Do you include a return address with packages?

[mcurphy]

I never do, and (I guess) fortunately have never had a problem. And I've never been questioned about it either. But yesterday, when shipping a box via USPS Priority for an eBay sale, our new postal worker demanded that I write my return address on the box....Is this actually a requirement?

 

[John Connor]

Is this actually a requirement?

I think it is.

I have a PayPal business account which you can get free. When you have a business account you can change your name to something else so that the buyer doesn't see it. But as far as hiding the address, either don't include it and go to the post office and drop it off or get a PO Box.

 

[rudeguy]

I never do, and (I guess) fortunately have never had a problem. And I've never been questioned about it either. But yesterday, when shipping a box via USPS Priority for an eBay sale, our new postal worker demanded that I write my return address on the box....Is this actually a requirement?

Yep. Just in case it gets lost they have somewhere to send it.

Makes sense.

 

[mcurphy]

I think it is.

I have a PayPal business account which you can get free. When you have a business account you can change your name to something else so that the buyer doesn't see it. But as far as hiding the address, either don't include it and go to the post office and drop it off or get a PO Box.

This is what I have always done! But now the "new" lady at the counter is demanding that I write my return info??

 

[Subyman]

Just curious, why do you not want to put a return address on the package? I've had stuff returned to me before, so it would have been lost in the mail if there wasn't a return address.

 

[rudeguy]

Just curious, why do you not want to put a return address on the package? I've had stuff returned to me before, so it would have been lost in the mail if there wasn't a return address.

I ship a lot of things for my job. I can't imagine not putting a return address on a package. It's hard enough to track down one that is missing. If they don't even know what post office to check, that would be a disaster.

 

[mcurphy]

Just curious, why do you not want to put a return address on the package? I've had stuff returned to me before, so it would have been lost in the mail if there wasn't a return address.

I guess for the anonymity of it all?

For instance it came in handy once when I sold a snowblower carburetor on eBay to a guy in Florida. He looked at the picture and thought it "looked" like the carb he needed for his lawnmower. Well low and behold, it was not the right carburetor...despite the fact that I clearly stated the model number and everything else he would need to know to make a knowledgeable decision on this auction.

So this guy, he decides to file a claim against me...saying the item was not as described. He wrote me several times wanting to return the item..BUT...he needed a return address. My auctions clearly state NO RETURNS. What does eBay do?? Not a god damned thing about it...so eventually this guy had to eat the cost for his dumbassed research and decision making skills. Why should I have to take the return and pay for shipping when I sold him what he bought?

Sorry for the rant...your question brought up a bad memory...

 

[mcurphy]

I ship a lot of things for my job. I can't imagine not putting a return address on a package. It's hard enough to track down one that is missing. If they don't even know what post office to check, that would be a disaster.

We ship all the time at my job as well, and a return address is always included in our shipping program...whether it is Fedex, USPS, or UPS, but at home I just never have.

 

[John Connor]

This is what I have always done! But now the "new" lady at the counter is demanding that I write my return info??

I was referring to dropping it in their box. Providing you pay for shipping on ebay or PayPal, cross your address out.

 

[Capt Caveman]

I just had a return shipped back to me as the company did not pick-up the return from their PO Box for over three weeks.

 

[John Connor]

I guess for the anonymity of it all?

For instance it came in handy once when I sold a snowblower carburetor on eBay to a guy in Florida. He looked at the picture and thought it "looked" like the carb he needed for his lawnmower. Well low and behold, it was not the right carburetor...despite the fact that I clearly stated the model number and everything else he would need to know to make a knowledgeable decision on this auction.

So this guy, he decides to file a claim against me...saying the item was not as described. He wrote me several times wanting to return the item..BUT...he needed a return address. My auctions clearly state NO RETURNS. What does eBay do?? Not a god damned thing about it...so eventually this guy had to eat the cost for his dumbassed research and decision making skills. Why should I have to take the return and pay for shipping when I sold him what he bought?

Sorry for the rant...your question brought up a bad memory...

Snowblower carburetor? Florida?

 

[Captante]

Always ... if the package can't be delivered I want it back.

 

[Subyman]

I guess for the anonymity of it all?

For instance it came in handy once when I sold a snowblower carburetor on eBay to a guy in Florida. He looked at the picture and thought it "looked" like the carb he needed for his lawnmower. Well low and behold, it was not the right carburetor...despite the fact that I clearly stated the model number and everything else he would need to know to make a knowledgeable decision on this auction.

