Ebay help!!

[jstbcuz]

I sold an item on 12/17 and shipped it the next day to that they could have it by Christmas.

Today I get a message saying they never received it. I sent it priority mail.....no confirmation, tracking.....etc......I know probably a bad idea, but Ive never had a problem with over 400 transactions.

What are my options? I am sure that if they file a dispute that they will get the money back ($72) since everything is with paypal now.

I knew if anyone would know it would be you guys!!!!

 

[Dancemom03]

I'm an ebay seller so I empathize with your problem. Normally I give folks the benefit of the doubt. The timing of this seems off to me though. I sold close to a hundred items in December and got three emails asking where things were the week before Christmas. In my experience, people spending more than $50 in December are expecting it for Christmas or Chanukah. Usually as the holiday nears they get nervous and ask if it isn't there - and not always very nicely either...

For your bidder to ask nearly a month later, is a red flag for me. I suspect they either misplaced it, broke it, or maybe even just realized that you neglected to add delivery confirmation and decided to try for a refund. Things do get lost in the postal system or stolen from porches/mailboxes after delivery but it isn't often. Since this isn't an inexpensive token, I'd have expected a question weeks ago though, not now.

All that said, bottom line is that paypal requires online proof of delivery. Since you can't provide that, in a dispute they will refund the buyer and subtract the funds from your account. You can offer to fax/scan/send a copy of the postal receipt to your buyer to prove it was mailed and that might reassure them if they're honest but, chances are, they'll still want the item or a refund eventually.

Occassionally, packages are found sitting somewhere in the post office and delivered or eventually returned to sender. A phone call to both post offices wouldn't hurt but isn't likely to turn up much without delivery confirmation or insurance. It doesn't sound promising but I wish you luck with it.

 

[01spirit750]

I had the same issue a few years ago (sold an item and shipped it USPS without a tracking number and buyer claimed the item never arrived). I had no way to prove that the item was delivered and Ebay refunded the money to the buyer.

Without the tracking number you might as well go ahead and refund the money.

Chris

 

[jstbcuz]

Timing seems off to me too.

Ebay really sucks sometimes.........especially when Im just trying to come up with extra money to pay for my kids Christmas. This will set us back...Ugh

 

[kaytieeldr]

Occassionally, packages are found sitting somewhere in the post office and delivered or eventually returned to sender. A phone call to both post offices wouldn't hurt but isn't likely to turn up much without delivery confirmation or insurance. It doesn't sound promising but I wish you luck with it.

I agree with this (well, the first part). Late last week, I got a final notice/we're sending your package back if you don't get in here and pick it up from the post office... but I never got a first or second notice! Now, it really wasn't a big deal - nothing I was actually expecting, just a token from a company that sends me something every year, but still. Check with the post offices.

 

[DisneyGerry]

if you shipped via paypal/ USPS it comes with free delivery confirmation

I still dont send anything out without insurance as well

Still too many tricky people out there

 

[horseshowmom]

Timing seems off to me too.

Ebay really sucks sometimes.........especially when Im just trying to come up with extra money to pay for my kids Christmas. This will set us back...Ugh

It can be frustrating. I had a customer once who bought a large box of show clothes (including two pairs of leather chaps). I shipped them FedEx or UPS (can't remember which). She contacted me and said the items reeked of cat urine and that she would like a price adjustment. (If they have a terrible smell - particularly cat urine, wouldn't you want to return them for a refund? ).

I told her that they definitely were not that way when they left. I had contacted the delivery company to find out what to do, and they said they would pick the items up (delivery included insurance).

She immediately replied and told me that wouldn't be necessary. She was pretty sure she could just wash them and everything would be fine, and she then immediately left me glowing feedback.


Just something that might help you in the future: I haven't sold lately, but it used to be that you got free delivery confirmation with priority mailing if you printed the mailing label off through ebay/paypal. I always used it (I just didn't trust customers enough to send something without tracking no matter what the cost). Plus, the funds came straight out of the Paypal account. It was just easier all the way around for me. ETA: I see the previous poster posted concerning this while I was typing. It sure makes things easier!

It may have changed since I haven't sold anything in quite awhile.

 

[Tampa Mousekeeter]

I sent it priority mail.....no confirmation, tracking.....etc......I know probably a bad idea, but Ive never had a problem with over 400 transactions.

Print your shipping label thru Paypal from now on....when you ship USPS Priority the delivery confirmation is free....well worth the peace of mind