Please Do Not Use Signature Required When Delivery Confirmation Will Do.

[doncole98]

When Signature Required is used on a delivery to a residential location where no one is home during the day the package will not be delivered. The seller is paying an extra $4.50 to ensure that the package is not delivered. Just beacuse an extra option is offered does not mean it will do any good. I have received hundreds of packages over many years except for when a signature is required.

On the other hand, Delivery Confirmation is all that is needed to cover the seller and to show that the item was shipped and delivered.

I needed to say that and hope you all understand. Thanks.

[mr_lincoln]

@doncole98  I state Signature Required in my description when I plan to use it for security purposes on more expensive items ... it's good business and protects both Buyer and Seller.  Sure, Sellers can win an INR with delivery confirmation but I want a Buyer to get what they purchased.  I had one Buyer ask that I NOT include the signature req'd so I complied.  I had one Buyer moan and groan about having to wait a few extra days to get thier $ 300 plus package because they did not know it was being shipped with Signature req'd.  I had one package stolen off a Buyer's porch while they were home!!!!  (No signature on that one, it was about $ 50)

[7606dennis]

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@magicjohnsonsvariety wrote:

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@7606dennis wrote:

Actually, it is up to the seller to determine at what level of risk he is willing to take regarding the requiring the signing for a delivery.  Some may think that items valued at lesser amounts than the threshold of $750 should require one.  However, I do agree that notice of this requirement should appear in the listing so as not to surprise the buyer.

While eBay and PayPal may not require it for shipments under $750, a signature could go a long way in court should things go that far.  A restricted signature delivery would go even further.

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I've heard of restricted signature delivery but it's not available on the list options when printing a label. Only regular Sig Con shows on the label printing page. 

Is this an extra service that needs to be specified/ordered at the USPS counter?? Does anyone know?

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One may have to purchase postage from the USPS site to get it.

[nobody*s_perfect]

Restricted Delivery is available at the PO counter, and also if you purchase a shipping label through Click N Ship at USPS.com.  You'd pay the retail postage cost, plus $7.60 for the Restricted Signature.  

It's not clear to me how that would protect a seller any better than regular Signature Confirmation (which costs $2.55 online or $3 at the PO).

[7606dennis]

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@nobody*s_perfect wrote:

Restricted Delivery is available at the PO counter, and also if you purchase a shipping label through Click N Ship at USPS.com.  You'd pay the retail postage cost, plus $7.60 for the Restricted Signature.  

It's not clear to me how that would protect a seller any better than regular Signature Confirmation (which costs $2.55 online or $3 at the PO).

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Ordinarily, it probably wouldn't be worth the effort or expense.  However, in the case of something ever ending up in litigation, having the signature of the addressee could be of value.  Of course, this probably wouldn't be cost effective in most cases.

[kim_y_buran]

I will use signature confirmation on anything over $300, period.  The listing will always say so.   Buyer may be inconvenienced?  Well, bell, I may be inconvenienced by an INR on a $450 sale.

[bigchief2472000]

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@missjen831 wrote:

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@mountainmommie wrote:

DC might be sufficient on many things a seller offers, but sometimes your gut tells you to stick an SC requirement in the listing just because ...

and with the numbers of bids/bid retractions said items sometimes have, a seller would not be wrong to go with the gut. 20+ years of eBay teaches you some things ... because eBay requires X does not mean you do not need to CYA for Y.  

'Ya know?

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But as far as eBay and PP go, SC only covers your butt in one situation and that’s on transactions $750 or above. Below $750 and it does not provide you an ounce of extra protection here. So you aren’t really covering your butt.

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One other variable that I haven't seen mentioned is, if you use USPS and insure the package for more than $500, signature upon delivery becomes a requirement, not an option.

https://pe.usps.com/text/dmm300/503.htm#4_0

[nobody*s_perfect]

That insurance-related signature is didn't used to be  viewable online and thus didn't substitute for the Seller protection requirement. Has that changed? Can eBay/PayPal view that if a buyer files an INR claim?

[doncole98]

Hi all, 

Okay so when I wrote the original posting I was thinking of not using SG and on  less expensive items in which case DC may be all that is necessary.

My orders are usually in the $10 to $50 range although many have been for more or even less value. So I wasn't considering more expensive orders of say $100 or $300. Those I can pick up locally here in NYC.

Here's a case in which I placed an $11 order and then I discovering that  it's coming with SG.  And I'm like, "Really?", "No!", "Why?"   And then I go through the struggle of making other delivery arrangements to my local UPS Access Point.

So if DC will do on an $11 that's great, but SG on that item, I don't think so. I hope you understand and agree.

[doncole98]

SG = SC

[bigchief2472000]

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@nobody*s_perfect wrote:

That insurance-related signature is didn't used to be  viewable online and thus didn't substitute for the Seller protection requirement. Has that changed? Can eBay/PayPal view that if a buyer files an INR claim?

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I know it's been brought up before, but I can't remember if there was ever any clarification by anyone from ebay.  I've tried using the included "signature service" and tried selecting the option to add "signature confirmation" when I buy my label on ebay (it adds SC at no charge) but neither way gives a signature that's viewable "online".  You have to submit an email address and USPS will send you a pdf (I think) with a copy of the signature.

This is from the USPS website...

Signature Confirmation™

Find out information about the date and time an item was delivered, or when a delivery attempt was made. Add security by requiring a signature. A delivery record is kept by USPS and available electronically or by email, upon request.

[henryshobbies]

Well, Happened to me twice! Delivery Confirmation showed usps delivered package to door, buyer won item not received case, even though online tracking showed delivered!! Paypal took money back out of my account. I learned hard way to add sig confirmation on valuable or big items.

[theferretflies]

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@henryshobbies wrote:
Well, Happened to me twice! Delivery Confirmation showed usps delivered package to door, buyer won item not received case, even though online tracking showed delivered!! Paypal took money back out of my account. I learned hard way to add sig confirmation on valuable or big items.

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This is an old thread and you would get more notice starting your own thread .  However, what many sellers neglect to mention is that the delivery MUST be at the address on file and delivery MUST show the correct zip code.  You lose if the package is delivered to the wrong address.