Shipping/Insurance/Tracking Policy for Sellers

scottsusor

I'm curious what the most popular policy is for card sellers, whether via eBay or direct. Personally, if the amount is $100 or over I always insure, whether my buyer pays for it or not. And if its anything under $100 and they do pay for it, I always insure for $100 (cost is $2.20) in order to get a postal tracking number.

Is everybody aware that if you insure for $50 or less (cost is $1.30), you do NOT get a postal tracking number? At $51 to $100, the cost is $2.20 and you get a postal tracking number.

Sometimes I get a customer who complains about the $2.20 insurance cost for their $20 item -- UNTIL I explain the part about having to pay $2.20 to get a tracking number. They are usually surprised and become than delighted to be paying the $2.20.

What is YOUR shipping policy?

Scott

joker73

I used to do the exact same thing (always use a trackable level of insurance), but was always willing to insure for $50 or under if a buyer insisted on it. Over the past 6 years, I've only had to file 2 insurance claims with the USPS. The first time was for an item over $50 (tracked) and more recent one was for an item under $50 (untracked). Both were taken care of within a month, so once I realized that the end result wasn't any different based on level of insurance, I just starting charging exact USPS insurance based on closing price of the auction. That's worked well for me since ...

Robert

onegaucho

I just mention that insurance is extra and optional. It's about 50/50 whether or not buyers want it or not. If the item I'm selling is over $300 or so, I'll usually require it and mention it in my listing.

magellan

When I've run auctions, I've made it available for the extra $ but if it's a higher end shipment, I'll insure no matter what. The PO says that the buyer is not at risk if a package is lost, the shipper is......so the sellers who state they're not responsible for lost packages are incorrect. Even though I've used the same language doesn't make it so

My 2 cents
Dave

sixdart

Items < $50 gets $1.30 insurance + $.55 delivery confirmation.

Items > $50 gets $2.20 insurance + $.55 delivery confirmation.

etc, etc. ...

As you have seen with other posts, the item may or may not arrive. However, with delivery confirmation the guess work is eliminated. The $2.20 insurance that you mention (blue label - signature required) has an internal postal tracking number, not on-line tracking.

I have never had a missing or misdirected USPS delivery using these two methods. Having the $2.20 insurance or higher (blue label - signature required) works very well with P.O. boxes.

Marcus

iamthegreatcornholio

My experience with insuring items for under $50 (no blue slip) has been very bad. I have never had anything over $50 stolen by postal workers but 2 out of 3 under $50 were stolen. I know these are small numbers - poor statistics - but I wasted SO much time fighting those losers that I will always use the blue slip in the future. I know there was a big thing recently here in Atlanta that postal workers were stealing packages in this price range. Probably because they know they're valuable; however, since there is no tracking (and thus no investigation) they can steal it with ease.
Brian

Basilone

I have been known to insure an expensive card myself even though the seller elects not to have it insured. The few extra $$$ is worth the piece of mind or the hassles if the card gets lost in the mail.

VintageVikes

Personally I ship everything insured and it’s included in my shipping costs. I try to estimate what I think the item will sell for and then do the math on shipping costs. ($125 item = 2.20+1.00 so I say $3.50 insured shipping) I win some and lose some, but my goal is to charge shipping costs for what it will cost me and nothing more. I'm not interested in making money on shipping unlike others out there that charge $10 to ship 2 cards. I try to avoid them as much as possible, but sometimes they have that card that I have to have.

My 2 cents.

scottsusor

Excellent comments everybody.

I have considered doing the Return Receipt (green postcard) on all shipments. The cost added, I think, is $1.80. Do you think most customers would complain about such a "standard policy?"

A secondary question comes up -- concerning "making money on shipping." As far as non-dealers, this seems appropriate. But with dealers, time is money, correct. Now, $10 for shipping two cards is ridiculous. But overall, shouldn't we expect to pay a dealer for his/her time in packaging and shipping, not to mention materials used in secure shipping (secure, as in better than a top loader tossed into a padded mailer)?

Scott

sixdart

You can ship with the green return receipt. However ... my experience has shown the postal person just wants a signature on that postcard.

