You HAVE to try this!! EBAY your way to DISNEY Part 2!!!!

[JKanownik]

Unless you specified that you would only ship to confirmed addresses of verified Paypal members I see no option other than shipping it to the US address that the buyer is requesting. By providing a US shipping address they are complying with the condition that you listed on your item.

There is nothing stopping you from offering them other choices and expressing your concern, but IMO that could create more problems than it is worth (they might not be thinking of scamming you but might do so if you planted the idea in their head!). And without an explanation I would think that the buyer would become suspicious of you and your motives.

One way to protect yourself would be to immediately transfer their Paypal payment into a bank account and remove all credit card and bank accounts attached to your Paypal account. However, this creates a lot of extra work and would cause problems if you had other auctions to deal with.

-DH

 

[disneychrista]

All foreign addresses are also unverified so there is really no difference in shipping to the US unconfirmed.

 

[mad4themouse]

Actually, the Canadian address is confirmed. However, since the purchase is from outside of the US, the transaction is not covered by PayPal's seller's protection policy even if I ship to the Canadian address.

I guess I'll just send it to the US addy and pray for the best. I alway "sweep" my PayPal account out every week, so there's nothing in there but the buyers' payment anyway. I really don't want to have to unattach my bank account and credit card from PayPal over this one auction, since there are other auction payments pending and I'd like to list some items again this week.

So, for future auctions, should I specify that items paid for via PayPal will only be sent to a confirmed address? How do the rest of you handle this?

 

[JKanownik]

I sold a gift certificate for $190 and specified that payment would only be accepted from verified Paypal users and I would only ship to the US. With verified Paypal users at the very least you have their name and address and can file a criminal and civil charges should everything else fail.

It also helps to state that bids are only accepted from bidders with 10+ positive feedback and a 99% positive rating. That way if you don't feel safe with someone who won but didn't match those criteria you can either cancel their bid or refuse to sell to them.

-DH

 

[disneychrista]

I guess it is personal preference. I will ship to where ever the buyer wants it shipped. I have never had any troubles.


I have all my purchases ship to my work address because no one is home to accept packages. Since there is no way to confirm my work address, it is of course unconfirmed.

 

[Mommy Poppins]

I have everything shipped to my work address as well so my adress is unconfirmed thru Paypal.

 

[jgates]

We risked it on a buyer from Japan on a $135 item. He wanted it shipped to Arizona. I read thru his feedback which was excellent and the transaction went off without a hitch.

Otherwise - check all your shipping options to Canada - some of them are not that bad. Airmail letter post is not too bad at all in fact. Use the USPS Shipping Assistant is the easiest.

 

[Mommy Poppins]

We may have talked about this before, but just wondering how many of us use the gallery option. I usually do, but am wondering if it is really worth the extra money. I find that if I am looking for something, I will put in the key words of what I am looking for and then I usually look at all the auctions whether they have a gallery picture on the side or not.

What do you think?

 

[DNSDisney]

Originally posted by Mommy Poppins
We may have talked about this before, but just wondering how many of us use the gallery option. I usually do, but am wondering if it is really worth the extra money. I find that if I am looking for something, I will put in the key words of what I am looking for and then I usually look at all the auctions whether they have a gallery picture on the side or not.

What do you think?

I have never used the gallery option and thus far have sold everything i put up for auction accept one item. clearing abt 400. in first mth, 35 items. The only things i do are sometimes use a sec. catagory and sometimes i will sch. my start time if i can't upload when i want it to start.

 

[Donna]

I almost always use the gallery option, unless it's something obvious that it wouldn't be needed. I have one particular item that sells well just by what it is so when I list it again, no picture is needed. I cleared about $900 my first month (1,000+ gross). I know when i'm looking for something, i will search by word, but when the search comes up, i barely glance at something that doesn't have a picture. I never use second category unless they have a sale for using it.

 

[katerkat]

I've used it ocassionally, when I want to catch someone's eye. Gallary pics catch MY eye when I'm searching, so... They don't always determine whether I'll sell, but getting people to click on the auction is half the battle!

 

[maggiew]

I only use the gallery picture on very rare occasions. For example when I listed my daughters' Christmas dresses and their Easter Dresses. Also when I sold some American Girl stuff. But for my everyday stuff, I don't use the gallery. Most of the normal stuff I sell doesn't have a high profit margin and so that gallery expense would really cut into it. And I don't think the gallery would impact the selling price that much.

Maggie

 

[cats mom]

I sell a lot of my daughters' gymnastics leotards. I always use gallery on those as there are always so many to look through and a few sellers who have tons of really old, ugly styles up. Helps my auctions stand out.

Other items I never do. Collectibles especially. example: if someone is searching for an Olszewski miniature, or WDCC piece, they most likely don't need a gallery picture.

 

[Tina]

Ok fellow Ebayers, I need some advice now.

