Item not recieved case opened - whats a cheap alternative for tracking than ebay satchels?

[harleyfxstc2008]

Hi All,

Well, today I had an item not recieved case opened against my selling account, the item according to Australia Post should have been recieved yesterday.

I also had another seperate customer send an eBay message that they haven't recieved their item as well..

Both items were posted the same day in a PB1 padded bag to NSW addresses at the large letter rate so there is no tracking, but I do find it interesting that both buyers asked for the tracking numbers and as we know there is no tracking on the PB1 Padded bags.

Looks like I may have to discontinue posting my items in the PB1 Bags and up my postage prices to provide tracking but what is the best way to provide tracking and keep eBay happy in the future for an item not recieved case?

I use the Ebay 500g Satchels for about 80% of my items that i sell on eBay but the items posted in the PB1 Padded bags are low cost small items and I've only had one PB1 padded bag go missing in over 6 years.

Cheers

Hidiho

[character_parties_aus]

For business to residential delivery there is no cheap alternative. Fast ways are not bad in the same area but unfortunatley for B2R deliveries your choice is very limited especially if sending to PO box.

It sounds like your parcels are not very late yet though.

[davidc4430]

you could tie a piece of string to it and if it goes missing just follow the string. that would be fairly cheap depending on how far you were sending it.

[cq_tech]

It's not Australia Post's fault but eBay's. They're giving buyers ridiculously unrealistic delivery times when in most cases it takes a couple of days longer. You'd be far better off increasing your handling time by a day or two and that will give you a bit more leeway when it comes to trigger-happy buyers who are stupid enough to believe everything they're told by eBay. Their items will probably turn up tomorrow or the next day anyway.

[curraone]

Yes, first increase your handling time, so that the ebay estimate gives you more time.

For large letters, you could register them?    I understand you can buy a roll of 50 registered labels for $3.10 each;  or individually register at $3.70. plus cost of postage,

$3.50 plus $3.10 = $6.60

$3.50 plus $3.70 = $7.20

Buying labels might not be much of a saving really, because you can send a 500g parcel with tracking on ebay labels for $6.48 while the discounted postage lasts.

What size is PB1?

[curraone]

Plus some buyers do not like registered items, because it means they have to go to the PO to sign for them.

[cq_tech]

PB1s are 180mm x 240mm (perfect size for posting DVDs).

1 x DVD = 120g = $1.40 postage. Normal 125g, 250g, 500g large letter cutoffs apply.

[hidi-ho]

Thanks Character Parties,

I do have an ABN,  but running the business from home and I'm also moving to Tasmania in 7 days and I think that the area I am moving to may have issue with using couriers, I'll be scoping this out once I have moved as I have some large Items weighing 6-8kg and looking for alternatives. Australia Post deliveries in my area that I am moving to are only 4 days per week ( no postage on Wednesdays).

One parcel isn't really late and I think the buyer is jumping the gun a little and i've requested that he get back to me if his parcel hasn't turned up by Monday as I pointed out it is the xmas period and postage is delayed with Austraia Post during this period. The other parcel went to a large corporation address and may be sitting in the reception area..

cheers

Hidiho

[hidi-ho]

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@davidc4430 wrote:

you could tie a piece of string to it and if it goes missing just follow the string. that would be fairly cheap depending on how far you were sending it.

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Thanks davidc4430,

Some how I don't think taking a photo with the buyer holding a ball of string attached to the located parcel will satisfy eBay's tracking criteria..

Cheers

Hidiho

[hidi-ho]

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@cq_tech wrote:
It's not Australia Post's fault but eBay's. They're giving buyers ridiculously unrealistic delivery times when in most cases it takes a couple of days longer. You'd be far better off increasing your handling time by a day or two and that will give you a bit more leeway when it comes to trigger-happy buyers who are stupid enough to believe everything they're told by eBay. Their items will probably turn up tomorrow or the next day anyway.

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Hello cq_tech,

Oddley enough the Australia Post website and the customers order summary on eBay both show estimated delivery on the 3rd of December.

I have 2 business days as the handling time  and mark the parcel as "sent" as soon as it is posted which is normally 0-1 days but does the ebay system throw the handling time out the window once marked as sent???... who knows with ebay these days.

Cheers

Hidiho