They will require a signature from the exact addressee with the blue label insurance. That way it's only received by the person you shipped it to. USPS keeps the signed insurance on file for a year as well.

The $.55 delivery confirmation is the best proof of delivery for the price point. It's a necessity if PayPal funds are the source of the payment.

Marcus

Wabittwax

First off, try not to charge more than is necessary. You will only detract bidders that way. You can mail off a thousand packages with maybe only 1 lost (I've shipped over 3000 on Ebay and never lost any). The whole time you will be losing potential bidders (especially on low end stuff) because you are charging more than what some people think is fair for shipping. You will do far better off charging the bare minimum for shipping and combining charges whenever possible. So what if you have to refund somebody's $10 once every 1000 shipments. Think about how much you will lose by chasing away bidders in 1000 auctions.

Also, as for it being the sellers responsiblity to insure. I disagree. An ebay auction is a legal binding contract and by the bidder placing the bid, they are agreeing to the terms of that contract. I state in all my auctions that it is up to the bidder to buy insurance. Besides, are they going to sue you over $20? I don't think so. You might take a neg if it does happen but they should understand that it is their fault for not buying insurance. Anything that is high dollar (an amount actually worth suing over), require insurance to avoid any problems.

Always give people the option of paying through the nose for shipping on a $20 card. Don't force them to.

iamthegreatcornholio

I agree with you Wabittwax, on low dollar stuff it should be the buyer's option. I however think that on anything higher than say $100 it should be mandatory because the buyer can cry to paypal if they don't get it even though it's their own stupid fault. But paypal being the cowards that they are will charge you back. Also sixdart, I think the green one's must be signed by the addressee - unless they're the IRS, where they just stamp it at their leisure usually a few days later and then when they feel like it they might return it.

sixdart

Both require signatures from the addressee, however USPS seems to be less strict with the green label. My oldest daughter signs for most of my USPS deliveries ... and she's 11.

I think that there is more responsibility on their part with the blue label, should a claim be filed. But, either one is better than UPS - having my $500+ cards sometimes sitting on my front steps with no signature required at all is a little uncomfortable?

Troy

Hello,

I recently had my first bad experience with ebay. I sent my check including insurance out the very next day and that was over a month ago. I received one email saying that the card was shipped and that he cashed my check which he did because I checked my bank records. I still have not received the card so I am asking who is at fault. I believe from everything I have seen on these boards that once a person pays for insurance and payment was cashed it is the sellers responsibility to get me the package. Right???

Troy

sixdart

Yes. If you paid for the proper insurance, most members here would reimburse you and then file a claim.

Can the person provide a scan of the insurance receipt? What's their feedback rating? How much time has passed since you had received their e-mail?

Troy

No they have not responded since 2/21/04. Their feedback rating is 661 and dropping with 98.7% positive. It appears they also did this to another person but that was for a 3 dollar card mine was a 39.00 dollar card which I need for my registry set. It really makes me angry!!!!!

Ripken

Try stamps.com. Very easy to use software, a free scale, discounted delivery confirmation pricing, insurance through them (no need for a trip to the PO)...all for a reasonable (I think) monthly fee. It saves hours every month if you ship a significant amount of pkgs.

Tabe

<< <i>
I believe from everything I have seen on these boards that once a person pays for insurance and payment was cashed it is the sellers responsibility to get me the package. Right???
>>


With or without insurance, it's the seller's job to get your package to you. Can you picture Amazon or Land's End or QVC or someplace like that saying "Oh, you didn't buy insurance" when you call them to complain that a package didn't arrive? No, of course not, that'd never fly. And it doesn't with Ebay stuff either.

Tabe

1967topps

For over $50 purchase price I specify insurance covering whatever the person bid in eBay.
Under $50 it's cheaper to just say "insure for $50" (cost 1.30) plus I buydelivery confirmation for 45 cents if sending priority mail ,or 55 cents if just first class.

(Am pretty sure it didn't used to be that way - that you HAD TO send
PRIORITY mail in order to be eligible for delivery confirmation service)

Typically for an auction starting well under $50 I state that shipping is 4.30 for
priority mail with delivery confirmation and insurance is optional, extra.
(I keep up with what the options cost [there are a lot of auctions that still
offer insurance for an extra 1.10 - hey thanks] and charge cost. I don't like
putting things in my auction like "You have to pay $8 for shipping to cover the
time it takes me to drive to the post office, stand in like, buy gas, etc" - nonsense.
(You all do include your mileage cost when preparing your schedule C, right?)

