Power Sellers Unite

seewhatimsellingnow · Joined: 29 Feb 2008 Posts: 1253 Location: Ohio

Many Ebay sellers print out shipping labels, but do not necessarily ship the item on the same day they print the label- Once we print a label, our buyer is notified that their items has 'shipped'. Printing a label and shipping the item are two different things.

I spoke with Ebay yesterday, and was told that the sooner we print our labes the better for our dsr scores in 'ship time' ?? The representitive actually said that printing our label within our agreed ship-time frame, will get us an automatic five in out dsr. ?? I didn't say anything, but THIS sounds like Ebay DOES have a bit of control concerning our our dsr ratings?

I think this is why many sellers print those labels as quickly as possible- but it is quite misleading for Paypal to notify buyers that their item has 'shipped' when they have NO idea as to when the item will ship.

What do you think about this? Betty Lou

Stockmiser · Joined: 03 Jun 2006 Posts: 1169

Well, according to USPS, you must use your printed label within 24 hours of printing (or of the shipping date you entered when creating the label).

They say: "Packages shipped with labels that have incorrect Ship Dates will be returned to the sender and will not be eligible for a refund. "

I've printed labels and missed the postman on the day I printed, and I've never had a package returned - but I'd imagine if it was several days, it might be a problem.

mojavelyn · Posted: Mon Nov 29, 2010 4:08 pm Post subject:

I've never had a package returned and sometimes the carrier didn't pick up a package for 3 days, where I then had to get a ride to the post office.

seewhatimsellingnow · Joined: 29 Feb 2008 Posts: 1253 Location: Ohio

I'm not asking if sellers would get in trouble with the USPS- I don't believe they chech half the packages that come through with Paypal labels- LOL- Just like the 6 pd. 8 ounce Priority package I received the other day- with a Paypal labe; showing it weighed 1 pound 5 ounces- LOL

What I'm saying is that the mere 'printing' of a our label causes Paypal to notify the buyer that the item has SHIPPED. I think that their notification to the buyer should ONLY say that a label has been electronically PRINTED, and it should be up to the seller to go into their 'My Ebay' and check the box that the item has SHIPPED on the DAY the item is actually shipped- AND THEN that process should automatically notify the buyer that it has SHIPPED.

The way the system is set up now, if we forget to check the box of an item that we shipped (using Paypal label OR hand-addressed) It will show that the item was shipped the day we check the box.

Also- if I print a label out on the 28th- and change the ship date to the 29th (since my packages would be going out the NEXT day)... the buyer will STILL get a notification showing that their item was shipped on the 28th, instead of the 29th.

It may not seem like a big thing- but it CAN be when you have an impatient buyer waiting and counting the days Betty Lou

mojavelyn · Posted: Mon Nov 29, 2010 4:47 pm Post subject:

Well, then the buyer must take into consideration when the lable was printed like AFTER regular P.O. hours, on a non-postal day...

And besides, why not send this to paypal... to inform them that you feel their wording is a bit misleading.

thegolfingdolphin · Joined: 13 Jan 2009 Posts: 695

You only get the automatic 5 in DSR for shipping time if you have your listing set as I ship within one business day, and you actually print the shipping label with one business day. That is the only option on this new policy.

If you want to completely take out Shipping time and shipping cost from the DSR rating. Offer free shipping and make sure your listing say ships within 1 business day, and print the label in that time frame.

I understand what you are saying when a seller can print a label whenever they want and ship it maybe days later, but I really do not see that as a very large margin.

seewhatimsellingnow · Joined: 29 Feb 2008 Posts: 1253 Location: Ohio

It is, when shipping Priority. Betty Lou

thegolfingdolphin · Joined: 13 Jan 2009 Posts: 695

Things happen, we all print the wrong date one time or another. If it really is bothering you as a seller you can always communicate with the buyer, and let them know of the mistake. No big deal.

seewhatimsellingnow · Joined: 29 Feb 2008 Posts: 1253 Location: Ohio

No, not a real BIG deal- but for a large company that strives for acuracy, I would think that the Paypal and Ebay programers could, and would WANT to, correct this. I actually think we would be better off hand-addressing our packages, and paying a bit more for the confirmation- This way, the post office WILL scan each package on the day it is shipped, and we can email the buyer the USPS confirmation number.

Ebay nor Paypal need to know when we ship... this is between the buyer and seller. Ebay gets way too involved in our business now, always striving to control the seller, as well as their dsr ratings. In case of a conflict- we can always prove we shipped, as well as the exact day we shipped, by showing Paypal our post office receipt, as well as the confirmation number.. Betty Lou

mojavelyn · Posted: Mon Nov 29, 2010 8:23 pm Post subject:

Then take a proactive stance and notify PayPal. Nothing at all will get done here on these boards. Present it to PP in a way that will make them take notice.

For me, its not always feasible to go to the post office. Sorry, I'm not walking 3 miles one way carrying a 20 plus pound box, especially in 115 deg heat. I stick a flag on my mail box and tell them its at the door. The carrier comes around with the truck at the end of the route. Unless he wants to carry it around the block with him butI don't expect them to do that. And sometimes there is a jerk or newby on the route and they don't always pick it up.

BigfootDepot · Joined: 27 Apr 2005 Posts: 916 Location: Northwest Ohio

While I am a seller on Ebay, I am also a buyer.

I don't print my shipping labels thru Ebay, so when I ship, I send an email to the buyer and the software I use also flags it as "shipped" in Ebay. If my buyers check the tracking, they will see that when I say I shipped, tracking will show it going thru a sorting facility or something that indicates that the carrier did get the package that day.

As a buyer, I really HATE to get an automated email on a Saturday night saying my item has shipped. NO IT DIDN'T !! A label got printed and that was all. I cut the sellers some slack on weekends, but I had one where I bought on Wednesday evening, got the automated email on Thursday with a DC# and then the tracking shows it didn't go thru the local (to the seller) sort facility until Monday night. Someone didn't get a "5" on that one. But to be honest, I don't think the big sellers really care that much about DSRs.

seewhatimsellingnow · Joined: 29 Feb 2008 Posts: 1253 Location: Ohio

BigfootDepot wrote (View Post): › docWrite("quote")While I am a seller on Ebay, I am also a buyer.

I don't print my shipping labels thru Ebay, so when I ship, I send an email to the buyer and the software I use also flags it as "shipped" in Ebay. If my buyers check the tracking, they will see that when I say I shipped, tracking will show it going thru a sorting facility or something that indicates that the carrier did get the package that day.

As a buyer, I really HATE to get an automated email on a Saturday night saying my item has shipped. NO IT DIDN'T !! A label got printed and that was all. I cut the sellers some slack on weekends, but I had one where I bought on Wednesday evening, got the automated email on Thursday with a DC# and then the tracking shows it didn't go thru the local (to the seller) sort facility until Monday night. Someone didn't get a "5" on that one. But to be honest, I don't think the big sellers really care that much about DSRs.

And you,. my friend, get my point exactly! Thank you!

Of COURSE I HAVE contacted Ebay and Paypal about this- the customer service representitve, at Ebay, 'got it' exactly- what I was saying, and agreed it's not a perfect system and said she would mention it to Ebay .

Even though others keep telling me to "Tell Ebay about it"... "Tell Paypal about it"... I DO think this 'Ebay discussion' thread on PSU is also the perfect place to share our thoughts- as it MIGHT help if Ebay and Paypal ALSO heard from some of you in regards to these problems. Betty Lou