file a item not received case?

The package was insured through the post office, should i try reaching out to them or file some sort of claim because signature was not obtained despite paying for the service?

Also what measures are you all taking to prevent fraud these days?

It seems after every item i sell, i get unsolicited messages from random usernames pretending to be the buyer asking for item to be shipped to another address.

ma-647837 · ‎01-08-2019

For an INR, that PDF doesn't qualify: It is not online. Instead, online tracking must show signed:

quepasowilly · ‎01-08-2019

This is what i see on the USPS website.... no mention of signature which is again very frustrating.

juststuffisell · ‎01-08-2019

When I ship high dollar items I forgo the eBay shipping discount and ship registered mail requiring a photo ID from the actual buyer and signature. For some reason, eBay doesn't provide that as an option in their shipping.

Had that happen on a ring I was sketchy about in November - shipping to an apartment in new york. I ended paying 18 bucks to ship and insure a sterling silver ring...lol.... glad I did. Buyer claimed not received opened a case. eBay took the PDF signature and closed the case in my favor. End of story for that deal. Blocked and blocked....

Anything sketchy or high dollar pay the extra bucks, insure and require a photo ID at delivery from the named buyer - restricted delivery. FedEx offers comparable service. I like to advertise that fact in my listings to discourage those thinking about ripping me off.... I prefer they look for easier prey.

I require a phone number at check out (an option in your account settings) and will spot check my orders with a pre-shipment phone call to verify the order - caught a couple fraudsters with that one all by itself. Use google street view to check addresses and you can check property tax records for home addresses as well... Yeah... I do a lot of pre-shipment stuff for anything I think might be sketchy 🙂

I've only had one charge back in all the years of taking credit cards and doing eBay. Kid used mom's account to buy a 10 dollar or so video game. She made me pay for his bad behavior...which just shows what kind of parent she is in my mind. I didn't bother disputing it - which by all rights I could have - I just issued the woman a refund and felt sorry for what she was teaching her kid.

Cheers

mikeystoyz · ‎01-08-2019

Thats a freight forward place. Once they get it you are off the hook. You can not claim you didnt get it once it is handed off to another shipping service.

@quepasowilly wrote:
Hi everyone, i have recently begun selling on here after a couple year hiatus. I recently sold a higher priced item (iphone xs max) to a new member id. I normally dont sell to new members because of the fraud that seems so rampant especially on higher priced items. After payment was made, i exchanged some messages with the buyer and i decided to ship the item. The buyers address was showing confirmed and eligible for seller protection on paypal.
Buyers address was in Wilmington, Delaware 19805. (im also concerned that the address may be one of those freight forwarder business??)

Package was delivered however when i requested the proof of delivery through USPS the pdf file just shows a BLANK BOX UNDER RECIPIENT AND ADDRESS OF RECIPIENT! Very frustrating to say the least. It does state that package was delivered but there is no signature visible.

What protection do i have if the buyer decides to file a item not received case?
The package was insured through the post office, should i try reaching out to them or file some sort of claim because signature was not obtained despite paying for the service?

Also what measures are you all taking to prevent fraud these days?
It seems after every item i sell, i get unsolicited messages from random usernames pretending to be the buyer asking for item to be shipped to another address.

Wherever you go, there you are. Please remember, when you are asked if you are a god, you say yes.

quepasowilly · ‎01-08-2019

Right but does Ebay side with seller if the tracking doesn't actually say who it was signed by ? That's why I am having doubts because USPS carrier didnt do their job and the tracking doesnt appeat to have an actual name on it ...

quepasowilly · ‎01-08-2019

Registered mail. I'll have to look into that. Can that be purchased with priority mail flat rate boxes? And what's the price on that is it significantly more ? I've been insuring all my packages and adding signature but I feel that's all for naught if th carrier doesnt actually get the stupid signature -.-

Thanks for the advice I may need to start doing most if what you listed here before shipping !

go-bad-chicken · ‎01-08-2019

@quepasowilly wrote:

This is what i see on the USPS website.... no mention of signature which is again very frustrating.

I sell higher dollar items ($300 to $6k+) all of the time here on eBay as well as other online venues. I purchase USPS Signature Confirmtion service for any item that I sell with a value of $300 or greater.

