Paypal mailing addresses

[GOS]

As many of you know, I have sold a significant amount of my music library via Paypal. Something that is confusing/frustrating is that 90% of the time I have to request your mailing address for shipment. When I ask this, many of you are surprised that Paypal didn't tell me that information.

So, I'm guessing 1 out of 10 transactions shows me your mailing address. Is it something I'm doing wrong?

 

[Sonik Wiz]

As many of you know, I have sold a significant amount of my music library via Paypal. Something that is confusing/frustrating is that 90% of the time I have to request your mailing address for shipment. When I ask this, many of you are surprised that Paypal didn't tell me that information.

So, I'm guessing 1 out of 10 transactions shows me your mailing address. Is it something I'm doing wrong?

I guess if you are Amazon or the such all those blanks are filled in. Buyers should volunteer that info up front for you.

 

[peterzach]

Gene,

I know it's a pain but when I am selling I ask every person to given me their address as I was burned once by going by the paypal address and it was a incorrect address.

peter

 

[JonUrban]

I bet it has to do with the "Friends and Family" deal. By saying that someone is a friend, it's a fee free transaction, so they probably figure it's just a transfer of money with no shipping/item involved. However, the buyer has no PayPal protection if the seller shafts them - which would never be the case with a GOS sale!

If one does it the normal buyer/seller way, you'd probably get the address, but also get charged their PayPal transaction fee, and the buyer could request a refund if unhappy

It's the only thing that makes sense

 

[quicksrt]

Gene,

I know it's a pain but when I am selling I ask every person to given me their address as I was burned once by going by the paypal address and it was a incorrect address.

peter

The PP "confirmed address" means that seller will not get burned if they send to it. That's the deal, use the PP addy and seller is protected. If the buyer provides something different I would not send the item out to that buyer. That is the stated rule.

If using F&F payment, then buyer should provide their addy in a PM, and not mention discs or any items in the PP comment field. I've been around the block several times on this issue.

 

[Imbobman]

I bet it has to do with the "Friends and Family" deal. By saying that someone is a friend, it's a fee free transaction, so they probably figure it's just a transfer of money with no shipping/item involved. However, the buyer has no PayPal protection if the seller shafts them - which would never be the case with a GOS sale!

If one does it the normal buyer/seller way, you'd probably get the address, but also get charged their PayPal transaction fee, and the buyer could request a refund if unhappy

It's the only thing that makes sense

Jon, I think I you are right about that. Sort of an odd situation.
I've only been on sending funds not receiving funds end of the F & F payments.
Good to know this, thanks!

 

[GOS]

If using F&F payment, then buyer should provide their addy in a PM, and not mention discs or any items in the PP comment field. I've been around the block several times on this issue.

I get what you're saying there, and it makes absolute sense. In other words, if PP is monitoring all these transactions, they could put 2 and 2 together about stuff being sold without them making their cut.
As if they aren't making a ton of money anyway...but hey. Business is business.

 

[GOS]

Now I know why some of you put odd statements in the comments section of the transaction. Just had an aha moment.

 

[2ManySpeaks]

I do a lot of transactions through Pay Pal and can confirm it's definitely the "friends and family" option that's causing the issue. Only merch purchases will result in the recipient of the cash receiving the senders shipping information.

 

[stoopid]

Unless buying from an actual friend or someone I've done numerous prior deals, I always add a couple dollars to cover the PayPal fees and cover both our arses. Friends and Family is really best reserved for actual friends and family, people learn this too late when casually using it and finally get burned. GOS is obviously a trusted seller so that really doesn't apply specifically here, more a PSA for general use of this option.

As a long time PayPal user and seller, quicksrt is spot on -- you must send to the PayPal confirmed address or any buyer/seller protections are forfeited if a claim needs to be made. That is the exact reason for the "confirmed" address, and is PayPal policy for protections.

 

[mandrix]

What worries me more is the USPS losing or damaging Media Mail shipments. I'm happy to say that anything I've shipped media mail to QQ members has never been lost, or as far as I'm aware, damaged.
But, and this is a big but, Media Mail has no default insurance coverage. It CAN be purchased. In a few cases I've ate a few extra dollars to send Parcel Post or Priority Mail.

I think buyers and sellers should be aware and decide if insurance coverage is worth a few extra dollars. You may not be so concerned if you're selling a disc for $10...or you might. Most people selling here on QQ offer decent prices for what in many cases is barely used merchandise: discs are ripped, maybe scanned, and all put back in the packaging.

One thing I always do is send the buyer the tracking number. They can see I sent it, and I monitor the progress of the tracking myself. I try as best I can to protect the contents of anything I send.

BTW thanks @GOS for helping me out along the way with much helpful information.

 

[stoopid]

I recommend using pirateship.com if not already, media mail through them includes insurance. If the person I'm sending to is on the same side of the country, Ground Advantage is often the same cost (or slightly cheaper), and includes $100 of insurance with option to buy more.

I do not sell things online unless there's tracking and insurance on the thing I'm selling. Zero reason not to, just pass the cost to the buyer as they also share the advantages of these features. If they don't want to spend the money for the peace of mind, they can buy the item from someone else.

 

[LuvMyQuad]

I recommend using pirateship.com if not already, media mail through them includes insurance.

The name is so odd I had to Google it to see it for myself. I'm going to try them next time I need to ship. Do you know who actually does the transport? I didn't scour the site, but I didn't see what carriers they use. I assume they have to sublet some, if not most, of the actual transport. There isn't a Pirate carrier team out there, is there?

