inhousepharmacy.vu 2021 Thread

[nobknee]

I send a check and never have i sent a screen shot and never have i ever dealt with any issues.

I do agree i think electronic payments don't require screen shots, but the checks/mo they do ask but its not REQUIRED. Its advisable but I'm also lazy.

My hypothesis (or one of them) was that, if you don't send a screenshot, they don't hold your order until payment arrives. That might go just fine.

But then others were mentioning how many products are out-of-stock. If the vendor is low in stock and the order is NOT reserved via a screenshot, that's where I'm concerned it would go sideways for the customer, because you won't have had your order set aside in advance of payment arriving and clearing. They might sell it to someone else in the meantime.

I don't know....IHP generates a lot of speculation. For most people (myself included), everything goes just fine. I've never had any problems with them. Then someone pays for something and it never shows up and the vendor gives dumb excuses and no refund. The vendor keeps adding new verbiage to their emails, too, which is good and helpful, but only causes further confusion, depending on who's read which version of their emails.

Bottom line: They need to remove the damn no-tracking option! There's no reason for it. Without it, there's no way to prove if an order wasn't delivered. And horror stories are highly correlated with having selected the no-tracking option.

 

[nomis3]

yes they started a thing where electronic payments require screenshots but they don't seem to up on it, they still have problems with it. A check is always better and they process the checks through their processor in California pretty quickly.

 

[nomis3]

I don't see any difference in ship time between how you pay. Their electronic payments have gone up and down and aren't always reliable, so that can add time. Checks are reliable and processed pretty quick and I've never had a problem with them or any funny business with the checks. I think what is slowing them is volume and their diminishing stock of some meds that are very popular.

@kje99 this seems like a new step? I always wonder if the chatter from these threads affects sellers’ policies and procedures ?

Not sure, as I didn't keep the initial emails from my previous orders, only the payment receipts. Perhaps it depends on country and/or payment method.

I think it depends on the payment method. I send a MO. If you use something more "electronic" that might be why they don't ask for the screenshot?

I bet you're right! I always send a money order as well. I've always been required to send a screenshot.

I have wondered if payment method affects how smoothly the process goes for the customer, but that hypothesis does not appear to be backed up by the experiences of other customers who use different payment methods and still receive their order relatively promptly.

 

[nomis3]

Well, I've put in an order and the site says there are postal delays. Let's see what happens

Right - ordered 30 Sept. I received order on 16 Oct (UK), which is much better than I was expecting. Needed a signature, but postman apologised for asking!

You don't necessarily need a signature, I get them from inhouse all the time without a signature - just put in the comments to them that you want it tracked but no signature required. That usually works for me

 

[nomis3]

Well, I've put in an order and the site says there are postal delays. Let's see what happens

Right - ordered 30 Sept. I received order on 16 Oct (UK), which is much better than I was expecting. Needed a signature, but postman apologised for asking!

You don't necessarily need a signature, I get them from inhouse all the time without a signature - just put in the comments to them that you want it tracked but no signature required. That usually works for me

Or you can use the option with no tracking and they won't make you sign for it but then you lose all ability to know when your package is coming from them

 

[Sonic_Smasher]

Ok if you sign up for informed delivery in the US and register your signature with the postal service online, You won't have to sign for packages, they will apply your e-sig to the package and just leave it in your mail box, I've been using that method for years not sure why no one else is.

 

[nomis3]

Yes, that's a good idea too although they don't always follow through and sometimes ask for a sig anyway depending on the carrier. But informed delivery is great anyway so you can see what is coming to your house and also if you have any need for warning it offers that

 

[nomis3]

Really anyone buying from IOPs who lives in the US should get informed delivery to see what's coming to them

 

[Slantedfloor]

Love me some informed delivery!

 

[nomis3]

If you buy domestic too, which is expensive but sometimes needed because it is so so much safer, informed delivery is even more helpful. Sometimes I just have to suck it up and buy domestic in US

 

[nomis3]

I send a check and never have i sent a screen shot and never have i ever dealt with any issues.

I do agree i think electronic payments don't require screen shots, but the checks/mo they do ask but its not REQUIRED. Its advisable but I'm also lazy.

My hypothesis (or one of them) was that, if you don't send a screenshot, they don't hold your order until payment arrives. That might go just fine.

