Wow - an eBay first (rant)

Bocabirdman · #1 02-11-2014, 02:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by slidekellyslide

How were the cards sent? Why was postage due on them? I sell a lot of postcards and twice I've had buyers tell me they had to pay postage to receive the items...both times a post office employee determined that my package was too thin to be sent with tracking so they automatically upgraded my package to priority and forwarded them on as "postage due".

This would be my guess

Section103 · #2 02-11-2014, 02:13 PM

Good point and this is the weird thing....

Bubble Mailer with a Stamps.com label and -no- postage paid at all. I haven't used Stamps.com, but this would be pretty tough to do (I think) with Paypal mail services. Im starting to believe it was some sort of error or oversight, at least I hope.

thecatspajamas · #3 02-11-2014, 03:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Section103

Good point and this is the weird thing....

Bubble Mailer with a Stamps.com label and -no- postage paid at all. I haven't used Stamps.com, but this would be pretty tough to do (I think) with Paypal mail services. Im starting to believe it was some sort of error or oversight, at least I hope.

Just because it does not show the postage amount does not mean no postage was paid. If they printed a Stamps.com label, they paid postage (I use stamps.com, so I know firsthand). The label won't print if it can't charge you for it.

My guess would be that it's the thickness issue, or possibly his scale was off (though with cards, it's hard to believe it would be THAT off). Definitely check with the seller, and with the post office as to why the postage due. There's no way that a regular seller is doing this as a routine procedure to save a few bucks on postage. If he were, his feedback would be lit up with negs and it would be pretty obvious from reading the comments.

ooo-ribay · #4 02-11-2014, 02:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bocabirdman

This would be my guess

or.....sometimes I place something onto the automated mailer and, following all directions, it determines the postage to be $X.....and the item makes it to it's destination. Later, I take the same item to a teller and they insist it has to go for $2X because of the thickness or some such other crap.

I kinda doubt the seller meant for it to arrive postage due.

tachyonbb · #5 02-11-2014, 02:39 PM

Never assume malice when simple incompetence will do.

I would assume it was a mistake, not a deliberate attempt to save a buck.

jhs5120 · #6 02-11-2014, 03:02 PM

There is an obscure USPS rule that says a piece of mail needs to be at least 3/4" thick in order to qualify for delivery confirmation. (so 99.9% of bubble mailers would not qualify). If a very finicky postal worker sees a bubble mailer with a prepaid label they are within their right to upgrade it to priority (or RTS it).

My old post woman used to give me SO much crap for this. I had to go to the town over to mail out my cards.

EvilKing00 · #7 02-11-2014, 03:09 PM

Thats aweful!

Leon · #8 02-11-2014, 03:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jhs5120

There is an obscure USPS rule that says a piece of mail needs to be at least 3/4" thick in order to qualify for delivery confirmation. (so 99.9% of bubble mailers would not qualify). If a very finicky postal worker sees a bubble mailer with a prepaid label they are within their right to upgrade it to priority (or RTS it).

My old post woman used to give me SO much crap for this. I had to go to the town over to mail out my cards.

That is what a couple of Styrofoam peanuts are for!!

And to the OP, I am guessing it's a mistake somewhere...probably insufficient postage or something. Just see how they respond and you will know...

jhs5120 · #9 02-11-2014, 03:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Leon

That is what a couple of Styrofoam peanuts are for!!

You know, she would always suggest that, but I am too stubborn listen. It's a stupid rule. I once dropped off a box of 100 or so small Kraft bubble mailers with ebay labels to her and she sent each and every one of them back!

Buythatcard · #10 02-11-2014, 03:54 PM

As a seller, this happened to me about 3 years ago where the buyer received a postage due on one of my envelopes. It turned out that the envelope was less than 3/4 inches thick and some postal employee decided to convert it to a Priority mail package.

I always insert 1 styrofoam peanut in every bubble envelope that I ship out. This guarantees that it passes the 3/4 inch test. I never had an issue since then and I mail out several thousand packages a year.

ooo-ribay · #11 02-12-2014, 12:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jhs5120

You know, she would always suggest that, but I am too stubborn listen. It's a stupid rule. I once dropped off a box of 100 or so small Kraft bubble mailers with ebay labels to her and she sent each and every one of them back!

99% of postal workers are cool.....except for the 1% who are not. I used to have to deal with a woman my wife and I dubbed "creepy lady." This woman would give me the third degree whenever I tried to use Media Mail. "What's in there? Are you sure? Are you sure?" Just mail it, lady.

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