To sellers who ship collectible items in a plastic bag instead of a box...

[erzengelb]

You're idiots, and you deserve the negative feedback you receive. That is all.

[spark-chaser1]

I am inclined to agree with part of that statement based on a few of my own experiences.

But - your post will serve as more of an educational service if you can tell us  examples of how his happened to you so that the same mistakes can be avoided by new sellers who don't know better. They read this stuff.

" that is all" ain't enough.😉

[erzengelb]

Ok, sure. 95% of the merchandise I receive on this platform is shipped inside plastic bags rather than boxes. Plastic bags offer zero protection to merchandise during shipment. They're plastic bags.

This is not an "educational service." It's common sense. Sellers on this platform have been receiving merchandise through the mail their entire lives. They know better. And I say again, those that ship merchandise in plastic bags are idiots.

[redmodelt]

The vast majority of seller will never even see this post. But I understand where you are coming from. 

[lakefor94]

Everyone here pretty much knows not to ship breakable items in a plastic bag.

[iamalwaysright]

I once had a buyer ship back their return using a thin clear grocery store produce plastic bag that they taped shut.

[chevymontecarlo88]

Ok, sure. 95% of the merchandise I receive on this platform is shipped inside plastic bags rather than boxes. Plastic bags offer zero protection to merchandise during shipment. They're plastic bags.

This is not an "educational service." It's common sense. Sellers on this platform have been receiving merchandise through the mail their entire lives. They know better. And I say again, those that ship merchandise in plastic bags are idiots.

Sounds like this has happened many times to you before. Just a thought, have you tried to contact the sellers before you make the purchase to find out how they ship out their items? (Bags vs. Box)

[spark-chaser1]

I know many sellers hate it, but I do just that. Saves me a lot of headaches. 

There are plenty who want to do the right thing and will do - once they know what it is.

[ms.rodriguez*]

The best way to educate these "Einsteins" is to open an item NOT described case.   Then send back the item in the same crappy baggie that they used. Just use alot of tape.   It will cost them money to issue you a return label.   That is the best education for them.  The negative,  that is up to you to give it to them but very often the negative is removed if the seller issues the refund.    In the future, you can email them and ask if they plan on using a box .  If you see that the shipping rate is too cheap, that is often gives you a good idea that the item will be shipped in a bag.

[bomar_97 · Accepted solution]

I have not had anything that came shipped in a plastic bag be broken or damaged..  surprisingly!   And I also wondered why they would do that without feeling "wrong".

I always packed anything I shipped accordingly and wondered why some would take a chance.  Even in a box,  I 'd sometimes use bubble wrap and an inside box if I thought there was any chance of damage.    Yes,  it cost me more in the long run.  

But then,  I also would end up paying more sending items in envelopes with the extra cost of tracking instead of tossing on a stamp and shipping.  

[simba6]

I would not spend much time on the feedback. However, if it arrived damaged, by all means file a case with eBay and get a refund.   Large retail operations often do ship like that.  It costs them less to replace a few items than to pack better.  Small sellers can't afford to "eat" such loses.    So, they should pack better.

[toomuchstuffagain35]

On certain listings for items I know many sellers just throw in a polymailer, I usually add "will ship in a box".

The only time this came back to bite me was on a baby toy that doesn't COME in a box, and the buyer was very upset it didn't have it's own box. So I had to explain that it DID ship 'in a box', just not it's OWN box as that's not how they're sold.

[billak14]

46 smashed or damaged items in three years shipped in bags ,I request do not ship in bag and I get ''I cant afford packing and boxes!'' yet they replace or refund the item loosing money ,or I get '' you have an attitude problem when I complain to the seller, after sending a HEADS UP message  on how bad the postal service is before my purchase , eBay did have or still has a policy on vintage and antique books NO BAGS no one follows ,Ive received countless rare books with broken spines and bent covers I cant send back because I'll never find them again, or the antique part you looked for years  arrived busted. art work post cards or rare labels put in a stationary envelopes! to have a hole poked clear threw, or receiving nasty emails for months from sellers after leaving a bad feed back about packing.......the only thing you can ship in an white letter envelope is a letter ,lets jam the machines...............

[simba6]

I would say a not as described damaged in shipping claim would be first in order.  A few of those and they will soon learn the folly of their ways.

[myangelandmyprincess]

My husband buys pretty much exclusively collectibles and I can say 95% of what he gets comes in boxes.  Even tiny plastic figures that probably would be fine in a bag often are shipped in boxes...I know I'm the one always trying to get rid of all the boxes around the house lol.  

Meanwhile if I order from hot topic, books a million, or Walmart for collectible items they'll ship the dang thing in a bag.  

We did once have an eBay seller ship a fragile one of a kind item on a box but the only cushion was some plastic bags.  The thing was shattered 😭.  I don't know what that seller was thinking