I mailed an auction item via First Class Mail from Virginia to New York on 3/28/04. I shipped it through Paypal's postage printing module and dropped it off at my local post office. I just got an email from the bidder asking for a status because he hadn't received it yet. I immediately went online and checked the tracking number. The reply was "The US Postal Service was electronically notified by the shipper or shipping partner on March 28, 2004 to expect your package for mailing."

So I took my printouts and went to the PO to talk to the Postmaster. He was completely useless. He just kept saying the package was "en route" and there's nothing more he can do. Well, I know it doesn't take more than 3 weeks to ship a padded envelope 400 miles via First Class. He refused to admit the package could be lost. He cannot put a trace on it until I hit the 30 day mark.

So what do I do about the bidder? Do I assume the package is lost and offer a refund ($20)? Do I ask him to resubmit payment when and if the package is ever received? I have a perfect 100% feedback right now with only 21 transactions. I really don't want to mess up my rating.

The part that really infuriates me is that this is the 3rd shipment this month that I've had this tracking problem with. The other 2 were already received, but when I checked the tracking, they appeared to never have been shipped. I love the easy shipping labels/postage feature, but I'm swearing off of the USPS from this point forward. Its going to be UPS or Fedex from now on.

 

[DNSDisney]

Tina
I had a similar experiance last wk- begining of this one. A package I mailed off on the 29th still had not been delievered to OR.
As you did I took a printed page to what the track and comfirm said to the PO, they then checked it on there system. It stated that It was mailed on the day I had said it was. I brought that home and scanned and emailed it to my buyer and asked for them to wait a few more days. They agreed to once they realized I wasn't scamming them. (which i think is the first thing that comes into anyones mind when a package is really really late)
Three days later it shows up! And two days later pass that she picks it up at the po. I think it is wise to wait until 30 days past the auction closed to give a refund, if it doesn't show.
Also I would take the print out back to the po and speak to another postal employee that isn't having a bad day, maybe try first thing in morning or something.
For my situation I had already decided not to give a refund at all since I had proof of mailing. I found out that if you ask they will scan all packages with zips and all when dropped off at po with paypal labels and that is what I am doing from here on out so I have proof that i actually did take it to po.
Sorry so long .

 

[disneychrista]

The first question that pops into my mind is did the buyer insure the package? If so then have him file a claim with the PO. I believe you will need to send him insurance receipts etc. If he didn't then it is up to you to offer a refund, personally I wouldn't. You shipped the item. You can offer him proof that you did. You are not responsible for what the postal service does once you leave the package. That is what insurance is for. But like I said before to offer the refund is up to you.

 

[Tina]

Thanks for your feedback. I'm not sure I'm in the clear as far as insurance is concerned. I did not insure the package. (Yes I'm kicking myself for THAT one, but who wants to stand there and fill out the paperwork. I don't have that much time) Also, since I only have the electronic receipt that shows I paid for postage, I cannot prove that I shipped it. The PO does not reflect ever receiving it from me. As far as talking to someone else is concerned, I'm out of luck. I talked to the Postmaster. I really think this must be a problem for them because he wasn't surprised by my story at all.

I think this is a real weak spot for us Ebay sellers. We could easily be scammed by buyers who claim to never have received the package. I have another item that I sold on Ebay (to a fellow DISer of all people) that same week. The tracking number today still shows that I never delivered it to the PO. It just reflects the electronic notification (like my previous post). I know for a fact that the item was received more than 3 weeks ago because she emailed me when she got it. Now pretend for a moment that she were a dishonest buyer. She could claim I ripped her off and never shipped it. I cannot prove delivery. I would be stuck issueing a refund. That really stinks.

Its become obvious that the PO has a real problem with scanning ALL of the packages it ships. Of the 20 or so I've shipped in the last month, 3 were not scanned at any location. I think I will continue to use the PO for small $5 - $10 items for the convenience, but those of higher value I will now only ship via UPS or FedEx. It just not worth it to take the chance again.

In the meantime, I will ask the buyer to give it 7 more days and then I will issue a refund. After the 30 day mark, I will put a trace on the package.

 

[disneychrista]

Originally posted by Tina
Thanks for your feedback. I'm not sure I'm in the clear as far as insurance is concerned. I did not insure the package.

Did the buyer pay for it and you choose not to get it from the PO? In this case then YOU are responsible for it and if it does not arrive then you must offer the refund. If the buyer didn't pay for it then it is not your responsibility to pay for it.

 

[Tina]

I offered insurance as optional, which the buyer did not choose. Unless I can prove that I shipped the package, I can't see how I would not be held responsible at this point. I'm going to keep checking with the PO.

 

[jgates]

I have had this happen several times lately, however, when it arrives then it actually does show as being delivered. If you have a delivered one that doesn't then they neglected to scan it
at the end.

One way to get around this a bit is to print directly from usps. On the half of the printed label that you keep, take this into the PO and have them stamp it when you drop the package off. That would be your mailing receipt. If you pay there, then hopefully your PO has the new registers which show the zip code and DC # on the receipt. (I have to take Media in & pay there but my receipt has the zip & DC # that was on the shipping label.)