Misuse of Priority Mail Supplies Feedback Help

[decorating_is_my_game]

I bought an item with my selling ID that was mailed First Class. The package arrived safely & in a timely manner. The seller has been selling about 1 year and is a TRS with no negs or neutrals with seller feedback of 300 or so.

When I opened the package I found the seller had used 2 free PM padded envelopes to package the items in. I messaged the seller 2 weeks ago and stated that I would not be leaving them feedback for the following reason:

"I was disappointed when I saw a First Class package & when opened I saw that you had used free Priority Mail shipping supplies to cushion my purchase. Free Priority Mail supplies are to be used ONLY in packages being mailed at a Priority Mailing Rate.

This misuse of supplies costs all sellers. If this keeps up, those free PM supplies will no longer be free. They cost the USPS money to produce. BTW, the post office has a habit of randomly opening packages for inspection. If you are caught doing this, you may get a visit from the inspector and/ or lose your ability to use the USPS for shipping purposes."

Silly me, but I was expecting some type of reply to my message. Maybe something along the lines of "I'm sorry, I did not know the rules about PM supplies." Heck, any type of reply acknowledging my message would be better than nothing!

So far no reply. I am now rethinking leaving feedback but I am afraid if I do that they may retaliate using another ID. I have blocked the sellers ID.

I was thinking of leaving this neutral feedback if I do leave it:

"Nice item. Misused free Priority Mail supplies as packing for First Class mail."

Opinions please. TIA.

[onc88]

I agree with "let it go"....

Having said that, I regularly re-use Priority Mail bubble envelopes I have received items in.  I cut off the address label and reuse, recycle, etc.  I do the same when I need a handy piece of cardboard from a (used) USPS box.  Hope no one thinks I am ripping off USPS....

[juststuffisell]

As other sellers have said, you have to let this go.

Here is how. Forget leaving feedback - you are to upset with the seller to leave reasonable feedback which is really about the item you purchased etc...…

If you feel like you need to do something about it, report them to USPS and then figure out how to show some grace to the seller.

Cheers

[redline_auto_llc]

Is your buyer account the same as here? I've been meaning to update my BBL.

[the*dog*ate*my*tablecloth]

If the OP is blocked because they are annoyed by sellers who steal from USPS, they're probably ok with that. 

[stuff4divas]

Sounds like you should report them to USPS if you think they are abusing USPS rules/laws/regulations/etc.

[redline_auto_llc]

OP might deserve being blocked for spending two weeks badgering a seller about a couple envelopes with no context to the situation. Many people here have said that they will reuse envelopes that they received items in. And frankly, even barring that, if you care enough to ride my butt for that long and possibly leave a negative over an envelope or two, I don't want to know what else you're going to whine about. 

Should the seller have done it? Probably not. Is this a dramatic overreaction? Absolutely.

[the*dog*ate*my*tablecloth]

They sent them one email two weeks ago. Now they're considering how to move forward. That's hardly badgering.

They said they blocked the seller. Maybe I missed the part about badgering and the seller blocking them?

[decorating_is_my_game]

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@redline_auto_llc wrote:

OP might deserve being blocked for spending two weeks badgering a seller about a couple envelopes with no context to the situation. Many people here have said that they will reuse envelopes that they received items in. And frankly, even barring that, if you care enough to ride my butt for that long and possibly leave a negative over an envelope or two, I don't want to know what else you're going to whine about. 

Should the seller have done it? Probably not. Is this a dramatic overreaction? Absolutely.

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Please block me as I don't want to buy from a seller that clearly can't read.

I said I messaged him 2 weeks ago. That was the one and only message I sent.

A "dramatic overreaction" as you call it, would be me leaving the seller a big fat neg and not posting here for opinions.

[the*dog*ate*my*tablecloth]

By saying maybe I missed it, I wasn't meaning to sound sarcastic. I have missed some information in threads lately and have occasionally overreacted.

