OK, now the block of text......
@drumlineproperties wrote:
My comment is from someone who tries to see things from both sides of the fence, despite the side I reside on. Some areas are so much better shipping-wise over the past month then they were back in November and December, however, I am still finding a large number or parcels ( mostly to the North East United States) that are a month since shipped that are still not there. It's rough. There are a few hiccups all over though still....understandable. I have been told there are still back ups in that area (NE) and they are doing their best to get to the backlog....no help to me as a seller.
Yes, this is my experience as well and seem to recall others have noted backlogs still exist in the NE USA.
I do refund someone who has waited a long time for an item, with or without an INR case.
NO! NO! and NO! Never voluntarily refund without a case. Why would you do that? Do you want to suffer a MAXIMUM LOSS when the package eventually gets delivered? Once you refund, you could spend 15.45 and file a Package Intercept with the USPS to get your item back. Otherwise, eventually the item will be delivered and you are at the mercy of the buyer's conscience to pay you or offer to send it back if you send them a label. Seem like conscience is in short supply these days. So IF a buyer has not filed an INR case then do not refund until they do and you have to! But hey, we see it all of the time, sellers who want to be nice or who are nervous or whatever, jump the gun and give refunds. Then a few days later the package is delivered and they are on here complaining eBay "should do something" to protect them, when in fact they messed up.
Some folks are understanding and willing to wait, and some.....are not- also understandable. I am not a huge volume seller but do sell on multiple platforms and in multiple countries- a few dozen items a day. What frustrates me is there seems to not be support from Ebay for these areas still, and I think there should be.
OK, that last sentence steps on a hot button for me. Sorry, I feel some preaching coming on! 😱 Yeah, there is always ways to find where "someone" should or could do something for you. I prefer to look at what I can do to protect myself, rather than rely on someone else. Things a seller can do: buyer communication, Missing Mail, Package Intercept, INR extension requests.
I don't have a handful of cases on the west coast, just a hiccup here and there, which is just a cost of doing business. There is a hiccup in all areas once in a while, but they are relatively few. I have a small bucketful in the NE and think there should be some sort of help for us when shipping to that area. I do not know if it's a "first class" shipping problem only or not? Surely Ebay must be aware of the percentage of parcels delayed to that area from one of their technical algorithms. I consider myself a decent communicator Good! This is the best strategy as a preventative measure. and have been met with a bit of hostility (more than is normal) from good buyers, frustrated in that area. Yeah, well there are jerks every where, unfortunately. There is a tool a Blocked Buyer's List that will help you avoid wackos in the future. I guess I feel like buyers are tired, delivery personnel is tired, sellers are tired ( I know, first responders, essential workers, medical folks, seniors...etc). Everyone is just "tired". yep! I appreciate your even-handed view of things! Customers mostly give us a break, but we need one from Ebay too. When folks open cases after a week ( in the NE specifically) without contacting me first, I know I am paying out on an order that will eventually get there.
Are you aware that in December eBay made a policy change to the way INR cases are handled? There was an announcement - See Seller's News link above. Basically if there is movement over a 10-day period, eBay will extend the date for resolution of the INR case. It isn't automagic, you have to contact CS and request the extension. But I can tell you from recent experience filing INR cases that the times have been extended and can be extended. have seen posts here where sellers have gotten extensions from CS - so that is what you can do and what eBay might do to help you out!
Insurance can't be filed prior to 21 days ( and they are dragging their feet due to covid and pushing this off another 14)( 3rd party shipping/ insurance company). I think we are often in a no-win situation when all fingers need to work together to make the "hand" function. I don't fight or argue. Again good! Too many hostile sellers out there that take things personally! Glad you are part of the good guys! I try to have a very positive approach to customers, but there are those who don't want to hear it. Yeah, well seems like we have a bunch that want it their way, NOW and "cancel" you if they can't get it! Sigh. I feel like I am being forced into shipping only "priority mail" which is going to cause me to have to charge for shipping (partially what it runs above first class), which in turn, will lower my product placement, and lower my sales. So, I feel like I am between a rock and hard place- either pay out hundreds a month in very late items, Many sellers posted during the Holiday Season that through communication with buyers and advocating with USPS (MM Process) that they were able to stave off INR cases for the most part. or lose more than that in sales due to charging a nominal priority shipping fee. I have waited a few months for all of this to clear up, but this might be the new normal, who knows? Patience is king.....but he gettin' old, if you know what I mean?? We are all in the same boat, or at least in the same ocean. I wish you all the best as we are part of the same community. Your success helps make this platform better for us all!! Cheers!! Sorry you are frustrated, I get it! Many are too so you are not alone! Keep being positive as I am sure you will! Best wishes.
