eBay Standard Envelope Inconsistency

[blackmarketbookie]

First off, I’ll start by saying I love eBay as it’s a great platform for small time sellers to have a platform without paying for a store front, overhead, etc.

With that being said, I sell a lot of trading cards, from expensive cards to inexpensive cards. Majority of eBay card collectors love inexpensive cards for obvious reasons, and when it comes to the seller - we are able to ship a trading card for as little as $0.75 cents.

Here’s the issue, the “eBay Standard Envelope” or “ESU” tracking is AWFUL.

It’s not fair for sellers who immediately ship after payment have to deal with inexperienced buyers whom are either new to eBay, or new to buying cards under $20 on eBay.

30+ cards were sold in the last 2 weeks, and 2 of the cards buyers had to reach out claiming the card was never shipped. Thankfully the 1 buyer was also a seller and completely understood ESU’s known issues, however, buyer number 2 IMMEDIATELY started threatening to report my account for scamming (I have 200+ sold items all of which have 100% feedback).

Buyer number 2, 3 days after his purchase, messaged me stating he would report my account because I never shipped the card. Yet I DID ship the card immediately, the ESU tracking is awful, and just states “Label Created” which is completely inaccurate. I hand delivered that envelope to USPS.

I’ll be honest, the eBay standard envelope option is horrible, it’s not fair for sellers to not only lose the card, but potentially lose the profits as well.

Again, I love eBay, it’s done wonders for me but the eBay standard envelope I hate - and has caused nothing but headaches. At this point I’m debating on exploring other options website wise for selling cards because I refuse to have my seller rep ruined over something I can’t control, it’s the most frustrating thing in the world, especially when some of these buyers start to threaten you.

Why can’t this known issue be addressed?

[kensgiftshop]

It's a cheap service for a reason.

You do know that if they don't get delivered, Ebay will cover you.

You can control it, it's your option to use it or not.

[bdmh-enterprises]

Most tracking issues with ESE come down to a sellers packaging. Are you using top loaders or any kind of non plain paper envelope? Those are too stiff to be processed by the machines and ESE only get scanned when they are machined.

Also if you're handing them to a clerk at the PO, don't. Always put them in the letter slot or blue box. Clerks don't always know what to do with them, they see a printed label and think it's a package.

It's unfortunate you got an unreasonable buyer. Most aren't like that IME, though I suspect they're more likely to be aggressive with newer sellers. Best you can do is refund, block and move on.

Your other option is a never tracked stamped letter for .04 more. Or only sell cards over $20 with GA shipping. 

[fredoniacoinandtreasure]

Ima betting it's a top loader thing. I only ship ESE with cards in penny sleeves, a top loader is too rigid to get scanned and you run the risk of a return for "unmachinable" postage.

[blackmarketbookie]

I get what you’re saying, but from buying cards as well, and looking up videos to ensure I’m packing properly - I ship no different than any other top seller

4x7 envelope, Top Loader or Card Saver 1 for protection depending on the card, painters tape secure to packing slip. Labels are printed via a label maker.

From purchasing, majority of sellers do the same, though I have not received all of the purchases over the years so I do get what you’re saying. 

May just eliminate that option as a shipping service in general 

[blackmarketbookie]

For a company as large as eBay, “it’s cheap for a reason” isn’t a solid motto to have, no idea why they’d want to pay people in customer service to constantly deal with seller calling on receiving credits to their sold item when a case is opened

[bdmh-enterprises · Accepted solution]

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@blackmarketbookie wrote:

I get what you’re saying, but from buying cards as well, and looking up videos to ensure I’m packing properly - I ship no different than any other top seller

4x7 envelope, Top Loader or Card Saver 1 for protection depending on the card, painters tape secure to packing slip. Labels are printed via a label maker.

From purchasing, majority of sellers do the same, though I have not received all of the purchases over the years so I do get what you’re saying. 

May just eliminate that option as a shipping service in general 

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Card Savers or any semi rigid are fine. I prefer the grading size (CS2) as it fills my #6 envelope nicely. I have had over 99% of my envelopes get a scan using these or just a penny sleeve for super cheap cards, with zero complaints of damage.

Top loaders used to be fine, but the newer higher speed sorting machines require a curvature around an 11 inch drum as opposed to the older 16 inch drum machines. USPS updated the flexibility requirements sometime last winter.

Once a top loader envelope hits a new machine it'll get pulled to non machinable. This is why tracking can be spotty and some top loaders might make it all the way without issue. As more machines are replaced more top loader shipments will be rejected. There's a few posts on the USPS Redit where workers have found top loaders that got into the machine completely popped out of their envelopes.

