Shipping

Shipping Tips

Shipping product order after the sale: The buyer and seller will determine which party is responsible for paying the shipping fees. Regardless of that, it is always the responsibility of the seller to guarantee that products shipped will be as described and fully functional (if applicable) upon arrival. The seller will further be responsible to insure the package for at least the amount the buyer has paid for the product. Should I insure the shipment? The Seller should always insure every shipment, regardless of whether the buyer is willing to pay for the insurance charges. As it is seller/s responsibility to assure that the package with the product to gets to the buyer safe and this way the shipment will be covered from damage or loss. It is also advised to add a signature confirmation service for all shipments that are over $250 in value; Should I get a tracking number? Most of the current online label processing tools allow to get a free tracking number with an electronically generated label; If shipping label is processed manually, a tracking number should be added to the shipment. It is always a good idea to have a tracking number for all your shipment so that buyer can track the shipment and know when to expect it. The tracking number provides you with the proof of shipment to the buyer Shipping overseas If you are shipping overseas, the package has to be insured and fully trackable. Furthermore a customs declaration form has to accompany the package. You will need to check with the shipping company about the forms required for overseas shipments. Please note that all international shipments are subject to custom duties based on the country origin. Who pays for insurance costs? The seller pays for insurance. It is the seller's responsibility to secure insurance on the product the seller is shipping. Who pays for shipping costs? The shipping cost is usually paid by the buyer. The seller should estimate shipping cost based on the buyers zip code and the package shipping weight and dimension. Who pays for packaging? It is seller’s responsibility to pack the product secure and provide an adequate packaging box and packing materials. Some sellers may declare a "handling fee" in their listing, which is usually a flat fee that the buyer should expect to pay. What if a product is damaged in transit? If the product you purchased is damaged in shipping, you should contact the seller immediately so that a Damage Claim is filed with the shipping company. The responsibility of pursuing a Damage Claim is solely with the seller. However, you will need to cooperate with the seller and the shipping company in any manner requested. Often, the shipping company will come back to pick it up, or inspect the package in your home. Keep all of the packing and materials exactly as you received them. Do not attempt to use or alter the product in any way. Generally speaking, the Seller is expected to refund the buyer, and wait until the damage claim is settled. Shipping companies generally only pay the seller/shipper and it may take some time. The Buyer should not have to wait until the claim is processed. Essentially, it is the Seller's responsibility to deliver the item to the buyer in an undamaged condition. If a seller and a buyer cannot come to a mutual agreement, a dispute can be filed with the credit card company or PayPal. Return Shipping (Returning damaged products): Any Buyer who has received damaged goods must first assist the Seller in filing a claim before returning the goods. Once a claim is filed, the shipping company will in most cases assume responsibility for return shipping; Buyer to cooperate with Seller to make the damaged product with original content and packaging available for a Shipping company to pick up in order to inspect the damage the and return to the seller. Buyer has to be reimbursed in full once claim is settled or beforehand if agreed by the seller; Return Shipping (Returned Items): If for any reason the buyer is returning a product purchased, he has to pack it carefully, to assure a save transit back so that it is received by the seller in the same condition it was when shipped to the buyer. In the event of a return, if the product is damaged during the return shipping process, the Buyer is required to file a claim as in this case since the buyer is the shipper. The buyer has to cooperate with the seller the same way.

International Shipping

If you are shipping overseas, the package has to be insured and fully trackable. Furthermore a customs declaration form has to accompany the package. You will need to check with the shipping company about the forms required for overseas shipments. Please note that all international shipments are subject to custom duties based on the country origin. Most countries require a commercial invoice form based on which the import duties are determined if applicable. Addresses are sometimes problematic since every country uses a somewhat different system, therefore and extra attention is needed assure the address information accuracy on the package, It is recommended to include the addresses phone number on the address label. Products shipped internationally should be packed with extra care due to the distance and possible package mishandle in transit and stress the package may endure.

Shipping Process

Charge Actual, Exact Shipping Cost

While you can still choose to pay for shipping yourself, specify local pickup only or charge your buyers a flat rate for shipping, you now also have the option to specify which carriers you are willing to use and then let the buyer select which service they would like to pay for when they Buy It Now, make an offer or place the winning bid in an auction. This eliminates the need to finalize shipping costs after a sale but before the buyer submits payment, which often gets in the way of completing the transaction leading to a lost sale. See Estimated Shipping Costs While Creating Your Listing When you enter the dimensions of your packed item while creating your listing, our Shipping Estimator will show you the estimated fee for each service available from the carriers you select. In the example below the seller selected that the buyer will pay shipping. The seller will then select where they will ship from and where they are willing to ship to. Upon entering the dimensions of your shipment box, the shipping estimator will display estimated rates. The seller then selects the carriers they are willing to ship with. The seller then determines if they want to offer a flat rate for shipping based on the estimator, or if they want the buyer to select the “actual cost”.

