Returning an item on ebay...

I have the impression that in a case like that, where both seller and buyer have documentation that they've done the right thing, eBay sometimes swallows the loss. Sometimes -- we've all seen the horror stories where buyers or sellers get stiffed, but those still seem to be the exception, not the rule. Of course, lost shipments are the exception as well...

In a situation like @wcoins describes, I'd probably just use the pre-printed label and put it out in the mailbox. If it's an expensive item, I'd drop it at a post office and have them scan it and give me a receipt.

 

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Use Certified mail!!!!

 

You're very fortunate if your delivery person actually does this. Mine refuses and is something that has been going on for years now.

 

I thought everyone that had USPS home delivery would receive those services.

 

When you print the label, it is automatically entered into their tracking system. You'll be able to see the tracking once it is scanned at a post office.

 

Deliveries I get, at least if not too heavy or awkward according to the delivery woman's own ever-changing standards. If a package doesn't meet them, she'll just pull into the driveway and push it out of the truck, leaving wherever it happens to fall.

As for pickups, no.... unless a letter or smaller envelope. It doesn't matter if scheduled or if she's asked directly, she just won't do it.

 

That sounds like something the Postmaster should know about. If not taken up at the local level, then brought to the district level, if not there, DC.

 

This has been going on for years, unfortunately. Nearly ten years ago now, after she left a number of valuable packages on the front sidewalk after pushing them from her truck, I spoke with the postmaster. At that time I was told she was retiring soon, and that I should be understanding since she was a "small older woman". I even offered to carry them from the truck for her, but nothing.

Perhaps you're right and it is time to take things to a higher level.

 

Be understanding?! She's a small older woman?! If she is incapable of performing her duties, she should be forced to look for other work.

 

Haha... and is a sentiment we certainly share.

Of course I'm also the fool who has been waiting nine years for her looming retirement.

 

Do you want her to retire tomorrow? I know people.

 

Talk to me this time next year.

Really, it would be comical if not so pitifully sad.

 

I would hope in those cases eBay would do it out of there own pocket and suspect on low value items they might. That certainly could get ugly on a more expensive item even-though I think they SHOULD be the ones to eat it if their preprinted label shipment gets lost though I suspect they might take the stance of "you should have insured it"

 

More than ever, when awaiting delivery of a valuable parcel, it's best to use tracking numbers and try to have someone at home to receive. USPS now has the Informed Delivery option, whereby the mail and packages that are arriving today are photographed and images sent to your email. So you know exactly what will be in the box on a given day.
Often with USPS only the notification is left, but for coin deliveries under $250 I've had 6x9 padded mailers sit out in the box longer than was ideal.
And one major caveat about UPS:
There are thieves who follow their trucks around. I once received a $700 parts order in two large cartons, which the delivery person knew to hide in the back yard, and when I returned 45 minutes after the delivery they were gone. Vendor only agreed to knock $100 off the replacement and UPS claimed no liability.
So in my experience these days you have to do all you can to minimize the time between delivery and taking things inside.

 

Why? It is probably the WORST special service choice you could make.

 

That seems... oversimplified? When I had to ship a mid-four-figure item, insured Certified Mail was much cheaper than any insured alternative.

 

I think eBay has a standardized/automated process for handling returns. If both buyer and seller adhere to their terms, I believe both buyer and seller are protected.

Now, having said that, the last time someone tried to scam me for a high-value shipment (ordered two gold eagles, got an empty package), eBay required me to file and send a police report as part of the Buyer Protection process. The police were baffled, but I did it, and I got my money back. They'll come through on Buyer Protection, but for higher-value disputes, they won't necessarily make it easy.

 

Doesn't Informed Delivery only photograph letter-format mail, and specifically exclude packages (and junk mail)? That's what it said when I was getting announcements about it, although I also understand it was supposed to evolve over time.

I've been lucky so far (over the last 20-odd years) in that I've almost never had a package disappear, but porch-pirates are definitely a thing in this region.

I've been meaning to get my work address established as a confirmed shipping address for eBay and PayPal (it's already there for the credit card). This is a company whose business is shipping and receiving high-value pharmaceuticals, including controlled substances, so they've got pretty good security processes in place.

 

In December I received coins via USPS in the 6"x9"x2" Priority Mail cardboard carton, and the image was on the Informed Delivery email for that day. But you may be right that they do not image larger boxes.
The email with the images that is sent as soon as sorting/scanning is done at your local branch now includes a message like 'You have 4 letters and 2 packages out for delivery", so I am sure that it at least covers smaller boxes.

 

Huh. Maybe I should give some more thought to signing up, then. It just seemed a little silly that all they would image was letter-sized mail. If they're also imaging small packages, suddenly it seems a lot more useful.