Shipping Angst

[stph.us.gtyofkyzd]

I'm sharing a message I sent to a seller regarding shipping and delivery that might be helpful to all.

"Hi xxxxxxx, I just wanted to make a friendly suggestion not to use the cut-rate shippers, in this case "UPS innovative mail" a quick check of reviews show this to be a terrible service that is very slow in delivery and prone to losing orders and being basically a third party player between UPS and USPS it makes resolution of lost packages all the more difficult. I've moved away from Amazon and plan to make Ebay my source partly because Amazons shipping is no longer quick and I can no longer overlook some of their business practices. I recently made 8 purchases including yours and everyone else used the regular UPS or USPS services and were delivered early or on time while your item as of this writing has been sitting in Innovatives warehouse for a week. I will be sharing this message with Ebay to suggest that more transparent shipping options be shone so that a choice of shippers be available even if it means a little extra cost for the more reliable service. Reliable delivery and lost package resolution is a huge factor in the success of yours and Ebays site and I'm not the only one looking for Amazon alternatives.

Response from anyone is welcome.

Steve

[inceptions]

eBay does not and cannot choose a seller's shipping options. The seller make the choice of options he can accommodate and the buyer chooses from what the seller offers. You are buying from individual sellers, not from eBay.

During this pandemic, it has not been uncommon for packages to be delayed no matter who the carrier is. One person gets COVID in any facility, and that facility may need to be shut down for sanitizing. Packages are being misrouted or rerouted. Packages are waiting in one facility before moving on to the next in the transit chain. The system is overloaded with higher volume and less staff. The pandemic is affected all carriers.

I'm not familiar with the carrier you mentioned as I've never used it, but outsourcing deliveries is becoming MORE common, not less, particularly with UPS and FedEx. As a buyer you can try choosing to buy only from sellers who offer USPS shipping, but understand that they are experiencing the same delays.

[soh.maryl]

Sorry, but if I were a seller, I'd be a little resentful of a suggestion from a new buyer, not a seller.

We are currently in the midst of a pandemic, which has caused shipping delays, no matter what service is chosen.

In addition, any buyer who wants faster shipping can contact the seller, BEFORE bidding or buying and ask him to upgrade the shipping method at an additional cost o the buyer.

[quiltgeek]

This is NOT a discussion board. This is a forum for learning about how eBay currently functions.

To have the kind of back and forth you're asking for, post on the Discussion forums where all members can use the Reply button to have a more direct back and forth discussion.

[gidgetpup5]

Just FYI.  I landed on this page using the menu posted under the Discussions heading.  And each comment has a reply button.   I am unclear on how to get to the proper Discussion forums you mention.  I am wanting to post on a similar topic, but not this particular post and now I'm concerned I'll be posting in a learning forum and not a discussion forum.  Please clarify your post when you have time.  Thanks!

[inceptions]

Here is a link to the Buying discussion board.

https://community.ebay.com/t5/Buying/bd-p/bidding-buying-db

You can also get to it from the top of this page and choosing a discussion topic.

[stph.us.gtyofkyzd]

Hi Inceptions,

I realize that eBay is not responsible for shipping which is why the original message was sent to the shipper and not this discussion board. That being said eBay is the facilitator of an online buying and selling service that tries to provide a smooth and easy experience for both parties and anything that interferes does reflect on eBay which is why I shared the thought.

I am aware of the pandemic and the possibilities of associated problems. In my letter to the seller I stated that I had bought 8 items all at once and for the record they were all video games and everyone else shipped using the standard UPS or USPS service and all arrived early or on time only the third party service failed the hand-off. You said you were not familiar with the service but I and a lot of other people are and they do have a track record of late and lost packages and being a third party does complicate resolution. Outsourcing might be becoming more common but it doesn't mean it's a good idea, especially if it doesn't work.

The last part of this reply is actually for "soh.maryl". If you were a seller and you were resentful of a customer that took the time to respond with a friendly suggestion meant solely for your benefit and not as any kind of complaint.....actually I'm at a loss of words for that one. I will cut and paste part of your reply

"any buyer who wants faster shipping can contact the seller, BEFORE bidding or buying and ask him to upgrade the shipping method at an additional cost o the buyer."

That is exactly what my original post was, the original message that was sent to the seller for that very purpose and then shared for the benefit of any other sellers, buyers or service providers that might happen to read this.

Just trying to help, not complain.

Steve

[mtgraves7984]

@stph.us.gtyofkyzd 

My jaw dropped when I read your message and imagined how I'd react if I'd sat down to it.

Didn't the seller list the shipping method... and couldn't you see if it was a 'cut-rate' shipper or not? 

I'm with @soh.maryl in that if the method wasn't to your liking, you could have found another seller or asked this seller for a particular method before buying it.

