Up until recently e-bay has been a safe place for me to sell items. Until recently I have never had a problem with items not being received. As the seller I am able to prove that item has been shipped and gone through U.S. Customs exporting to foreign countries. The problem is that in foreign countries items are not trackable and unable to prove delivery using conventional mailing services. Even express mail is not a guarantee. Global express mail through usps is the cheapest at $42.00 guaranteed mail delivery service being offered. A customer that buys a used watch for $20.00 is not likely or very willing to spend $42-69 in shipping fees. So here is my question!!! If a policy such as proof of delivery mandated by seller protection policies although reasonable and affordable in the U.S. ( these services can be had for as little as little as purchasing online trackable first class mail. Usually for about $1.60 to $3.00 for items under $250.00 and signature confirmation for an additional $1.95 for proof of delivery for items over $250.00.... International First class normal mailing rate is $3-6 for a watch but that service through USPS is not guaranteed to be delivered. Guaranteed proof of delivery service = $42.00..... So here is my question. If I offer Global express as my preferred mailing service and show in writing that this is the guaranteed mailing service but also offer the other mailing services that are affordable but carry a disclaimer from usps showing that the other services are not guaranteed delivery services if the customer after being given the disclaimer and the knowledge is made available to them chooses to use a mailing service not guaranteed delivery does the customer negate their buyer protection should the item not arrive. I understand that proof of mailing is still necessary. To simplify the question. If a policy that mandates proof of service/delivery by paypal is a service willingly offered by seller but is refused by the buyer has the buyer willingly negated their right to that service if it was offered at fair market (a price not greater than what is charged for by the USPS.) These less costly shipping services are offered by paypal shipping as options but currently only sellers are being responsible for the shipping choices that buyers make should the items supposedly not arrive.
Sad reality is that even if you place a disclaimer is your listing or ad it will not help you in any way as the merchant's requirements (PayPal's) were not met. The customer could still turn around and file a dispute and the item would still be non-trackable. With the USPS now eliminating another 250 million dollars in packages, thanks to Obama signing the PACT act, the price at the USPS will all but go up once again making any service even higher than you quoted.
