Poll: Who uses Delivery Confirmation and why?
doh
Posts: 6,457 ✭✭✭
I've been selling on eBay for about 9 years now and I think I've used Delivery Confirmation fewer than 10 times. I've read a few threads about the horror stories of NOT using DC, so my question is this: Do you use it and why or why not? I understand there are some Paypal implications, is that the reason most people use DC? I'm debating whether or not I should make it mandatory on all my eBay listings.
Positive BST transactions with: too many names to list! 36 at last count.
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You know what they say: Use it or lose it!
If you sell and ship an item that was paid for by Paypal that cost over $250, you must use signature confirmation in order to be covered by the Paypals seller protection policy.
My story is: I sent a package, a week or two later the guy says he didn't get it. I check the Delivery # and it says it was delivered, the guy then talks to the delivery person and it turns out the Postal worker left the package at the front office of the complex. Would we have figured it out anyway? Maybe, but it was nice having that number.
I also have all my postal receipts.
<< <i>I have been in an argument before with a buyer who didn't take my optional insurance. They claimed I didn't mail the item. I claim that they got the item and then lied (which was very likely looking at their feedback). Nevertheless, if you have been in one of these ordeals, you would buy delivery confirmation from that point on... >>
If seller can't afford or won't replace an item that the buyer says they never recieved, Then the seller needs to pay for the insurance. Now perhaps the seller can try to get the buyer to reimburse the seller for it (buy pre-paying it up front), But let us NEVER forget that as a seller, it is our responsibility to INSURE that the buyer recieves the merchandise. Insurance protects the seller. The buyer gives you the money, they EXPECT you to deliver. Even if they lie and try and cheat you, the seller needs to buy the insurance to protect himself.
Simple really.
If someone buys a $30 coin and pays with a check, I probably won't use it and I'll just self-insure if a problem occurs. If they are using PayPal, I will.
With higher value items (a few hundred bucks) if it's not a PayPal purchase I might not buy signature confirmation but only insurance. But if it's a PayPal purchase I will definitely pay for signature confirmation to cover my butt in addition to insurance.
Apropos of the coin posse/aka caca: "The longer he spoke of his honor, the tighter I held to my purse."
As a buyer, it is the seller's responsibility that I receive what I purchased, period.
The tools offered by the USPS to track, confirm, and insure shipment and receipt of shipment are major profit centers for the USPS and significant costs to seller so some common sense is in order.
I've shipped well over 1,000 coins over the past three years and thanks to "self-insuring" all shiplments under $100 (rare exceptions) and most between $100 and $200, I've saved around $2,000.
By "self insurance" I mean if a shipment does not reach the buyer, I am prepared to write a check immediately (or ship a comparable item immediately) (after 2-3 weeks have passed) and discuss later.
BUT!, not one shipment has gone amiss (knock on wood, LOL) and not one refund have I had to issue.
This may be an under-appreciated benefit of using payPal shipping labels and standard padded shipping envelopes for the most part.
Anything over $200, of course, is insured and confirmed. And I try to set a shipping fee that comes close to covering these charges.
Rob
Questions about Ikes? Go to The IKE GROUP WEB SITE
<< <i>As a seller it is my responsibility that the buyer receive what he/she purchased from me, period.
As a buyer, it is the seller's responsibility that I receive what I purchased, period.
The tools offered by the USPS to track, confirm, and insure shipment and receipt of shipment are major profit centers for the USPS and significant costs to seller so some common sense is in order.
I've shipped well over 1,000 coins over the past three years and thanks to "self-insuring" all shiplments under $100 (rare exceptions) and most between $100 and $200, I've saved around $2,000.
By "self insurance" I mean if a shipment does not reach the buyer, I am prepared to write a check immediately (or ship a comparable item immediately) (after 2-3 weeks have passed) and discuss later.
BUT!, not one shipment has gone amiss (knock on wood, LOL) and not one refund have I had to issue.
This may be an under-appreciated benefit of using payPal shipping labels and standard padded shipping envelopes for the most part.
Anything over $200, of course, is insured and confirmed. And I try to set a shipping fee that comes close to covering these charges.
Rob >>
WOW!!! Someone who actually "gets it". All you sellers out there who think its the buyers responsibility to purchase your "optional" insurance should read this.
Set your shipping cost to a level to include the insurance and then purchase the insurance. It also helps to state in the auction description that insurance is included in the shipping price.
``https://ebay.us/m/KxolR5
.............................................................................................................................................................................................MoJo
the_northern_trading_company
ace@airadv.net
<< <i>Thanks for all the input so far. It sounds like a good idea to add DC, or possibly start printing out my own postage through Paypal and getting free DC. It's strange, I've probably sold 800-1000 coins on eBay and have never had a problem with not having DC. I guess I've just been really lucky. I suppose I would rather learn from other peoples' horror stories than my own >>
add it in with the s/h cost and let your customers know it is included ,everytime you print a lable a copy is sent to the buyer with the DC number they can track it on line , and as someone mentioned for paypal reasons you have PROOF
the_northern_trading_company
ace@airadv.net
Keeper of the VAM Catalog • Professional Coin Imaging • Prime Number Set • World Coins in Early America • British Trade Dollars • Variety Attribution
<< <i>Proof of devlivery is one good reason or paypal will let you lose your coin and give the money back to the buyer even if he got it. >>
<< <i>DC always gives you proof that the buyer received the package you send. >>
<< <i>I use it because if there's no record of delivery, buyer could file a claim and there wouldn't be a single thing I could do about it. >>
Delivery Confirmation only proves the item was delivered ... NOT WHERE ... it was delivered
Don't kid yourself ... delivery confirmation is a waste of money to prove much of anything.
I used to use delivery confirmation until on a payment for a coin (to a well respected dealer) my delivery confirmation, when checked, said it was delivered. A days later I called the dealer to see when it was going to be shipped and I was told the payment was never received ... Sent a second check ... The first check was never cashed ...
So, if you decide to use delivery confirmation and the person says he/she did not receive it ... there is a high possibility they didn't ...
Haven't just about everyone at some time or other had mail delivered to you that was you neighbors?
Signature Confirmation is the only true way to tell who got your item sent, out of the two, You have the signature of the person who signed for it ... no he said she said ...
I've only had 1 person say they never received an item I shipped ... When confronted with his signature signing for the coin he then found the so called not received item ...
Signature Confirmation NEVER Delivery Confirmation
buyers like the track/confirm.
buyer won't claim that package was not received for the heck of it.
<< <i>WOW!!! Someone who actually "gets it". All you sellers out there who think its the buyers responsibility to purchase your "optional" insurance should read this. >>
ain't no options on my sales. Insurance is not optional and like someone said, DC is free through Paypal shipping.
<< <i>
<< <i>WOW!!! Someone who actually "gets it". All you sellers out there who think its the buyers responsibility to purchase your "optional" insurance should read this. >>
ain't no options on my sales. Insurance is not optional and like someone said, DC is free through Paypal shipping. >>
Good stuff, I did not know that.
ditto. i want to know who signed for it when delivered. not that it
was delivered to god knows who. the mailman could have given it
to the pet dog and said done!