[Mega Nerd]

This is the second item I've sold on eBay...and I've not had good luck with either of them! I sold the item on the 17th May and the item was posted on the 20th. I sent the item Recorded Delivery 2nd Class with Royal Mail.

I have looked at the item on the Royal Mail website and it says that the item is at the buyer's local post office as it couldn't be delivered on the 24th.

I received a message from the buyer saying: I've still not received my item with the number you gave me i went to the post office and they have no trace of the item. what happens now cause the only proof i have is the message you sent me.

Any help?

[xxAuraliaxx]

take a screen shot of the message on the royal mail website, send it to them, and tell them to deal with it themselves, they can put in a claim to the post office if they've actually lost it. You've done your part and that message on the website pretty much takes all responsibilty off you and onto them.

hope this helps

[The Nosy Gecko]

As long as you have provided tracking then the buyer has no case, basically. Phone/email them telling them you have a tracking number and that they need to get it themselves from the Post Office. I sell quite a bit on ebay and even if he tries to open a dispute if then tracking is a good way of probing you've sent it.

[Double Agent]

Yep you have proof of postage, it is no longer your problem. They can open a dispute if they want, just submit your evidence and you will be fine.

[Juno]

Paypal only care about proof of delivery, and it wasn't delivered so your proof of posting counts for nothing.

Also, if the item is lost you have to refund the buyer and then you claim from Royal Mail; buyers can't claim themselves.

[PJ991]

(Original post by Juno)


Paypal only care about proof of delivery, and it wasn't delivered so your proof of posting counts for nothing.

Also, if the item is lost you have to refund the buyer and then you claim from Royal Mail; buyers can't claim themselves.

but it was sent recorded. and she must still have the tracking number if she managed to find out that the item is at the delivery office.

The buyer either went to the wrong place to check, or is lying.

Just put the tracking number on ebay/paypal and tell the buyer what it is too. Then they can see for themselves.

If it is in the office and they don't claim it, providing you've put a return address on it, you'll get it back in about 2 weeks.

[Juno]

(Original post by PJ991)
but it was sent recorded. and she must still have the tracking number if she managed to find out that the item is at the delivery office.

The buyer either went to the wrong place to check, or is lying.

Just put the tracking number on ebay/paypal and tell the buyer what it is too. Then they can see for themselves.

If it is in the office and they don't claim it, providing you've put a return address on it, you'll get it back in about 2 weeks.

But it's at the delivery office, hence not delivered.

If the buyer picks it up and the tracking changes, or has it redelivered then that's fine.

If it stays at the delivery office or gets returned paypal will rule in the buyer's favour if they open a dispute, as the item has not been redlivered.

[PJ991]

(Original post by Juno)
But it's at the delivery office, hence not delivered.

If the buyer picks it up and the tracking changes, or has it redelivered then that's fine.

If it stays at the delivery office or gets returned paypal will rule in the buyer's favour if they open a dispute, as the item has not been redlivered.

delivery has been attempted though. A card should have/will have been left.

Surely giving this information to Paypal (tracking number and screenshot of Royal Mail's tracking) will mean they will not outright demand a refund is given.

Because what would happen if she refunds the buyer now, and then the buyer goes down to collect it? Who's going to force the buyer to pay again?

[Juno]

(Original post by PJ991)
delivery has been attempted though. A card should have/will have been left.

Surely giving this information to Paypal (tracking number and screenshot of Royal Mail's tracking) will mean they will not outright demand a refund is given.

Because what would happen if she refunds the buyer now, and then the buyer goes down to collect it? Who's going to force the buyer to pay again?

Well, paypal won't take any notice until the dispute has been open for several days, by which time hopefully the buyer has been persuaded to collect it anyway.

But if the buyer did receive a refund and then collect the parcel the tracking would update, which would give the seller good reason to phone Paypal and argue that it should be reversed.

But unless you can prove delivery you're not going to win the case.

This is why it's better to not send items recorded.

[PJ991]

(Original post by Juno)
Well, paypal won't take any notice until the dispute has been open for several days, by which time hopefully the buyer has been persuaded to collect it anyway.

But if the buyer did receive a refund and then collect the parcel the tracking would update, which would give the seller good reason to phone Paypal and argue that it should be reversed.

But unless you can prove delivery you're not going to win the case.

This is why it's better to not send items recorded.

why is it better not to send them recorded? If you sent it normally you would have absolutely no proof, apart from the buyer's word.

The buyer either went to the actual post office to ask about it. Went to the wrong office. Or didn't go at all.

OP could ring the delivery office themself and double check, and then tell the buyer. But maybe the buyer is being stubborn.

[Juno]

(Original post by PJ991)
why is it better not to send them recorded? If you sent it normally you would have absolutely no proof, apart from the buyer's word.

The buyer either went to the actual post office to ask about it. Went to the wrong office. Or didn't go at all.