Buyer Selects the Shipping Service They Want

When you configure your listing to have the buyer pay the “actual” cost for shipping, they will select which service they want when they use Buy It Now, make an offer or win your auction. The example below show a buyer making an offer to a seller who has selected for the buyer to pay shipping using the “actual cost”. When a buyer goes to make an offer, we now have the ship to address and we are able to return the true cost of shipping for that item based on the dimensions the seller provided.

Shipping Cost Included at Checkout

The cost for the service the buyers select will be added to their total when they checkout and be passed on to you along with their payment for your item.

Print Shipping Labels

Once you’ve received payment for your item and the shipping charges you can purchase a shipping label directly from the Order confirmation page.

Problems in Shipping

What if a buyer complains about a shipped item?

The Seller in all cases is responsible for delivering an item as described in his ad. If the buyer contacts you with a problem, you should follow this procedure: 1.) You must respond promptly by telephone (if possible)to the Buyer to determine the extent of the problem. 2. )Problems fall into three distinct categories: A. Functionality You must determine which function is not working properly, and whether this was described as functional according to the ad listing. B. Cosmetic condition What was the AGS rating given in the ad?. Consult the description of that rating and do an honest comparison to the buyers rating upon receipt. C. Features Is the item missing a feature the Buyer was expecting? If so, reference your ad and emails to see how you had described it. If the missing feature was standard on the model you described, then you need to resolve this. If the missing feature was not standard, and you didn't communicate that this feature was included, then the Buyer has no claim. 3.) Reaching a Resolution You should communicate by phone almost exclusively. You must remember that all resolutions are the result of compromise on both parties part.

What if a buyer does not receive a shipment?

The seller should contact the shipping company immediately. He can go to the shipping company website to get the tracking information. In cases in which the shipping company has lost the item, the seller must offer a refund to the buyer immediately and then file his loss claim with the shipper. In cases in which the shipping company is claiming a delivery has been made, the sender should ask for proof of delivery which can be used to verify the correct address and name. If the shipping company gives valid proof of delivery and the sender has verified as above then he has fulfilled his obligations. At this point the responsibility for resolution falls between the buyer and the shipping company.

What if a buyer makes a lowball offer?

Verzilla encourages all Buyers to make reasonable offers, and refrain from offering so low a price as to be insulting. Most buyers at Verzilla are knowledgeable audiophiles who often haggle within reasonable price ranges. Occasionally, there are buyers who will offer ridiculously low prices to see if any sellers respond. If you receive an offer that you find insultingly low, you may either: 1) You may choose to not respond to the email, which prevents the other party from getting your email address. 2) Or you may respond with a quick "no thanks". You will probably receive quite a few offers on your item, so stay calm and wait for the "right" buyer.

What if another seller uses my description?

Verzilla considers each seller's wording and pictures to be the exclusive property of that seller. If you find another seller to have copied your wording exactly, or is using pictures out of our listing, then you may "Dispute" the other seller's listing. We offer an online process for filing a formal complaint, regarding listings or transactions. You may initiate the Dispute Resolution Process at this link:

What if another seller uses my pictures?

Verzilla considers each seller's wording and pictures to be the exclusive property of that seller. If you find another seller to have copied your wording exactly, or is using pictures out of our listing, then you may "Dispute" the other seller's listing. We offer an online process for filing a formal complaint, regarding listings or transactions. You may initiate the Dispute Resolution Process at this link:

What if the buyer does not respond to the auction transaction?

Verzilla recommends that both parties try to contact each other, within 3 days of the close of an auction. If one of the parties does not respond within 7 days, then the other party may consider it a defaulted auction. If the Buyer does not respond within 7 days, you may offer the item to other bidders, or relist the item in a new auction. You may also consider leaving feedback for the buyer, to make a public record of his defaulted bid. While it is true that placing a winning bid is a legally binding contract, there may be mitigating circumstances to consider before deciding how far you want to pursue the situation. Firstly, if a Buyer is already causing such problems, then the forced transaction may lead to even more problems. Secondly, it may or may not be worth your time and expense to contact legal athourities to seek enforcement of such contract. Generally speaking, we recommend that Sellers avoid problematic Buyers as soon as a problem is apparent. Bidders who default on auctions should receive feedback from the Seller, so as to create a record of their actions.

What if the buyer does not send promised payment?

Verzilla recommends that both parties stay in constant communication, during any agreed upon transaction. If the payment terms are "Buyer prepays", then the Buyer should send payment within 72 hours of the final price determination. The final price is determined by the Seller, after the Buyer has submitted his shipping address and the Seller has calculated shipping costs. If you do not receive payment within 7 days of your setting the final price, you may cancel the transaction. You may also consider leaving feedback for the buyer, to make a public record of the defaulted bid. However, we do recommend that you try to contact the Buyer via email and phone, before cancelling any transaction.

What if the seller does not act on the auction transaction?

