Sellers reconsider letting your buyers choose media mail.

[elvisrocks2004]

Warning to all sellers, if your customer pays for media mail you better be ready to take the loss on the item if the postoffice loses it.  eBay will do nothing to help you.  If you tell your potential buyers “if they choose media mail at their own risk” all they have to do is file a claim and eBay will just take the money out of your account.  I guess this means you have to charge a handling charge on all your items?  Any good ideas on how to fix this other than not selling on eBay?

[house*of*paws]

Hi @elvisrocks2004 

Sellers are always responsible for getting the item to the buyer ... via whatever shipping service they use.  Loss of ANY package must be compensated by the seller ... regardless of their shipping method.

Sellers CANNOT tell buyers that they are 'at risk' if they choose a particular  shipping service.  Just don't offer Media Mail if you feel it's a risk. 

[I was under the impression that it was the length of time that Media Mail takes that is the issue ... i.e., buyer's filing INR disputes prior to the arrival of the item.]

[lamber9347]

Sellers have always been responsible for getting the item to their buyers, that is in the policy here. This is a platform which allows a seller to show their wares not a delivery service. This platform also offers a money back guarantee to all buyers so there is no "at your own risk" here. That's how online selling works. There is no fix, it's literally in the TOS. Best of luck to you....

[bonjourami]

"  eBay will do nothing to help you.  If you tell your potential buyers “if they choose media mail at their own risk” all they have to do is file a claim and eBay will just take the money out of your account.  "

Of course they will,a buyer should not be out one penny for a lost item. You didnt know this? tho I agree Elvis Rocks! 

[marnotom!]

What you’re describing is not exclusive to Media Mail; it’s true of all shipping methods.  That’s why carriers offer insurance, which for eBay sales is for the seller’s protection.  Buyers already have all the protection they need through eBay’s Money Back Guarantee.

[1786davycrockett]

I've been shipping old books via USPS Media rate since the mid-1960s (long before it was labeled "Media rate), and only a very few shipments ever became lost in the postal system.

If the books are packaged safely and securely, there should be no problems with delivery.

[12345jamesstamps · Accepted solution]

Items that are shipped "Media Mail" have to be such items that can only go by Media Mail. There are those sellers and buyers using Media Mail for items that are not allowed to go by Media Mail. Thus, you take a chance of something happening. I have never had anything lost by the USPS. And it's always best to check your stuff at the counter with the clerk at a USPS post office. And a seller should always let a buyer know that something going by "media mail" can be rather slow sometimes. Some buyers can ask for a refund if item hasn't arrived yet...doesn't mean item is actually lost. And package has to be labeled and printed on package that it is such an item going by "media mail". I am one of those picky sellers who will stand in line to have a clerk scan my postage when I buy postage for a package.

[kensgiftshop]

It doesn't matter which service you use, if the PO looses the package, you'll be refunding the buyer.

That key chain, you can't ship it Media Mail.

[1786davycrockett]

@elvisrocks2004 

"That key chain, you can't ship it Media Mail."

Ditto those post cards -- they're not media, either.

[lesegouts]

You can add a handling charge, but if its lost, you'll have to refund it anyway.

[elvisrocks2004]

If so eBay never told me that the countless times I called them about the issue.  I was told I was covered up to $100 by one of eBays agents (even with media mail) but that out to be a lie.

[elvisrocks2004]

I will just start charging a handling fee to get insurance on everything (except extreame low ticket items) and start selling more stuff on other platforms.

[elvisrocks2004]

I stated that fact in my original post (read it)

[elvisrocks2004]

I understand that and thought I made it clear on the original posts.  Do you folks read these posts all the way through?

[elvisrocks2004]

I have the ticket from the postoffice but it will do no good.