Question
Have a winning bidder not liking the shipping for airmail letter post and insisting that I ship economy parcel post with no insurance.
He said my TOS does not say how I was going to ship, which is correct as he is international. I am now going to correct that by saying Airmail Letter Post or Global Priority.
I told him my reasons for not wanting to ship economy (just read the Packaging & Shipping Discussion boards on eBay) but I think he will insist. I keep telling him to let me know if he wants out. They tell of horror stories of items taking 6-8 months instead of 6-8 weeks. And other posters saying never to ship economy.
BTW, he did not ask for shipping rates prior to bidding. He also says that all other sellers agreed to ship HIS way.
Any thoughts or insights.
Answer
I don't have a clue where your winning bidder is located but economy parcel post is usually way more expensive than sometimes even airmail and certainly just regular economy. Maybe he's confusing economy letter post (cheapest) with economy parcel post (not very cheap)?
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I would give him the costs via Air Letter Post vs. Air Parcel Post and Surface Parcel Post and then let him decide. There is usually little difference under two pounds between Air Letter and Surface Parcel Post.
I think the numbers will encourage him to make the best decision. I think your buyer is just another know-it-all who is confused. Doing it this way enables him to save face and make the right choice. Of course it could go the other way too.
Larry
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We never ship surface because of the number of problems we've had with it. If the customer declines to pay shipping as quoted, we file for final value fees and move on.
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Only time I'd recommend surface transport is if you are ordering from Europe or Asia. I can't think of a smooth transaction where surface mail was used. Takes longer than quoted by USPS and you will get questions from buyers about their package. Recommended method is Air Mail Letter Post (up to 4 lbs) and Global Express EMS. These are also the two methods that can be automated using Endicia's Dazzle software.
Parcel Post is okay too and an inexpensive alternative to Global Express EMS, but you do have to fill out the big white customs form by hand. I'm all about automation, so I don't offer it to customers unless we have a developed a business relationship first.
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I have shipped economy several times when the buyers have requested it and not had any problems (knock on wood). I have shipped to Australia (took about 8 weeks), Germany (got there quicker than the air package I send at the same time), Canada (same story as Germany) and Italy (believe it or not arrived in less than 2 weeks.
I have not done it with any high $ items, however.
Sue
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I, too, have shipped economy letter surface several times for customers but I do warn them beforehand, that it can take a long time to get there. Some of my customers have had the happy occasion to have economy get there even quicker than air! That is the rare occasion, but I find if you tell them beforehand I don't have to deal with the "where is my package" e-mails.
When I purchase from abroad, normally I am not in any big hurry for the item so I request economy myself to save drastically on shipping charges. I don't mind waiting a couple of months if need be.
I am also in the habit of when shipping even airmail, to warn that the package might get held up in customs. This was important awhile ago, when Canadian shipments were dismally slow, even with air.
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The package is 6 lbs. I just went to the USPS site to calculate economy parcel post and the difference between that and Airmail Letter Post is only $2
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What country are you shipping to? I just checked Australia and England at 6 pounds, and there was a more considerable difference than that.
Sue
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Your client may be setting you up for a fall when they state they didn't recieve it. Maybe require the signature receipt in lieu of insurance. I'll only imagine they asked for no invoice in the package either.