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. 

[davewil1964]

I generally send any 'free' postage items worth over $25 registered. Or as a parcel. It depends on my mood and how close to the 20mm limit it is.

If I end up sending registered, I don't usually put it in the listing. Generally, I will send as a parcel as it only costs about $1 extra and I can package a bit better.

[*tippy*toes*]

Yeah, that!  

[digital*ghost]

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@clubesquirewrote:

 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.

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It kind of is, as least the SOGA (sale of goods act) indicates as much, which states that the seller is responsible for selecting the most appropriate postage method , unless the buyer provides instructions. It doesn't get any more specific than that, either, which also indicates "appropriate" is entirely circumstantial. Of course, that was written long before the implications of ebay / PayPal seller protection were ever a thing, nor was there even widespread advertising with specific postage methods pre-selected, but it still exists in that form today. 

The way I look at it is this...

I want to get the purchase to the buyer safely, and part of that task is to make a judgement call on the most effective way to do that. In some cases, I decide safety trumps convenience. Tracking that shows delivery, or proof of post (for PayPal) will protect me in most cases but doesn't help the buyer if they genuinely don't have the package, so when I add signature on delivery to a parcel, it's because I don't want either myself or the buyer to risk loss such as post-delivery theft, because nothing covers that (unless the buyer has contents insurance that will cover it, I guess). As I'm not in direct communication with about 95% of my buyers, nor do I have any knowledge of their personal circumstances, I have to make that judgement call on other factors. 

If you don't always send registered or with signature on delivery, then the best you can do is have it in your policies that shipments may be upgraded to registered at your discretion (I do have this myself in one of my policies, and also add that it's at no additional cost to the buyer). 

[melbourneclearance]

"...unless the buyer provides instructions..."

The buyer is not the best judge as to how best an item should be packaged and posted. If they really must, then they can pay for the most expensive method, or get a courier of their own to pick up the item.

I want to expand on dave's point, getting a large letter registered is the ONLY way to get a tracking number and cover the seller's behind. I wouldn't pay for over $1 extra each time just to put the item in a parcel if I know it is safe in a padded envelope.. Besides, just last week I had a buyer complain that I put her item in a box way too big for it (even with paper paddings) and that I should have put the item in a padded envelope instead.

The bottom line is, if a buyer wants to complain, they will complain no matter what you do.

[lyndal1838]

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@digital*ghostwrote:

'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". 

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This is exactly the reason why I would never question a seller's postage method.  I have to rely on the seller not changing their mind.....if they list as a basic AP service I would expect that my AP contractor or postman would be able to safe drop my parcel in the container that I have used for many years with no problems.

[melbourneclearance]

Lyndal, but AP and StarTrack are interchangeable. Sometimes one delivers the other's items. I'm not sure if StarTrack would just dump AP's items at the front door if a signature is required.

[zanadoo_56]

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@kopenhagen5wrote:

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.

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I agree with Lyndal as I have the same issues.  I ALWAYS look to make sure there's no sig required.  I have to as generally posties and couriers don't wait long enough for me to get to the door to sign for the item.  I miss the parcel....and I can't collect it.  It's that simple.

It may be the seller's call to decide on registered post but it is extremely frustrating if the seller doesn't say they will only use registered post or a courier service or whatever in the listing. 

Sellers - if you are not going to use plain old no frills Aust Post service but insist on registered post or signed delivery by courier, for God's sake SAY SO IN THE LISTING.  So many don't, alas. 

[lyndal1838]

StarTrack is owned by Australia Post so yes, they are the same company at the end of the day.

It is only quite recently that the powers that be have decided that they are going to be interchangeable in the delivery of parcels.  StarTrack uses the same delivery criteria as AP.....safe drop if no signature is required.....take it to the local PO if there is no-one there to sign.

The usual reason that StarTrack will be given an AP parcel is if there is no dedicated AP parcel contractor in the area.

[melbourneclearance]

Having to pick up a parcel at the post office is an issue, not just for people with mobility problems, but also people who work far from home and many others, with or without the half Saturday AP's trading hours.

Speaking for myself, the only times I would pay for registered are when:

- I deem a buyer is of high risk

- An unknown buyer who has not bought before buys multiple items which would normally not be registered and sent in a large letter, but the total amount adds up to an amount that I feel is too big to risk. This amount depends on my mood.

- High value items I do not want to be left at the front door. Also depends on my mood, but usually over $300.

It is a difficult issue. On one hand, the seller will want to cover their own behind at the cheapest possible cost. My second point above can easily be solved by putting everything in a box and send it as a parcel for over $1 more out of my own pocket, yes. But that's my own money everytime I do it. Points 1 & 3 above will never change as I DO want the items delivered personally into the hands of someone at home. The signature may not be necessary to win an ebay/PayPal case, but it can save me from some very unpleasant situations.

To solve points 1 & 3 above, Australia Post will need to come up with another alternative to their current method.

[digital*ghost]

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@zanadoo_56wrote:

Sellers - if you are not going to use plain old no frills Aust Post service but insist on registered post or signed delivery by courier, for God's sake SAY SO IN THE LISTING.  So many don't, alas. 

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For many sellers, this has to be decided upon on a case by case basis, though, so they can't indicate specifics for 100% of the orders that they get. This is the point I was trying to make earlier - I actually charge for untracked letter postage on individual items, and for most people the low charge will indicate that for a single item, but the final decision on the postage service I use is decided upon after an order is received and I'm able to see total value, weight and destination (amongst other things), so it's really not possible for me to indicate ahead of time, and a list of circumstances in which I will send either tracked, or tracked with sig, is not a good idea in the grand scheme of things.

'Standard postage' is ambiguous enough for that, though - Via Aus Post, standard delivery generally doesn't mean SOD because it's an added cost with most services, but if I was using a courier, it generally does because it's usually included in the rates. 'Standard postage' doesn't specify a carrier, so for the most part, what is or isn't included can only be assumed unless confirmed up front.

If an Aus Post parcel has tracking and the seller has included your email address on the label, you can always request safe drop if the parcel actually has SOD required, you just have to accept liability if anything happens to the parcel after it's delivered. 

@melbourneclearance - with the buyers specific instructions, in the context of the SOGA, this releases the seller of liability if something goes wrong (i.e. the seller is responsible for choosing an appropriate postage method, and if they fail to do so, the buyer can hold them liable if something goes wrong. If the buyer assumes that responsibility, they also assume liability....though outside of that, even if a buyer sends a seller a message via eBay and demands something be sent untracked etc, I doubt it would help that seller in an INR request).