Ebay Standard Envelope - Gift That Keeps on Giving (Issues That Is)

[stevessportscards-me]

So I get a message from eBay "Improve Your Service Metric".  Ok - it got my attention.  eBay reports that a very high percentage of my packages are being reported not received as indicated by buyers opening up non-receipt claims.

Hmm, interesting.  So I do a little digging.  15 of 830 packages reportedly never arrived by the buyer (Dec to Feb).  THESE ARE ALL RELATED TO STANDARD ENVELOPE.  I have been on eBay selling since '98.  I have not had 15 missing packages the entire 24 years except when using Standard Envelope.

 So as part of the eBay message indicating how to improve my metrics, they offered the following suggestions:

Tips to improve your service metrics

• Always use a tracked shipping service. This provides more protection for you and peace of mind for your buyers
• Add the tracking number to your order as soon as possible
• Set realistic and achievable handling times
• Adjust your handling times during busy periods, such as holiday season or popular promotions

Lets be real eBay.  All 830 packages were sent USPS with some level of approved USPS/eBay tracking.  I do not ship using "Acme" Shipping Service.  I use eBay shipping and everything uploads automatically.  I ship every day and my shipments are shipped 100% of the time, on-time.  Adjust handling times?  Why, I ship every day.  THE SOLUTIONS eBAY OFFERS TO IMPROVE MY SITUATION ARE WORTHLESS. 

I would rather not take Standard Envelope.  But if I want to sell cards under $20, I have too as there is no profit margin left to throw in free shipping at $4-5 a clip.  eBay's insurance guarantee is reassuring, but they make us wait 30 days - endure customer complaints and cause an incredible amount of unnecessary work.

Chances are, most of you reading this have no clue as to what I am talking about.  For those who have experienced it, know first-hand what a pain in the butt Standard Envelope truly is.

Steve

[onefootflipper]

I have shipped 10,000s of standard envelopes and while yes some go missing it rounds down to nothing and they remove standard envelope things from a bunch of the metrics. 

Also, 15 claims out of 830 is exceptionally high for standard envelope, you aren't using top loaders are you? They get caught in the sort machines and the envelopes shred.  I had a much higher exception rate when I used top loaders with standard envelope. Here is my video on how I pack now, although I mostly sell gaming and nonsports I haven't had a single complaint from a sports customer about my packing.

https://youtu.be/f9SPX370_IE

[buyselljack2016]

So, did 15 of those "envelopes" fail to get a scan "metered processing"  somewhere along the way?

As you know, if they did get metered, eBay will (is supposed to) cover you for loss, and bad feedback. Yes, work involved, but seems that is better than having to pay for tracking 🙂

[onefootflipper · Accepted solution]

---

@buyselljack2016 wrote:

So, did 15 of those "envelopes" fail to get a scan "metered processing"  somewhere along the way?

As you know, if they did get metered, eBay will (is supposed to) cover you for loss, and bad feedback. Yes, work involved, but seems that is better than having to pay for tracking 🙂

---

When standard envelope came out I hardcore tested various packing methods with huge sample sets and shipping in top loaders had the most problems. They were most likely to never get metered in the first place, vanish somewhere in route (likely envelope shredded in the sort machine and card tossed to the floor, or show up postage due. 

Before standard envelope I did top loaders on everything and the extra fee for nonmachinable. 

[stevessportscards-me]

The tracking number, uploads as designed to the order # and I take the envelopes to the local USPS window and hand them to them the clerk I see every day. 

The eBay order shows my tracking and usually the origination scan at the local processing plant is also updated.  After that, it is hit or miss and anyone's guess.  Semi rigid holder (designed to mail in graded cards) tend to work better then top loaders.  eBay claims that sellers can send up to 15 standard size (20 point) trading cards per order - categorically impossible due to thickness requirements.

It is frustrating when there is an appearance that the seller is not mailing out in a timely manner.  When I mail every day.  Standard Envelope is roughly 30% of my orders.

[stevessportscards-me]

Excellent help.  Thank you very much.  The left to right positioning was a great idea.  My exception rate is also about 1.5%.   Where are these missing envelopes ending up?  The local postal people do not want to speculate.  So I will.

The envelopes that do not show delivered are either:

 1.)  truly delivered, just not scanned correctly. 

2.)  mishandled and/or stolen at the processing plan.

3.) delivered to a neighbor and not scanned correctly.

4.)  Not delivered - mishandled or stolen at the receiving end.

In your video you suggest we should try to disguise the envelopes so it does not stand out.  Are you suggesting that to prevent #2 or #4 from happening?   Seems the risk of losing a really good paying job would incentivize postal employees from stealing packages.  The local postal supervisors do not feel postal personnel are stealing packages in this case.

[gettingby414]

My mail carrier stated he does not scan those envelopes. He stated he was never informed anything about them. When I asked him about it was the first he heard of it. I am not in a far out rural place either. I live in Milwaukee.

Funny thing is, two times I got a notification that the envelope was delivered about 30 minutes before it was delivered. 

I do not know what the deal is. It is not a real system.

[itscalledapostingid]

---

@gettingby414 wrote:

My mail carrier stated he does not scan those envelopes. He stated he was never informed anything about them. When I asked him about it was the first he heard of it. I am not in a far out rural place either. I live in Milwaukee.

Funny thing is, two times I got a notification that the envelope was delivered about 30 minutes before it was delivered. 

I do not know what the deal is. It is not a real system.

---

They are only scanned by automated sorting machines. Mail carriers won't be scanning them anywhere. It's an Intelligent Mail Barcode (IMb) not a tracking number. Any delivery scan is just an estimate based on when it's sorted at the local sorting facility.

You can look up Intelligent Mail Barcode (IMb)  to see how that system works.

[onefootflipper]

---

@stevessportscards-me wrote:

Excellent help.  Thank you very much.  The left to right positioning was a great idea.  My exception rate is also about 1.5%.   Where are these missing envelopes ending up?  The local postal people do not want to speculate.  So I will.

The envelopes that do not show delivered are either:

 1.)  truly delivered, just not scanned correctly. 

2.)  mishandled and/or stolen at the processing plan.

3.) delivered to a neighbor and not scanned correctly.

4.)  Not delivered - mishandled or stolen at the receiving end.

In your video you suggest we should try to disguise the envelopes so it does not stand out.  Are you suggesting that to prevent #2 or #4 from happening?   Seems the risk of losing a really good paying job would incentivize postal employees from stealing packages.  The local postal supervisors do not feel postal personnel are stealing packages in this case.

---

I don't want the envelopes standing out because I had problems in the beginning of the post office putting a rubber band around my entire stack of orders for the day and dropping them back off at my house claiming they were packages.  When I changed to alternate left to right instead of centering and started dumping them in a box serviced by a different office than the one that delivered to my house that stopped happening.