posted on November 7, 2000 10:51:56 PM new
I had an auction running for a litho where I stated that I would only ship it flat and not rolled. I have shipped many litho's this way and have never had a problem.
I received payment through paypal with an email from the bidder stating:
"Hi, Please send item rolled! I got my last litho sent flat & insured, and after 6 months I'm still trying to get my money back from the postoffice."
Now I can understand the bidder's concern; if a person doesn't know how to pack a litho flat it may get damaged. I know how to pack a litho flat without it getting damaged.
I have all of the packing materials and boxes. I have to order the boxes since their isn't a priority box the right size.
If I send it rolled I will have to go out and by more packing material. Something I don't want to do.
posted on November 8, 2000 12:15:16 AM new
I'd guess that this person's mail delivery person folds things up to fit in the mailbox. Since they know this, I'd offer to roll it up for them, if they paid for the supplies.
posted on November 8, 2000 07:44:55 AM new
FWIW I had something recently sent rolled in a very heavy tube. USPS Priority Mail managed to ding the tube and put creases in the poster.
posted on November 8, 2000 10:45:41 AM new
This is ONLY a personal opinion...Since bidder PAYS shipping, and often, HANDLING charges, it would seem that Bidder should have the right to make a request when it is obviously important to that buyer.
Sellers know they pack well...but BUYER does not
******************** Shosh
posted on November 8, 2000 11:12:36 AM new
My take on this is this.
Once I am paid by the person be it moneyorder paypal what ever it is there item no longer mine.
I gave up all rights to it if they request it to be shipped in such a way they are paying the freight I would do it makeing it clear that you are not responcable for damage to the item due to there packageing method or damage by the PO in shipping.
I would by a tube mailer to fit the litho roll it cap it tape it address it get postage on it insure it for the value and let it fly
keep in mind that the buyer on these online auctions dont see any seller as an expert expearanced in anything 95% see use as amatures playing A game we know less about then they do.
many who bid on these old collectables think they are pulling something over on us mainly the new seller with 0 to 30 feed back thats why ebay is getting more sellers then buyer most become sellers while they still know it all
posted on November 8, 2000 11:44:44 AM new
I have to stand pretty firm that anything listed in the description has to be acceptable by the bidder prior to bidding.
They can ask for something different but there is no obligation to comply.
It's up to you, but it should not be at an additional cost to you.
posted on November 8, 2000 12:08:23 PM new
Having sent out a lot of prints my preference is to roll it. But it does take much more care to roll it properly -not saying that it is better than shipping flat! Print publishers train people just to do this as it is very easy to damage a print this way.
The problem with the Priority triangle mailer is that if a print should come unrolled it will take on the shape of the triangle. It will have 3 bends in the print.
Our son just sent us a stunning large photo where he is stationed in the Coast Guard and he put it one of those Priority mailers and I will give you one guess what happened.
posted on November 8, 2000 12:41:00 PM new
As a buyer I hate lousy packing. An LP sandwiched between 2 pieces of cardboard. A magazine stuffed into a bubble envelope without any cardboard backing to keep it from being bent. A sheet of stickers stuck in a triangular Priority Mail box, rolled up so tight that the stickers are coming off the sheet and the sheet is irrevocably wrinkled.
As a buyer it's hard for me to believe it when a seller says, "Don't worry, I know how to pack." I've received all the above items, ruined because of the shoddy pack job. In each case when I've complained, the seller has responded rather defensively, "I've sent out hundreds of items packed like this, and they've all arrived just fine." In the case of the magazine, the seller suggested that it was my fault for not insuring the item, because "insured items receive special treatment from the post office." Hello??? Most of the mail is handled by machines, and they don't care if you've insured the item for $500 and written "do not bend" in red marker 2 feet high all over the package, they handle all the mail the same. And insurance doesn't make my item whole again. All it does (possibly after a long delay) is put the money back in my pocket. If that's what I wanted, I would have left the money in my pocket in the first place.
kellyb1 it sounds like you know how to pack. You need to pack it so an elephant couldn't bend it. If you insist on sending it using your packing method, I would suggest you explain your method in detail to your buyer to reassure him that you actually know what you're doing. On our end, it can be tuff to tell.
As a buyer I don't feel I exactly have a right to dictate to a seller after the auction has ended how to pack the item. But I do expect the seller to get it to me in the condition advertised.
