Mail & Shipping - Recommendations, Questions, and Answers

Brian Mitchell44 · 2008-09-04T22:06:00+00:00

Since the old thread vanished without a trace 😁, I am opening this new one where we can all exchange advice regarding the headaches caused by our wonderful USP…

David Mitchell4 Active Member

61 messages
joined Apr 2011

#1061 · Jan 26, 2010

If you aren't looking for an opinion, why even ask? If you already knew there was a fee for the $5.00, why didn't you just clarify if she would use $5.00? Paying $3.25 seemed perfectly fine at the time, so why attack her the moment things go sideways? Did she actually promise to send it via standard package instead of certified mail? In my view, both parties carry responsibility here, but clearly, you aren't seeking an honest perspective—you're just looking for blind validation. Sorry...

David Mitchell4 Active Member

61 messages
joined Apr 2011

#1062 · Jan 26, 2010

hollowsailor33 said:Has anyone else dealt with this? I once had a customer claim they never received their package, but luckily I had the delivery confirmation slip right there as proof! I’m looking for $5.00 pt, but if the rest is higher than pt, am I stuck covering the difference myself? Something like that.🤷

It’s pretty obvious you actually know the ropes here. This isn't what Angela Flores76 was getting at—we aren't talking about some total novice who hasn't a clue how shipping works...

Arthur Kim74 Active Member

91 messages
joined Jun 2010

#1063 · Jan 26, 2010

hollowsailor33 said:That just isn't true at all... I don't get why I have to keep insisting on certified mail, because honestly, I'm more than happy to pay whatever is asked as long as I get a tracking number or proof of shipment. She has proof that I sent the money, but where is my proof that she actually sent the item, right? If she had just told me to pay an extra $15, I would have paid $5.00 without even blinking... But her response was basically that she never uses certified shipping because it's such a hassle with $10! 😲
Wouldn't you want your money back in that situation?

Well, I assume you meant sending it as a standard package rather than certified, which should still give you some kind of receipt😉
I'm totally with you on this, she really should have just shipped it as a tracked package...
Sometimes I'll charge a customer $3.25, but then I'll just cover the difference myself to make sure the full shipping cost is met...
I've never just sent something via regular stamped mail, since it's usually assumed we're talking about tracked packages...

hollowsailor33 Member

15 messages
joined May 2008

#1064 · Jan 26, 2010

Elizabeth Baker38 said:I mean, you probably meant a package, right? Not just some random drop—if it's shipped that way, you still get a tracking number.😉
I'm with you—should've just sent it as a package.
Sometimes I just charge the customer for shipping too—no biggie. $3.25Honestly? I'll just cover the difference myself to get the full shipping rate—whatever.
Never sent one the regular way before—I guess we just assume everyone's sending packages through here?

Sandra Brooks91—look, I’ve been around this scene for a few years now through various auctions, so even if you don't see me posting constantly, I know exactly how people operate. Based on what you just said, there's no way I'd ever do business with you... that kind of communication is just straight-up shady.
This is exactly what you expect from a customer sometimes—like they'll say "hey, it's on the house," or "I'll give you ten bucks and you cover the rest." Is that concept just totally foreign to you? Because honestly, that's how you actually win people over. But whatever—not everyone plays fair, I guess.

And I don't need your opinion anymore either—thanks, but you already said enough.

Yeah, right—if she's such an honest little salesperson, I'm sure she's keeping that USPS receipt from when she paid the postage... at least that much!

Brian Wilson7 Member

13 messages
joined Jul 2009

#1065 · Jan 26, 2010

I never receive my bills in the mail.

David Mitchell4 Active Member

61 messages
joined Apr 2011

#1066 · Jan 26, 2010

hollowsailor33, you’re clearly still a bit worked up, because what you’re responding to isn't even what I wrote. My point was simple: my transactions are perfectly transparent. Sometimes we strike a deal, sometimes we don't, but when we do, everyone knows exactly who is paying what and what service they're getting in return. If that doesn't sit right with you, I honestly don't know what more you could possibly ask for. Anyway, it seems you have a hard time handling an opinion that differs from your own, but this is an online forum—I'd suggest you get used to it. Good luck.

