Just got this question from an ebay buyer about postage....

Allen

I sold this card with best offer for $3.25 and $2.50 S&H. I printed the label with PayPal and sent the card. Just got this question.


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the post office just charged me 3.29 for the package you send me, they tolled me that you can't use delivery confirmation on an package that is less then 3/4 of an inch thick. i do expect you to pay for it or let me know what you think.
thanks Ben
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I do not think it says this anywhere on the PayPal print postage feature. I have been told this at the post office once or twice before, but I have never had a package sent back or a buyer charged. $3.29 on top of the postage I already paid to ship. What do you guys think.

CDsNuts

I don't understand. What are they charging him for?

StanTheManMusial

As an honest seller, you should make it right with him. It was your fault for not stuffing the package to the correct thickness. A packing peanut or wadded up piece of paper could have prevented the problem, had you done that. I always do it to all my packages, just to be safe, and not have my customer charged additional postage.

EagleEyeKid

If the package is not at least 3/4 of an inch, it has to be sent
priority mail in order to use "delivery confirmation".
What is the priority rate.....$4.60? So the carrier charged him
the difference, if what you printed out on Paypal is around $1.31
or whatever. I don't think the 3/4 thing is stipulated on the Paypal
site, but they're using the postal service, so you have to go by
postal rules. Normally, just put some packing peanuts in the mailer
to make up for the thickness.

StanTheManMusial

<< <i>I don't understand. What are they charging him for? >>



Because allen used delivery confirm on a package that did not meet the minimum requirement for thickness of the package. In this case, he knew this from admission of being told by the post office in the past. A simple mistake, that should be the seller's problem to make right with the customer.

SoonerCowboy

Don't know why they would be charging you that much extra. But anyway, that sucks. You didn't make a profit of the sale.

f2tornado

<< <i>If the package is not at least 3/4 of an inch, it has to be sent
priority mail in order to use "delivery confirmation".
What is the priority rate.....$4.60? So the carrier charged him
the difference, if what you printed out on Paypal is around $1.31
or whatever. I don't think the 3/4 thing is stipulated on the Paypal
site, but they're using the postal service, so you have to go by
postal rules. Normally, just put some packing peanuts in the mailer
to make up for the thickness. >>



Correct. There is an outside chance the buyer is trying to pull a fast one. Couldn't hurt to ask for a scan/pic of the mailer as it will be stamped postage due with appropriate amount. I'd definately refund the buyer. Heck, I'd probably just refund his entire paypal payment of $5.75 and say sorry for the goof while explaining the reason behind it.

storm888

"I do not think it says this anywhere on the PayPal print postage feature. I have been told this at the post office once or twice before, but I have never had a package sent back or a buyer charged. $3.29 on top of the postage I already paid to ship. What do you guys think. "

//////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

We have discussed the "peanut in the envelope procedure" here many times.

The PO clerks OFTEN measure my packages for the 3/4-inch requirement.
A packing peanut or a piece of paper towel will fatten the thing up just
enough to pass.

Sometimes, thin packs are returned to the sender; sometimes they are
PD to the addressee.

There is no option here. The buyer needs a refund of his extra outlay.

NathanSr

I just had this happen to me today. With my carrier, I could not understand his poor english. So I just refused the package. I then emailed the seller to alert him to the problem and to be looking for the package to be coming back his way. After reading this thread, the thickness issue is likely what happened in my situation as well. I will forward a link of this thread to the seller. I did not have any cash to pay the carrier, or else I would have.

NathanSr

WinPitcher

Allen

Did you drop off the item and just leave it on the counter?


Steve

jdip9

wow, good to know...I must have gotten away with something then in the past, because I'm pretty sure I've sent a single PSA slabbed card in a 5x7 bubble mailer...I don't know, maybe that is 3/4-inch, I never bothered to measure.

storm888

"...in a 5x7 bubble mailer...I don't know, maybe that is 3/4-inch, I never bothered to measure. "

////////////////////////////////////

Mine require at least a peanut to make the 3/4".

kingraider75

if you use the D/C then pack it up.

Leiascards

The 3/4 inch rule only applies to postage paid for over the counter. If bought online DC is not confined to the 3/4 rule.

They are charging him the difference between first class and Priority, because if an item under 3/4 is shipped it HAS to be sent Priority.

Either your buyer is trying to pull a fast one or he needs to complain to his postmaster.

I guess the USPS has changed the 3/4 rule for online postage I cannot find that link at all.

WinPitcher

Well if that is the case then Allen should have been told that at his counter.

The item should not have been accepted then.


To have the person getting the package pay for the upgrade after the fact is crazy. (not on Allen's part)


Steve

WinPitcher

What is the priority rate.....$4.60


I think it is now 6.20 minimum


Steve

mcolney1

Get to know the people at your post office. The lady I usually work with will measure any package that is close and, on occasion, has given me the package back to fatten it up so I don't have to pay priority. My guess is the recipient is telling the truth. That, or he has one of those measurement cards that the PO has and measures each package he receives and any that are too skinny he complains about. Check out his feedback and see if there is anything to tip you off about his level of honesty.