[redline_auto_llc]

You've got me there, I was thinking of a different thread and got my stuff mixed up. But at the end of the day, the message is the same. Let it go, it's not worth your time or stress. 

It always amuses me to see the difference between buyers and sellers on these boards. It's usually pretty apparent who spends most of their time buying and vice versa. Frankly, you sell on eBay long enough, and you learn that it's every seller for themselves. eBay as a company makes being a full time seller brutal. It's like some sick form of domestic abuse where the abusee keeps coming back because there's no where else to go. I'm still not saying the original seller from your post is correct in what they're doing (if in fact it's a habitual thing), but sometimes, you gotta do what you gotta do.

[green-night]

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@the*dog*ate*my*tablecloth wrote:

By saying maybe I missed it, I wasn't meaning to sound sarcastic. I have missed some information in threads lately and have occasionally overreacted.

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Just my opinion,  but I find the OP's post completely off putting. 

Anyone and everyone who reads or contributes to these boards (including Rockstar OP) knows that what the seller did was *technically* not on the up and up.   

So what is the point of rehashing the same old subject about misuse of Priority Mail supplies?   Personally I couldn't care less when other sellers do this.  I don't engage in the practice but if I received a FC package with PM supplies I would shrug it off to say the least.  

OP should just leave FB  as they see fit without the entire charade of the fact that the seller didn't bow down and apologize or at the very least acknowledge their "informing".  Give me a break.

[mountainmommie]

Not tolerating unethical behavior isn't a lack of "grace."

Get multiple buying and selling IDs so you don't have to live beholden ... and don't promise what you will or won't do based on the hope that someone will or won't respond a certain way. We all talk about a world of loving and forgiving. It's really a world where a seller misuses supplies and the person who questions them is hung out to dry.

I don't leave harsh feedback for myself. I leave it for all the sellers who don't operate this way.

[oaklandmaryland]

Guess you must be part of the  USPS police force - just another thing for peoplr to worry about.

[gew6463]

I agree with you on this one. It bothered me slightly when I would get the occasional new (NOT used) USPS envelopes used as padding (as a buyer) but it is getting ridiculous these days. Like in bulk. When someone uses 10 or more to pack an item. Sheesh. I'm too busy trying to sell my own stuff to complain usually, so I am co-venting with you now. 😉 Which means I will probably have to dodge a few rocks (this appearing to be an unpopular view). 

I feel a bit divided; as someone mentioned, the USPS does make a huge amount of money off of sellers (I use a lot of Priority Med & LG flat rate boxes myself). So an occasional PM envelope sent with my non-PM order I have let slip by, though I may not like it. But I've had about 3 orders this year where I paid for Priority (as a buyer again) only to receive media mail shipping; on non-Media mail items. And those sellers seem to splurge on the free supplies the most. But I digress...

However, I would not have emailed the seller. As someone already said, they most likely know it's against the rules, and don't care. And adults generally don't like to be scolded. I would possibly have left a neutral (which i think I have done 1 time in 10+ years). But since you said you would not leave feedback, it would seem they are off the hook on this one. 

Selling here has become such a challenge (not for lack of sales, but just with all the new policies, scammers, ect), that when all is said and done, I wouldn't want to risk affecting someone's livelihood for something like this. They may be just hanging in there as it is. But I don't think you are wrong for being bothered by it. If you feel you need to do something about it, it sounds like contacting USPS would be your best option. Then the ball is in their court to take action, or not. 

I'm not sure I've been helpful, but I felt you needed a little support here 🙂 

[the*dog*ate*my*tablecloth]

If the seller was shipping Priority then I wouldn't have had as much of an issue with it. Especially if the envelopes were good for reuse. I know I've been chided on the boards for using a tyvek envelope to protect my items inside a PM box.

The seller shipped another class though. It seems to me that if someone is unethical and breaks one rule, how do you know they will be fair in dealing with you?