@femmefan1946 wrote:
What is the purpose of having the buyer's phone number to begin with?
I suppose some private carriers phone ahead to make sure there is someone home before attempting delivery, but it is not common at all.
Why would no phone number result in a lost package?
Packages are not delivered to phones. They are delivered to houses, or businesses, or postal boxes.
BTW- unless, like me, you are using discounted postage stamps to mail your packages, it is cheaper and faster to print off your shipping label at home.
Where you may even have to phone number.
Because I am a Luddite, I am hand addressing my packages, and print out the invoice at home. If the buyer has supplied a phone number it's on the invoice.
@damiamavi0
Having a cell and valid email addy are very recommended requirements for shipping internationally. Clearly stated in the same lingo on UK and other EU postal websites. Especially with the VAT processing now in place. Couriers have had those requirements forever. Used to have to call to front office where I worked to get from sales staff at nauseum. As for USA it is a field. The reason it's there is if there is a problem there is an easy way to contact the customer. It's also a requirement for processing claims/MIA shipments.(To follow up with customers/shippers).
When eBay removed....In other words..... Chose to hide in their infinite wisdom they did not consider the implications. They were only concerned with their own internal paranoia.
This is why I keep a paper copy of all mailing info....In case there is a problem down the road. I've never used eBay labels. Only Shippo/CP.... because I know they know what are the official requirements.
-Lotz
General Reference:
** USPS requires that the sender's phone number be printed on Priority Mail Express shipping labels.
**When shipping internationally, UPS requires your customer's phone number to ensure the package is delivered successfully. If there is a delivery issue, UPS will reach out to the phone number listed for assistance.Aug 23, 2021
**You can go to Canada Post, sign up for a business account, then try to send an international parcel. The system prevents you from sending it without entering a phone number.Mar 5, 2019
**This can delay a shipment for any number of days. Without the phone number the package will be returned from many countries. If they can't contact the recipient by phone so they can secure customs and vat fees prior to delivery they will simply hold it and return it without the recipeints knowledge.Mar 11, 2019