Your 'friendly message' was a bit condescending and threatening, quite honestly. The seller cares not about your other 8 purchases (or the comparison to this sale), and is probably fully aware that delayed shipments do factor into a seller's success. Sharing the message here only gets you added to a handful of Blocked Bidder Lists.

Like you, I'm... "Just trying to help, not complain".

[stph.us.gtyofkyzd]

Ok,

Yes the seller did list the shipping method as "economy" which could have been the difference between 3 day shipping or 5 to 7 business days or maybe even a slow boat but the seller did give an  "on or before date" which came and went with no delivery. And quite honestly it was not a big deal, I was in no hurry and it was just a suggestion that a lot of sellers actively request from their customers.

While I'm sure the seller doesn't care about my other purchases but he or she might care that his or her package was late in comparison to their competitors. So I guess I could do as suggested and that if I don't like their shipping method buy from someone else and assume that that's ok with them and say nothing or maybe say something in case they do care.

Again with the quotes.

"I'm with @soh.maryl in that if the method wasn't to your liking, you could have found another seller or asked this seller for a particular method before buying it."

Again with the answer.

This is precisely the reason for the original message directly to the seller to point out that the method of shipping needed more clarification and maybe some options added for the benefit of both parties. I'm more than happy to pay a little extra to get my purchase on time (not fast) on time and not have to go through the hassles of chasing down lost packages. 

If you find my reply " a bit condescending and threatening" all I can do is scratch my head and apologize for the misperception.

I also apologize for your jaw.

 Steve

[silverstatetreasureboxes]

Ah yeah I have to go with the other posters here...Sellers don't actively request suggestions.. especially from newbees....Listen to these very experienced sellers on this post as they have heard and seen just about every ebay problem out there, they are only here to help you and give solid advise. Nobody in any field, selling venue or career likes a "fresh new face" coming on board and making suggestions..you have to get your feet wet 1st! There is an old saying in the Nursing profession with fresh new grads..."Nurses eat their young"! How true, and same here on EBay. Take care Steve

[stph.us.gtyofkyzd]

Hi Ho Silver,

   First I'm not a newbee, I've been an online customer of many vendors for years and maybe it's just me but in about a quarter of my purchases I receive an email actively requesting to know if I received the item on time, was I happy with the item and oddly enough was I happy with the overall experience and stranger yet did I have any suggestions to improve their service. Who knows maybe because the vendor did not actively request feedback I should have just kept my mouth shut but that's a judgement call and a matter of personal perspective.

"Nurses eat their young"! How true, and same here on EBay." funny and gruesome at the same time but highly suspect as a business practice but that's just an opinion and like  umbilical  cords everybody's had one at some point. Unfortunately I was unable to  "Listen to these very experienced sellers on this post as they have heard and seen just about every ebay problem out there"  because there was no link.

If anyone wants to suggest that I just go back to Amazon that's your umbilical cord but I'm pretty sure that eBay wouldn't appreciate that suggestion, but what do I know, I'm just a newbee (?) with a highly irrational suspicion of nurses.

You take care too Silver

[silverstatetreasureboxes]

LOL!!!!! oh you do have a wit! No honey, that's not what "Nurses eat their young" means!!! Although come to think about it, I have known a few that would eat umbilical cords cuz they were devilish!  My bad, I thought you were new to ebay and was ready to open a suggestion box! " eat their young" means that (in Nursing) when those young grads start training with seasoned or 10 year or better Nurses and they start suggesting this way or that way and telling the experienced staff ...blah blah..well you get the picture? I assure you, no munching on umbilical cords!!!! No stay on ebay, think you'll like it here! Take care Steve

[stph.us.gtyofkyzd]

Thank you Silver,

  I'm glad you got the humor in my last reply ( I knew what you meant), I was trying to keep it light in light of all the oddly triggered responses to sharing my direct message to the seller asking for more shipping options and the reasoning behind the request. I did learn something in this post and reply session and that is I will stop using the word "suggestion".  If anyone can find any arguable fault in the idea of "reliable delivery" and its attendant benefits, save it this is my last reply.

Now that the evil "Nurse Gang" is no more

I'll ride off into the sunset with a hardy

" Hi Ho Silver Away! "

epilogue;

Who was that Masked Stranger ?

I don't know, but what a wierdo.

[lja440]

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@quiltgeek wrote:

This is NOT a discussion board. This is a forum for learning about how eBay currently functions.

To have the kind of back and forth you're asking for, post on the Discussion forums where all members can use the Reply button to have a more direct back and forth discussion.

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Actually this is the discussion board.

[lja440]

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@gidgetpup5 wrote:

Just FYI.  I landed on this page using the menu posted under the Discussions heading.  And each comment has a reply button.   I am unclear on how to get to the proper Discussion forums you mention.  I am wanting to post on a similar topic, but not this particular post and now I'm concerned I'll be posting in a learning forum and not a discussion forum.  Please clarify your post when you have time.  Thanks!

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LOL I think that poster is lost.