how to handle buyers that ask for specific packing instructions frustrating?

[incrediblefinds199]

i keep getting buyers that ask for items to be packed a particular way.  most of the time they ask for it to be with bubble wrap and packing peanuts and that is fine i ship it that way anyway. 

today i have a buyer that sent me very detailed instructions with a odd wat to pack that would say is not as good, i just told him that it will be shipped with bubble wrap and packing peanuts

buyer asked me to use a large box that is extra heavy duty (item is light very light) wants its wrapped in bubble and a minimum of 6 inches from box edge all around and wants me to used the krincked paper.  its  small clock. almost all metal. if they or anyone reads my feedback you will see that people are super happy with my packing skills, i have OCD on packing and i pack very well with all new packing supplies.  this was the most detailed guidelines i have ever got so far. 

like i said previously is that i told him how i would ship,. curious how others handle these buyers. i am not about to go buy special crinkled paper for this one order as that stuff is cheap and not as good as the peanuts and bubble wrap combo. i can ship in a bigger box but seller picked medium flat rate box. i always leave the option for the flat rate box with standard shipping in case standard is more than the flat rate.  this case its almost the same amount of money but with my discount. i know i will always get buyers like this and never had a issue yet but it's aggravating when someone tells you how to do your job.  they probably had some bad experience but i ain't a half ass seller. been selling stuff online for 22 years. i do have a newer ebay account as my last account with thousands of feedback was under my wife and i. we closed and now its just me no wife. so i started a new account couple years ago. 

[itsjustasprain]

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@incrediblefinds199 wrote:

i keep getting buyers that ask for items to be packed a particular way.  most of the time they ask for it to be with bubble wrap and packing peanuts and that is fine i ship it that way anyway. 

today i have a buyer that sent me very detailed instructions with a odd wat to pack that would say is not as good, i just told him that it will be shipped with bubble wrap and packing peanuts 

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I generally dont address picky buyer instructions in my selling account. I trust my own packing skills and the buyer is not going to complain afterward once he opens the box and finds that everything is fine. 

I assume that you offered Flat rate medium box because you knew already that it would be a good match to the item so just do your usual bubblewrap job and give him the Flat rate box that he chose. Its possible that he chose it becuase it was the default choice or he didnt notice that you had a larger option available but its best to not overthink the buyers choice.

You are right that he was probably burned in the past by bad shipping but if you have confidence in your own skills then just do your usual. I agree that the crinkled brown paper is a bad choice. Its also heavier than the same volume of bubblewrap or foam peanuts.

[alcoforever]

I try to accommodate such requests but won't incur any extra expense to do so.   

In your case, a box with 6 inches of space all around the item would most likely incur a dimensional shipping charge as it would be over one cubic foot.   You could ask the buyer if he would pay the extra for such shipping.   I doubt buyer would agree so you would be back to packing the item the way you normally do.

[incrediblefinds199]

i did forget to mention that buyer said he would pick up all extra fees and shipping supply costs but i don't plan to go buy special packing order stuff on my time. i live in new Hampshire and a ride to home depot or other places can be a haul and take a lot of time.  i can't be doing that for a item i maybe made 10 dollars on. 

[mtgraves7984]

Hey, @incrediblefinds199!!! OCD is me!

If you've been successful shipping in the method that your are comfortable with, I'd keep on keeping on.

Hopefully, you'll have a good transaction, but at the very least, you have Negative feedback removal covered (should the delivery go south)... the buyer asked for something not in your listing. Good luck to you.

[a_c_green]

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@incrediblefinds199 wrote:

they probably had some bad experience but i ain't a half ass seller. 

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I get these from time to time, but generally, their wording suggests that they send the same message to every seller as a copy-and-paste (especially if it's some longwinded speech on Best Practices for Shipping; you just know they're not pecking that thing in from scratch every single time).

While I do let a buyer know that his package has gone out the door (i.e. after the fact, when it really is on its way), I generally don't entertain instructions on how to pack, because that can quickly get into a debate over whose technique is better. I will occasionally give a detailed reply to someone who sounds genuinely nervous about whether their item is going to make it safely to their place, but that's for reassurance only, and only to someone who didn't first try to tell me how to do my job. 😉

[kensgiftshop]

I don't usually see those messages until after the package has been shipped.

I just tell them, sorry, I didn't see your message and the item has already been shipped.

[incrediblefinds199]

you should look at messages people attach to the orders

[alcoforever]

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@incrediblefinds199 wrote:

you should look at messages people attach to the orders

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Everybody loves to be told how to do their job.   Maybe the messages weren't attached to the order?

[incrediblefinds199]

its called advice and i could care less what he does, you could toss in as many  maybe variable as you would like. advice nothing more. 

i always check my messages before i start shipping, sometimes someone wants to cancel or add a item to shipping. 

[whattheactualfox]

Tbh I get the buyer doesn't want the item to be damaged. And that is an absurd request. I would let the buyer know that you will package it safely, but not for that size. If they ask, just refer them to package sizing and the additional cost it would possibly accrue (This can be the case for some postal services)

[katzrul15]

@incrediblefinds199 

You have wonderful feedback and many of your Buyers comment on how well packed your items are.

Unfortunately, not every Seller packs well or appropriately.  I am sure your Buyer will be pleased. 

[chapeau-noir]

I may feel annoying, but as a buyer I've had some awful (in fact, quite a few awful) packing jobs. I'm talking antique books thrown into manilla envelopes, 800 year old paper artefacts in bubble packs sent first class (with $15 shipping), or the once ubiquitous clothing sellers who would ship clothing in those flimsy thin cardboard FREs (which would arrive damp, falling apart, ripped, etc.).  It's probably a boilerplate that this buyer sends to everyone because they've had similar packing jobs.  I'll bet they'll be happy with your good packing.

[kensgiftshop]

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@incrediblefinds199 wrote:

you should look at messages people attach to the orders

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I do, but I don't let them tell me how to do my job.

[simba6]

Many buyers have received damaged items due to poor packing. Not all sellers know how to pack. I suspect they just want to avoid that.  Just reassure them you know and will pack it well.