eBay, etc. General Question/Answer Thread

[Annawakes]

Hi all, I just sold a Tods backpack for $895 to a zero feedback buyer. His eBay ID is a random string of letters and numbers, separated by an underscore. I typically ship next day, USPS Priority Mail, with insurance, tracking, and signature confirmation. I print my shipping labels directly from eBay and the postage gets deducted from my paypal account.

I believe the buyer is male, based on his first name. Not that it matters, but it’s a little odd. The address he used is a legitimate house address.

Should I proceed with shipping? Should I do anything differently than what I normally do above? I’m nervous about this sale. Should I use FedEx and not include signature confirmation?? I read a few posts about that but don’t know why I wouldn’t. How do I stop him from redirecting the package??? I have a bad feeling about it and hope the experts here can give me some guidance. Thank you so much.

 

[Annawakes]

Hi all, I just sold a Tods backpack for $895 to a zero feedback buyer. His eBay ID is a random string of letters and numbers, separated by an underscore. I typically ship next day, USPS Priority Mail, with insurance, tracking, and signature confirmation. I print my shipping labels directly from eBay and the postage gets deducted from my paypal account.

I believe the buyer is male, based on his first name. Not that it matters, but it’s a little odd. The address he used is a legitimate house address.

Should I proceed with shipping? Should I do anything differently than what I normally do above? I’m nervous about this sale. Should I use FedEx and not include signature confirmation?? I read a few posts about that but don’t know why I wouldn’t. How do I stop him from redirecting the package??? I have a bad feeling about it and hope the experts here can give me some guidance. Thank you so much.

In addition to all of the above things making me uneasy, this buyer just joined ebay today! Oct 30, 2018. Please let me know what I should do. Thank you so much.

 

[whateve]

Hi all, I just sold a Tods backpack for $895 to a zero feedback buyer. His eBay ID is a random string of letters and numbers, separated by an underscore. I typically ship next day, USPS Priority Mail, with insurance, tracking, and signature confirmation. I print my shipping labels directly from eBay and the postage gets deducted from my paypal account.

I believe the buyer is male, based on his first name. Not that it matters, but it’s a little odd. The address he used is a legitimate house address.

Should I proceed with shipping? Should I do anything differently than what I normally do above? I’m nervous about this sale. Should I use FedEx and not include signature confirmation?? I read a few posts about that but don’t know why I wouldn’t. How do I stop him from redirecting the package??? I have a bad feeling about it and hope the experts here can give me some guidance. Thank you so much.

Those random ebay IDs are assigned by ebay when a buyer doesn't select an ID. These days ebay lets people buy without having an account, and then ebay just creates an account for them on the fly. It doesn't necessarily mean there is anything wrong with this person. By the way, paypal does the same thing - lets people buy without actually having a paypal account. If it says covered by Paypal protection in your paypal, then I think it is safe to ship. You need to get signature confirmation in order to be covered by paypal protection. I don't know how to prevent redirecting the package with USPS. I don't think you can. If Fedex gives you that protection, then that might be safer. However, whatever you quoted in your listing as the shipping method, is the method you are supposed to use.

 

[Annawakes]

Those random ebay IDs are assigned by ebay when a buyer doesn't select an ID. These days ebay lets people buy without having an account, and then ebay just creates an account for them on the fly. It doesn't necessarily mean there is anything wrong with this person. By the way, paypal does the same thing - lets people buy without actually having a paypal account. If it says covered by Paypal protection in your paypal, then I think it is safe to ship. You need to get signature confirmation in order to be covered by paypal protection. I don't know how to prevent redirecting the package with USPS. I don't think you can. If Fedex gives you that protection, then that might be safer. However, whatever you quoted in your listing as the shipping method, is the method you are supposed to use.

Thank you for your response whateve. In my paypal, it does say Seller Protection Eligible. I would like to avoid using USPS Priority Mail even though I listed it as the method in my listing....maybe I'll contact the buyer and let him know I'll be shipping by Fedex or other (I need to do some research which service prevents package redirecting) - as long as it's expedited shipping, which I will still provide, I don't see how that would affect him. Or does changing the shipping service void any of my seller protection rights, do you know? Thank you so much.

 

[whateve]

Thank you for your response whateve. In my paypal, it does say Seller Protection Eligible. I would like to avoid using USPS Priority Mail even though I listed it as the method in my listing....maybe I'll contact the buyer and let him know I'll be shipping by Fedex or other (I need to do some research which service prevents package redirecting) - as long as it's expedited shipping, which I will still provide, I don't see how that would affect him. Or does changing the shipping service void any of my seller protection rights, do you know? Thank you so much.

