posted on November 22, 2001 12:23:06 PM new
I ship via USPS Priority. I sell clothing. Nothing that really weighs to much, costs at a max around $6.00 a packeage... lots sometimes being a bit more. So far, I've had nothing but wild success... some of my customers have even reported that they got their goods *the next day* however, recently that's all gone to pot.
I've got two people, items sent out the same day well over a week ago who have not yet received their items. Since this is my first year on e-bay I've got a couple of questions that hopefully someone can answer:
(1) When does the Holiday 'slow down' in the mail generally begin? I didn't figure it would start this soon.
(2) Is anyone else experiencing slow mail delivery? I figure the current state of the country could allow for som eissues, but it still seems slightly slow to me. Just two weeks ago it took 5 days for me to mail a deposit to my bank, which is in the same city I am (but, strangely enough, since they are an internet-based bank, they'll only take deposits through the mail, never been a problem until now).
(3) Does it take longer to ship to a route number rather than to an address? One of the guys who hasn't received his shipment is on a route, leading me to believe that he's rather rural, making me wonder if that could possibly be cause for delay.
Just curious, hoping to have some light shed on this. My policies clearly state that if you want to make sure your item gets there, you need to pay insurance, it's out of my hands (literally) once I mail the package, but I'd hate to have unhappy customers a sa result of this.
posted on November 22, 2001 02:26:14 PM new
I mailed out a pkg. monday and got an email today that they received it yesterday. That is quick I'd say. But at other times it took 5 days so I think it is a toss up. They will probably get their pkg. soon so I wouldn't worry yet.
posted on November 22, 2001 07:20:08 PM new
Right now, All bets are off with USPS devivery times . Some packages (and payments)arrive quickly (a few days) and some are delayed up to two weeks. Build some leaway into your system for awhile - Be helpful to your bidder and communicate frequently till the item shows. You get more repeat buys if you go the extra mile.
Best of Luck & Happy Turkey day
posted on November 22, 2001 10:05:14 PM new
I guess I'm afraid I'm going to get the backlash. I'm confident he'll get the package, I've never lost anything in the mail and everything's well and good, but his e-mails haven't exactly been patient. I'll get an e-mail from him, respond to him, then he'll send another one in a couple of days acting a wee bit cranky.
I've been trying to be patient with him and hoping he'll be patient with me and the USPS as well, but I'm not sure what to do if he gets all uppity about it.
I'm considering putting a statement either in auction or in shipment notification letting folks know about the mail delays, but I don't want to scare people off since most of my packages have been arriving at their destinations without incident.
posted on November 23, 2001 04:18:53 AM new
I recently put a statement in my "item shipped" notification e-mail that stated something about the slower mail. One of my buyers started screaming at me before the package ever got out the door. I decided to delete any information about shipping time from my e-mails and just not mention it. This is also my advice to you.
As for the guy who is upset that his package hasn't arrived yet, simply stop answering his every e-mail. I do understand customer service but this hand-holding is not necessary.
posted on November 23, 2001 06:57:22 AM new
Offering insurance alone is not enough in my opinion, you need automatically include the free e-Delivery Confirmation. It is free.
1. It confirms the address.
2. It prints a big label which the po likes.
3. It confirms shipment through your manifest, and lately my po has been scanning at receiving window, and of course, will confirm delivery.
4. Email the buyer the day it ships to alert them the package is on its way.
I have few delivery or missing package complaints from my buyers. There are some out there who do not insure, hope you don't get delivery confirmation, and then scam you saying it never arrived. Delivery confirmation is MY insurance against "non-delivery" fraud. When they claim the package didn't arrive, I tell them the DC # and send them to the USPS website to verify.
I also advise them I will be happy to start a missing package investigation which they will have to sign off on. Package shows up - without fail - within 24 hours. Amazing, isn't it?
posted on November 23, 2001 02:18:32 PM new
What sort of labels do you need to use for the USPS free delivery confirmation? Do their standard labels have enough room for that information on them, or do I need to buy some blank labels?
posted on November 23, 2001 04:14:23 PM new
I can't seem to even *FIND* electronic delivery confirmation anywhere on the USPS site, though they talk about it in many places. I know I've been there before, but for the life of me I can't find my way back there. Anyone have the address?
posted on November 23, 2001 07:03:07 PM new
I've noticed my priority mail is taking anywhere from 2 days to 10 days depending on where it's going. I have added a notice in my shipping confirmation that packages are taking longer than the usual priority 2-3 days shipping and to please be patient. I highly recommend delivery confirmation mainly because of the priority delays. This way my customers know I've shipped their order when I promised and that it is in the hands of the postal service. Even though some packages are taking an unusually long time to be delivered I have not heard one complaint from a customer and I attribute this to the fact with delivery confirmation (free or $0.40) they can see I've shipped it, also I can see when they receive it and no one has tried the old "I don't have my package" routine.
posted on November 23, 2001 10:37:01 PM new
Things do get lost. It is up to you what you want to do. I do offer insurance as a precaution. I have offered to reship an item as long as the buyer resends postage. As long as I had one. I figured that we both took a hit that way. That backfired and I wound up refunfing the Bid Price. He still kept emailing me for the postage. I told him to stick it. In NJ all Mail is funky. I got a Neg from a buyer who I told him I sent the Pkg within 2 days of receiving his Payment. He waited a week and neged me without an email. He did not take ins. Hope that helps!
