topic Re: Ebay Australia Post Integrated Shipping in Selling

Ebay Australia Post Integrated Shipping

vidamas2 — Thu, 24 Oct 2013 08:05:34 GMT

Please, please tell me that you are working on a better tool for integrating shipping than "ClickandSend"! I am originally a US ebay seller but recently moved to Australia. I have to say it was very simple and straight forward shipping in Ebay USA via Paypal. Why is it so convoluted and here? After signing up for click and send, linking my ebay account, importing my sold items, correcting the address (apparently the AusPost webpage thinks Perth is in ACT???), checking out, then finally going to pay for and print my label I find that I can't simply pay via paypal and print out a label - no, you have to pay for courier pickup OR pay at the post office. WHAT?? Why in the world did I just do all this ONLINE - so I can STILL go stand in a line at the post office??? In the US, you pay via paypal and your label prints with postage already paid, and then you drop it off at any post office. No waiting in lines, no couriers. Why is it so hard here??

Re: Ebay Australia Post Integrated Shipping

phorum_junkie* — Thu, 24 Oct 2013 20:50:07 GMT

You do not have to pay at the PO or use courier pick up if you use the ebay branded satchels or B1,2 and 4 boxes. It is also cheaper to use the branded satchels and if you must use your own packaging then you may as well just print or write your own labels and take the parcels to the PO to post over the counter.

Many of us are more than happy with click & send.

Re: Ebay Australia Post Integrated Shipping

phorum_junkie* — Thu, 24 Oct 2013 08:23:13 GMT

Should have added that I am sure just printing and paying for a label in the US does not give you full seller protection if the article does not have to be signed for and that information is made available on line. If you want seller protection here then you have to prove you have posted to the buyer's address, you get this proof with c&s or if you use regular parcel with SOG. If you don't want seller protection then you are perfectly at liberty to write your own label and use a red satchel or stick on the required number of stamps and place the parcel straight into a red box

Re: Ebay Australia Post Integrated Shipping

vidamas2 — Thu, 24 Oct 2013 09:17:21 GMT

Oh, you mean the ebay branded satchels and boxes that you have to purchase? Just another example of how Australians get ripped off: http://ebaysupplies.usps.com/usps Yep, in the US ebay and the USPS offer free boxes, delivered to your house for free, and you can choose to use flat rate or not. Also, saying that flat rate is "cheaper" is of course relative. Today I shipped a parcel weighing 350g for $6.95 in my own box. None of the flat rate options is cheaper. And further to your last point - yes, I may as well just print the address label by hand or use Word to make a shipping label and then go stand in line at the post office (that was my point exactly)....there's no advantage going through the agony of clickandsend. Typically, doing things online should make my life easier, not waste more time. What would be the point of online banking if you had to select which statement to view and then go to the bank to pick it up?

Re: Ebay Australia Post Integrated Shipping

vidamas2 — Thu, 24 Oct 2013 20:59:02 GMT

I find it amazing that you "are sure just printing and paying for a label in the US does not give you full seller protection...". The label is printed directly through PayPal, uses the buyer's registered address (you must use this address to be protected as a seller), and you can add delivery confirmation, proof of delivery, signature, insurance, etc. You can add any option you want. Maybe have a look here and read up a bit about it:
http://pages.ebay.com/help/pay/printing-labels.html

Re: Ebay Australia Post Integrated Shipping

vidamas2 — Thu, 24 Oct 2013 20:59:43 GMT

I'm glad you're happy with c&s. It's a bulky, awkward, and inept solution, considering how easy it is in the US. That's why I made my original post, in hope that something new and better is just around the corner....and I have to say this is the last time I'll use c&s. If you want to "look at the stars" then look to the USPS and ebay partnership and shake your head at how you get ripped off here in Oz.

Re: Ebay Australia Post Integrated Shipping

thendreamer — Thu, 24 Oct 2013 09:44:36 GMT

@vidamas2 wrote:
there's no advantage going through the agony of clickandsend.

Auspost prices are all over the place, if you go to a retail store and buy a 500 gram satchel you will pay $8.25 but if you use your own plastic bag it's just $6.95 at the same post office.

If you don't know your prices you will lose money and lots of it. Flatrate boxes are good value if you have small heavy items.

Re: Ebay Australia Post Integrated Shipping

davewil1964 — Thu, 24 Oct 2013 21:00:37 GMT

The reason C&S thought Perth was in the ACT is because that is the default when an invalid address is used. Blame the buyer, they are the one using the wrong format.

