Question regarding a sale on half.com

[Belle0101]

I had a sale for which I shipped the item on 01/12/04. The buyer is indicating that it has not been received. Any advice or suggestions as to how I should handle this? The buyer is keeping their feedback private which although they have 100% feedback still concerns me.

Should I ask them to wait the full 30 days as half.com states media mail can sometimes take or do a refund or maybe something else I haven't thought of?

I have 100% right now with 14 feedbacks and I'd really like to keep myself at 100%.

Thanks for your advice. I'll need to get an answer back to them soon.

 

[maggiew]

Where did you mail it to?? I once mailed something to Alaska using media mail and it took OVER 30 days to get there. I filed a claim after the 30 days, per the customers request.

Maggie

 

[holycow]

I think if you communicate well to them and ask if they wouldn't mind waiting the 30 days then after that you would be happy to do a return....I ordered from 1/2...and the shipping took me right to 30 days to receive it....I never did receive any correspondance from the purchaser so I wrote that in my feedback.


Good luck!
HC

 

[disneysteve]

I agree with the above responses. Media Mail can be very slow. Keep in touch with the buyer. Let them know that you'll issue a refund if the item doesn't turn up after 30 days.

Steve

 

[Cindy B]

They next time you sell, pay the extra .55 cents at the post office for Delivery Confirmation (green slip), that way you can get a tracking number and track it online (you or the buyer) If your business picks up , you can dowload shipping assistant (see Ebay thread), and print it online and get charged only .13

I 've sent items media mail, and it is far, it takes at least two weeks! (from Philadelphia PA to California)

Media mail is very slow.

 

[maggiew]

On half.com it is a little different than eBay. Half.com will only reimburse you for the price of media mail (unless the buyer upgrades). So you can't figure the extra charge into your shipping price you charge the customer. When you might be only making a couple dollars on a book on half.com, that extra charge makes a difference.

I agree though, that next time, especially if I have to send to the North Pole, Alaska (for real!!) I will pay the extra and go regular mail. It wasn't worth the hassle and the worry of getting a neg. But the person from Alaska KNEW it was coming media mail, so she didn't get upset too much. I assume my package finally arrived because she stopped emailing me about it.

Maggie

 

[BoyLovesBuzz]

It depends. Media Mail locally (same regional hub) is sorted with regular first class mail. Outside the regional hub it goes by pack mule ( or dog sled where appropriate).

I have also heard of media mail being re-directed if it is discovered that the contents does not meet eligibility requirements for media. Technically you are suppose to delivery to the PO un-sealed for inspection of contents. I suspect this isn't the case since Half.com seems to be built around items that can be shipped media mail.

 

[maggiew]

I once had a postal clerk question the item I was sending media mail. She said it didn't "feel like a book" and so she opened it. I had wrapped the book in bubble wrap and then put it in a regular manilla envelope. I tried to explain to the clerk that I had ensured a certain quality of book in my half.com auction and wanted to make sure it arrived in that condition, that is why I wrapped it in bubble wrap.

Maggie