But then others were mentioning how many products are out-of-stock. If the vendor is low in stock and the order is NOT reserved via a screenshot, that's where I'm concerned it would go sideways for the customer, because you won't have had your order set aside in advance of payment arriving and clearing. They might sell it to someone else in the meantime.

I don't know....IHP generates a lot of speculation. For most people (myself included), everything goes just fine. I've never had any problems with them. Then someone pays for something and it never shows up and the vendor gives dumb excuses and no refund. The vendor keeps adding new verbiage to their emails, too, which is good and helpful, but only causes further confusion, depending on who's read which version of their emails.

Bottom line: They need to remove the damn no-tracking option! There's no reason for it. Without it, there's no way to prove if an order wasn't delivered. And horror stories are highly correlated with having selected the no-tracking option.

You can get the tracking option, just ignore the no tracking option, and then ask them in the comments section for tracking but no signature on delivery. That has worked with me pretty much every time except with maybe one or two recalcitrant mail carriers.

 

[nobknee]

Ok if you sign up for informed delivery in the US and register your signature with the postal service online, You won't have to sign for packages, they will apply your e-sig to the package and just leave it in your mail box, I've been using that method for years not sure why no one else is.

Probably because it's so rare that shippers add Signature Confirmation when sending a package via USPS. Signature Confirmation is always a separate add-on service, and it's only available for domestic items.

A common misconception (among shippers and recipients) is that a signature is required with Registered Mail, Certified Mail, and/or Return Receipt, or even with plain ol' Priority Mail---but no signature is required for any of those unless the shipper ponied up for Signature Confirmation---it's always an add-on service. (And it's only available domestically, so it doesn't even apply to most of us on here, who often order internationally.)

As others have noted, some mail carriers will ask you to sign, or even tell you they need you to sign, even though Signature Confirmation wasn't added-on or the package is international. (I've noticed this is especially true around Christmas, when USPS brings on a bunch of temporary mail carriers, who don't know the rules yet and probably just want to cover their ass and prove they delivered the item.)

I can't even remember the last time I actually had to sign for something. I've been asked to sign, but when I ask the carrier to check on that, it never is required.

Private carriers have their own policies, but those more often seem to involve flinging my package from their moving truck, without regard for whether it lands in my yard or is even delivered to the right address. (Amazon is the worst!)

If Signature Confirmation were more commonly used, probably more customers would register their signatures at the post office. I've never found it necessary---except with non-USPS private shippers where it wouldn't make any difference anyway, since Signature Confirmation is a USPS service.

If you live someplace where USPS is contracted to do "last-mile delivery," then I suppose it might be worthwhile. But the private shippers rarely need a signature either. They're just less likely to knock on the door---unless your package happens to hit the door when they throw it from their moving truck!

 

[nobknee]

You can get the tracking option, just ignore the no tracking option, and then ask them in the comments section for tracking but no signature on delivery. That has worked with me pretty much every time except with maybe one or two recalcitrant mail carriers.

It's irrelevant. Signature Confirmation is only a domestic service. Asking IHP not to require a signature isn't the reason you're not required to sign----though the carrier may still ask you to sign for it. I think that alone causes a lot of customer confusion, esp since most people---the ones who aren't buying illicit drugs off the Internet---probably just sign without a second thought.

Signing causes a lot of sturm and drang around here, when it's not evidence that the signer knew what was in the package or solicitied the package themselves. I've heard of people signing with their non-dminant hand, thinking that will keep them out of trouble with the law, but it's really not evidence of anything.

Unless the sender springs for Restricted Delivery, the carrier will accept a signature from practically anyone who answers the door.

Carrier: I have a package here for Caroline. Could you sign for it?
Random Person at the House: But I'm not Caroline. She's my girlfriend. I don't even live here.
Carrier: That's ok! Could you sign for this?

 

[Bobster]

I can't even remember the last time I actually had to sign for something. I've been asked to sign, but when I ask the carrier to check on that, it never is required.

I placed my first order in 2018. From 2018 through 2020, I was asked to sign for all packages from ADC and IHP. Then, in early 2021, the package was placed in the mailbox. That surprised me because I wasn't expecting it. After that, I've never had to sign for a package.

That was at my old address in a different state. At my new address I've never been asked to sign for a package.

 

[cp2k]

Just an update my order is now waiting on the flight to the US. I sent a check via by bank that was supposed to arrive on 10/24. It did, but then they still hold shipping until the funds actually appear in their account (another week) so we're at almost a month now and the package still hasn't made it to the US.