The boxes are standard boxes, purchasable from most AP outlets. The eBay satchels are inexpensive (15 or 21 cents). USPS delivers boxes, bags for free? Bubblewrap too? That might be one of the reasons they are going broke.

You are in Australia now, not the US so you need to adapt. Different country, different culture, different laws even.

Re: Ebay Australia Post Integrated Shipping

harley_babes_hoard — Thu, 24 Oct 2013 10:23:44 GMT

I will not use click and send. I tried it and with all the extra hassle printing labels, using ink and paper and the website crashing and playing up all the time, it just not worth it to save a dollar.

Re: Ebay Australia Post Integrated Shipping

blakesus — Thu, 24 Oct 2013 11:25:30 GMT

@vidamas2 wrote:
If you want to "look at the stars" then look to the USPS and ebay partnership and shake your head at how you get ripped off here in Oz.

At least with Australia Post you are likely to get your parcel, of the last 9 items I've bought that have been sent by USPS, 3 of them have gone missing (floating around somewhere in the Chicago sort facility black hole, never to be seen again) and 1 was a month later than it should have been. USPS are absolutely useless in my experience.

Re: Ebay Australia Post Integrated Shipping

digital*ghost — Thu, 24 Oct 2013 11:54:15 GMT

@vidamas2 wrote:
I'm glad you're happy with c&s. It's a bulky, awkward, and inept solution, considering how easy it is in the US. That's why I made my original post, in hope that something new and better is just around the corner....and I have to say this is the last time I'll use c&s, because, thank goodness, no one is forcing me to use it. If you want to "look at the stars" then look to the USPS and ebay partnership and shake your head at how you get ripped off here in Oz.

There is an eBay-integrated solution currently being rolled out, I have had a look at it and it seems like it's easy enough to use, with the postage charge added to your eBay fees. But as with any system, it's not suitable for everyone (anyone needing to claim the GST back, for examle). C&S, with the flat rate satchels, has its flaws, and some things are inexplicable (particularly why you can't pay for non-flat rate postage online, and why you can't pay for flat rate postage at the post office).

I'm sure there are lots of great things about the US postal system, some of which buyers and sellers in Oz might just envy. Except the thing about how it's broke, which isn't very starry to me. (I don't mean any offence, I'm not Australia Post's biggest fan by a long shot, so it's not about defending them, just pointing out all that glitters etc).

Re: Ebay Australia Post Integrated Shipping

vidamas2 — Thu, 24 Oct 2013 21:02:00 GMT

Yep, of course I'm in Australia now, different culture and different rules yada, yada. Anyway...I'm new to ebay Australia policies and the Australia Post, that's why I'm asking the question in the first place, to see if perhaps I'm missing something. But I guess not. Thanks for the advice.

Re: Ebay Australia Post Integrated Shipping

davewil1964 — Thu, 24 Oct 2013 21:02:31 GMT

If the OP or you was prepared to read you would find some sound advice in here.

Re: Ebay Australia Post Integrated Shipping

phorum_junkie* — Thu, 24 Oct 2013 21:02:53 GMT

Perhaps if the US ebay system is so much better than in Aus you would like them to roll out a few more of the US policies like paying fvfs on the total cost including delivery.

Incidentally you can add delivery confirmation and extra cover (insurance) with click & send.

there are courier companies that provide free satchels and pick parcels up from your home, if you prefer to use them that is your choice, nobody forces you to use AP with or without click & send.

Re: Ebay Australia Post Integrated Shipping

*crikey*mate* — Thu, 24 Oct 2013 21:04:21 GMT

@vidamas2 wrote:
I find it amazing that you "are sure just printing and paying for a label in the US does not give you full seller protection...". The label is printed directly through PayPal, uses the buyer's registered address (you must use this address to be protected as a seller), and you can add delivery confirmation, proof of delivery, signature, insurance, etc. You can add any option you want. Maybe have a look here and read up a bit before you make your next statement about things you "know":
http://pages.ebay.com/help/pay/printing-labels.html

ummmm, PJ is an international seller and sells on 3 continents!

just sayin, so it's my guess that she does have a fair idea about what she is aying.

I'm just wondering here if your extras such as "delivery confirmation, signature and insiurance etc are included in your standard postage price in the US or are they extra costs incurrd?

