Thread: how to enforce a shipping policy

Any hints on politely enforcing a shipping policy, say someone opts for first class mail or some kind of mail that cannot be tracked or insured..and your policy states that you cannot be responsible for items lost in the mail (which is a common thing amongst ebay and etsy sellers) ..especially for international orders where customs can hold packages for a long time.

If you sent someone an expensive costume in the mail, overseas, and it was lost or not trackable would you refund it?

I've had incredibly good luck with first class mail in the past but one order to Sweden never got there, one to Africa never arrived..etc..have had a few rather expensive things not turn up. In the past I refunded the money but that's a big bite..it was the post office or customs that lost the package.

??wwyd??

Well, you don't want to risk a sale, so maybe you could go ahead, but remind them that you will not refund or replace lost items without a tracking number and make sure they agree to it. You can keep you receipt and mark it with the purchasers name for proof of shipment?

But you know, there are a lot of companies out there charging through the nose, so I don't think expecting them to pay for tracking is unreasonable. It covers your butt. (But could cost a few sales).

I have always undercharged for shipping and was hoping for postal karma..such is not the luck this time:)

express mail does give peace of mind..but i'll keep first class open to those who prefer it for one veil or something..

Originally Posted by Adishakti

Well, you don't want to risk a sale, so maybe you could go ahead, but remind them that you will not refund or replace lost items without a tracking number and make sure they agree to it. You can keep you receipt and mark it with the purchasers name for proof of shipment?

But you know, there are a lot of companies out there charging through the nose, so I don't think expecting them to pay for tracking is unreasonable. It covers your butt. (But could cost a few sales).

Even if they agree once the package is lost and they complain to PayPal or initiate a chargeback on their credit card the burden of proof is on the seller to prove shipment and only a trackable number is going to count. I wouldn't send anything of value without delivery confirmation.

~~Kimahri

Originally Posted by jesennia

Any hints on politely enforcing a shipping policy, say someone opts for first class mail or some kind of mail that cannot be tracked or insured..and your policy states that you cannot be responsible for items lost in the mail (which is a common thing amongst ebay and etsy sellers) ..especially for international orders where customs can hold packages for a long time.

If you sent someone an expensive costume in the mail, overseas, and it was lost or not trackable would you refund it?

I've had incredibly good luck with first class mail in the past but one order to Sweden never got there, one to Africa never arrived..etc..have had a few rather expensive things not turn up. In the past I refunded the money but that's a big bite..it was the post office or customs that lost the package.

??wwyd??

I would ask if they want insurance. I've had people charge me almost 2x the price for insurance. I would put something in writing when you send the price with and without insurance that if they select no insurance they are agreeing to eat the cost if their package is lost.

That's how it usually is with most sellers I buy from that ship to wherever I hang my hat in Asia