Just got abused for using rego post !

[outback_blends]

Not on this account but a buyer bought a $30 item off me on Friday. They had  51 feedback  (And yes I am one of those folks who checks a buyers feedback) and there were a  couple of red dots left for sellers and some positive feed backs but with comments like - seller helped work through a problem. These always ring alarm bells for me  so I thought - what the hey ...I will send it rego post.

So put a rego post label on and then entered tracking details to ebay and sent the buyer a message to say thanks for the purchase and the item would be in the post first up Tuesday and tracking number was bla bla bla. That was yesterday. 

Just got a message from them asking why was I using tracking ...they didnt pay for it so why would I send with tracking? I said I have registered post cost built into the price and I send all items over $20 with rego post. I get an email back saying please remove tracking and refund them for the tracking as they dont want it. I replied - Sorry the item is already in the red post box. 

Just waiting for the reply hehehe ! Should be good. 

[enigmabear]

Sounds to me like they were planning on saying something untrue and are miffed 

(I know, I know........I am suppose to think buyers are all honest and would'nt do such things. So I have been told)

Better safe than sorry,I say

[padi*0409]

Shame you didn't know a large bearded bike-riding chappie in the same suburb and had it hand delivered.

Spoiler

Beaut day hey?

[kopenhagen5]

I would have initially replied with, don't worry you are not paying for the rego post, you have only paid for regular post.

Maybe they are peeved as they now can't do an INR scam. 

(I also check feedback of buyers, it's a good habit)

[melbourneclearance]

Good call!!

It's Easter, I always find Easter is the time the crazies and the fraudsters are out in force. I have one case right now where the member sent me a message asking for a discount for 3 items, I checked her FB Left for Others and blocked her on the spot (my block setting allows them to still communicate). She sent me several subsequent messages, increasingly agitated that I did not reply, culminating in calling me some bad names and my shop the hole where people do their natural business.

Yesterday, some one with the same first name bought 3 of the exact same item (the first account always signed her messages with that first name). Same state, neighbouring suburbs, same bloodbath FB Left for Others. I rang ebay right away and ebay told me to either send the items or cancel them. I told ebay that there are only 3 options to cancel a transaction, none of which is remotely close to the issue I had, and I asked ebay which one should I lie and pick. Then ebay said they will send the buyer's 2 accounts to their Safety department and I should just send the items.

I will take the red and fight to the end on this one. Maybe ebay can remove the almost certain neg when it comes since I already told them about it beforehand.

[lyndal1838]

I am a buyer only so I am working on the assumption that some of us are honest.....................

If I bought from a seller who was supposed to be using ordinary untracked postage I would be furious to suddeny be told I would have to be available to sign for my parcel.  It is the same with sellers who change from using Australia Post to using a courier where I have to be available to sign.

This may sound strange to you but I have mobility problems and there are days when I just cannot get to the door at all, let alone get there to sign for a parcel before the postman/courier gives up and leaves.

Getting to the post office to collect a package is not a real problem as our local PO is open on Saturday morning....but it is a nuisance as I cannot go myself and have to ask a family member to do it for me.

But arranging a redelivery from a courier is much more problematic.   Some companies will accept an Authority to Leave for a second delivery which is fine by me but otherwise it is a real PITA.

To overcome these problems I usually buy from sellers who only use Australia Post....untracked for preference, especially on cheaper items but tracking/signature for more expensive items.  Most importantly I like the seller to stick to the postage methods advertised and not throw me a curve ball and change their postage service.

[clubesquire]

I take Lyndal's point. It's valid. But, I wouldn't have thought of it before her post.

OP's situation would have unsettled me too - very much so.

if I'm feeling a bit exposed I just unsure items without the buyers knowledge. Sure, it's a few dollars off our margin, but it gives me peace of mind.

Melina.

[kopenhagen5]

No, I'm sorry but tracked post is to protect me. The buyer doesn't make that call.

And no one can tell me that most buyers will look to make sure it's not with tracking or sig.

I think in OP's case the buyer is only peeved about cost, nothing to do with having to sign or not.

[digital*ghost]

Some of the things you've pointed out are why I now mostly use parcel services to send when I want tracking for an item but don't necessarily think SOD is needed - it is more expensive for under 125g, relatively comparable for 125-250g, and cheaper for 250-500g (after the discount I receive, anyway) but means the buyer doesn't have unexpected hassles, plus reg letter post is often quite slow, even with a priority sticker. Not that I ever had a single buyer complain about reg post being used when it wasn't listed or selected, and I used it for years. 

But, it's not really that simple from a seller's perspective - I'm happy to send one, or even a few items, untracked, therefore I don't charge registered or parcel prices by default on the majority of items, but I definitely won't do so once an order meets the criteria where I'm not risking it, or if the combined weight is over 500g, as then I have no choice regardless of what the customer wants or prefers.

A seller can put in their policies that they will use registered post at their discretion when they may generally use untracked methods, which is what many sellers in my position (selling mostly latter sized items) will do whether they advertise it or not, which obviously leaves buyers in the position of only knowing it's a possibility (I won't reveal all of the circumstances under which I opt for tracking, as I am not interested in letting people know how to avoid it on purpose). I also don't advertise a specific postage method - I select 'standard postage' as the default on listings because it ensures I can charge appropriate postage costs for any given item, but my auto-postage discounts will apply in the cart to all items (selecting different and specific services means that's not possible).

'Standard postage' as a phrase means virtually nothing in terms of indicating a specific postage service or method, and TBH if someone messages me to ask whether or not I use tracked postage methods, though I know rationally that there may be a good reason for the question, my natural instinct is basically "I will for you". 

[clubesquire]

@ Kopes

All our items are tracked, mainly because of value, and I agree, that is the Sellers prerogative.

I might have thought registered was too, but now in consideration if I was sending registered, I'd make it very clear to the buyer.

So many seemingly 'little' things with eBay, ecommerce really, that you can get into a bit of bother with.

Melina.