posted on September 10, 2011 08:26:17 AM new
Here is a note I got from one of my buyers:
Note to seller:
Important: Please do not use any type of Styrofoam, or shredded paper, foam, or other materials in packaging. Crumpled paper, bubble wrap (without tape), bubble pillows, and plastic bags work well. Thank you.
Should I be annoyed, insulted??
This item is going from NJ to CA and is fragile. It is not large, but I offered free shipping and I am not going to increase the weight by using crumpled paper. What is the difference to the buyer if I use crumpled paper as opposed to shredded paper??
I think I am annoyed. Buyer is not a newbie 700+ feedback.
posted on September 10, 2011 09:10:32 AM new
otteropp: You may be right, I will package to suit their request as much as possible, but NO TAPE on bubble wrap, come on!! Let's not get carried away with special requests.
posted on September 10, 2011 09:22:43 AM new
No Tape?
I buy porcelain from European makers and they will ship in big box with lots of peanuts ,the porcelain piece will be wrapped in bubble wrap with no tape.
The oversize box filled with peanuts allow the piece to bounce lightly without breakage.
If the customs want to examine the merchandise,they dont have to remove any tape.
Is there any other reason why they dont use tape?I dont know,does it help to prevent breakage,I dont know.But it works.
*
There is no 'Global savings glut',only wild horses and loose bankers.
posted on September 10, 2011 09:44:15 AM new
We used to buy big 750" wheels of bubblewrap from a packaging supplier however now we rarely need bubblewrap.
A few weeks ago we needed a small amount and bought a package from Staples.
My DH who does the packaging said it was interesting as it has a slight adhesive quality on the outside and didn't need tape.
posted on September 10, 2011 10:51:05 AM new
your buyer must buy a lot.
I found it annoying when some sellers wrapped and sealed the item into a cocoon and I have to cut it open with a sharp kinife.
*
There is no 'Global savings glut',only wild horses and loose bankers.
posted on September 10, 2011 12:27:53 PM new
Sore subject with me! Some envelope-packages have come to me so wrapped that I had to struggle to remove booklet or book without damaging them. Recently a package bubble envelope came COMPLETELY WRAPPED ROUND AND ROUND WITH PACKING TAPE. It was a nightmare to open. ~Adele
posted on September 10, 2011 01:26:01 PM new
I am one of those people that go OCD with a tape gun in her hands.
Luckily my better half does all the packing!
I have never had packing parameters dictated in such detail.
Just the usual "please pack carefully with plenty of bubble wrap". I used take it personally (even though I am not actually doing the packing...lol), till it was pointed out to me that they have probably received items broken due to poor packing.
posted on September 10, 2011 02:36:10 PM new
I am so tired of receiving items in a recycled envelope or box.
This reminds me to start requesting that my purchases not be shipped in envelopes or boxes that have been turned inside out, and that proper support be given to flexible items.
Further, perhaps we all should leave feedback and ratings that reflect how the items are packed and shipped.
I went on a buying spree buying up old trading stamps, and trading stamp saver books - you should see how those items came packed.
posted on September 10, 2011 02:49:37 PM new
"This reminds me to start requesting that my purchases not be shipped in envelopes or boxes that have been turned inside out, and that proper support be given to flexible items"
If you wish an item packed or sent a particular way, it's only common courtesy to inform them BEFORE the purchase is made and invoice sent.
posted on September 10, 2011 03:35:22 PM new
I'm curious why BEFORE? Reasonable expectations would be that the item(s) would not be shipped in garbage or recycled waste.
For example if someone is charging $3.99 to ship two small trading stamp saver books, am I to assume that the seller will ship in an old envelope that has been turned inside out? And the mail is still in the envelope? (actually happened). Or, in a plastic bag, wrapped and taped? (again, actually happened)
Com'on max, there should be some basic expectations. I just don't believe those expectations are being met by many of today's eBay sellers.