What Ken was referring to is the insurance coverage you get with the ESE. If a buyer files an INR or NAD for damage, you are covered after you refund. You do have to have gotten at least one scan along the way though. You just need to fill out a very simple form on eBay and include a couple screenshots of the case.

[blackmarketbookie]

Thanks for the extremely in depth detail on how using a Top Loader can be inconsistent, which makes complete sense based off the information you provided. 

[highclassgoods]

to be honest I think the whole packaging thing and top loader / semi rigid is far from your issue. I sell many cards as well and also have been selling on ebay and buying since 2002 ( not trading cards the whole duration) but a lot of cards overall. I first got this same problem as you when the shipping label was first introduced and it brought me the biggest headache ever but I had not been informed yet at the time of the PIPemail insurance claim to get reimbursed if the buyer claims the card was never received with that shipping label. But it started happening way too often to it be a normal thing as ive shipped so many things in my life although not with the standard envelope shipping label but things very rarely ever go missing in the mail to the point of needing even to use any insurance or deal with that part of the system. I understand this is a newer label but still this was a thing where I was just getting confused as to how 30% were claming they never received it. So mind you this was when the shipping label was first introduced so I had not really looked too deep into the issue to finding the insurance claim reimbursement to this shipping label, so it was just coming out of my pocket to have to instantly refund the buyer or else you get the usual threaten negative feedback etc etc issues that arise, all while you are the one thats taking a lose lose now risking your account feedback, rating, and now a loss of funds. So fast forward a little later I had went on a single trading card buying period where I purchased hundreds and hundred of single cards around $5-$20 that were shipped to me via ebay standard envelope shipping label and truly I prefer that due to the cost difference when purchasing a card that is cheap in that price range as $5 for shipping would make or break the deal on a card that is only $5-$20 in cost. And after hundeds of purchases that was shipped to me via that ebay standard envelope shipping label I realized around 25% ~  of all the purchases had tracking numbers that either never updated or just would never end up showing as delivered at all. Also I sell hundreds of trading cards also and notice often that buyers will leave positive feedback after receiving the card that was shipped to them via ebay standard envelope shipping label yet on the tracking status it will just show its still in transit somewhere with no endpoint of delievery confirmed . With that being said I honestly do believe at this point it could be that since there is no real way to confirm delivery of a package for sure with or without it being shown on the system that some people might just be dishonest and taking advantage of the glitch or error as it is a fairly new shipping label collaboration with USPS that has only been released for a couple years and obviously still has its flaws n bugs that need to be fixed (tracking updates, and delivery confirmation when arriving) and also they might also know that the insurance of up to $20 for that shipping label included that the seller technically does not really take a loss (minus the fees, and initial cost of the shipping label) we the seller technically get the money back even if it gets lost, so therefore if all evidence is shown on the tracking. that the item was never confirmed as delivered then they could basically just be dishonest and say they did not receive the item and as a seller we all know  how important it is to not let our feedback or ratings be tarnished over 1 negative feedback or unhappy buyer, so one complaint of an issue and we are quick to agree or refund the buyer if there is a problem so I think realistically that is more of the problem than the packaging it incorrectly issue, and it is unfortunate that there is always going to be that small percent of buyers that are possibly going to be on the dishonest side and thats just how the reality of this world is going to be not everyone will awlays want to be fair and play by the rules, and it does sound sad because we are talking about cards under $20 since you can only ship cards via this shipping label if it cost $20> or less.  If any other sellers are also dealing with similar issues and finding themselves having to question if the buyer is really just being dishonest or if the item really got lost I guess my advice would be at this point to not even think too hard about it and just be glad that there is the insurance reimbursement side to it but yes even that could be a bit annoying as you still have to file the claim not that its hard its just kind of like why (assuming they really received it and is just taking advantage of the error in the tracking) and now you have to eat the shipping cost and file a claim that will reimburse the cost but not the shipping and the fees. Its just when it happens so often when you yourself is a buyer knows it doesn't when you buy it yourself and the many times the tracking never updates showing as delivered but you receive it fine with no issues, and then you have these buyers just automatically clamining or opening a item not received case over a month later but not even seemingly too concerned about the card itself just doesn't really leave a good taste in my mouth, like why did you wait almost 2 months to say something about it not arriving hmmm.. just seems odd but maybe I could be overthinking it sometimes just because its just happened so many times its just become like ongoing headache that pops up time to time.

[goodnu9]

I ship using top loaders with eBay standard envelopes and have no problems with them being delivered as long as they meet the requirements. I live in NH.