Why eBay is the only site not taking responsibility of buyer shipping address?

[yekai2012]

I printed shipping label ONLY on eBay.

But seems like ONLY eBay doesn't check buyer shipping address.  There are many free tools out there eBay can use to verify shipping address.

When heavy item got shipped and returned with invalid address, it is serious loss to sellers.  Even worse, we also find out buyer email address is also invalid (eBay claimed it can be "guest" account purchase).

There are very simple coding to enforce a trusted marketplace environment when checking basic information like email and shipping address when buyer signing up.  Why eBay is this not taking this seriously?

And eBay is planning to roll out their own payment system.  It will be terrible if eBay can't put this simple control in place.

[missjen831]

It’s the buyers responsibility not ebays. eBay requires the buyer to provide a valid address. If the buyer doesn’t, it shouldn’t result in a loss for the seller unless the seller offers free shipping. If you charge for shipping, then you refund the item price only when the item comes back. 

[kensgiftshop]

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@yekai2012 wrote:

I printed shipping label ONLY on eBay.

But seems like ONLY eBay doesn't check buyer shipping address.  There are many free tools out there eBay can use to verify shipping address.

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Ebay doesn't ship anything, so why would they need to verify a buyers address?

It's up to the buyer to provide a correct address.

[yekai2012 · Accepted solution]

Your explanation is self-contradictory, you said "eBay requires the buyer to provide a valid address", common sense huh?

What seller need is when eBay "requires", spend a little more effort deploying the free address check offered by USPS or FedEx API service.   Had I printed labels using my own shipping account, my own service would have caught the error.  But in eBay, one can actually put ABCDEFG as shipping address line 1.

(1) eBay deploys shipping rules to financially discourage sellers printing outside eBay.   Sellers were forced to print labels in eBay to maintain seller protection while in fact eBay benefits from the shipping discount differentials from USPS/FedEx.

(2) eBay did not offer any seller assistance (still credit buyers) when item not "delivered", while buyer is the one supplying incorrect address.

(3) Seller did not get any help from eBay recovering the lost item even though supposedly shipco insurance was purchased through eBay (and eBay earned commission on that too...)

I shipped through several marketplaces, no other sites will provide an un-verified address.   As a matter of fact, some marketplace will even detect a UPS store address and won't allow buyer to finish order without entering suite or box number.

And all these metrics measuring how fast sellers shipping out items, micro-managing sellers label printing time, drop off time and delivering time, with all these talks about putting customer first, and eBay can't even supply a trustworthy and correct address.   It causes delay for customers and loss for sellers.  When either party asks for help eBay put out their SOPs message just to push both parties away.

There is a reason why many sellers stated in the listings - "only ship to paypal verified address".  It makes eBay looks like a less trustworthy marketplace.(flea market side walk sale?)  You don't see other marketplace stating "only ship to your credit card billing address". If eBay plans to roll out their own payment platform, it won't fly if eBay doesn't take responsibility of verifying shipping address.

I am already over it, my solution is (1) google check address for every order (2) call buyer if the address may be incomplete.   That greatly reduces how many eBay orders can be processed daily, but it is eBay, just handle it like a flea market business...

[towandboat]

Put it this way, eBay earns commission bringing a buyer to a seller but screw up in not verifying shipping address.  There is lack of sincerity in helping buyer and seller for sure.

It is funny you stated "eBay doesn't ship anything".    This is not the point of the question.

[missjen831]

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@towandboat wrote:

It is funny you stated "eBay doesn't ship anything".    This is not the point of the question.

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But its relevant to the question because ebay doesn't ship anything therefore its not their job to make sure addresses are correct.

[hafoster]

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@yekai2012 wrote:

Your explanation is self-contradictory

1. I shipped through several marketplaces, no other sites will provide an un-verified address.

2. As a matter of fact, some marketplace will even detect a UPS store address and won't allow buyer to finish order without entering suite or box number.

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2. So some marketplaces will don't even detect a UPS store address and won't will allow buyer to finish order without entering suite or box number.

1.  Doesn't that mean no some other sites will provide an un-verified address?

Sorry, but perhaps your explanation also self-congratulatory.

[hafoster]

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@yekai2012 wrote:

Your explanation is self-contradictory

Had I printed labels using my own shipping account, my own service would have caught the error.  But in eBay, one can actually put ABCDEFG as shipping address line 1.

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Please prove this.

eBay rejects non-existent street names in a zip code --

and checks thename of the city and the state against the zip code.

[missjen831]

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@yekai2012 wrote:

Your explanation is self-contradictory, you said "eBay requires the buyer to provide a valid address", common sense huh?

No it isn't self contradictory. You just don't understand. Ebay does require the buyer to provide a valid shipping address. What I mean by that is, its the buyers responsibility to provide a valid address and failure to do so means they aren't covered by buyer protection. You said that buyers who don't cause the seller a serious loss. Thats where my statement that ebay requires the buyer to provide a valid address comes to in to play. If the buyer doesn't provide a good address, you'll win an INR case. If you get the item back, you don't have to suffer a loss. You can refund the item price only, withold the original shipping cost and deduct your ebay and paypal fees.