 

[Steve Bruzonsky]

I bet it has to do with the "Friends and Family" deal. By saying that someone is a friend, it's a fee free transaction, so they probably figure it's just a transfer of money with no shipping/item involved. However, the buyer has no PayPal protection if the seller shafts them - which would never be the case with a GOS sale!

If one does it the normal buyer/seller way, you'd probably get the address, but also get charged their PayPal transaction fee, and the buyer could request a refund if unhappy

It's the only thing that makes sense

To all members of the quad forum, GOS is "Friends and Family" and I guarentee he will not stiff you!

 

[Imbobman]

What worries me more is the USPS losing or damaging Media Mail shipments. I'm happy to say that anything I've shipped media mail to QQ members has never been lost, or as far as I'm aware, damaged.
But, and this is a big but, Media Mail has no default insurance coverage. It CAN be purchased. In a few cases I've ate a few extra dollars to send Parcel Post or Priority Mail.

I think buyers and sellers should be aware and decide if insurance coverage is worth a few extra dollars. You may not be so concerned if you're selling a disc for $10...or you might. Most people selling here on QQ offer decent prices for what in many cases is barely used merchandise: discs are ripped, maybe scanned, and all put back in the packaging.

One thing I always do is send the buyer the tracking number. They can see I sent it, and I monitor the progress of the tracking myself. I try as best I can to protect the contents of anything I send.

BTW thanks @GOS for helping me out along the way with much helpful information.

Yes, media mail has some limitations. No insurance included in price, plus & IMHO of more importance, if not deliverable for some reason, package is not returned to sender!
In that case, the package is MIA. I don't know what happens to them or where they go. But I suspect USPS 'workers', Newman wannabes, take them or they are set aside as unclaimed & auctioned off as lots.
Personally, I've only had this happen once or twice over all the years.
One time, the buyer wanted insurance & when the package never arrived, I filed a claim & got the declared value. Usps was pretty good, but slow, in handling things.
This was of little consolation since the item I was selling was an original copy of the sound track from PBS 'Cosmos' tv show. Not replaceable, at least then since it was OOP.
In 99+% of the time, insurance isn't needed & just makes USPS money. I recommend only using a shipping method with insurance or as an add on if you can't afford take the loss.

 

[mandrix]

I had recently discovered pirateship.com, the rates for overseas shipments from the US are way better. I've not used it as yet.
I know to ship a small package to the UK was going to cost around $200 via "conventional" methods...truly outrageous. But pirateship rates appear to be much more reasonable.

 

[mandrix]

I recently experienced a "missing shipment" via media mail, as I had ordered an album and waited weeks for it to turn up. Since the artist would have to eat shipping costs + loss I was trying to give the USPS plenty of time, and even put in a missing mail request, which went nowhere as of yet.
Fortunately the artist, who I kept informed, went ahead and sent another copy, which I'm hoping is here today or tomorrow.

I don't mean to rag on people who work hard every day to deliver the mail, but in recent times I've had situations where things are just dumped way down my driveway or just plain not delivered because they were allegedly "undeliverable", when the home was occupied all day. Plus more and more deliveries, if they will fit in the mailbox that is, are often after dark which is ludicrous to me.
Electronic / electrical / things that should not be exposed to moisture, being dumped in the yard during rain is another sore point with me.

 

[JonUrban]

I've had a package not delivered by USPS on a Sunday with a notice that "There was an attempted delivery but access to your property was blocked!" - Yeah, right. I live in the woods and no one was blocking the driveway, they were just to lazy to drive out here and deliver the thing. It arrived Monday with no issues. I mean, I didn't really need it Sunday, that was an Amazon thing they do, but don't tell me my driveway was blocked. Just tell me it will be here Monday.

Simple

 

[stoopid]

The name is so odd I had to Google it to see it for myself. I'm going to try them next time I need to ship. Do you know who actually does the transport? I didn't scour the site, but I didn't see what carriers they use. I assume they have to sublet some, if not most, of the actual transport. There isn't a Pirate carrier team out there, is there?

They're just a bulk reseller. You are buying actual usps, fedex, and ups shipping labels. I personally use them and when we need to ship things to a client out of state at work. Yarrr.

 

[Imbobman]

I recently experienced a "missing shipment" via media mail, as I had ordered an album and waited weeks for it to turn up. Since the artist would have to eat shipping costs + loss I was trying to give the USPS plenty of time, and even put in a missing mail request, which went nowhere as of yet.
Fortunately the artist, who I kept informed, went ahead and sent another copy, which I'm hoping is here today or tomorrow.

I don't mean to rag on people who work hard every day to deliver the mail, but in recent times I've had situations where things are just dumped way down my driveway or just plain not delivered because they were allegedly "undeliverable", when the home was occupied all day. Plus more and more deliveries, if they will fit in the mailbox that is, are often after dark which is ludicrous to me.
Electronic / electrical / things that should not be exposed to moisture, being dumped in the yard during rain is another sore point with me.

I sympathize & agree with you on usps! Seems in my area, they have a high worker turnover rate & route changes.
And honestly, a lot of these carriers just aren't that sharp & could give a dam about doing a good job, period!
I often get other people's mail & packages ...& they mine! When I do, I personally take it over to them with a note attached explaining the situation...
Don't get me wrong, it's a hard job delivering the mail. I definitely wouldn't want to do it!