E-bay vent!

[patsal]

For the first time in two years a customer said she didn't receive the item I shipped. Because I don't want to risk negative feedback I will refund her money, but I did ship the item. I shipped it priority mail and I have the reciept, but I didn't get delivery confirmation (lesson learned--all this week's items have been shipped with delivery confirmation). Am I doing the right thing asking the customer to wait a few days to see if the package arrives and then I will refund by next week?

 

[GrandmaT]

What was the item? Where did it have to go? How long has it been?

Could be wrong, but I though DC was automatic with Priority Mail since it's free..

 

[mep319]

DC is only free when you print online. It cost $.50 if you go to the PO. I had that happen to me once as well. I refunded the money to advoid neg feedback....so I relate to your pain...it fades...hopefully it wasn't a too expensive item!

 

[zurgswife]

I would give it at least another week....sometimes things are lost in the mail and then just show up...

 

[kild]

Wait a little longer, Priority mail can take up to 2 weeks. 3 to 5 days is the average, but they do have a 15 day window.

 

[floridagirrl2]

I believe you can still put a tracer on it after 30 days, even if there was no delivery confirmation. It's not unusual for delivery being attemped, then the package sitting at the P.O. until you inquire about it!

 

[Alice28]

I would ask her to wait one week and then refund her $$ if she hasn't received it. I was on the other end of this scenario- I paid for $25 worth of product and it never showed up! After 3 weeks I asked for a refund and the seller got quite huffy (he did not offer insurance or delivery confirmation). So I filed a complaint with paypal and he promptly refunded my money. He swore up and down he shipped it, so I said I wouldn't give him negative feedback. It still hasn't shown up and I bought it in mid March!

 

[patsal]

Thanks everyone, now I feel a little better. It is only a $2.00 pair of shoes. I price stuff like I would at a garage sale, though it is brand new just to clear out the space. In any event, I asked her to wait a week and we both asked at our post offices, I told her I would refund her $ as well, I 1. don't want negative feedback and 2. wouldn't want anyone to feel I was doing this to rip them off. From now on I will just get the delivery confirmation--though I offer it if the customer wants to add it on as well as insurance--it is more than liely in my best interest to get the DC to keep things like this from happening.

 

[WDW Lover]

I have sold lots of things on Ebay, and been on the other end as a buyer as well...

You say you still have the receipt... well, I know that most post offices these days have the zip code of where you sent it to... and if I am not mistaken, the city as well on that receipt. If they didn't pay for insurance, you shouldn't be liable. You have proof that you mailed it. You did your part. If they want proof, scan the receipt and send that to them. I recently had something of value lost to a person who had purchased things from me before ($100) and they hadn't paid for insurance. Basically it was neither of our faults, and they knew I wasn't ripping them off... so we "settled" on splitting the difference - I replaced the item (which obviously you can't do), and they paid me 1/2 of what they originally paid for a new one. Mine was sent Priority Mail as well, and never showed up on their doorstep - if it eventually did, they never told me

Anyway, I have also been a buyer and had an item lost, and been peaved about not getting it... but knew that I didn't pay for the insurance, and had to suffer by being out the money.

People must realize that if they don't pay for insurance, nothing is guaranteed. I don't think you should refund them the money, and they shouldn't expect you to.

Just my 2 cents

 

[patsal]

WDW lover
Interesting thought. It crossed my mind as well about insurance, delivery confirmation, etc. Since I do offer it, but at an additonal charge--no one has ever used it! Not a huge sale, so I don't really mind refunding; I'd rather the refund than a negative feedback.

 

[hometech99]

but I did ship the item. I shipped it priority mail and I have the reciept, but I didn't get delivery confirmation

Sorry to hear this. But I must tell you- there are unscrupulous buyers that are experienced ebayers. Once they see a package arrive with no delivery confirmation, they will say they didnt get it. I heard of one woman (dont know ebay id) that did this a lot.

HOWEVER, it IS mail fraud for them to claim so when the've received the item and demanded refund. So, if there is ANY way to verify that this person has the item, they're in trouble.

also, always offer insurance and say you are not responsible for lost packages if insurance isnt bought. or, include insurance and delivery conf in the shipping quote and state it.

 

[Robinrs]

Great answers, and I agree with the "wait and see" ideas. I don't ship without DC because I don't trust the USPS, mind you half my family works for that company, that is WHY!