eBay standard envelope is a blessing yet also a curse

[balphavendor]

To be fair, eBay standard envelope for trading cards has made so many lower priced cards so much easier to sell. On the other hand, the tracking is absolutely atrocious and concerning. Of course, it’s better than PWE with a stamp. I have 3 packages I dropped off a week ago that just say “Label created” and don’t even show that I dropped them off, which has concerned my buyers and me because I don’t even know whether they were stolen at my USPS, got lost, or are safely on their way to my buyers. I also have a package I dropped off 2 days ago saying its been DELIVERED. I don’t think this is possible, because I’m in michigan and the buyer is in texas... the origin scan happened last night. I don’t know whether to be concerned by these issues or not, because although it has made a lot of things easier for me, it’s also causing unnecessary stress. I know I can simply “not use it”, but in all honesty it is a neat and very handy shipping option and I just want to know if anyone else has experienced these issues, and if so, should I even be worried, and how did you resolve them. I’m aware that they are insured, but if it doesn’t even say I dropped the items off, will the insurance even apply?

[biggymoe]

They are NOT insured.

I have been using them with no problems, so far (knock on wood).  The tracking scans are not nearly as thorough and complete as other forms of service, but they are getting delivered.  I did try to keep track early on, and there were some that I received feedback, from buyers, that hadn't shown they were delivered.  The tracking is very hit and miss.

[balphavendor]

Someone told me they are, that’s a big downer if so. What should I do about the 3 that don’t even say I’ve dropped them off? Has that happened to you.

[ry91214]

I would like to chime in here. I invested in 600 of these special paperboard mailers that conform to Ebay requirements, and enable my customers to save money on cards under $20. I have sent out a couple hundred.  I have also received messages of concern, and worse... several cases opened for, "Item not received." Tracking will not show an actual address, only "Delivered". Customers who are waiting for package see that, go to mailbox and find nothing. They either message me (Disrupting to say the least, because I need to drop what I'm doing to come to rescue... even though I am unable to do anything when I am at my home in another state) Worse, is when they feel the need to open a claim about it. It will say delivered.  Ebay immediately HOLDS MY FUNDS until it is resolved. What I learned, is that the "Delivered" is entered by USPS once package reaches the regional sort center. Because this form of mailing is lowest priority (similar to those bulk coupon mailers) it may take a few days after showing delivered to actually arrive. I had a customer who opened a case like this, Ebay told me to provide tracking. I provided tracking showing "Delivered". Well, customer already knows that. It wasn't in mailbox, which is why they opened case. Now customer thinks I'm messing with him, gets upset and files a "Item missing parts or pieces". It is the same case that shows delivered, with buyer claiming it wasn't" Ebay suggests I refund the buyer. My funds are on hold ($18). I will never know when the item reaches the buyer. They will be refunded their purchase price, and I will be out the money. Why is Ebay providing guarantee for a service that cannot be proven?

[uwmgrad]

i am still "WAITING" two packages that i ordered nearly three weeks ago as there has been none, zero, nada, zip and zilch as far as any updates...however, the funny part about this is that they were DELIVERED about 5-7 days ago.....as a buyer i usually give about 7-10 day for an item to arrive before contacting the seller, so i contacted both saying the tracking number doesn't look right AND there have no been any updates...now i look like an idiot for contacting them, but at the same time makes me very, VERY leery of trying to use this...yes, the savings are great, but at what cost...yes, i do have issues from time to time with usps tracking i offer, but at least you can TRACK IT!!!  it seems with ebay tracking, you can not...

[no_zero369]

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@biggymoe wrote:

They are NOT insured.

I have been using them with no problems, so far (knock on wood).  The tracking scans are not nearly as thorough and complete as other forms of service, but they are getting delivered.  I did try to keep track early on, and there were some that I received feedback, from buyers, that hadn't shown they were delivered.  The tracking is very hit and miss.

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er, um, ah........

[ry91214]

Correct. And Ebay holds your money as soon as a case is opened. Now we know that the packages are soon to follow... This now becomes a matter of integrity for the buyer. On one hand, they have their package + a full refund if they just play along and wait. On the other hand, do they choose to be honest and let Ebay know to call it off? Doing so means they don't get the package "and" the money. There is no way to verify, from a "Guaranteed program" that Ebay came up with. Seller is on the hook for a complete loss.

My sales were down 22% this past month. The month I decided to help save my customers money on shipping! Because this shipping method takes much longer, and due to the issues regarding tracking and delivery, customers aren't as willing to leave positive feedback and return to shop again.

