Use Own Postage Stamps Or Ebay's Discounted Shipping Rates?

If I wanted to use current commemoratives, I'd have to queue at the post office instead of putting my packages in the pillar box. I'd then probably find that there weren't any current commemoratives behind the counter. And I might well be doing this for someone who, like me, is uninterested in current stamps, which doubtless wouldn't be cancelled in any case. And I usually pay around 50% of face value for decimal stamps, not 70%.

Actually you're absolutely right, what am I even complaining about. The same rude clerks who don't let me use 3 or more stamps are the same ones who say sorry only flags and flowers. Sometimes they say sorry no stamps. Such is life

Unless I'm sending abroad, in which case I now need a specific customs form, or I'm using signed for, I don't have much interaction with the staff, but I get on well with them. They're used to my handing over packages covered in stamps from the '70s, and they just throw them in the parcels bag without comment, even satirical.

Don,

Please excuse me going a little OT here, but I looked through your eBay link and noticed you have sold some expensive items (over $500). As a seller, how do you protect yourself from or screen against shady buyers? For example, if you were to sell a $500 used camera, would you ship it with signature confirmation, insurance, etc..? I fear a buyer wanting a refund and then returning me a box of paper plates.

I am not a big seller, in the last 12 months I think my total was around $1100. But I do ship the more costly items exactly how eBay recommends. I use their interface to purchase the labels, I pay the extra $2 for signature and assume that eBay will cover me by doing this. As far as USPS, I do not buy insurance and just roll the dice.

I have only been burned once and it was my fault. I shipped some liquid product across the country but had a typo in my listing. The buyer caught the typo and declared 'Not as Described' knowing full well that my margin was far less than the cost of the shipping to him. <shrugs> I gave him a full refund and just moved on.

As the owner of a retail store for many years, you get used to people who abuse a transaction. I used to stop doing business with anyone who ripped me off but learned that I made no more money from them. So instead, I started to continue to business with them but just more carefully. I found myself getting the 'last laugh' whenever I would deposit more of their money in the bank.
Don

I think as a general matter the ebay shipping labels save time and effort, if not money.

I do several thousand sales transactions a year on ebay. Historically, I used stamps on everything. With the advent of the ebay "tracking" for material under $20 (or up to 3 items total $50) I have started using that. I will use labels for ebay international shipping when appropriate, and I use labels for anything going priority or express mail. But for other first class mail or small packages, I still use stamps. I am a believer in using current commemoratives (if WE don't use them, who will?), so the first stamp on anything is one of those. I will use discount postage to fill out. (I also am a big user of $2 jennies on my packages). Seems to keep most everyone happy. I do think I'd save myself time if I started using ebay labels on my packages though.

I had expected complaints when I started using the ebay tracked envelopes, but I only have a few buyers that specifically ask for stamps to be used. I do find that I get frequent complaints from buyers that the ebay tracking prematurely indicates delivery. Not sure why ebay still can't get around to tweaking how they report things or at least warning customers about their product.

I think that eBay cut a deal with the USPS to not include more a more costly tracking service in media mail and the eBay 'tracked' items. They basically only supply 'end-to-end tracking (only supplying tracking reports at the major points and not at every step).

I think that the reason that some folks are seeing premature indicated delivery also has something to do with discounted tracking service. My experience is that about 50% of my incoming discounted track items (media mail or eBay discounted) show "delivered" when it gets a certain scan at the Distribution Center. In many rural areas (like mine), the closest Distribution Center is 50+ miles away. On some days they can get it to me when this happens but at other times it arrives 1-2 days later.

It could be that some USPS services are evolving into 'Spirit Airlines'; they are less expensive but expect delays and cancellations.
Don

I too sell 1000s each year but I find counting out stamps takes way too much time
but more importantly I want to stay completely within the Ebay system. I can't count the number of times Ebay has stepped in to help me, especially with International sales. In spite of everything I read here Ebay treats me great. They bring me lots of bidders, good prices and protection from bad bidders.

Ken

PS I'll start selling again around the 3rd week in January.

I believe that Ebay uses their own negotiated version of the USPS service Informed Visibility. You can do this yourself and it works for both packages and letters. This service is indicated by the barcode lines on the address label. What Informed Visibility tells you is when the package hits its major distribution points. IE your own distribution center, the addressee's distribution center and the addresses local PO. Unlike USPS tracking it is low cost(I pay around 18 cents per generated label through a service that generates the label and sends me emails informing me when the item hits the 3 major points) but it does not tell you when or if the package is delivered to its final destination. So good for material that is a bit more but not too expensive.

The upside... cost effective peace of mind. The downside... doesn't go all the way to the addresses door... If the material is lost, all you know(if it makes it to the destination PO) is that the item went missing on the final leg. Can be a red flag on an unscrupulous customer or sticky fingered postman.

I almost always use stamps to mail my packages or stamp sales. I use the ebay mailers if I note any red flags with my buyers-low feedback numbers, poor feedback ,etc. When I get the tracking number on the receipt, I then list the tracking number on the ebay sales page so the buyer can track their package. Since I buy my unused stamps for no more than 30% face, I save quite a bit in postage.
At the post office, my usual clerks, who know me, trust when I tell them exactly how much in postage is on the package. I am accurate to the penny.
It gets interesting when I get a new clerk who wants to count the amount in stamps. Since I use all different denominations, I have been known to stand at the counter for what seems like 5 minutes, while they count, make a mistake and start over, then lose track and count over, and so forth. I tell them twenty 29cent stamps is $5.80. They get out their calculators to confirm. I would be curious if other sellers, who use stamps to mail, have had this experience as well.
When I buy my philatelic material through the mail, certainly I prefer to get boatloads of different stamps rather than a prepaid label. I am aware though, that it can be more work to put all those stamps on envelopes and packages-so for large sellers, it can be a significant inconvenience.

You must have better luck than I do; the majority of older stamps I get on packages are 'stick glued' on making them worthless. For example, I got a parcel this week covered with US plate blocks and line pairs, every one of them stick glued on.

Other than the seller getting cheaper postage, I see no benefits for the buyer. The parcel was hand delivered to the PO and was seen only by PO employees while in transit. I assume that PO employees see lots of stamp so the parcel is not introducing stamps to anyone who might take up collecting. What it did do was slow the delivery time since it appears to have fallen out of the automated handling and was hand cancelled with a pen and took longer than usual get to me. The package was totally covered by stamps, making little doubt on what was inside.

But if anyone wants the empty parcel completely covered on both sides with Sharpie cancelled stamps that are 'glue sticked' on, let me now.
Don