Verzilla recommends that both parties try to contact each other, within 3 days of the close of an auction. If one of the parties does not respond within 7 days, then the other party may consider it a defaulted auction. If the Seller does not respond within 7 days, you may consider the auction void. You may also consider leaving feedback for the seller, to create a public record of his actions. While it is true that listing an auction is a legally binding contract, there may be mitigating circumstances to consider before deciding how far you want to pursue the situation. Firstly, if a Seller is already causing such problems, then a forced transaction may lead to even more problems. Secondly, it may or may not be worth your time and expense to contact legal authorities to seek enforcement of such a contract. Generally speaking, we recommend that Buyers avoid problematic Sellers as soon as a problem is apparent. Sellers who default on auctions should receive feedback from the winning Bidder, so as to create a record of their behavior.

What if the item arrives damaged?

High-end audio components that are shipped in original packing and boxes typically arrive safely (since the manufacturer had to ship them in the first place). However, a certain percentage of items will be damaged during transit. When the item arrives, if the exterior box shows severely dented corners, collapsed structure, or puncture holes you should ask the delivery person to wait until you open the box. While most shippers do not require their employees to wait for you to inspect, if asked nicely they may comply with your wishes. If the item is clearly damaged physically, do NOT plug it in. Contact the shipping company and the seller immediately. Each shipping company has different procedures for handling damaged shipments. The most common procedure is for the shipping company to pick up the item, and return it to the seller. However, if the packaging is severely damaged, the seller should request that the shipper inspect the item where it is. Generally speaking, it is up to the seller (the person who shipped the item) to file the paperwork and communicate with the shipping company. The buyer should in all cases cooperate as much as possible, with both the seller and the shipping company. Please note, if insurance is bought through Verzilla and an item is damaged, a claim has to be opened within 30 days of when the Label was purchased. Contact services@verzilla.com immediately for assistance.

What if the item arrives non-functional?

If you receive an item that does not work properly, we recommend that both parties cooperate in an effort to determine the following: - Do some functions work or is it DOA? (Dead on Arrival) - Is there a button engaged inadvertently? (mute, tape monitor, etc) - Does it have fuses? (external and/or internal) - Could something have come loose? (unplug, remove cover, and look?) - Could it have been damaged in shipping? (boxes dented, stabbed, etc) If the problem is not resolvable, then both parties should communicate via telephone towards a solution. If a return for refund is the solution, then the payment and shipping could occur in the same order as the initial transaction. So if payment was sent first then the item was shipped, the refund should be sent first, and then the item returned - thereby presenting an equal level of trust in both parties. If the two parties can not come to a solution, or if one party is not willing to cooperate, then either party may consider filing a Dispute. Verzilla provides an online mechanism for considering problems, called the Dispute Resolution Process, which is described below:

When should a refund be considered?

Sellers are expected to _deliver_ the item as described. If the item is not as described or lost/damaged when the Buyer receives it, the Buyer should contact both the Seller and shipping company immediately. Furthermore, the Buyer must fully cooperate with the Seller in facilitating the claim process. The Seller should offer a refund to the buyer after filing a claim and or receiving the returned item, and then pursue a claim with the shipping company for reimbursement. At the same time, Buyers are not allowed to request a refund if the item is as described. Whether the item fits the Buyer's needs or system is not relevant - only that it looks and works as advertised. If the two parties can not come to a solution, or if one party is not willing to cooperate, then either party may consider filing a Dispute. Verzilla provides an online mechanism for resolving these problems, called the Dispute Resolution Process, which is described below: In turn, the process will notify the other party of its need for a Response, and then it accepts a Rebuttal from you. At that time Verzilla staff will review the dispute and consider appropriate actions.

What if the seller does not send promised shipment?

Verzilla recommends that both parties stay in constant communication during any agreed upon transaction. If the payment terms are "Buyer prepays", then the Seller should ship the item within 7 days of having received payment, and provide the shipment tracking number. If you do not receive a tracking number within 10 days after confirmation of receipt of your payment, then you may consider filing a "Dispute" with Verzilla. You should first try to contact the seller via telephone as well as email. If the Seller is not responding, or you are not confident in the Seller's responses, you may consider contacting law enforcement agencies as well. PLEASE NOTE: the time periods described above are for domestic transactions where both parties are in the same country. Also, there may be special circumstances that delay a transaction, but both parties should be communicating about the situation. It is vital that you try to email as well as call the other party, before assuming the worst.

What if an item is not as the seller described?

If an item is not as described, or all items are not included in the package as promised, you should contact the Seller immediately. Put into writing (email) exactly what is wrong or missing with the item, versus what the Seller had described in his ad. After an email is sent, you should attempt to reach the seller by telephone. Communicating about problems by voice vs. email is a much more effective means to eliminating misunderstandings and targeting a resolution. If you are unable to reach an agreement with the seller, you may consider leaving a "Neutral" or "Negative" feedback for that member. If you are seriously concerned about the problem, in lieu of leaving feedback you should file a "Dispute" with Verzilla. It is a somewhat formalized process which allows a neutral evaluation of the problem.