Is This Poor Packaging?

Just got this today.

Inside: cheap USPS commemorative pages NOT in their original packaging (bare).

Not happy with the packaging. Extra tape was applied BEFORE shipping.

Waiting for everything to arrive to inspect closer.

Am I being unreasonable in expecting better packaging?

It seems like sellers are getting worse now. I just got 2 rolls of coils and they were just shoved into a cardboard mailer and smashed slightly.

In cases like this, even if everything turns out to be undamaged this time...I tend to avoid sellers who don't bother to properly package their lots.

Even Siegel does this. I have received some spectacular catalogs lately that arrived in cheap mailers that were ripped and the catalogs creased and damaged.

Bad packaging irks me as well; over-packing (when done to the point where it's almost impossible to remove a stamp from the package without damaging it) is nearly as great a sin in my book.

Depending on what they're selling, sellers can sometimes be stuck between a rock and a hard place. Good packaging costs money - both for the packaging itself as well as the extra postage cost it incurs. That's not a problem in and of itself, but too many buyers balk at paying more than a minimal shipping fee, so sellers will often opt for the cheaper option and hope for the best, often with poor results in the end. Linn's had a write-up from an online seller a couple months back going into detail about this, and I couldn't help but nod in agreement to most of what he was saying. It is incumbent on the seller to package the item so it gets to the buyer safely, but buyers also need to not be such cheapskates when it comes to shipping (not saying the OP falls into that category, BTW).

Totally, agree...ebay selling can be very difficult, especially controlling shipping costs. As a seller, I overpack and actually had a couple of buyers go through packaging methods via multiple emails. I ship non-stamp stuff weekly.

This particular case really irks me. It was the highest shipping cost (almost $100) for multiple items that could have been combined and shipped safely and much cheaper for mutual benefit.

Not to mention the physical time sturdy packaging can take a seller. When in business use of time matters, especially if buyers are loath to pay for such activity.




Why would you expect original packaging for each commemorative sheet? Where they shown that way? Packaging from the USPS is not intended for long term archival storage. Removal from same is necessary.

Next time specifically ask for the medium flat rate box and mention you would welcome paying for the additional postage costs.

Lastly there is nothing stopping you from inquiring about or requesting specific shipping, but be prepared to pay additional for your request.

I actually emailed the seller before the auction ended about shipping multiple lots. No answer.

5 lots. 5 packages. About 10lbs. Ouch for the seller.

Sounds like you were not paying for shipping and in fact enjoy the seller's predicament. As such I can see the sellers mailing container choice.

If stuff arrives damaged, have the USPS so mark the item and make a claim via the sales site or PayPal. The seller will lean to pack better, charge for shipping or just recycle the commemorative sheets with other waste paper.

The buyer not paying for shipping if the seller set the shipping terms does not absolve the seller of packaging properly. If I sell an item and offer free shipping and think that means that I can throw the stamp in a sandwich bag inside of a reused jiffy mailer that is just wrong.

Sellers that package professionally and ID the item and provide a decent invoice look sharp and squared away and likely get more business.

Off topic: I also abhor tape and many sellers are tape happy. They obviously own scads of packaging tape company shares. At times it is almost impossible to extricate the stamp.

LOL..yep. It is ironic how bad stamp dealers are at packaging compared to my other hobby (baseball cards) where even cheap material is packaged immaculately--you know, considering stamp people should know a thing or two about how much abuse everything sent through postal system will take.

Fixed shipping cost for me was $90. Outrageous, but factored in. Pictured was one of three today. Others in similar condition. Paper must have been old because it literally fell apart and can see why the shipper used all that tape before shipping. Must have been a newbie.

Ouch for the seller because they could have combined shipping and profited GREATER by combining packages and done like FexEx Ground / USPS Retail Ground / Media Mail (questionable) and still packaged with care.

I too received a Siegel catalogue this month which had been wrapped with a priority mail envelope and tossed in a shipping envelope nearly twice the size of the book. The last time I bought Siegel catalogues, both from the William Gross sale, they came extremely well packaged in a nice fitting box which would be useful for long term storage. Almost like a slip case. I was surprised and a little disappointed with the packaging on this one. The catalogue is still a thing of beauty with incredible stamps, and as well made as most museum catalogues.

RXC - I think that you are talking about the Petersen catalog which is a hardcover thing of beauty but the packaging was terrible. Mine is dinged up with damaged edges. As you said, the Gross catalogs arrived in a custom box. I have a set on my shelf still unopened. Siegel has to subcontract the printing shipping out but you would think that they would be concerned that a catalog that cost a lot of money to produce arrives safely.

Yes it was the Petersen catalogue. Fortunately mine arrived undamaged. But not because it was safely packaged. Just lucky. Still a beautiful book by any standard.

I also had issues with the Siegel catalogue. My bag ripped and even got a little wet from the rain. Not soaked, luckily I got to it quick.

I bought about 2 dozen items last year off ebay. I only had 1 issue where the seller used a cheap envelope and it got soaked from the rain. The stamps stuck to the glassine, totally ruined. However, I contacted the seller and he replaced them free of charge.

Here in Australia, the complete opposite,
I get material / Catalogues sandwiched between "Marga Cipta Board"
Cast Acrylic sheeting, it's like plywood.

Well done Phoenix Auctions
http://www.margacipta.com/index.php...rylic-sheet/