need opinions, brand new buyer, should i shell out for sign on delivery myself?

[number-1]

$160 item, brand new seller that signed up today, paid the cheaper shipping option with tracking but no sign on delivery, should i pay the extra myself just in case?

i have nothing against buyers, new or old, i have sold well over 100 items now with no issues what so ever, but we've all heard the stories!

i guess the real question is, is tracking enough protection for sellers when it comes to paypal and ebay?

thanks for reading 🙂

[twyngwyn]

for claims: with Paypal you have to provide proof of postage....with eBay you have to provide proof of delivery

[digital*ghost]

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@bummeat wrote:

i guess the real question is, is tracking enough protection for sellers when it comes to paypal and ebay?

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While eBay / PayPal should be a consideration, also consider some other scenarios that might make the $2.95 for SOD worthwhile - namely, if the package is safe-dropped and stolen.

Both eBay and PayPal will side with the seller if you have all the proof they need that the package was sent (or delivered if an eBay request is open), but the other consideration is ensuring the safe delivery of an expensive item to the buyer.

So, I'd pay for SOD for that extra piece of mind, or at least get extra cover (most applicable if it goes missing in transit). 

[number-1]

i don't know, sign on delivery doesn't really seem to provide much, if any more proof than tracking does. i mean, once delivered or dropped off or whatever, the item will be marked as 'delivered', so it kind of depends if ebay or paypal place any importance on the extra service that is sign on delivery. on the other hand it's only $3 and i have the satchels sitting there perhaps never to be used, so i might as well...

[mbselections00]

Absolutely worth the $3 for SOD on an item worth $160  - Tracking only proves it was dropped off - could be anywhere !!  Buyer could easily claim they did not receive it.  Have seen plenty of those stories on the boards

[digital*ghost]

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@bummeat wrote:
i don't know, sign on delivery doesn't really seem to provide much, if any more proof than tracking does. i mean, once delivered or dropped off or whatever, the item will be marked as 'delivered', so it kind of depends if ebay or paypal place any importance on the extra service that is sign on delivery. on the other hand it's only $3 and i have the satchels sitting there perhaps never to be used, so i might as well...

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eBay and PayPal don't place any importance on SOD, unless the total value of the item (including postage) is $750 or more.

I was just saying that as a seller, I often place very little importance on what eBay / PayPal might require if something goes wrong, but high importance on making as sure as possible that something doesn't go wrong, particularly for higher value orders because even if eBay or PayPal won't nab the funds back if I have proof of delivery, if an item is safedropped then stolen, that will (potentially) leave the buyer with nothing. 

[davidc4430]

i'm a little confused, are you the buyer of an item costing $160 or are you selling to a new buyer an item costing $160?

[number-1]

fair enough, but the option was there if the buyer wanted and was willing to pay for it, so to me, it was their choice and no longer my responsibility.

in this particular case, i opted to pay the extra for my own protection, even if in the end it was (most likely) for naught.

[number-1]

read my last post 😉

[davidc4430]

i would not sell a $160 item to a buyer with no feedback. read so many stories of deals gone bad on these boards of sellers dealing with 'new' buyers.

let em buy a few items from china or something first to show they are genuine.