Ebay Package Problem

[MissouriPrincess]

I thought I would post my story and see what people think.

I won an auction and paid for it through Paypal immediately. It was for a suit, some tops, earrings, and a purse. The seller sent me a message confirming shipment the next day. The package didn't arrive by the last date in the range given me, and I wasn't able to retrieve tracking information at the time, but now I realize that I should have pasted the tracking number into the USPS tracking website instead of just clicking on the tracking number.

Anyway, so two days after the last date in the range, I finally figure out how to properly track the package, and I see that it has been in my city for about nine days, although there are some days with no tracking information.

Finally, the package was left on my porch while I was at home. If there was a doorbell ring or a knock, I did not hear it. Anyway, the package arrived completely empty with a sticker saying that it arrived at my city's post office empty.

There was no packing material or anything inside the box. The tape on the top had parted enough to see that it was empty, but the tape had not been cut or anything, just unstuck.

On the bottom, the tape may have been cut. In any case, the flaps of the box had been interlocked to close the bottom.

I contacted the post office, and they suggested the seller put in an insurance claim. There was insurance, at least. The seller asked me to make the claim instead. I went ahead and started the claim for the insurance, but the more I think about it, the more worried I am because I don't have the insurance receipts or anything. I do have the insurance number.

This is just a pain.

Thanks for listening. The post office claim status has not changed since entered the info this morning, and with the holiday, who knows how long this will take.

 

[goeva]

You should immediately file a claim with PayPal. Good luck!

 

[jrw118]

I agree with the PP. It is 100% the sellers responsibility that the package be delivered. You should file a claim on ebay that the item received is significantly not as described. I also believe that it would be the sellers responsibility to file the insurance claim as well. In fact I am surprised you are able to do so as the shipping companies also require it to be the shipper. File a claim with ebay immediately!

 

[ellone]

Actually if insurance was purchased you as the buyer have to make the claim. Really all you need is the insurance number. The thing is the post office may ask you to bring the packaging in, but they also may not.

I had to make a claim a couple of months ago. After I filed online I think it was approved in 2-3 business days. Check was mailed out soon after.

 

[pyrxtc]

You should immediately file a claim with PayPal. Good luck!

yes, do this. Then if your claim gets paid out by the post office, you can pay back the seller. It was their job to make sure that the package was properly sealed and made it to it's destination intact.

 

[k_reile]

It was in your city for 9 days before being delivered to you and when you finally received it was empty!! Your post office could be stealing things as well. It shouldn't be in your city for 9 days before being delivered. That sounds fishy to me. You might want to file a police report. Fed Ex employees have recently been in the news about stealing packages. I wouldn't put it past the post office either. Good luck

 

[ellone]

It was in your city for 9 days before being delivered to you and when you finally received it was empty!! Your post office could be stealing things as well. It shouldn't be in your city for 9 days before being delivered. That sounds fishy to me. You might want to file a police report. Fed Ex employees have recently been in the news about stealing packages. I wouldn't put it past the post office either. Good luck

Truthfully I doubt it. What most likely happened is that one of the sorting machines did something to the contents. The OP doesn't indicate whether the city the package was in was one of the PO's sorting centers - I've seen packages rescan in sorting centers when something goes wrong.


And actually the tape holding the box closed on the package may not be the original tape. When someone in the post office retapes a package they don't seem to indicate that they did it.

 

[Maria1985]

Are you making progress?

 

[SandrA9810]

To file an insurance claim with the post office, both parties must file a claim. I would select issue refend to shipper, then the seller will refund you through paypal. Often times, its long before the post cuts a check, so you dont have to wait as long.

The post office will require you to bring the box back in for inspection. I would also speak to the post master about the delivery time, print out a copy of the tracking. To show the extensive time spent at the facility. I would not be mad at the buyer, they probably didnt do anything differently than any other sale, it should've arrived intact.