 

[kje99]

Well, I've put in an order and the site says there are postal delays. Let's see what happens

Right - ordered 30 Sept. I received order on 16 Oct (UK), which is much better than I was expecting. Needed a signature, but postman apologised for asking!

You don't necessarily need a signature, I get them from inhouse all the time without a signature - just put in the comments to them that you want it tracked but no signature required. That usually works for me

I did that, but signature still required - first time ever.

 

[nobknee]

Just an update my order is now waiting on the flight to the US. I sent a check via by bank that was supposed to arrive on 10/24. It did, but then they still hold shipping until the funds actually appear in their account (another week) so we're at almost a month now and the package still hasn't made it to the US.

If you don't mind my asking: Did you send IHP a photo of the check when you sent it? And (if you feel safe answering this): Were you buying any of their low-stock products?

I'm not asking to sound accusatory. It's because I'm trying to pinpoint why some IHP customers are getting flawless, reliable service, and others are having significant problems.

Holding the order until your check clears is normal for IHP (and just good business sense). The shipment waiting a long time to depart COO is also normal for this vendor. (In my experience, the tracking shows it waiting to depart COO for usually about a week, give or take.)

IHP's policy is they won't agree to hold an order unless they receive a photo of payment when it's sent. We've had at least one report of a customer experiencing no problems despite never sending photos. Note: IHP doesn't say they won't fill the order it without a photo; they just say won't hold the order for you without a photo. That could pose a problem for customers who ordered low-stock items, since IHP isn't holding their order and may sell out before payment arrives.

IHP also doesn't exactly get an A+ in communication. Bad information lingers on their website, while they've added new updates to address customer concerns every time I order from them. I've never had a bad experience with them yet, but they constantly seem to be playing catch-up in the customer service department.

It sounds like either this could have been a matter of no photo sent (esp if they then were low on what you ordered and then didn't hold it for you with a pic and it sold to someone else), OR maybe it took an unusually long time for your check to arrive and clear (possible bank issue on either end?).

I'm spitballing. I don't have any idea why some customers have no problems with IHP at all, while others never receive their order or it takes forever. That's what I'm trying to figure out.

 

[jaders]

Ok if you sign up for informed delivery in the US and register your signature with the postal service online, You won't have to sign for packages, they will apply your e-sig to the package and just leave it in your mail box, I've been using that method for years not sure why no one else is.

Wow! Never heard of this before and what a great way to stop worrying about anything that comes with that requirement. Might have to look into this, altho most of my items don't need signing...

Thanks alot for the info!

 

[zephyr1015]

Ok if you sign up for informed delivery in the US and register your signature with the postal service online, You won't have to sign for packages, they will apply your e-sig to the package and just leave it in your mail box, I've been using that method for years not sure why no one else is.

Wow! Never heard of this before and what a great way to stop worrying about anything that comes with that requirement. Might have to look into this, altho most of my items don't need signing...

Thanks alot for the info!

For some reason I never get that option when I receive international packages even though I’m an informed delivery member. Might just be my area though, since this week I had a package say “in mailbox” but it’s not there. Mailman probably left the package in a nearby box. It’s been a huge hassle trying to retrieve it and usps offers 0 help. I think I prefer to just sign for them now.

Maybe in my area they require sigs more because of incompetent mailman misdelivering all the time.

 

[jaders]

Ok if you sign up for informed delivery in the US and register your signature with the postal service online, You won't have to sign for packages, they will apply your e-sig to the package and just leave it in your mail box, I've been using that method for years not sure why no one else is.

Wow! Never heard of this before and what a great way to stop worrying about anything that comes with that requirement. Might have to look into this, altho most of my items don't need signing...

Thanks alot for the info!

For some reason I never get that option when I receive international packages even though I’m an informed delivery member. Might just be my area though, since this week I had a package say “in mailbox” but it’s not there. Mailman probably left the package in a nearby box. It’s been a huge hassle trying to retrieve it and usps offers 0 help. I think I prefer to just sign for them now.

Maybe in my area they require sigs more because of incompetent mailman misdelivering all the time.

Wow. I stress enough over getting these items. Having to worry about incompetence on top would really suck! I don’t blame you for wanting to sign. I would to, for sure…