posted on December 30, 2000 03:59:45 PM new
Currently, when I send a payment to a seller, I print the envelope using Word so I get the postal bar code. I also include the EOA note the sellers sends, a pre-printed mailing label for the item (including the postal bar code) and I include the auction number in the memo filed of my personal check (It's not that much extra work, so why not).
My first question is, would it also help to have the auction number on the outside of the envelope (i.e, an Attn: line after the address?)
Second question is, Why don't most sellers include their 9 digit zip code in the address when they send it to me?
I have completed over 150 auction and less then 10% of the sellers have included the 9 digit zip code. It only takes about a minute to look it up at the USPS site and sellers only have to do it once. I would think they would want snail mail payments as quickly as possible, and this is supposed to help.
posted on December 30, 2000 04:03:46 PM new
Greg,
You sound like an Ebay Seller's dream customer! You make a very good point about sellers using the nine-digit code. I'm sure those here that are not doing so, will sure give that one a try!
posted on December 30, 2000 04:04:17 PM new
9 digit zip codes and bar codes are not usefull for packages. Currently they are only used in automated letter sorting machines.
posted on December 30, 2000 04:11:20 PM newunknown didn't know it was not used on packages. Does that include all packages, even small boxes and padded envelopes?
twinsoft I don't think my wife or the laws of the United States would allow that.
posted on December 30, 2000 04:24:40 PM newYour doing it all wrong. Here are the correct guidelines for buyers.
a) Do not include your address with your payment, for obvious privacy reasons. In fact including a different address, preferably invalid is best. Also using a return address, that is different than any other address included is also a good idea. Remember that your Ebay seller has ESP and will know your address, if not and your item is lost, it is his fault so he will have to refund your money.
b) Do not include your Ebay item number with your payment. This is for security reasons.
c) Make your payment about slightly different from the actual Amount due. When paying with a money order write the address of a distant police station on the money order. This will make it especially difficult for thieves to figure out what the payment is for.
d) Never describe the item in any of your correspondence, use a description that is as vague as possible, such as "item" or "thing"
e) Do not ever send your real shipping address by Email. If the seller asks you to email your address, what he really wants is the address for the nearest 7-11. Use the secret code word "ship to:" to identify this address.
f) Your should Email the seller immediately after mailing payment demanding to know where you package is. State that you mailed the payment quite some time ago (this is secret code for I just sent it this morning) Remember if your payment is lost in the mail, the seller is obligated to ship you the item anyway.
g) When inquiring about the status of your item send the email from a completely different email address that the one used on Ebay. Do not include your Ebay user name or an item number otherwise someone may be able to scam you. Keep these things private. In order to get the best service please use as many four letter words as possible in your correspondence. This will keep others from reading your correspondence and will not offend sellers and their ESP will tell them how important your Email is.
posted on December 30, 2000 04:52:15 PM new
Greg, Forgive me but buyers who send me preprinted mailing labels scare me. Buyers who send me preprinted mailing labels and fragile labels scare me even more. Buyers who send me preprinted mailing labels, fragile labels, and detailed packing instructions make me wish they hadn't won the auction.
My first reaction is this is a compulsive person, my second reaction is this person thinks I don't know what I am doing. My final reaction is that no matter what I do or don't do, I won't do it right for this buyer.
I don't use the preprinted labels because my postage system prints out labels, (with the 9 digit zip and bar codes). I put the preprinted label in an envelope and return it to the buyer with the object. I do stick the fragile labels on the parcels, but I don't follow the packing instructions. I don't need packing instructions, thank you. I do mostly pottery and double box everything. Most instructions demand lots of newspaper stuffing. I don't use any newspaper because the ink can transfer to the pottery or porcelain and it is messy anyway. I have had 2 items arrive damaged in 3 years. Not from my packing but the Post Office playing football with the parcels.
A good transaction to me is to receive a check with the auction number, and a legible name and address.
What kind of stuff do you buy that you feel you need to do all of this work? Have you run across a lot of sloppy sellers?
posted on December 30, 2000 05:00:50 PM new
I don't recommend putting auction numbers, ebay or anything on the envelope. To me that screams to all that touch it "Money Enclosed, possible cash"
I find more and more buyers sending their payments to me in envelopes that look like greeting cards. I think that's a secure way to do it.
And when they send those little "return address labels" I don't use them. Too small. If they sent a regular label, I will use it.
posted on December 30, 2000 05:31:14 PM new
I will only send out the item that bidders win at auction if they send me the following:
- A mailing label of the proper size (no larger than 2 x 4 and no smaller than 1 x 2-5/8). The label must be printed in an Albertus Extra Bold font.
- Their 9-digit zip code.
- SIX “Fragile” labels (for a package) or TWO “Do Not Bend” labels for an envelope. And don’t even BOTHER to send “Please Do Not Bend” – too wimpy.
- Social Security number.
- Copy of driver’s license and birth certificate.
