As anybody that has read my messages over the last few weeks know, I am about fed up with both eBay and CPC. From losing parcels, to ridiculous delivery estimate dates, to unwarranted defects, to buyers who don't seem to know what they are doing...etc...etc..etc.
I had a buyer from Finland message me saying the order that I sent on Sept. 29 was still not there on Oct.27. The estimated deliver date to Finland it was Oct 5-Oct.7. Later the same day it showed up. It was sent light packet international. It has been my experience that four weeks is not too uncommon for overseas shipments. However, thanks to eBay putting the expected delivery dates in flaming neon (well they may as well) I have had more buyers asking me then ever where their items are because "By golly eBay said it should be here by this date"). Um really? To top it all off some buyers use the "item not received" question which in turn gives you an automatic defect because it automatically opens a case. How fair is that?
I recently had one shipment to the U.S. that I ended up reshipping as it was a no show. The second order I put tracking on at my expense. The customer messages me to let me know that not only did it show up, the first order did as well. This was 41 days after the initial shipment!!!
Shipping tracked packet works on a very few of my orders as it is too expensive for most of what I sell. I had one tracked packet that I had to file a lost claim on because even though I handed it over the counter at CP it was never scanned into the system therefore didn't exist. Thankfully it finally showed up once it hit USPS. At least one postal company was doing it's job.
I have another order sitting on my desk that I mailed Oct.13 to Quebec. I got it back two weeks later saying that the address didn't exist. I had another one to Ontario three weeks ago that had the same problem. Funny though because after contacting the customer I find out the address is correct so I reshipped and they received it. I haven't reshipped this one as I have repeatedly tried to contact the customer with no results. I will be forced to cancel the order because of address issues even though chances are the address is fine. Naturally I will most likely incur another defect due to a very unhappy customer. Then there is the matter of orders coming back to me because CPC can't tell the difference between the sender and receiver address. I do highlight the "To" now to make sure..though I've still gotten one back. Sigh.
I lost my top rated seller status because of two defects that should NOT be on my account. I am going to call eBay and try to get them removed. However I am not sure I should bother because I expect I will be receiving many more. I can't imagine that I will still be an eBay seller once the new defect for ship time comes into effect, unless of course eBay comes to their senses.
In the meantime the only thing I think I can try is to go through my shipping and change everything to economy or standard. I refuse to change my handling time as I do believe buyers pay attention to that and if I list a longer handling time my business will become even slower then it is.
It would seem eBay is confused on what to rate sellers on and CPC is falling apart at the seams. Not looking very optimistic by any means!
