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. 

[outback_blends]

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@melbourneclearancewrote:

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.

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Yes and it works the other way too. I live in a small town (pop 500ish) and star track deliver the mail to the PO on the same truck that the parcels go on but they wont drop parcels here. They take them to the depot which is a 40+km round trip. Cant get my head around that one 

[kopenhagen5]

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. 

Hear what you are saying but in the OP's case we were more talking about looking at feedback then finding it's a nightmare buyer and opting last minute to send via a protected method to prevent a potential scam.

To others - In the OP's case, sounds like the buyer thought they have paid extra for rego post even though it's coming out of sellers pocket.

Don't think it has anything to do with providing a signature.

[countessalmirena]

@outback_blends,

Being cautious when you assess a potential risk, and taking steps to minimise that risk, seems like sensible business strategy to me.

If a seller upgraded the postage method to registered mail in a purchase I'd made, at their expense, I would be happy about it. (But bear in mind that for items that are important, I tend to choose the most secure and reliable postage method available, even if it costs more; and for cases when I want items quickly - especially from overseas - I will opt for the appropriate fast postage method.)

I also stress that the postmen and couriers in my area are wonderful. Unless the seller has stated that Signature on Delivery is required and that Safe Drop is not available, parcels are left in a secure place without any incident. If my signature's required, and I'm available, it's no problem for me to answer the door and sign. (I'm fortunate in that the couriers/delivery guys in this area don't seem to pay mere lip-service to attempting delivery!)

Even if I miss a delivery and there's a card left about the missed delivery, there are three - no, four - post offices within 10 minutes of where I am. It's no hassle for me to zip over and collect the parcel at whichever of those is the receiving post office. (I say four post offices - but for practical purposes it's almost always one of two, both of which are no more than five minutes away.)

My views on parcel delivery are no doubt affected by these fortunate factors! I know and appreciate that I am in an excellent location for receiving parcels.

Concerning trackable parcels... isn't it the case that express post parcels/satchels satisfy the requirements of PayPal and eBay? Express Post Metro (Sydney or Melbourne) seem competitively priced for delivery within Melbourne or Sydney, and tracking and SMS notifications are included as standard in the price.

Part of my work involves fast, safe, convenient delivery of important documentation in a method that requires confirmation of delivery. Express Post (envelope) is the best method to meet those particular needs - for both domestic and international delivery of documents. But I do take care always - ALWAYS - hand over the envelopes and receive the lodgement receipt.

[outback_blends]

I can see the problem for people with mobilty problems and living out of town. I should point out I also checked their postcode and it is the Sydney metro area so the 'out of town' did not factor in. 

Looking at their feedback I think they were more p'd off about me useing rego post because it stopped them doing INR (and a lot of their feedback seemed to hint that they do have a problem getting items) so rather than chance it ...I sent  it large letter with rego. 

I was telling a mate about this a little while ago and we were reading some of the replies in here and he made a good point.... If I had come in here and said I sent an item without tracking and the buyer had said they didnt get it ... most of the replies would have said - you should have used tracking.  Anyway I have not heard back from the buyer so we will see what happens tomorrow or when they get the item 

Thanks for the input folks. As always ... I leave with food for thought and ideas from you all. I appreciate the replies.

[lm-entertainment]

overall, it seems like common sense - if the seller wants to send via an upgraded postage method at their own cost - then it's their choice to do so. especially when there's mitigating risk factors as previously stated.

i'd hope, in this situation it is one where ebay sides with the seller for using a sensible approach - i mean, what is the buyer going to say, "i wanted it sent without tracking" when ebay encourages the use of tracking by sellers as much as possible. funnier things have happened though - we know ebay isn't consistent with their rulings at the best of times. 

if the feedback comes back as anything but favourable, i'd certainly be fighting with ebay to get it removed - explaining your thought process in sending it via the tracked service, after considering the buyer's history and wanting to ensure it gets delivered to them safely; at your own expense :] 

i'm certainly interested to see how this one pans out. 

[springyzone]

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@kopenhagen5wrote:

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. 

Hear what you are saying but in the OP's case we were more talking about looking at feedback then finding it's a nightmare buyer and opting last minute to send via a protected method to prevent a potential scam.

To others - In the OP's case, sounds like the buyer thought they have paid extra for rego post even though it's coming out of sellers pocket.

Don't think it has anything to do with providing a signature.

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That is absolutely what it is sounding like to me too.

The seller unfortunately fed that assumption by replying that the registered post was 'built into the price', therefore implying the total cost could have been cheaper had the advertised postage method been used.

There's not a lot that can be done now but in future (if i were the seller in this sort of situation) I would reply that because it was a dearer purchase, I was upgrading postage at my own expense, no extra charge to customers.

The buyer in this case is cheeky and demanding, it would be interesting to hear how this pans out, if they are happy with their purchase or if they manage to find some other fault.

[clubesquire]

"The buyer in this case is cheeky and demanding, it would be interesting to hear how this pans out, if they are happy with their purchase or if they manage to find some other fault."

Sadly for The seller, I think this is almost a given. Long way to go yet methinks.

And in defence of any suggested oversight on the Sellers part, it's so difficult to pre-empt all responses and situations and then cover all bases and eventualities. I think too, there would be a large number of inexperienced, or new sellers, who deal with all sorts of troubles just because a certain 'i' wasn't dotted, and also because they don't think to come here for good advice. Buying on eBay is easy. Not so with selling.

My hubby has a very crude saying (he's naughty and I don't like it), not necessarily applying to this buyer, about what should be done with certain people at birth, but I must admit there are times when I silently agree. People can be so nasty and so frightfully unpredictable.

Anyway, I wish the OP well.

Melina.

[ozstockman]

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@lyndal1838wrote:

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

.....

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.

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Your point is valid but you know what, even if some seller says it is regular postage it does not mean you do not have to sign for it. So I guess if it is critical for you you will still need to confirm that each seller you are buying from using regular service without a signature.

Back to the OP situation, their buyer does not seem to like tracking, not the signature on delivery. Also they are demanding a refund for the SOD even after being told that the seller has paid for it from their own pocket. I would just stopped communicating with such a buyer as it looks weird.

[lane-ends]

Keep in mind the once valid argument that buyers cant get to post office in working hours to pick up, is no longer as valid. They get notified of impending sign for delivery and get the option to override it and opt for safe drop at there risk, seller is still covered.

[melbourneclearance]

The buyer gets notified only if the seller prints label from ebay, who has the buyer's email address. But if the seller goes to the post office and pays for the postage there the buyer won't get any notification at all.