- Fingerprints – all digits plus full palm prints.
- A piece of chocolate cake. If you provide an affidavit that you were unable to supply chocolate cake you may substitute a wedge of apple pie (but no lattice top).
posted on December 30, 2000 05:33:51 PM newsmw I haven't always sent the return labels, I usually print out the EOA note and stick on a label with my address. After getting a number of items with this label cut out of the EOA, I decided to just print up a bunch of labels and include them. If the seller wants to use them fine, I don't care.
I usually buy cufflinks (once in a while collectable cards), and I have gotten a couple of packages that I could barely read the address and wondered how the post office was able to deliver it. (I think they need to hire postal clerks to read doctors perscriptions, there would be a lot fewer wrong perscriptions).
I have never requested any special handling or sent any shipping instructions. I have had a few items that "almost" didn't make it, but the two items that were damaged were handled very nicely by the seller. The only unresolved problems I have ever had with an auction were with condition of item (collectable card grading is so subjective), not with packing or shipping.
barrelracer Agree, those return adress labels are too small. I just print up a page or two of avery mailing labels via Word and cut them apart so they still have the peal-off backing.
It was also my thoughts on the ebay number on the envelope, but I thought I would ask anyway.
I try and give the seller the best impression I can. If the seller considers me professional and easy to deal with, I hope I will get the same treatment in return.
After reading many of the complaints about buyers hear at AW, I didn't want to fall into any of those catagories.
posted on December 30, 2000 06:52:14 PM new
Greg,
I think the label is a nice touch. I've had a couple of customers send them to me. Over 80 percent of the sellers I've bought from do not use printed labels or the 9 digit zip code. I've noticed that the delivery time for their packages to me seems longer than the delivery time required to send packages to my buyers. Over the holidays my package to Japan took 5 days by Express airmail. My Priority mail packages took 4 days or less. One made it the next day, but it only had to go from Washington, DC to northern Virginia.
The only suggestions I have regarding labels is to use all caps, no commas or periods, and the OCR font.
<<I try and give the seller the best impression I can. If the seller considers me professional and easy to deal with, I hope I will get the same treatment in return>>
The most important thing to me and many sellers is the auction number. Sometimes the item helps too, in case a number is transposed in the auction.
But you can never do too much! When I buy on ebay I ask the seller in my first email and in my payment to please package carefully as I receive many boxes ripped and smashed.
9 Digit zips, I use them if they are given, but i don't have the time to look them up.
Anyway, thanks for asking, from a lot of sellers I'm sure.
posted on December 30, 2000 09:20:58 PM new
I love it when I get a preprinted address label, or typed address from a buyer. Saves me time.
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Don't take life so serious, it ain't nohow permanent.
posted on December 30, 2000 09:40:27 PM new
A pre-preinted label doesn't do me any good because their item is already boxed, addressed and ready to go to the post office when I receive their payment. As a matter of fact, it makes me kind of feel bad when I see the buyer has enclosed a label--to think they went to all of that trouble for nothing.
About writing the eBay number on the outside of the envelope: I agree that it is not a good idea. Anyone who saw it would know that it probably included a payment of some kind.
To me the best thing a buyer can do to help me out is to get payment to me fast so I can mail out their item and complete the deal. I've got boxes of items here right now that were won in auctions that ended December 3rd. I actually had to dust them--partly because they've been here so long and partly because we had to turn on the furnace.
BTW, Happy New Year to all on these boards and thank you for all of the useful advice and information--as well as kind thoughts that you share here.
posted on December 31, 2000 04:11:37 AM new
"Why don't most sellers include their 9 digit zip code in the address when they send it to me?"
Because they don't realize that it gets the payment to them faster!
I ask buyers for their 9-digit ZIP, explaining that it will get the item to them a wee bit faster, and they usually comply.
I STAPLE a shipping label to the check, because many sellers will mail to the address on the check which is not a safe place to have packages delivered to. I tried blacking out the address, but one seller's bank refused the check because it was "altered".
Computer printed labels in a standard font of a decent size (12 point or larger, Arial, Times Roman, or courier) are machine-readable, and every time a sorting machine can read the label it helps your package along. I had one payment take nearly 6 weeks to reach me ... the buyer had already sent another check and the item was shipped ... her first envelope was a manila envelope addressed with pink gel pen and was obviously kicked out by every sorter as "no address", and hand-sorted and thrown back into the mail stream after a delay of several days at each step. I let her know that she needed to stick to plain BLACK for addressing emails so the machines cuold do their job.
posted on December 31, 2000 07:22:46 AM new
Don't put the item number on the envelope. I received a payment nearly 3 weeks after it was sent because the po read the item number as the zip code! And the buyer is in the same state, only a 3 hour drive away.
posted on December 31, 2000 11:06:01 AM new
I work for the federal government and I receive a huge amount of correspondence. Everytime I see a multi-digit number in the return address, it usually means that the letter is from someone that is in prison. LOL