Leiascards

Priority starts at 4.60

WinPitcher

Thanks


Steve

DrJ

<< <i>The 3/4 inch rule only applies to postage paid for over the counter. If bought online DC is not confined to the 3/4 rule.

They are charging him the difference between first class and Priority, because if an item under 3/4 is shipped it HAS to be sent Priority.

Either your buyer is trying to pull a fast one or he needs to complain to his postmaster.

I guess the USPS has changed the 3/4 rule for online postage I cannot find that link at all. >>



If the buyer is trying to pull a fast one, they will not get rich very quickly ripping off sellers 3.29 at a time on sports cards. Probably an honest mistake and he should be refunded the extra charge.

RipublicaninMass

just got popped sending out a package myself, so a BIGGER package is LESS money...time to just get rid of the post office...lol

WinPitcher

I have a problem with this happening at the point of delivery.

If the package is too small and you did not just leave it on the counter then this

all should be taken care of at the point of sale.


Steve

Leiascards

Steve it was paid for online using online postage that is the point of sale not the counter. 9 out of 10 times the counter person does not even look at the package at the counter if it is already paid for. It is the sellers responsibility to be aware of this rule and ship accodringly. One packing peanut in the bottom of the mailer usually does the trick.

WinPitcher

Gotcha, I thought i asked that before and was answered differently.

Now I understand.


Thanks again.

So he did pay for it online and just left it at the counter?

someone along the way saw it and made it postage due.

Steve

Bottom9th

I got hit with this a couple times too and I always use online postage. I've just refunded the difference. Now I put bubble wrap or something in the envelope. I highly doubt someone is pulling a fast one.

stown

<< <i>They are charging him the difference between first class and Priority, because if an item under 3/4 is shipped it HAS to be sent Priority. >>



Really?

I've sent many packages, from the counter, that are under 3/4. They always give me all options (overnight, priority, ect) and I've never seen them measure the thickness.

Not saying your wrong, just I've never had that issue.

Leiascards

Actually anything shipped priority is suppoused to be 3/4 thick or put in a priority envelope.

I had a postal clerk tell me once that Money Orders must be always shipped via priority. She could not show me that regualtion though. The rules and terms are so vague it is hard to get a straight answer sometimes.

WinPitcher

I have had them say that to me.

last week i needed to send a card with del. conf and the teller said I had to send it priority.

It was not thick enough.


I simply took the card home and made the mailer thicker.

The problem seems to be the guys that use the online postage thing and they just leave it at the counter.

I would assume if you asked the teller to scan it in for you that they would tell you there that you have a problem?


Steve

StanTheManMusial

<< <i>I sold this card with best offer for $3.25 and $2.50 S&H. I printed the label with PayPal and sent the card. Just got this question.


----------------------
the post office just charged me 3.29 for the package you send me, they tolled me that you can't use delivery confirmation on an package that is less then 3/4 of an inch thick. i do expect you to pay for it or let me know what you think.
thanks Ben
---------------------

I do not think it says this anywhere on the PayPal print postage feature. I have been told this at the post office once or twice before, but I have never had a package sent back or a buyer charged. $3.29 on top of the postage I already paid to ship. What do you guys think. >>



Allen's self admission shows he knew what to do, but by deciding to not listen to the post office, he just learned a lesson, that will cost him some money, if he does the right thing with the buyer.

Rules/regulations are there for a reason, and the post office has told him the rules in the past, to prevent this scenario from happening.

No way around it, the buyer is not at fault. He deserves his refund.

Sorry that you will lose on the sale, Allen, but I have learned that when I am wrong, it's always been best in the long run to just make it right.

WinPitcher

I think you nailed it on the head Stan, that is why you are the Man.

Steve

Leiascards

Ship enough you will learn about 80% of the time the USPS clerks don't have a clue what they are talking about. I know it used to be that online postage was exempt to the 3/4" rule.

I have been told that money orders have to be shipped priority.

I had a postal clerk charging me for the 3/4 thickness rate before the last increase which was more than shipping with the old 1/4 inch surcharge, but when I told her if she is going to charge me that rate I wanted DC on it. She replied it was not 3/4 inch thick and could not be sent with DC unless I go priority then got mad when I pointed out her problem.

plifter

I will try to sugar coat this a little so you do not damage your monitor reading it. You are an idiot.

Allen, does this sound familiar? You flamed the hell out of me last night for complaining about receiving my cards wrapped tightly in a cardboard sandwich with 20 yards of tape holding it all together.

Now you post up whining because you failed to follow a postal service rule that you had previously been advised of. You just ignored the rule which resulted in a big inconvenience to your customer. You're probably too cheap to even compensate your customer. Enjoy your negative feedback you freakin idiot.

Allen

<< <i>I will try to sugar coat this a little so you do not damage your monitor reading it. You are an idiot.

Allen, does this sound familiar? You flamed the hell out of me last night for complaining about receiving my cards wrapped tightly in a cardboard sandwich with 20 yards of tape holding it all together.