I don't know what the impact of changing your shipping service has, but I don't think it affects your seller protection. As long as it is an equivalent shipping method, I think it is fine, but you should make sure the buyer is fine with it. For example, with USPS, if the buyer isn't home, he can sign the delivery slip to have it redelivered without having to be there, but that might not be an option with Fedex.

 

[Annawakes]

I don't know what the impact of changing your shipping service has, but I don't think it affects your seller protection. As long as it is an equivalent shipping method, I think it is fine, but you should make sure the buyer is fine with it. For example, with USPS, if the buyer isn't home, he can sign the delivery slip to have it redelivered without having to be there, but that might not be an option with Fedex.

OK. I have contacted the buyer and asked if he minds that I use UPS instead of USPS. I did some research and UPS offers the Direct Delivery Only service (Fedex doesn't):
https://www.ups.com/us/en/help-center/sri/direct-delivery-only.page

So I will purchase this service, along with insuring the package and including Signature Confirmation. I think I will bring the package to the UPS retail location tomorrow morning to do this, so they can weigh it properly. And then I'll upload the tracking info into PayPal.

Assuming I hear back from the buyer that it is OK I use UPS, I think I will proceed with the sale. If you see any other red flags or things I'm missing from my above plan, please let me know. I hope he responds and sounds normal.....I'm really hoping this goes well.

Thanks again whateve. Really appreciate your thoughts.

 

[whateve]

OK. I have contacted the buyer and asked if he minds that I use UPS instead of USPS. I did some research and UPS offers the Direct Delivery Only service (Fedex doesn't):
https://www.ups.com/us/en/help-center/sri/direct-delivery-only.page

So I will purchase this service, along with insuring the package and including Signature Confirmation. I think I will bring the package to the UPS retail location tomorrow morning to do this, so they can weigh it properly. And then I'll upload the tracking info into PayPal.

Assuming I hear back from the buyer that it is OK I use UPS, I think I will proceed with the sale. If you see any other red flags or things I'm missing from my above plan, please let me know. I hope he responds and sounds normal.....I'm really hoping this goes well.

Thanks again whateve. Really appreciate your thoughts.

You're welcome. Make sure your buyer knows he has to be available to sign for the package. I shipped once with UPS and my buyer was never available to sign. They wouldn't let her redirect it to her work. The package came back to me and I had to pay for the return shipping.

 

[BeenBurned]

Hi all, I just sold a Tods backpack for $895 to a zero feedback buyer. His eBay ID is a random string of letters and numbers, separated by an underscore. I typically ship next day, USPS Priority Mail, with insurance, tracking, and signature confirmation. I print my shipping labels directly from eBay and the postage gets deducted from my paypal account.

I believe the buyer is male, based on his first name. Not that it matters, but it’s a little odd. The address he used is a legitimate house address.

Should I proceed with shipping? Should I do anything differently than what I normally do above? I’m nervous about this sale. Should I use FedEx and not include signature confirmation?? I read a few posts about that but don’t know why I wouldn’t. How do I stop him from redirecting the package??? I have a bad feeling about it and hope the experts here can give me some guidance. Thank you so much.

Re signature confirmation, you MUST have s.c. because the price of the item (including shipping) is $750+.

Does the paypal transaction page show "eligible" for seller protection? If so, as long as you ship to that address as shown on the payment page and include s.c. since it's required, you should be fine.

If your listing states that you ship by USPS, you shouldn't change the shipping method.

One option that might make you feel more comfortable is to hold off for a day before shipping. What is your handling time? If you can afford the late shipping ding, you can even give more than one day to wait.

 

[Annawakes]

You're welcome. Make sure your buyer knows he has to be available to sign for the package. I shipped once with UPS and my buyer was never available to sign. They wouldn't let her redirect it to her work. The package came back to me and I had to pay for the return shipping.

Thanks for the tip. This sale is making me so nervous I’m thinking of canceling it and keeping the bag! I don’t know. Thanks again.

 

[Annawakes]

Re signature confirmation, you MUST have s.c. because the price of the item (including shipping) is $750+.

Does the paypal transaction page show "eligible" for seller protection? If so, as long as you ship to that address as shown on the payment page and include s.c. since it's required, you should be fine.

If your listing states that you ship by USPS, you shouldn't change the shipping method.