So this guy, he decides to file a claim against me...saying the item was not as described. He wrote me several times wanting to return the item..BUT...he needed a return address. My auctions clearly state NO RETURNS. What does eBay do?? Not a god damned thing about it...so eventually this guy had to eat the cost for his dumbassed research and decision making skills. Why should I have to take the return and pay for shipping when I sold him what he bought?

Sorry for the rant...your question brought up a bad memory...

I once sold a $1500 order of vintage tin tiles. The lady had given the wrong address and it ended up coming back to me as not deliverable. Not having that return address on the package would have been a disaster for me.

Pros and cons I guess, but I've always thought a return address was required. They could probably hold your package if you don't have one.

 

[mcurphy]

Snowblower carburetor? Florida?

Exactly..and don't ask me You deal with some freakin "special" people on eBay...hence, again, why I value my anonymity.

 

[mcurphy]

I once sold a $1500 order of vintage tin tiles. The lady had given the wrong address and it ended up coming back to me as not deliverable. Not having that return address on the package would have been a disaster for me.

Pros and cons I guess, but I've always thought a return address was required. They could probably hold your package if you don't have one.

OK, this brings up another question then...if the package wasn't delivered, wouldn't you be able to file a claim against the P.O.? I ship via USPS Priority, so I get automatic Delivery Confirmation and tracking, as well as $50 insurance. Do I still need a return address?

 

[Subyman]

OK, this brings up another question then...if the package wasn't delivered, wouldn't you be able to file a claim against the P.O.? I ship via USPS Priority, so I get automatic Delivery Confirmation and tracking, as well as $50 insurance. Do I still need a return address?

They may be able to use it against you in the filing. In my case, it was a wrong address and because I didn't put the return address then it would have messed their process. It would have been doubly my fault. First for the destination wrong address and then for omitting the return address.

 

[pontifex]

I guess for the anonymity of it all?

For instance it came in handy once when I sold a snowblower carburetor on eBay to a guy in Florida. He looked at the picture and thought it "looked" like the carb he needed for his lawnmower. Well low and behold, it was not the right carburetor...despite the fact that I clearly stated the model number and everything else he would need to know to make a knowledgeable decision on this auction.

So this guy, he decides to file a claim against me...saying the item was not as described. He wrote me several times wanting to return the item..BUT...he needed a return address. My auctions clearly state NO RETURNS. What does eBay do?? Not a god damned thing about it...so eventually this guy had to eat the cost for his dumbassed research and decision making skills. Why should I have to take the return and pay for shipping when I sold him what he bought?

Sorry for the rant...your question brought up a bad memory...

Ebay could have just as easily given him your address to return it.

this makes no sense at all. i think op is sending illegal things.

 

[mcurphy]

Ebay could have just as easily given him your address to return it.

this makes no sense at all. i think op is sending illegal things.

Nope. Wrong.

 

[cpacini]

OK, this brings up another question then...if the package wasn't delivered, wouldn't you be able to file a claim against the P.O.? I ship via USPS Priority, so I get automatic Delivery Confirmation and tracking, as well as $50 insurance. Do I still need a return address?

No I doubt they would accept a claim in a case like that as they are not at fault.

 

[Ichinisan]

USPS destroyed a package once that my brother had shipped to an eBay buyer. They found a fragment of the package with the return address and contacted my brother because they could not find any other identifying information on the recovered fragments. They asked him what to do with the 3 cases of toy cars they had recovered (the other 2 were not recovered). He gave them the recipient address and had them send it on.

The buyer, who did not purchase the optional insurance, received 3 cases of toy cars (out of 5 purchased). Then the buyer got PayPal / eBay to refund 100% of his money. Makes me angry just thinking about it...

 

[highland145]

Snowblower carburetor? Florida?

This. I wouldn't have given him a return address either.

Otherwise, like mentioned, I'd like it back if it's undeliverable.

 

[CZroe]

Don't they teach you this in school? Seriously. I learned how to format an address and that a return address was required when I was in grade school. They also told me why.

 

[highland145]

Probably only "required" because they wanted you to learn how.

 

[Brainonska511]

The buyer, who did not purchase the optional insurance, received 3 cases of toy cars (out of 5 purchased). Then the buyer got PayPal / eBay to refund 100% of his money. Makes me angry just thinking about it...

Shipping insurance protects the seller, not the buyer.

 

[Carson Dyle]

Yes.

But for God's sake, it's so much extra work, I wonder why I still do. My life could be so much easier if I just skipped this one painstaking and tedious task. :\