Re-using boxes

catch_me_if_you_can

I sell often on ebay, and often will send an item in a box I've received something in, and kept as it's a useful size/strength. For example, a Body Shop box that once held a bottle of perfume, etc.

Twice now, I've had emails from bidders saying, "I bought a pink elephant from you but you've sent me a Body Shop Perfume, how do we resolve this"

I've then emailed and advised them that their pink elephant is inside the perfume box, and then received an apologetic email back.

Now while I do find this funny, I also find it odd that some people don't look inside the box first?

I'm not a business on ebay, and when I buy from an ebay seller I've come to expect all types of packaging and so long as my item gets to me undamaged, that's fine with me.

I do, however, open the packaging! Carefully so I can reuse it if necessary :rotfl:

Almost tempted to put a note inside saying "please open this box" but it seems a bit like pass-the-parcel!

RFW

We buy a lot of second hand good quality boxes so invariably have contents that differ from the description outside. It's amazing how many people take what is said on the outside to represent the inside.

We also had one that had a warning of hazardous liquid contents, despite my telling them the contents were different and that there was no hazard one courier wouldn't take the boxes until I had covered up the warning.

Obviously_the_best

The warning sticker thing though, they can't go around telling every person in every depot that your parcel doesn't contain hazardous goods

RFW

Obviously_the_best wrote: »

The warning sticker thing though, they can't go around telling every person in every depot that your parcel doesn't contain hazardous goods

I wasn't too clear on that, it was actually for liquid soap, so not exactly semtex!

porto_bello

I tend to keep the wrapping and packing from anything that could be useful, so I've got an immediate slection of packing materials. I also usually list items so that they finish on a Sunday evening, and so I am able to pack the paid for items ready for Monday.

Buyers are usually delighted to receive their items on the Tuesday.

On one occasion, I received a message complaining that I had sent their item in a re-used box. In reply, I stated that they had paid for the postal service and received the box free and no charge had been made for my time packing.

However, if they had have required a brand new box, and had they told me beforehand, I would have happily added the cost of a brand new box to their invoice! ...Never heard any more!

Crowqueen

I would take any buyer feedback into account though. I'd want people to be happy. There was once someone complained about me advertising I sent items in 'stiffened' envelopes - and by that I meant I put recycled card inserts into an ordinary envelope - rather than proper card-backed envelopes. However, I did get complaints - and I took them seriously - and adjusted packaging to compensate, both managing expectations and looking into getting hold of cheap card-backed envelopes that people appreciated.

I don't think snarking at a customer is really the right way to go about it. There's a reasonably appropriate response - and then there's the response that could lead to being marked down for comms.

porto_bello

Crowqueen wrote: »

I don't think snarking at a customer is really the right way to go about it. There's a reasonably appropriate response - and then there's the response that could lead to being marked down for comms.

This was back in the old days, before DSRs and at a time when sellers could neg buyers. I wouldn't use the same approach today, though I would still have the same opinion. Today, probably I would waffle on about reducing landfill and a commitment to environmental care by recycling boxes.

I don't know, I couldn't quite fathom the mentality of "great item, accurately described, received promptly, well packed... but you spolit it by sending it in a re-used box!!!"

thriftymanc

People are stupid. You get used to it.

I always take the time to scribble out stuff on the outside of the box now. Once I recycled an Amazon box to send a book in and got a complaint from the buyer that they'd paid me and all I had done was buy the book off Amazon and get it sent straight to them! (The book was rare and not available on Amazon, and I'd handwritten the address on a piece of paper and sellotaped it on - hardly a professional printed Amazon label now is it? - and wrapped the whole thing in brown tape, then put my return address on the back...)

graspthenettle

Regular poster Soolin (sorry, I've prob spelt that wrong, memory has gone) had a similar problem, OP, except that went on for quite some time with them insisting they had the wrong item without once checking!

I find myself sending messages saying, it will be arriving in an Amazon box or somesuch now.

demystified

catch_me_if_you_can wrote: »

I sell often on ebay, and often will send an item in a box I've received something in, and kept as it's a useful size/strength. For example, a Body Shop box that once held a bottle of perfume, etc.

Twice now, I've had emails from bidders saying, "I bought a pink elephant from you but you've sent me a Body Shop Perfume, how do we resolve this"

I've then emailed and advised them that their pink elephant is inside the perfume box, and then received an apologetic email back.

Now while I do find this funny, I also find it odd that some people don't look inside the box first?

I'm not a business on ebay, and when I buy from an ebay seller I've come to expect all types of packaging and so long as my item gets to me undamaged, that's fine with me.

I do, however, open the packaging! Carefully so I can reuse it if necessary :rotfl:

Almost tempted to put a note inside saying "please open this box" but it seems a bit like pass-the-parcel!

This is amusing. I've never bought a box in my life! I also have a pile of old boxes picked up from here there and everywhere and also a pile of old jiffy bags and reused bubble wrap!

I can kind of understand those buyers concerned it wasn't in a shiny new box it does look a bit unprofessional coming from a business seller. Coming from private seller on the other hand, fair enough.

steveo3002

i put a market pen line and or brown tape over any brand names , bar codes or hazzard warnings

worth a thought incase some jobsworth returns your box because it had aerosols or flammable liquids etc originaly