In another note, I've had virtually NO sales to Canada, for all the cards that
are sold FROM Canada, no one's buying.

1967topps

Another thing I do (which is occasionally not received well because its unconventional) is not
leave feedback for the buyer until they tell me (or leave feedback) that they got the item
and all is well.

(Hmm...you could look at that as "i reserve the right to leave you a negative if you leave
me a negative"....but if someone rushes to NEG me rather than giving me the chance to follow
proper channels with regard to tracking, insurance, claims, etc then they probably are
asking for the NEG and deserve it by their impatience. The total # of negs ever given or
received is less than ten here, so it is rare).

another thing about packaging - once or twice I found that the PO doesn't like it when
you take a flat priority mail box and use it inside out to ship first class instead of priority.
I found this out as a buyer getting damaged boxes from lazy shippers.

scottsusor

In the "Buyer says ..." thread, a quote from PayPal was posted (this is clipped from the entire PayPal reply):

"Under the seller protection guidelines, we do require that valid online tracking be available should a non receipt complaint be filed. The USPS provides this service known as delivery confirmation for a small fee of 45/55 cents and UPS, Fedex and Airborne also have the same service. With this method, we can track the progress and delivery of merchandise to the confirmed address without relying on the buyer to respond. Also, if the transaction amount is over $250.00, a signature confirmation is also required."

I thought it was worth reposting in this thread. Does this change your mind about requiring insurance and tracking/signature?

Scott

iamthegreatcornholio

<< <i>

<< <i>
I believe from everything I have seen on these boards that once a person pays for insurance and payment was cashed it is the sellers responsibility to get me the package. Right???
>>


With or without insurance, it's the seller's job to get your package to you. Can you picture Amazon or Land's End or QVC or someplace like that saying "Oh, you didn't buy insurance" when you call them to complain that a package didn't arrive? No, of course not, that'd never fly. And it doesn't with Ebay stuff either.

Tabe >>




Tabe, I disagree with you. A lot of eBay sellers are little guys who go to the post office to mail packages. Ever try going to one of those "Pakmail" places - you might as well just throw money down the drain. Unlike the big businesses you mentioned who have struck deals with UPS, Fedex, etc. and can ship for very cheap. I pass my cost directly to the buyers, on big items I mandate insurance and make them pay for it; however, on small stuff it is their option. I can't stand the post office and don't want to get into big thing about that. (how many other jobs do you have to pay someone extra so they won't mess it up?!)
If they didn't pay for insurance and it gets lost, how am I at fault?

Brian

Troy

Well I have no idea if this guy has purchased delivery confirmation because he will not respond to anything. I do know for certain that I payed for insurance whether or not he got it is another story. But I guess I just got screwed!!!! If ebay wasn't such as good source for finding deals on cards I would never buy another one!!

Troy

Tabe

<< <i>
With or without insurance, it's the seller's job to get your package to you. Can you picture Amazon or Land's End or QVC or someplace like that saying "Oh, you didn't buy insurance" when you call them to complain that a package didn't arrive? No, of course not, that'd never fly. And it doesn't with Ebay stuff either.

Tabe >>





<< <i>
Tabe, I disagree with you. A lot of eBay sellers are little guys who go to the post office to mail packages. Ever try going to one of those "Pakmail" places - you might as well just throw money down the drain. Unlike the big businesses you mentioned who have struck deals with UPS, Fedex, etc. and can ship for very cheap. I pass my cost directly to the buyers, on big items I mandate insurance and make them pay for it; however, on small stuff it is their option. I can't stand the post office and don't want to get into big thing about that. (how many other jobs do you have to pay someone extra so they won't mess it up?!)
If they didn't pay for insurance and it gets lost, how am I at fault?

Brian >>


Disagree if you like, but the law is on the side of the buyer. Until the package arrives at the buyer's home/business/whatever, the transaction isn't completed. In your example, the USPS is your agent in delivery of the package. If you are concerned that it may not arrive as you'd like it to, you're free to contract with somebody else to get it there. None of this concerns the buyer.