[cardzilla2020]

I've used eBay standard envelope a couple times and I'm experiencing the tracking showing the package as delivered but it doesn't actually show up for another day or two and it's been taking all of a week and a half at least to arrive at its destination. The entire time the tracking goes with no updates until the false "delivered"
 message. Is eBay working on this? I've seen a lot of complaints. Especially because since there is no carrier scan sellers are getting defects on their accounts. Ugh.

[1stbasecards]

Typical eBay….

Trading Card Seller since 2014 and I was excited when they announced this service for obvious reasons. I was actually **bleep** off that it took them that long to create this service but anyway..

I started using it right away and everything was running smoothly besides the weekly  “My package says It was delivered and I swear I even checked with my neighbors and they too didn’t see anything?!?!?!Please advise!”

Buyers, please keep in mind that you purchased a SINGLE Trading Card for $2.00 with Free Shipping sooo odds are you will not receive a Huge Box at your front door.  This is something I’ve gotten used to and doesn’t seem to bother me much anymore.  It wasn’t until the middle of July 2022, a random week day that eBay decides to change things up. I sell mostly card singles and occasionally I create small lots of 4-12 cards per lot. I always listed these under the “Trading Card Singles” category for sports or “CCG Individual Cards” for Pokémon.  I was always able to Select and Ship under Standard Envelope until MR. Ebay caught on and I guess realized that “Heyy… Wait a minute… he’s selling 6 cards and has them listed under the card singles category?!?!?

At first I didn’t mind having to create or revise, so that every listing of 2 or more cards was switched to “Card Lots” instead of singles catergory.

It wasn’t until it came time to ship these items in which eBay would not allow me to ship under the Standard Envelope Service. Even though I had selected this service and created these listings with no problem, I was still unable to ship. So then, I contacted customer service and asked what am I doing wrong? And they tell me all of these types of listings should be under the “Trading Card, Lots” Category.

#1. As of today August 5th 2022, you still cannot ship Pokemon Cards under the CCG LOTS category. Pokémon cards must be listed under Non-Sport Lots.  Ok, that’s fine, I don’t see the difference but ok..

#2. Even when you do all the above, the eBay App doesn’t allow/provide you with the Shipping service. You have to visit the Classic site in order to select. I have yet to sell anything with everything  aligned but something tells me it’s still not going to work.

#3. A buyer can buy 10-20 Card Singles and have the total price be equal to or less than $20 How is it that a seller can ship all of these using the standard envelope but God forbid you list a small lot of 4 cards. That’s a no no.

Ebay adjusted well to the pandemic when everyone was making that good money. But of course when the customers dwindle, so does eBay.  It won’t be long until they figure out another way to screw us.  Thank you!

P.S….

FIX THE **** PUERTO RICO ISSUE!!!

[hanzo22]

I literally just hung up the phone with ebay saying the exact same thing. Ebay says it offers tracking BUT in reality there zero tracking of your items once you drop it off at the post office. My biggest question was "so if the buyer doesn't respond to messages or leave feedback proving the item was delivered, does that mean on every card I sell under $20 has the fund held for 18 days" which ebay told me YES. 

I also asked about what happens when I eventually get a shady buyer that receives his card but chooses to claim that he did not receive fraudulently. The ebay rep said ebay would cover the claim but I find that hard to believe because if there is a way to scam a system people will, there is going to be buyers and sellers that take advantage of this method of shipping that ebay has set up (poorly in my opinion). What's to prevent a seller from just purchasing the shipping label through eBay and not sending anything at all? Ebay claims that if the buyer doesn't receive it they will cover the charge up to $20 and the seller who in this case didn't send anything at all just paid the $0.66 cents and will receive their money all the same. I don't see this lasting long unless ebay figures out a way to actually be able to TRACK your package. 

Im more frustrated that I have to wait possibly 18 days or longer sometimes to have my sold items funds release if the buyer doesn't leave feedback or respond to messages which happens ALL THE TIME. 

[hanzo22]

I posted a reply to this original post because I had just hung up the phone with ebay asking them how the hell this works when tracking isn't actually provided thats reliable. Sellers and buyers will take advantage of this since ebay claims that the seller is protected also which is complete **bleep** in my experience since im always the one getting shafted even when buyers make up **bleep** claims or returns. 

[solidguitar1961]

I've had 2 out of 2500 lost that insurance paid for and 1 damaged that insurance paid for .

[kh-cathy]

Hi everyone,

Due to the age of this thread, it has been closed to further replies. Please feel free to start a new thread if you wish to continue to discuss this topic.

Thank you for understanding.