How do you ship your items? Do you list an item knowing that your quoted shipping cost is based on supplies retrieved from the dumpsters at the local shopping center. Do you notify your buyer in the item description?
I think that the original request by the buyer was a reasonable request. Most likely the buyer was burned by some other seller in the past.
posted on September 10, 2011 04:14:06 PM new
Kozersky, I do not think my buyer's requestS were reasonable. It IS reasonable to receive your item in a neat, clean, safely packaged way, but it is NOT reasonable to dictate what those packaging materials should be. Why no foam styrofoam, etc.? That is the sellers' perogative how they decide what is a safe method making sure items reach their destination safely.
I will follow most of the requests. I do not mind when a buyer says, please package carefully, although, I would never make that request as to me it is a given.
I must be in the minority since I have never received an item in a dirty envelope, etc. I have received items where the sender was a little over zealous with tape, but it does not bother me as their intentions were to get it to me safely.
(edited due to not paying attention, Cliff Lee is pitching!!
posted on September 10, 2011 04:42:36 PM new
"How do you ship your items? Do you list an item knowing that your quoted shipping cost is based on supplies retrieved from the dumpsters at the local shopping center.(?)"
In some cases, yes. I ship MANY DIFFERENT sized objects, from a few ounces to 25-30 lbs. If I were shipping stamps it would be easy. If I have an odd sized/shaped object to ship, I have been known to raid a cardboard recycling bin.
If you order a large, heavy object from me it might come in a toilet paper carton. It might also have recycled styrofoam sheets lining the box from the local furniture store.
Obviously I don't ship in a used pizza box or inside out padded envelope, but YES, some of the items I ship come in recycled packaging.
posted on September 10, 2011 04:56:44 PM new
I also occasionally use recycled boxes if the items require an unusual shape. I usually use priority boxes and buy some small boxes for first class packages, but every once in a while I use previously used, clean boxes that I may have gotten in a package sent to me,etc. They are always clean, appropriate and free of old labels, etc.
This buyer did not make any request as to box, just the contents. Not only did she tell me what not to use, she told me what she deemed OK to use.
Hmmm, maybe that old pizza box with some crumpled newspaper and plastic bags will make her happy!! (JUST KIDDING)
posted on September 10, 2011 05:06:39 PM new
With the actual cost of shipping, and trying to hide the fact that items are insured (by the buyer,) the addition of a $4.00 - $5.00 box purchased at a UPS or FedEx store would be a killer. Buyers are conscious of cost to ship, and make decisions to purchased based on that.
Actually, most of the praise I get in my feedback mentions great packaging. Whether the box says Tide or Kleenex doesn't seem to matter.
[ edited by max40 on Sep 10, 2011 05:08 PM ]
posted on September 10, 2011 05:34:31 PM new
Here is a portion of my notice I sent to her:
Hi ***,
Thank you for your payment. Your item will be shipped on Monday. Re shipping, safety is my chief concern as well as keeping costs down (weight) since I offered free shipping on this item and it is going from coast to coast. (I am in NJ, you are in OR.)
Your satisfaction is my aim.
Let me know if there is anything else I can do. Thanks again, ****
posted on September 10, 2011 05:44:41 PM new
I have received a dead cockroach,torn and worn Walmart bags,paper towels in lieu of bubble wrap.
What bothers me these days is that many are not insuring the item,like the seller who shipped a $300 watch with UPS and now the content is stolen.
This case involves me the buyer,the seller,the independently owned UPS shop which does the packing,the UPS driver,UPS and Ebay.
Since UPS workers have been opening up packages before they are being loaded into the truck for delivery,UPS now wants to study these packages with missing content to see if this could be an inside job !
(This is what my UPS driver told me,inside UPS,workers have been slashing packages to retrieve Iphone and Ipad and seal them back ).
There was a time airport luggage haulers were stealing cell phone and cameras and other valuables once these luggages are hauled inside the enclosed area for further distribution)
*
There is no 'Global savings glut',only wild horses and loose bankers.
posted on September 11, 2011 06:40:35 AM new
Perhaps she has allergies??
