Dealing With Shipping Problems

The not so common but pretty irritating problems in online auctions, including eBay auctions, are the problems associated with shipping and handling. If these are not handled properly they would cause tangible loss to the buyers but potentially damaging intangible losses to you by way of negative feedbacks. In the following paragraphs let us take an overview of the commonly occurring shipping problems and ways to handle them.

Common Shipping Problems

The most common of the shipping problems are delays in delivery to the buyer. You will know that the parcel has not been received by the buyer when you receive a call, or more commonly, an email from her. If you are not a newbie to online eBay business you know what could have probably gone wrong. Reply to the mail assuring the buyer that you will investigate the matter and ask her whether it is the latest address that she had updated at eBay or PayPal. Check from your records the mailing address and documents like DC were attached properly to the parcel. Talk to the parcel carrier. If you had attached DC, you will most likely get the thing back.

If you had purchased insurance, take up the matter with the insuring company. But it is prudent to take care of fine prints at the time of purchasing the insurance than be sorry later.

Breakage complaints score next to delay or loss. Advise your customer, soon as you dispatch, to open the parcel in the presence of the delivery person so that they can both acknowledge the condition as received. It is hard to convince the insurance company otherwise. If you sell neon signs, take extra care to understand the fine print which specifically excludes neon signs among other glassware. I such cases either you refund to the customer or face a negative feedback. Not all insurance companies are alike but most eBay sellers complain against FedEx, so be careful next time.

Customer can seek redress with eBay. Study the eBay customer protection policy. eBay, under certain conditions, can reverse the amount from your PaypPal account to the buyer. One advice to all new eBay sellers, most shipping problems can be avoided by carefully handling each parcel but you will be better off by subscribing to eBay Sellers’ Protection Policy.