Rebecca Newman2 Newcomer

3 messages
joined Nov 2009

#1067 · Jan 27, 2010

hollowsailor33, I honestly think you should have just asked how they intended to ship it—whether it was standard mail or a tracked package. Of course, the seller carries some blame too, since they didn't clarify that they were using standard mail. Personally, whenever I’ve been on the selling side, I always insisted on $5.00 for shipping because I wanted that package protection. The only time I ever agreed to standard mail was if someone specifically requested it to save a few bucks, but even then, I made sure to tell them it was at their own risk and that I wasn't handing back any money if the thing vanished into thin air. At the end of the day, you're also at fault here for not checking up on the details. You can't just assume every seller is going to send things via tracked package just because that's what most people do. You really have to hash everything out beforehand.
The fair way to handle this would be for her to refund you half the money since you both dropped the ball, or if she refuses, then you'll just have to eat the cost.

hollowsailor33 Member

15 messages
joined May 2008

#1068 · Jan 27, 2010

Thanks for the advice, but don't act like I'm ignoring everyone else—for God's sake!
It’s totally standard for a seller to ask. When I checked how much shipping would cost, I asked. They said $3.25, and that was that!
Now this girl thinks she's got $27 while I've got nothing? You call that fair? It didn't even cross her mind to just refund half; instead, she goes full scorched earth on me... how am I supposed not to be pissed? Fine, whatever—emotions out, reality in. You just have to accept that some people are shady and move on.

I'm done with the whole drama. Let her keep $27, it's not like I'm going broke over it....

Brian Wilson7 Member

13 messages
joined Jul 2009

#1069 · Jan 27, 2010

It definitely needs to be flagged red because that just isn't right.
And where on earth was she sending it via certified mail per $10? I haven't seen that anywhere yet, unless it was an incredibly heavy envelope.

hollowsailor33 Member

15 messages
joined May 2008

#1070 · Jan 27, 2010

Chloe Moore65 said:She definitely deserves a red card—that’s just wrong.
And where exactly was she sending this via certified mail according to $10? I haven't seen that anywhere, unless she was lugging around a massive envelope

I might as well grab a red card for myself while I'm at it, right? What can you do!

amberheron64 Active Member

87 messages
joined Oct 2009

#1071 · Jan 27, 2010

Look, I’ve dealt with this one particular clerk at my local post office—she’s just being difficult for the sake of it—who refuses to let me send things as standard parcels, insisting everything goes registered, which ends up driving up the shipping costs.
Honestly, though, I’ve always just looked for $5.00 to cover the postage, and then I'll just bridge the gap myself with
. Sometimes there wasn't even a difference to pay, and other times, after getting into these long, exhausting little debates with that lady at the branch, I’d actually end up $12 paying the full shipping fee anyway.
Anyway, I finally switched to a different USPS location and honestly? No more headaches. 😉

The system just flags it in red, so you know exactly what the shipping cost is going to be $5.00. I had one instance where a girl asked me for ten bucks, but she ended up covering the rest of the postage herself—I mean, that was an option too, I guess...
But having that red indicator is key; it lets me know who I'm dealing with so I don't accidentally buy something from someone who insists on using standard mail.
Personally, I’m always going to send my stuff via registered mail, even if it ends up costing me twice or three times as much.

Betty Smith81 Newcomer

1 message
joined Jan 2010

#1072 · Jan 27, 2010

Maybe I should actually ask about this, but look, I usually just send stuff via certified mail or as a package. If I opt for a smaller parcel, I basically view it as a discount, but regardless, I always feel this weight on my shoulders... I need to know what I sent actually makes it to its destination. When I’m the one buying, I always ask how much the shipping is and sometimes I ask about the specific shipping method—sometimes I forget, whatever—but even with the cost involved, keeping someone's money when they end up with nothing? That just doesn't sit right with me. It’s not okay. Honestly, I’d just give the money back, especially since if I'm the one shipping, I'm the one who chose that specific method!.... If you just go with standard shipping, then nobody is responsible for the package—not the sender, not the USPS—so why does that service even exist in the first place....