Unsure why crumpled paper not shredded paper?
She should have stated that as her request does add weight to the item.
I think I would request that she pay for the additional cost including insurance as it won't be packed to your standards.
posted on September 11, 2011 06:48:31 AM new
sounds like someone who buys a lot to resell,could have a problem unpacking if there are too many loose particles,I would not make this a big issue,there are so many buyers and sellers,not worth analyzing to death why some one wants this and someone wants that.
Recently a UK buyer informed me a small figurine made of amber with insect inclusions,after studying under a strong microscope,she found chips and no insect,so she is returning the item?
Another buyer bought a small figurine,gave it to her grandson to play with and he broke it,she left me feedback saying I should have warned her !
*
There is no 'Global savings glut',only wild horses and loose bankers.
posted on September 12, 2011 07:03:52 AM new
OK, package was sent today. Item was wrapped in a clean Macy's bag in a new small box.
Should be fine.
My problem still is would people dictate shipping materials to Macys, Amazon, Zappos, etc?? NO!! Why do they think they can dictate terms to Ebay sellers??
If they think the sellers on Ebay are so unreliable, why buy from this "venue"??
posted on September 12, 2011 10:14:03 AM new
"My problem still is would people dictate shipping materials to Macys, Amazon, Zappos, etc?? NO!! Why do they think they can dictate terms to Ebay sellers??"
Amazon and Zappos would not ship an item in a clean Macy*s bag. Nor would you expect to receive an item in a tissue box from Macy*s.
Buyers at those stores would not expect anything but new packaging materials. Longtime buyers at eBay know that they could receive their item packaged in "surprise" materials.
Perhaps they are now asking so as to control the "extras" that come with their purchase.
posted on September 12, 2011 10:26:28 AM new
Hold it, hold it Kozersky, it was shipped wrapped in a Macys' bag at their request. I would never normally ship it wrapped in a plastic bag. Please read initial post!!
posted on September 12, 2011 10:32:37 AM new
In all fairness, I should add that most eBay buyers would not buy an item that was packaged in new material, because the shipping cost, or item price would be higher, so as to reflect the cost of packaging material.
So, it appears that eBay sellers are caught between the cost of shipping materials and an eBay buyer's expectations of low shipping cost.
Tough situation to be in. I feel for the sellers of large or heavy items.
posted on September 12, 2011 10:45:28 AM new
kozersky, you are right about the costs.Many of the items I purchase I keep in mind the ease and cost of shipping. Even a great deal is not a deal if it requires major shipping hassles and expensive shipping. So many online vendors like Home Deport are shipping large items FREE!! It is tough to complete with that.
Us, relatively small guys, are taking a real hit.
I buy items well below retail, but they are luxury items and many of them are quite heavy. The profit margin is really shrinking and it may not be worth it in the future (see other thread re Canadian postage, USPS is hurting and our costs are going up and Ebay is trying to get us to give away shipping. I know other posters here are able to do it even on large items, it is a hardship for me.) Still, the original intent of this thread was to vent about a buyer dictating how I should package items. I still think that is uncalled for. If I had ever received an item in a dirty pizza box, etc as some people on this message board say they have, I would have stopped buying anything from Ebay long ago. I have never had a bad experience like that.
posted on September 12, 2011 10:47:52 AM new
"Hold it, hold it Kozersky, it was shipped wrapped in a Macys' bag at their request."
I must have missed the request that a Macy*s bag was acceptable.
Cheez, you just don't understand. There are sellers who use material that is dirty, and unacceptable for use. Yet, they continue to do so. Those are the sellers that I am addressing.
One time, I unpacked an order from an eBay seller that was packed in plastic bags and other ugly material - spent the night in the ER with unexplained swelling of my hands, arms, neck and face.
If you have to, and want to use, recycled material I understand. What I have posted is just my opinion based upon my experiences.