Here in Australia, admittedly we are a bit dumb and behind the times, but we do not have to prove delivery for a PayPal claim, only a tracking number and proof of lodgement. We can select all the frilly bits, but these cost an additional fee to our standard postage price.

Perth will be listed in the ACT if the customer fills in their details incorrectly in their address section - it is amazing how many customers input their suburb into the address line and then Perth as their city but then a postcode that relates to their street address. This is a customer input issue, not a C&S malfunction.

You do NOT have to select courier pick up, the other option is to pay now and lodge later. If you select this and use one of the flat rate satchels or boxes and enter their corresponding codes, you can immediately pay by a number of methods, including PayPal.

I think that if you select "own packaging" however, that you do physically have to pay at the post office, but I am not positive about this bit.

With a c&S prcel, you can just drop your parcel into any red letter box, however this does not guarantee that your item will be scanned into the system, so to ensure that you have the best Seller protection possible, it is best to lodge your parcel over the counter at your post office, make sure they scan it into the system and issue you a receipt.

hmmm, two comments about the US postal system

1) isn't it in financial crisis?

2) the new Global Shipping program...... which if you read around the boards, most aussie sellers now refuse to use or trade with ellers who do subscribe to it die to it's alleged unreliability and extremely inflated prices!

I wish you all the best with your ebay trading experiences via the eBay AU trading principles and practises.

BTW, did you know that if a 350g parcel is less than 20mm thick, it can probably be posted for less than $3 to anywhere in Australia?

Re: Ebay Australia Post Integrated Shipping

*crikey*mate* — Thu, 24 Oct 2013 16:53:37 GMT

@vidamas2 wrote:
I find it amazing that you "are sure just printing and paying for a label in the US does not give you full seller protection...". The label is printed directly through PayPal, uses the buyer's registered address (you must use this address to be protected as a seller), and you can add delivery confirmation, proof of delivery, signature, insurance, etc. You can add any option you want. Maybe have a look here and read up a bit before you make your next statement about things you "know":
http://pages.ebay.com/help/pay/printing-labels.html

I may be wrong here, and i am sure that plenty of people will correct me if I am wrong, but any transations that originate from eBay US must be able to prove proof of delivery, in addition to tracking and proof of lodgement, which is all that is required here don under for PayPal Seller prtoection in the cases of INR

Re: Ebay Australia Post Integrated Shipping

*crikey*mate* — Thu, 24 Oct 2013 20:47:23 GMT

@vidamas2 wrote:
Yep, of course I'm in Australia now, different culture and different rules yada, yada. What exactly does carrying weapons have to do with Click and Send??

___________________________________________________________________________________________________

I think Dave was pointing out that being a different country, lots of things are going to be a different to what you are used to and will just take a bit of getting used to and learning a few new ropes.

Re: Ebay Australia Post Integrated Shipping

n-i-c-o-l-a-j-a-n-e — Fri, 08 Nov 2013 20:48:52 GMT

Dear OP,
Welcome to Australia and I hope getting so many defensive and somewhat hostile responses to your perfectly reasonable question hasn't confused or offended you to much. When I first moved here I remember being quite mystified by the apparent collective need of my adopted countrymen to challenge anything and everything I said on the basis I was not (yet) an Aussie, therefore I must be wrong, irrespective of my actual opinion.... Now it's a few year down the track, so I know this strange behaviour has nothing to do with national patriotism and everything to do with personal pride. After all, no one wants to admit they're the underdog, and that is why we will defend the inept, the corrupt and the ignorant - or in the case of click-and-send the just plane useless - until the cows come home..... And yes we do we pay more Australia. For absolutely everything....gee I wonder why. 😉

Re: Ebay Australia Post Integrated Shipping

abaca_1 — Sun, 15 Jun 2014 23:21:58 GMT

Considering thequestion asker has not listed or sold any items in Australia in almost ayear.. I guess the question is mute.

Re: Ebay Australia Post Integrated Shipping

clarry100 — Sun, 15 Jun 2014 23:36:35 GMT

We use C&S occasionally when we need to use a parcel to send something out.

Really the only problem we see is buyer induced. Well I think the registration process.

They very often put their town/suburb name on line #3.

And their nearest capital city in the CITY field.

This causes a mismatch between the postcode and city and the to address fails to validate.

So we have to shuffle around the address so it all matches up.

Not sure if doing this would invalidate paypal protection since then it does not match identically with the paypal data.

Must be something to do with the registration process where the rules of address entry are not too strict.