What is the purpose of the Ebay shipping labels for cheap cards if.......
frankhardy
Posts: 8,097 ✭✭✭✭✭
..... You can't track it?
For Pete's sake (whoever Pete is), what is the purpose? I have lost 2 cards in the last few months that I have REALLY needed and a 3rd one may be lost. It is a really rare auto for my Cardinals collection. Only cost $20 but I will be so ticked if it gets lost!
Shane
0
Comments
I say it every time in these threads about the eBay Standard Envelope... eBay and the USPS dropped the ball when it came to educating people on how those envelopes were going to be processed, sorted, and tracked. People got all excited over "cheap shipping", and didn't realize that they couldn't pack the cards in the same way that they do in the padded envelopes.
The eBay Standard Envelopes are processed on the same machines as letter mail, therefore they need to be thin and pliable in order to make it through the belts, rollers, pinch points, and 270° turns through the flywheels. No square envelopes, no paperboard envelopes, no cardboard backing on the card in the envelope, no bubble mailers, not 5 cards stuffed into a relic toploader, etc.
The tracking seems to be the issue most people don't quite understand. I had one missing with a cheap card, but one I'd never seen before or since. I went to the local post office, gave them the tracking number and was told that it wasn't valid. The USPS apparently has no way to track these, so who is providing the limited (if any) updates on ebay? Thankfully the card finally showed up after about 1 month in transit! Now I try to watch sellers closely and if I think or know it's going to come that way, I will reach out first if necessary to switch methods.
I have lost several packages now as well, but if you apply the averages, I get most of them. Those that were lost were easily replaceable.
You definitely don't want to risk something irreplaceable via standard tracking. Even if it's a $10, pay the extra $ and have it come first class.
The envelope is tracked as it is processed on the automated machines. There is a camera in there that takes a pic of every piece of mail. They're moving through at 30,000+ pieces per hour. The idiots that over-protect the item in the envelope then cause jams in that equipment. The pic has been taken, so eBay thinks that's where the envelope is. Unfortunately, items that jam get removed from the automated mail stream and placed in the manual sorting unit. No tracking occurs there.
Unfortunately again, the eBay Standard Envelope postage is for machinable mail. Non-machinable mail costs extra because of the extra labor involved. The USPS hates using manpower to sort the mail manually, especially when it's mail shipped at the machinable rate. So they collect it up and send it back to automation where it likely jams again. Round and round it goes.
It is only meant to be a step above using an untrackable stamp..... It is not a USPS invention, it is a Pitney Bowes product (basically it is a record of scans of the QR stamp for billing purposes, but they get info on where the scan takes place, so they could transcribe it into a tracking-like mechanism for what eBay wanted for the Std Envelope product). It's not USPS' job to "educate" the masses on it since they don't sell, offer it, or advertise it. That's on eBay to set expectations for all those who lack logistical intuition...
All of that makes sense. On every card that I have lost I have never been concerned with condition because they have all been autographs that I needed for my Cardinals collection. Of course, I would like for it to arrive in nice condition but the most important part is actually receiving it.
And yes I have thought a few times about contacting sellers to not ship that way on an important card. However, the two or three that I have lost I haven't thought about asking. From now on if it is even a remote possibility of them shipping that way I will demand that they do not.
We just got back home on vacation a couple of hours ago and the card in question was not in our held mail. Hopefully I get it in the next couple of days. I will be so ticked if I don't get it.
It is only a 1995 Topps Traded Bret Wagner that is signed for my Cardinals collection. I have been looking for this signed card for several years. Another one that I lost a few months ago was a simple 2007 Topps Kip Wells signed for $5. Looked forever for that card and still haven't seen another one.
And yes, I agree about sellers overprotecting cards. Especially cards that are not worth much. Sometimes sellers act like they're shipping a fragile antique glass vase that is 500 years old and it takes a razor blade and 15 minutes of my time to get through all the tape just to get the bleepin' card out! So aggravating! If it's in a card saver it doesn't need a piece of tape and if it's in a top loader, one simple piece of blue painters tape is plenty. If the card is worth over $100 then ship the dadgum thing and a priority box or a big thick bibble mailer with cardboard around it with a couple of pieces of tape. Don't wrap 17 entire rolls of clead packing tape around it! Use some common sense people!
Shane
I am currently at around 800 transactions either buying or selling where the shipping method was an ebay standard envelope and have had ZERO not make it. It appears to me that certain postal offices either have issues or have a problem sorting these cards. One thing I have noticed, is that for the past year, I have given buyers the option to have it shipped bubble mailer with first class/ground advantage tracking and over the last 200 or so, ZERO have chosen that option.
Just my personal stats, but honestly, when I see a $2 card, I dont want to pay $5 shipping. I will take the chance paying a buck for the ESE, which is what this way of shipping has created.
I agree on readily available common, non-signed cards. It's when it is a rare signed card that is fairly inexpensive (yes that happens in the auto world). A common player that hasn't signed much, but not much demand either.... Therefore it is inexpensive... That is what is is so frustrating!
Shane
The Seattle PO has issues with ESUS. I am up to EIGHT cards now "lost in the ether" since June! All eight said delivered to my mail box, but that's a lie!
All cheap cards, but like frankhardy, they were cards I needed to complete some sets.
I FINALLY got my card two days ago. It was just a 1994 Topps Traded Bret Wagner signed. It may sound like no big deal, but.... Try to find one!
Shane
I have one of these that has been out for delivery since October 30th. I can't file an insurance claim with eBay because the USPS still hasn't closed it out
It is indeed on the USPS to educate people on how to use the USPS. For whatever reason, customers seem to think that they can mail their items in a PWE using the same packing methods as a bubble mailer. Too thick. Too rigid. Too heavy. Incorrect material for an envelope. On and on These customers incorrectly assume that writing "Non-machinable", "Hand Stamp Only", "Do Not Bend", "Fragile", and every other phrase that is nonsensical for an envelope that is about to be processed on automated equipment will actually do anything but get their mail delayed. These customers need to understand that they are paying a postage rate for a machinable mail piece. Once you've made the mail piece non-machinable, you have both negated the tracking feature and likely incurred additional postage, and actually increased the likelihood of lost or damaged mail. If it's not the USPS' job to instruct people on how to properly use the USPS, just whose job is it?
I guess that's a class that I'll have to add to the curriculum next semester at The University of Countdouglas.
I only said it was not on USPS to educate how the eBay STD-E works as far as tracking is concerned. Everything else you mentioned is in the USPS "handbook" and stated places on the USPS site for 1st class mail. It's up to eBay to tell people the STD-E is essentially 1st class mail with a Jerry-rigged type of tracking and "packing" requirements for 1st Class non-package mail apply.
jfkheat - If the shipment used Ebay Standard Envelope, the seller should be able to refund you and then make a claim with ebay. I think he can file the claim and they pay out very quickly. You just need to send him a message so he can use it in the insurance claim,
I think the ebay standard envelope is one of the best ideas ebay has come up with. It has allowed me to sell sub $20 cards for a decent price. I suggest any ebay seller not utilizing this service consider looking at it because it is the best way to sell lower $ cards on ebay and still scratch out a little profit.
Another hidden benefit, is that I can clear more room from my card hoard so I can buy more!
I was the seller. I have already refunded the buyer.
Misread your post. At least the claims process is easy
I agree that it is cheap and a great idea. I just don't want it for stuff that is difficult to replace.
Shane