I'm particularly fussy about LPs. I want them to be sent in an LP mailer box, like the kind Bags Unlimited sells. On occasion, after winning a particularly desirable or expensive LP, I will email the seller and tell him I'd like him to send it in an LP mailer. I tell him "If that's a problem, let me know, and I will send you my payment in an LP mailer that you can re-use to send the item back to me." Then I send him my check in an LP mailer which contains some bubble wrap, cardboard reinforcement, and a mailing label, so all the seller has to do is stick in the record, cover up the old addresses and postage with the new, and fire it off. This doesn't saddle the seller with the task of running extra errands to ship the item. Seems like your buyer here could do the same if he's really fussy about how his litho is sent. Not sure of the best way to diplomatically suggest it to him though.
posted on November 8, 2000 05:26:47 PM new
For once I have to agree with Shoshona. As far as I'm concerned, my shipping costs are figured out ahead of time. But I also let ever customer know that they can pick and choose their own method(s) so long as they are willing to pay for them. If your customer wanted that litho delivered by a Personal Curiour flown in a lear Jet with four armed guards and dropped off at thier place by Limo service, I'd suggest going fo it -- just be sure to change a LARGE Handling Fee, of course!
posted on November 8, 2000 06:08:34 PM new
triplesnack
So far as the shipping of LPs and by this I mean the 33 1/3 RPMs I have shipped near 1000 of these .
sandwhich between two pieces of medium weight card board is fine for 1 to 3 Lps as long as the LPs are in there cardboard Jackets nearly 1000 shippment never any damage light weight ships cheaply.
when I have to ship over three though you need more then a simple mailer or cardboard the Lps must be wraped togeather with paper so they dont slide around, the wraped Lps then must be slid into a box big enough for the lot then put in a box surounded with foam rubber and packing peanuts so no part of the inside box comes close to touching any side of the box its in, as records pile up to 5 , 10 ,15 they get heavy and the PO has a tendancy to platic wrap and plastic band these heavyer packages and carriers use these band to carry the packages and they crush and dent under there own weight.
I have been in the packageing business for over 20 years and to be honest with you the types of shipping damage we are seeing and hearing of for these online auction is uncalled for.
I have a pile of records right here from the mid 60s to the mid 70s some still sealed new where the record jacket it self is the mailer the postage to ship these is still clear to see wad .05 cent in 1970 to ship one 33 RPM the record jacket is what they were was mailed in from the company.
WWW.dman-n-company.com
posted on November 8, 2000 06:09:44 PM new
A little off topic, sorry....
This is bringing to light a sore point as far as I am concerned. I have bid on items where the Seller does NOT mention anything about how s/he will ship, so I have requested Priority Mail, Insurance AND Return Receipt...I AM PAYING for all of this. When I get the item, the fee on the box shows that there was NO insurance, No return Receipt (obvious, since I did not sign ...This irritates me. Sellers should start mentioning if UPS, Priority or Other...and how packed, if something out of the ordinary.If they do not mention it, then bidder's request should be heeded....
At times I have had to make special shipping arrangements because item was too fragile and too big, and could be split into two parcels. All of that has been mentioned in my listing.
End of rant......thanx..
******************** Shosh
posted on November 8, 2000 08:55:30 PM newdman3 Sorry I must disagree, I have received LPs packaged as you have described (just sandwiched between cardboard) and they have been damaged by the post office. Admittedly sometimes they arrive just fine packed in this manner but that's more due to luck than the packaging job. LPs need to be shipped in a box with corners, otherwise they are subject to warping or the jackets' corners being bent.
I've never had an LP arrived damaged when packed in an LP mailer, and a few I've received have looked like the PO has done their worst to them.
posted on November 8, 2000 09:18:47 PM new
Shoshanah :
I Agree The buyer is paying and is there right to ask for the type of shipping they are willing to pay for.
my answer in these cases whether its for the lower rate or the higher is absolutely do it your way. when I do mess up and someone else here take the packages and insurance is not paid I write the buyer and explain I also offer refund of unused funds be it .85 or $2 what ever.
triplesnack :
Thts fine for you to disagree and I dont doubt that you might have received damage record with the packing method I described I was just stateing How I pack I use fairly heavy card board for the packageing I have had no damage to the LPs I have shipped the 33 RPMs this is
No matter the point wasnt to question you on that. infact as I state in a earilyer post in my opinion once the winning bidder pays me its there Item , I will to the best of my abilty ship THEIR goods the way they request.
so in fact if you won an auction of mine and requested a special mailer to shipp in and could let me know where to get it if I could find it or as you stated send your payment in one LOL your Item would be shipped your way.
I said I have 20 year exspearance in packageing this means Im Still learning and things change in the world everyday this goes for packageing as well usually change eventually leads to improvements.
...This irritates me. Sellers should start mentioning if UPS, Priority or Other...and how packed, if something out of the ordinary.If they do not mention it, then bidder's request should be heeded....