Elizabeth Palmer2 Member

22 messages
joined Aug 2013

#1073 · Jan 27, 2010

Sandra Brooks91 said:You asked for an opinion, so you got one—the same objective take you'd get if anyone else spoke up. I wouldn't tolerate ambiguity, and if I did, I wouldn't call people out just because I was clueless or messed up, but that's just me. If you had actually asked, everything would be clear. Now you both just get to look bad. 🙂 Maybe she gives you a partial refund so everyone wins, though honestly, she doesn't owe it to you; it’s just being nice.

Haven't been following this thread, but I posted my thoughts on the feedback/complaints section, and looks like I'm on the same page as you and molly..

The customer decides how they want their package delivered,
if the girl requested $3.25 via USPS and there wasn't a convo about her covering the extra shipping—personally, I'd assume it's going standard.
In that case, I'd make it loud and clear, ask how she wants it sent.
The buyer picks the method and pays for it. As long as
the shipping gets paid like agreed (full amount or half-and-half if they're cool), the seller shouldn't care how it goes.
And once someone asks for standard shipping, my responsibility for the package ends right there. Same goes the other way.
It's stupid to ask "How much is shipping?" when I already know it's $5.00 for a box, or maybe 5-$3.25 for standard if it's something light.
Both of you are equally responsible for this mess.
Nobody is forced to send tracked packages just because it's assumed that's how everyone should do it here.

Brian Mitchell44 MemberOP

48 messages
joined Feb 2006

#1074 · Jan 27, 2010

It’s about time they finally lowered the shipping costs—or rather, since we aren't being hit with that sales tax anymore. 🎉

hollowsailor33 Member

15 messages
joined May 2008

#1075 · Jan 27, 2010

Elizabeth Palmer2;24741014 said:I haven't really been following this thread, but I wrote my thoughts in the feedback/critique section—looks like I’m on the same page as you and molly..

In my book, the buyer is the one who calls the shots on how they want their package delivered.
If she specifically asked $3.25 for a package via USPS but there wasn't any talk about her covering the extra shipping costs—I’d just assume it was going out standard.

That’s just your take since you know what the price tag was! If you’re buying through Quella or some other major retailer, they ship via certified mail by default—it’s not like they ask for permission, right? To me, that’s just how it works. Why would they even ask? Her price was only $3.25! Then she goes and says she’s never sent anything certified because it costs $10, so I won't bore you with the details. It tells you everything you need to know!
Have you ever covered someone's shipping just because you liked them or they bought more stuff? Because I definitely have...

David Mitchell4 Active Member

61 messages
joined Apr 2011

#1076 · Jan 27, 2010

Seriously, let's move this over to the dedicated thread.. my comment is already posted there..

hollowsailor33 Member

15 messages
joined May 2008

#1077 · Jan 27, 2010

You’re totally overdoing it! Probably just sucking up because you're hoping for free shipping again, right?!
I voted red and I'm done—period.

nimblepanther27 Newcomer

1 message
joined Jan 2010

#1078 · Jan 28, 2010

Hey guys, does anyone know how long it usually takes for cash sent through the mail to actually show up in my Chase account? 🤔
Thanks so much 🙏

Brian Mitchell44 MemberOP

48 messages
joined Feb 2006

#1079 · Jan 28, 2010

nimblepanther27 said:How long does it typically take for cash sent via the post office to actually hit a bank account at Chase? 🤔
Thanks🙏

The postal service moves at a snail's pace compared to banks, doesn't it? Still, I can't imagine the delay would be astronomical this time around. 🤷

restlesstiger47 Member

21 messages
joined Oct 2013

#1080 · Jan 28, 2010

Hey there,
so this whole situation is already wrapped up, but I’ve still got it rattling around in my brain...

I sent a customer a package worth $13, and they paid me via direct deposit. Once the box arrived, they claimed it was smashed to pieces and said they’d already dropped it back off at the post office. I decided to wait until the return actually landed in my hands—just to make sure nobody was playing games—but in the meantime, the guy starts insisting I haven't sent a replacement yet and threatens to call the cops. I tried explaining that I was just waiting for the damaged goods to show up first, and promised I'd ship out the new one the very same day it arrived. Well, once the package finally did get to me, he demanded a full refund. So, I gave him his money back plus the shipping costs he had to cover. If you were in my shoes, how would you have handled it?

Mail & Shipping - Recommendations, Questions, and Answers

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