Instead of Sending Signed For Is It Safer To Send Tracked-But Where Is Email Of Buyer?

[elspeths-pattern-shop]

Hi,

I usually send signed for but have recently lost faith in signed for recorded delivery.  I have phoned RM customer services, they have stated that it is better to send tracked delivery.  However, I would need to add the buyers phone number and email address.  How do I find each customers phone number and email address?  On the invoice sales page I can find an email for the customer but it is  long series of numbers and letters followed by @ebay.com.  Is this ebay hiding the customers real email address and if yes, will this work with Royal Mail.  I usually purchase my labels online for collection at home.

I am confused with these very long ebay email addresses for buyers. 

Can anyone help please?

Thank you 

Best regards from Sarah

[notstopbuying]

If you check the settings, one of the options for buyers details, is that ebay send the phone number, don't worry about the email address, if you link your eBay api to royal mail, the they will add all the details. 

[the-nutwood-collection]

 if you link your eBay api to royal mail, the they will add all the details

Check that eBay passes through the email and phone number on the API.  I only have Etsy linked so can't speak for RM, but Etsy doesn't pass the data through - I add the email manually.  My guess is that, as both apps have their own buyer notification emails, it isn't considered necessary.  

[wyntersemporium]

I put my own email in and their phone number in 

[wyntersemporium]

Always knock at my door to collect and give me my mail and they take a photo of me in my dressing gown 

[wyntersemporium]

Buyers get their photo took

[wyntersemporium]

They push them through the letterbox or hand them straight to the buyer / person who's at door 

[tranceenthusiast]

Signed for is absolutely not worth the paper it is written on. I've purchased hundreds of records over the past year. Often sellers insist on sending signed for... Its absolutely pointless.

I've never ever signed for a single item. They all get left buy my door, or on my post box, no matter what service is used.. 

You're best off using tracked. I can't stand sellers who insist on charging me extra for signed for now so I avoid them. 

Also you can buy QR drop off code from within the ebay app. Simply take the parcel to the post office they scan the QR code, print the label and stick it on the parcel..

Job done.. 

Hope that helps. 

[leon9503]

RM around here always leave parcels on the doorstep, in full view if we are not in which legally isn't 'Delivered', plus 'Signed For' are just left unsigned for, regardless of EB's nonsense version of 'Delivered', it has to be 'In the hand' to be legally delivered and the less scrupulous could easily make claims for not delivered if just left on the doorstep as doorstep thefts are on the rise, obviously as easy pickings and a photo of something on a doorstep/stuffed in a letterbox is not delivered.

Even deliveries now are a reflection of how s**t the country really is....

[tomahawk_sports]

yes the more unscrupulous could make claims of not delivered but they wouldnt get anywhere with ebay if tracking says delivered

[rjwilmsi]

If you sell an item on eBay and add the tracking to the eBay order then the buyer can see the tracking there.

You can add the buyer's virtual eBay email address and/or their phone number to the Royal Mail Tracked order, however Royal Mail don't require this - you can leave it blank or you can add your own details if you feel you should enter something there.

I certainly wouldn't contact buyers asking for those details.

Tracked is a much better service than Signed For, and Tracked is cheaper. So if you are able to purchase labels online there is no reason to use Signed For any more (it may only make sense if you do all postage at Post Office that doesn't offer tracked).

[johnwash1]

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@danieledwardsmall wrote:

It is necessary as a buyer to prove you didn't receive an item in the eyes of eBay.

Item missing + No sig = clear refund decision in your favour.

Item missing + Tracking to your doorstep = no refund.

What's so difficult to see that a buyer will be out of pocket?

Oh wait.  The bias on here is to protect sellers' interests at all costs...

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Oh wait.  Ebay siding with the seller?  Well, nice to know such situations exist.  In general the buyer is favoured even in the most egregious scenarios.

[elspeths-pattern-shop · Accepted solution]

Hi,

Thank you so much for all of the helpful advice you posted,  I appreciate it.

Kindest regards from Sarah