Ocasionaly I run into the same situation that you are finding yourself in now. This is usualy due to the fact that the USPS postal worker did not attain the recipents signature at the time of delivery. i.e. in a hurry, forgot the signatue pad in the truck, etc...., even though you paid for the service. This just happened recently to me on December 25 for a $600 book that I shipped. Grrrrr! It can be frustrating, but do not worry. Should an issue arise with the buyer and they decide to make either an eBay or Pay Pal claim, be prepared for the fact that you are probably going to loose either one of those types of cases. But do not fret to much, because on that USPS tracking details page just under that tracking details tab is another tab titled "Product Details" or someting close to that. Clixk on that tab and it will show the type of shipping service and any other add on USPS services that you purchased, to include Insurance and Signature Confirmation.

If you purchased Insurance as well as Signature Confirmation and the signature was not attained by the USPS worker at the time of delivery, the USPS will refund you the amount of the insured value of the package. It is a PITA for sure but, you will get reimbursed by the USPS eventualy.

I also print out a duplicate copy of the USPS postage stamp for every order that I ship just so that I have a backup for my records and additional proof of the shipping service plus the add on services that I paid for at the time that I purchased postage. This practice has served me well over the years, as well as getting me out of a few jams with buyers.

juststuffisell · ‎01-08-2019

Yes, you can do priority mail with registered. I've not used the flat rate as there are extra fees associated an the bits I sell are jewelry that are packaged inside of packages. The most important thing on high dollar items is insurance and photo ID with signature from the named buyer.

The failure to get the signature is on them. I've not had it happen, but I would darn sure enforce my claim with USPS if something happened as a result. The way I look at it, I am gonna get paid one way or the other....lol

On a side note, I ALWAYS Highlight in Yellow the Insured and Signature Required on a label in all locations so the postal employee cannot help but see it every time he/she handles the package.

You definitely want to with eBay. They can only do so much to mitigate fraud. As sellers, we have to do some work as well to protect ourselves.

Cheers

muttlymob · ‎01-09-2019

@quepasowilly wrote:

The package was insured through the post office, should i try reaching out to them or file some sort of claim because signature was not obtained despite paying for the service?

Did you purchase Signature Confirmation separate from the insurance?

If not, then the USPS did their job. The signature that is required upon delivery with high value insurance does not show up online. That is why you need both SC and insurance if you want the online signature confirmation for seller protection.

myescape · ‎01-09-2019

jfyi If you refuse to ship to too many new users by cancelling the tansaction you will be sactioned(up to suspension)by ebay.Each cancel gives your account a defect

Did you buy insurance that comes w signature(not viewable online)or signature confirmation service(viewable online)?

This is a user to user board not eBay employees.
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When people show you who they are, believe them

a_c_green · ‎01-09-2019

Just to be clear: the buyer has not in fact made any complaint at all yet, right? I'm not saying that you shouldn't be concerned about paying the USPS for a service that they apparently did not deliver, but at this point it sounds like your concerns are academic. If the sale was over $750, then Signature Confirmation was indeed required to ensure Seller Protection, but at this point it sounds like you do have a delivered status; you just don't have an on-line signature (that's visible, anyway).

I suppose you could go argue this with your local PO and reclaim your $2.55, but definitely do not contact your buyer for any reason, or you risk giving the impression that you don't know where it is, or at least that you cannot prove delivery.

sam9876 · ‎01-09-2019

Why do you think that you need a signature?

ohnojoey · ‎01-09-2019

If tracking shows delivered to the address that paypal gave you, then you are covered. Delivered means delivered. The tracking is proof of delivery for ebay.

"A delivery record, including the recipients signature, is maintained by the USPS and is available electronically or by email, upon request. No acceptance record is kept at the office of mailing. "

Even if this is a freight forwarder, it was delivered to the correct address, your responsibility ends there.

muttlymob · ‎01-09-2019

@ohnojoey wrote:
If tracking shows delivered to the address that paypal gave you, then you are covered. Delivered means delivered. The tracking is proof of delivery for ebay.

Not when the total payment for the item is over $750.

Then an online viewable signature (the Signature Confirmation service from USPS) is required