One option that might make you feel more comfortable is to hold off for a day before shipping. What is your handling time? If you can afford the late shipping ding, you can even give more than one day to wait.

Thanks BeenBurned. To answer your questions, yes, I will include signature confirmation. And yes, it does say “Eligible for Seller Protection” on my Paypal transactions page.

I sent a message to the buyer asking if it is all right to change to UPS, since UPS has the Direct Delivery Only service. I haven’t heard back from him. If I don’t get any response from him by tomorrow morning I think I will cancel the sale.....this is making me too nervous.

My handling time is only 2 days. So I need to ship by Thurs Nov 1. What is the benefit of hanging on to the item? The buyer has already paid.

Thank you so much.

 

[Catbird9]

Thanks BeenBurned. To answer your questions, yes, I will include signature confirmation. And yes, it does say “Eligible for Seller Protection” on my Paypal transactions page.

I sent a message to the buyer asking if it is all right to change to UPS, since UPS has the Direct Delivery Only service. I haven’t heard back from him. If I don’t get any response from him by tomorrow morning I think I will cancel the sale.....this is making me too nervous.

My handling time is only 2 days. So I need to ship by Thurs Nov 1. What is the benefit of hanging on to the item? The buyer has already paid.

Thank you so much.

I understand why you would be nervous, I would be too.
I think you lose your final value fee if you cancel the sale.

 

[Annawakes]

I understand why you would be nervous, I would be too.
I think you lose your final value fee if you cancel the sale.

Ok. I sent the buyer a third message (he hadn’t responded to the first two) and apologized to him, saying that I would actually like to keep this bag. And if he could please cancel the sale.

If he cancels it, I wouldn’t lose the FVF I don’t think.

Now I’m wondering if I should just issue the refund via PayPal right now, regardless of whether the sale is canceled on eBay??? Do you have any guidance on how/when I should refund? Thank you so much.

 

[Catbird9]

Ok. I sent the buyer a third message (he hadn’t responded to the first two) and apologized to him, saying that I would actually like to keep this bag. And if he could please cancel the sale.

If he cancels it, I wouldn’t lose the FVF I don’t think.

Now I’m wondering if I should just issue the refund via PayPal right now, regardless of whether the sale is canceled on eBay??? Do you have any guidance on how/when I should refund? Thank you so much.

If the buyer requests cancellation, and you accept and issue a full refund, your final value fees will be credited back to you.

I think you should wait until the cancellation is requested before issuing the refund. If the buyer doesn't request it, you'll need to cancel the sale yourself, and then issue the refund.

 

[Annawakes]

If the buyer requests cancellation, and you accept and issue a full refund, your final value fees will be credited back to you.

I think you should wait until the cancellation is requested before issuing the refund. If the buyer doesn't request it, you'll need to cancel the sale yourself, and then issue the refund.

OK, thank you for the clarification. I haven't heard a peep from him so far (three messages later). I'm sure now that I don't want to go through with this sale.

I suppose if I still don't hear from him tomorrow morning I will cancel the sale myself. I think the refund is immediately issued through PayPal, once I cancel the sale, since he paid via PayPal. I guess I'm just out the FVF then, which stinks.

I guess I'll just wait and see. I've already pulled my other ebay listings. I've been fortunate to have good buyers the last two years, but recently every sale just leaves me in knots. I can't take it anymore.

Thank you again for your help.

 

[BeenBurned]

Ok. I sent the buyer a third message (he hadn’t responded to the first two) and apologized to him, saying that I would actually like to keep this bag. And if he could please cancel the sale.

If he cancels it, I wouldn’t lose the FVF I don’t think.

Now I’m wondering if I should just issue the refund via PayPal right now, regardless of whether the sale is canceled on eBay??? Do you have any guidance on how/when I should refund? Thank you so much.

I'm not going to be as sympathetic and you may not like my comments. I'm not trying to be mean; just stating my opinion.

The buyer paid for the item, the PP transaction says you're eligible for protection and if you ship and get s.c., you're covered. (And having googled, you know the shipping address is a home.)

Why should the buyer agree to the cancellation because you feel uncomfortable? He/she paid and presumably wants the item. If he agrees to cancel, it saves you from an account ding, but I'm not sure you deserve that.

Just because it's a newbie doesn't mean it's a scammer. Some people open accounts because they found the item they want at the price they're willing to pay. We were all newbies once and personally, I'm glad my sellers gave me the chance to prove myself.

And TBH, any trouble I've had has been with experienced buyers and not with newbies.

JMHO.