OP could ring the delivery office themself and double check, and then tell the buyer. But maybe the buyer is being stubborn.

Because if it wasn't recorded then the seller could claim off Royal Mail with no problems and just take the buyer's word for it not arriving. There's no risk of them being out of pocket. If it does arrive eventually it could be too late for the paypal dispute, and whilst that could be overturned there's no guarantee of it and there's more stress involved anyway. Paypal could say it arrived too late to be covered.

Additionally, if it's a small item that could easily be letterboxable then the buyer could be being deliberately awkward. If I bought a small low value item off Ebay I wouldn't be happy having to collect it. And recorded can put off buyers, as they're possibly more inconvenienced and they're also paying extra for nothing.

And there's anecdotal evidence to suggest recorded items go missing more often than normal anyway.

There's no additional protection to the seller sending recorded over normal. If it's an expensive item it needs to go Special, but otherwise normal has many advantages.

[Mega Nerd]

"there was no card put through my door to say that they have tried to deliver anything the only proof that i have is what message you have sent to me it was Tuesday or Wednesday last week that i went to post office but with the parcel number i have from yourself they say its not at post office" - message from the buyer.

I don't understand how the parcel cannot be at the post office when the tracking information says it is, unless the buyer is going to the wrong post office? :/

[PJ991]

(Original post by Mega Nerd)
"there was no card put through my door to say that they have tried to deliver anything the only proof that i have is what message you have sent to me it was Tuesday or Wednesday last week that i went to post office but with the parcel number i have from yourself they say its not at post office" - message from the buyer.

I don't understand how the parcel cannot be at the post office when the tracking information says it is, unless the buyer is going to the wrong post office? :/

send the buyer a photo/scan of your receipt from the Post Office when you sent it. It'll show the tracking number as well as the house number and post code that you sent it to.

also send a screenshot of the Royal Mail tracking page, which, if I remember rightly, displays the tracking number alongside its current status. It may show which delivery office its at, but you'll know better than me.

If you wanted, you could call Royal Mail, and they'll put you through to the delivery office and you can ask them yourself. It's hard to find details of delivery offices online (if, in the very minimal chance it was where I work, I'd have a look), so that's the best way of finding it. They should check if it's in the locker room still.

It's surprising how many people do get the offices wrong. Someone asked me today if I was 'based in the Office on the High Street'. I said there isn't one there, and her response was, 'I posted a letter there yesterday'.

Royal Mail's figures for lost mail is very small. I imagine though that any increase is down a lot to ebay buyers trying to rip people off.

[silverbolt]

(Original post by PJ991)
Royal Mail's figures for lost mail is very small. I imagine though that any increase is down a lot to ebay buyers trying to rip people off.

This - a seller is extremely vulnerable in this market becuase ebay and paypal dont give a damn, they are automatically biased towards the buyer and the seller whether a business or personal is stuffed. anyone can scam someone and claim the money back off paypal.

Plus getting charged three different times is a bloody rip off

OP your buyer could very well be lying through his teeth. - Paid for item - got item - said he didnt get it - grab refund - free item

[Mega Nerd]

(Original post by silverbolt)
This - a seller is extremely vulnerable in this market becuase ebay and paypal dont give a damn, they are automatically biased towards the buyer and the seller whether a business or personal is stuffed. anyone can scam someone and claim the money back off paypal.

Plus getting charged three different times is a bloody rip off

OP your buyer could very well be lying through his teeth. - Paid for item - got item - said he didnt get it - grab refund - free item

buyer seller is lying? I don't really know much about all of this...wouldn't the tracker say is the buyer has got the item from the post office?

[marcusfox]

(Original post by Mega Nerd)
How am I supposed to know if the seller is lying? I don't really know much about all of this...wouldn't the tracker say is the buyer has got the item from the post office?

Perhaps they developed buyers remorse and changed their mind about wanting the item, and saying that it didn't arrive is an easy way of them getting a refund, rather than a non-paying-bidder stike agaisnt them in eBay.

[silverbolt]

(Original post by Mega Nerd)
How am I supposed to know if the seller is lying? I don't really know much about all of this...wouldn't the tracker say is the buyer has got the item from the post office?

Thats the issue - you dont know, short of going round thier house and doing a search you have no way of knowing if a buyer is telling the truth or not.

[PJ991]

(Original post by Mega Nerd)
How am I supposed to know if the seller is lying? I don't really know much about all of this...wouldn't the tracker say is the buyer has got the item from the post office?

the tracking site should update with an image of their signature.

if it actually is in the office and they don't collect it, it'll be returned to you if you had a return address.

[Juno]

(Original post by Mega Nerd)
How am I supposed to know if the seller is lying? I don't really know much about all of this...wouldn't the tracker say is the buyer has got the item from the post office?

You'd know if the seller is lying because you are the seller