[bigchief2472000]

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@yekai2012 wrote:
...

(1) eBay deploys shipping rules to financially discourage sellers printing outside eBay.   Sellers were forced to print labels in eBay to maintain seller protection while in fact eBay benefits from the shipping discount differentials from USPS/FedEx.

...

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Maybe there's something I'm missing here, but if you purchase a label outside of ebay, you still have "seller protection" as long as you enter the tracking number into ebay.

[robot-hands]

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@yekai2012 wrote: 

When heavy item got shipped and returned with invalid address, it is serious loss to sellers.  Even worse, we also find out buyer email address is also invalid (eBay claimed it can be "guest" account purchase).

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Why is that bad? I'd be happy if every buyer paid shipping twice.

[towandboat]

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@missjen831 wrote:

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Thats where my statement that ebay requires the buyer to provide a valid address comes to in to play. If the buyer doesn't provide a good address, you'll win an INR case. 

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No, when item is "not delivered", you can't win INR case.  

eBay will ask seller to follow up with carrier to try to get the item back.   Buyer can request cancel order case as item never delivered.  Sellers will have to try to re-ship the item at seller's cost, and that's only if seller is willing to take the loss of possibly not even getting original item back and the extra double shipping cost.  So if you are shipping heavy items, don't take a chance.

I have eight cases like this last year alone.  Don't even bother to call eBay anymore as their standard answer is always "it is buyer's responsibility...".

[needful_little_things]

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@hafoster wrote:

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@yekai2012 wrote:

Your explanation is self-contradictory

Had I printed labels using my own shipping account, my own service would have caught the error.  But in eBay, one can actually put ABCDEFG as shipping address line 1.

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Please prove this.

eBay rejects non-existent street names in a zip code --

and checks thename of the city and the state against the zip code.

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Well they obviously didn't check this one, unless Stevie Wonder checked it. It also is NOT the first time !!. The same address was also a Confirmed Address on the PayPal payment. So the OP is correct you can enter anything in the address line 

Payment summary

Buyer s***********123

Seller ************  

Order placed on Tuesday, Jul 31, 2018

Payment method PayPal

Payment date Tuesday, Jul 31, 2018

Shipping address

S******g L*****R

General Delivery 
Seattle WA 98107
United States

206-***-****

Subtotal $74.95

Shipping $16.95

Order Total $91.90

Items sold

Qty Item name: 1 NEW Model Set (3825224278)

Shipping service:  FedEx Ground or FedEx Home Delivery

[missjen831]

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@needful_little_things wrote:

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@hafoster wrote:

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@yekai2012 wrote:

Your explanation is self-contradictory

Had I printed labels using my own shipping account, my own service would have caught the error.  But in eBay, one can actually put ABCDEFG as shipping address line 1.

---

Please prove this.

eBay rejects non-existent street names in a zip code --

and checks thename of the city and the state against the zip code.

---

Well they obviously didn't check this one, unless Stevie Wonder checked it. It also is NOT the first time !!. The same address was also a Confirmed Address on the PayPal payment. So the OP is correct you can enter anything in the address line 

Payment summary

Buyer s***********123

Seller ************  

Order placed on Tuesday, Jul 31, 2018

Payment method PayPal

Payment date Tuesday, Jul 31, 2018

Shipping address

S******g L*****R

General Delivery 
Seattle WA 98107
United States

206-***-****

Subtotal $74.95

Shipping $16.95

Order Total $91.90

Items sold

Qty Item name: 1 NEW Model Set (3825224278)

Shipping service:  FedEx Ground or FedEx Home Delivery

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@needful_little_things What needed to be checked there? The buyer provided a valid mailing address. Generals delivery means it goes to the buyers PO and he can pick it up. 

[needful_little_things]

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@missjen831 wrote:

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@needful_little_things wrote:

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@hafoster wrote:

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@yekai2012 wrote:

Your explanation is self-contradictory

Had I printed labels using my own shipping account, my own service would have caught the error.  But in eBay, one can actually put ABCDEFG as shipping address line 1.

---

Please prove this.

eBay rejects non-existent street names in a zip code --

and checks thename of the city and the state against the zip code.

---

Well they obviously didn't check this one, unless Stevie Wonder checked it. It also is NOT the first time !!. The same address was also a Confirmed Address on the PayPal payment. So the OP is correct you can enter anything in the address line 

Payment summary

Buyer s***********123

Seller ************  

Order placed on Tuesday, Jul 31, 2018

Payment method PayPal

Payment date Tuesday, Jul 31, 2018

Shipping address

S******g L*****R

General Delivery 
Seattle WA 98107
United States

206-***-****

Subtotal $74.95

Shipping $16.95

Order Total $91.90

Items sold

Qty Item name: 1 NEW Model Set (3825224278)

Shipping service:  FedEx Ground or FedEx Home Delivery

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@needful_little_things What needed to be checked there? The buyer provided a valid mailing address. Generals delivery means it goes to the buyers PO and he can pick it up. 

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Thanks, however, Ships via FedEx as stated. It is not a valid street address for FedEx or UPS. Confirmed by FedEx , that they cannot deliver to that "address".