Now you post up whining because you failed to follow a postal service rule that you had previously been advised of. You just ignored the rule which resulted in a big inconvenience to your customer. You're probably too cheap to even compensate your customer. Enjoy your negative feedback you freakin idiot. >>



When did I whine about this? I posted this to discuss with the board. PayPal does not ask about the thickness of the item so as someone else mentioned, online postage often has a seperate set of guidelines. I send about 500 packages a month and I have never had one come back or delivered postage due. As for your assumption that I am too cheap and that I got a negative, well you know what happens when you assume.

I am not worried about the couple bucks, just thought I would mention this incase anyone else had ever had this issue with the USPS or PayPal. I gave the buyer a full refund and thanked him for brining the problem to my attention rather than flying off the handle and threatening to neg me and such. Now if he had told me he damaged the card and lost a finger trying to open the mailer, then I would have told him to use his new stub to type me a neg.

plifter

<< <i>

<< <i>I will try to sugar coat this a little so you do not damage your monitor reading it. You are an idiot.

I gave the buyer a full refund and thanked him for brining the problem to my attention >>



Well aren't you a classy seller. You thanked him for bringing it to your attention despite the fact that you already knew about it. Face it bro, you knowingly shipped your buyer's order with postage due. You do not have any grounds for calling anyone else an idiot.

WinPitcher

Well you know what they say, what goes around comes around.

Steve

Leiascards

Well aren't you a classy seller. You thanked him for bringing it to your attention despite the fact that you already knew about it. Face it bro, you knowingly shipped your buyer's order with postage due. You do not have any grounds for calling anyone else an idiot.

I think he just met a couple of postal clerks on the recieving end who don't have a clue. Since the USPS and Paypal started doing online postage the 3/4 rule has not applied to online DC purchases. I was told by my postmaster this morning that it still does not apply but some POs are trying to say otherwise and it is creating a few problem. They said the problem is that when they redid the fee structure last year they omitted that from the new regs so its anybodies guess, but he has not seen anything to the contrary. I gotta go into town later on and will find out from the larger PO what they say.

WinPitcher

I get a different answer from anyone I speak to even from the same office.

Steve

Leiascards

<< <i>I get a different answer from anyone I speak to even from the same office.

Steve >>



Just like shipping I can go to any of the 4 POs within 20 miles of me and pay a different rate for shipping a card in a BM. I have never had a complaint on the recieving end about a postage due issue.. A 4X6 mailer with a single card one PO says its a small non-machinable envelope and charges 59 cents one says its a large non-machinable and charges 80 cents. One it depends on who is at the counter it ranges from 80 cents to 1.13. The other is always 1.13.

Downtown1974

I ran into this problem too, and the lady at the P.O. stated the bubble mailers must be atleast 3/4 inch thick to go 1st class with DC. I was confused on how a bigger package was cheaper to send. Her answer to that question was...We have to set a standard size requirement for 1st class with DC, otherwise people would be sending every envelope they mail with DC, making Priority Mail almost meaningless."

WinPitcher

I have paid 1.47 9/10's of the time when I ship a single slabbed card in a bubble mailer.

1/10 of the time I paid 1.13 or whatever.

Steve

Bigstep

I've had the PO employee tell me I can't send it 1st class with DC and right in front of them I will open the
mailer and stuff a piece of wadded paper in it using their tape to reseal.

rlankhaar

I've had this problem on the receiving end 4 times in the last few weeks.
Every package has been shipped with PayPal shipping - so its all being done
"online" as the point of sale. The Post Office people I've spoken too all indicate
(as stated above) that its the whole 3/4" issue. Interesting thing was though,
that the packages I've opened so far have had the packing peanut in them,
but it was flattened out, so the package didn't actually meet the size requirement.
Just reading between the lines from the people I've talked to is that there are
elements in the Post Office that feel that ebay sellers are "getting away" with
not paying shipping, and there might be a small effort to crack down on those
packages that have DC and don't meet the size requirement.

diamondman

this is one of the reasons I don't use printing my own postage , I know save 57 cents on DC by using paypal /usps print your own label, I take every package to the post office and stand in line and pay for it there and use the green label Dc , this is why I charge 3.00 S/H for for graded cards and put them between two pieces of cardboard. Just moo

1989FleerBillRipkencollector

I didnt read the 200 posts.

Happened to me. I get a package and it had postage due of a few bucks. I paid it and found out that the seller didnt have the package thick enough (for DC) so it was bumped to priority and thus causing the extra fees. I think I paid $2.13 extra. I had to send the package to the seller and after awhile he refunded me the $$.

alifaxwa2

In paypal shipping screen, under shipment options it says
"Note: Delivery Confirmation is FREE with the purchase of Signature Confirmation. Also, Delivery Confirmation can only be used on packages ("Parcels"), not on letters, or large envelopes ("flats"). "

I believe that anything under 3/4 inch is considered a letter or large envelope. Over 3/4 is considered a package because it gets processed differently.