e-Bay advice

[Cymber]

I sold an item on e-Bay and posted in by 2nd Class on Thursday 10 May.

On the Tuesday, I received a message from the buyer asking where the item was. I checked the Royal Mail website which stated that they aimed to deliver on the third working day after posting, so that Tuesday.

I explained this to the buyer, and suggested they wait a little longer.

I then received another message on the Friday asking the same question. I again checked the Royal Mail website, which stated that a claim for a missing item can't be made until 15 working days have passed.

I passed this info on to the buyer, who responded with 'thank you'.

Today a case has been opened, saying the item has not been received, and that they would prefer a refund.

I have replied with all of the above, but not given a refund.



Should I just be offering a refund at this point? It all seems a little premature, however I wonder that even if it did turn up now, would the buyer necessarily tell me (just a gut feeling).

WWYD?

[noo noo]

Was it sent recorded?

[Cymber]

Nope, but I got a receipt.

[scatterbrain]

I thought you had to wait for 30 or 40 days before you could open a case? or has that changed? It does sound rather premature!

It might be worth saying if they haven't received it by Friday you'll refund and claim back from the Royal Mail. Sounds like they are trouble makers and it may just be easier to get rid of them. Either that or they might have bought it for a certain occasion?

S

[Anne]

I had trouble with stuff not being delivered earlier in the year, Dh finally received the item a month after it was sent. Heaven knows where it had been as it was adressed properly!

[Sam]

If they open a claim with paypal or ebay I don't think a receipt is enough, it needs to be recorded delivery. Stating the obvious but have you asked them to check their sorting office incase they've missed it?

[Cymber]

If they open a claim with paypal or ebay I don't think a receipt is enough, it needs to be recorded delivery. Stating the obvious but have you asked them to check their sorting office incase they've missed it?

I'll ask them. So really everything should be sent recorded delivery with e-Bay, just in case it goes missing?

[Rosa]

Its a calculated risk... I print my postage from the Royal Mail website so I can just put the parcels in the post box rather than going to the PO so nothing is ever recorded. I am a big ebayer and have only ever had two problems with things not arriving, so for me its worth it.

[January]

So really everything should be sent recorded delivery with e-Bay, just in case it goes missing?

You're covered up to (I think) £39 with a certificate of posting but it will take a while for the PO to issue a refund and it's a faff.

Personally I only use recorded if the value is over about £15. I've found that very little goes missing even second class.

[Queenie]

I send about 200 ebay parcels a week, and TBH, the claim form is such a hassle and the chances of getting proper compensation from RM are so slim that I never bother to fill in the form. Plus, your buyer would need to sign a form and send it back to RM to confirm it never arrived. Do you believe it hasn't got there, or do you think they are trying it on?
With any sort of dispute(either paypal or ebay), unless you can prove it was delivered, you will lose. Also, disputes opened against you count against you now, and too many (I think more than 2, but I'm not totally certain) and you will lose your account.
I don't use recorded delivery very often, but if you really can't lose the money then it's sometimes worth it. It doesn't make the item any more likely to arrive, but it does mean that you can prove that it has.