Think of it this way: you don't think you should have to pay extra to keep the PO from screwing up. Well, why should the buyer have to pay extra to keep YOU from screwing up and not sending?

Tabe
www.tabe.nu

Tabe

<< <i>another thing about packaging - once or twice I found that the PO doesn't like it when
you take a flat priority mail box and use it inside out to ship first class instead of priority.
I found this out as a buyer getting damaged boxes from lazy shippers. >>


Priority mail packaging is given for free, but by taking the boxes, you are agreeing to use them ONLY for priority mail shipping. It's (technically) illegal to use them for any other method of shipping, which is why they stamp the boxes now so you can't turn them inside out.

Tabe
www.tab.enu

iamthegreatcornholio

Tabe,

I now understand that paypal won't back up the seller if they didn't get delivery confirmation on a package (I just read that on a previous thread). This is very sad since shipping costs will be jacked up on a lot of auctions & will make buyers pay for services even if they don't want them also as stated on an earlier thread, it enables people to scam innocent sellers by not purchasing insurance so the buyer can cry to paypal and get his money back and the card.

Outside of a paypal transaction, I am curious to know if eBay would back someone up if an item that they refused to buy insurance was stolen during shipment and they wanted their money back.

Anyway, I learned something, that when it is paid via paypal I must make people pay for services they might not want thanks to paypal’s ludicrous policy on delivery confirmation.

Tabe, how much would you pay for shipping on a card you won on ebay for $1.00?

Brian

iamthegreatcornholio

"Think of it this way: you don't think you should have to pay extra to keep the PO from screwing up. Well, why should the buyer have to pay extra to keep YOU from screwing up and not sending?"

Maybe I misinterpreted what you said, but I don’t charge “whether or not I feel like mailing it” insurance as you referred to. I do however have to pay the PO extra so right after they get my parcel they don’t throw it down a flight of stairs, leave it in the rain, or rip open my package and take what’s inside.

Brian

highend

i always include insurance in my shipping costs, i usually pick up about half the cost as it benifits the seller as well as the buyer. i've had occasion to waive insurance if a buyer complained but i included it anyway... out of my pocket for the piece of mind.
insured packages without the delivery confirmation can be tracked by the post office but you have to go in person. they will provide you with the delivery info and after 2 weeks a scan of the signature card is available. i recently did this with my PSA submissions when i was trying to find out if they were received. it takes a little time and next time i'll pay the 50 cents to save myself a trip.

scottsusor

<< <i>I always include insurance in my shipping costs, i usually pick up about half the cost as it benifits the seller as well as the buyer. >>


Excellent point. And let's face it, if you're making an adequate profit on the sale, then its a very valid "cost of doing business."

Scott

Tabe

<< <i>Anyway, I learned something, that when it is paid via paypal I must make people pay for services they might not want thanks to paypal’s ludicrous policy on delivery confirmation. >>



Delivery confirmation is free if you go through the USPS website. You don't have to charge for it.



<< <i>Tabe, how much would you pay for shipping on a card you won on ebay for $1.00? >>


I'll pay up to $3 s&h for a single non-graded card. If it's a $1 card, I generally stick to auctions that have the s&h at $2 or less.

Tabe
www.tabe.nu

iamthegreatcornholio

The delivery confirmation needed to convince PayPal costs money

""Under the seller protection guidelines, we do require that valid online tracking be available should a non receipt complaint be filed. The USPS provides this service known as delivery confirmation for a small fee of 45/55 cents and UPS, Fedex and Airborne also have the same service. With this method, we can track the progress and delivery of merchandise to the confirmed address without relying on the buyer to respond. Also, if the transaction amount is over $250.00, a signature confirmation is also required.""

Paying that much money in shipping an inexpensive card is your prerogative. As a seller, it is nice that some people would pay for those services and make my life easier.

My initial intention was regarding the buyers who don't want to pay for insurance and it gets stolen in the mail. They took a gamble and then lost. After they lose, some of them do not want to take responsibility for their gamble and want to blame the seller. In those cases, it’s not a matter of money; it’s a matter of irresponsibility for ones actions.

Brian