Over the summer I shipped two boxes to myself (Texas to California), and both boxes were broken apart. I used heavy duty boxes, and they shouldn't have split like that. I emptied both boxes to check the contents to see what was missing and then took the empty boxes to the post office. It took a few weeks but I did get a refund for the missing items.

You can also fill out a missing item claim, in case it is found, then they'll ship it to you.

 

[ajh88]

I agree with the PP. It is 100% the sellers responsibility that the package be delivered. You should file a claim on ebay that the item received is significantly not as described. I also believe that it would be the sellers responsibility to file the insurance claim as well. In fact I am surprised you are able to do so as the shipping companies also require it to be the shipper. File a claim with ebay immediately!

I guess, as a seller, I sort of disagree with this. The seller shipped the package immediately and the carrier mis-handled it somewhere along the way, either intentionally or accidentally. IMHO, the only way you can hold the seller 100% accountable is if they are personally delivering it your doorstep and fail to do so. This exact situation is what insurance is for. It is truly a lose-lose situation - both sides are out of the product and one side is out the money (at least until the insurance claim is paid).

OP, good luck with your insurance claim. Fortunately I never had any cases come to filing insurance but I have had numerous packages mis-handled this holiday season by USPS. I've been incredibly disappointed in their performance this year.

 

[4mykidz127]

I agree with with previous poster. Once the seller has sent the package as promised it is out of their hands. They are not hand delivering it so it is not their fault. I would file a claim with the insurance, not with paypal.

 

[jrw118]

I guess, as a seller, I sort of disagree with this. The seller shipped the package immediately and the carrier mis-handled it somewhere along the way, either intentionally or accidentally. IMHO, the only way you can hold the seller 100% accountable is if they are personally delivering it your doorstep and fail to do so. This exact situation is what insurance is for. It is truly a lose-lose situation - both sides are out of the product and one side is out the money (at least until the insurance claim is paid).

OP, good luck with your insurance claim. Fortunately I never had any cases come to filing insurance but I have had numerous packages mis-handled this holiday season by USPS. I've been incredibly disappointed in their performance this year.

Ethically I agree with you but this is not how eBay/PayPal view it. To them it is the sellers responsibility for the item to be received. That is why it is the sellers responsibility to purchase insurance. Years ago it was the buyers option. Now it is the sellers responsibility.

 

[Lewisc]

I guess, as a seller, I sort of disagree with this. .

I agree with with previous poster. Once the seller has sent the package as promised it is out of their hands. They are not hand delivering it so it is not their fault. I would file a claim with the insurance, not with paypal.

This isn't an "opinion" question where the answer is subject to debate. You need to spend some time reading ebay/paypal's rules before posting this kind of rubbish.

Ethically I agree with you but this is not how eBay/PayPal view it. To them it is the sellers responsibility for the item to be received. That is why it is the sellers responsibility to purchase insurance. Years ago it was the buyers option. Now it is the sellers responsibility.

The buyer is paying for an item. The sale is complete when he receives the item he paid for, maybe not even then if there are other issues. The buyer was always protected if he never received the item. What's changed is the sellers now understand insurance protects them. The buyer was always protected, even if he didn't purchase optional insurance. Some sellers didn't understand a buyer who didn't purchase insurance wasn't assuming the risk of non-delivery. That buyer was content with the protection offered by paypal/ebay and didn't see the need to pay for additional protection. edited to add Some sellers didn't understand their auction terms regarding what happens if a buyer didn't purchase optional insurance are meaningless if they contradict ebay policy.

 

[plummer925]

The buyer is paying for an item. The sale is complete when he receives the item he paid for, maybe not even then if there are other issues. The buyer was always protected if he never received the item. What's changed is the sellers now understand insurance protects them. The buyer was always protected, even if he didn't purchase optional insurance. Some sellers didn't understand a buyer who didn't purchase insurance wasn't assuming the risk of non-delivery. That buyer was content with the protection offered by paypal/ebay and didn't see the need to pay for additional protection.

Just wanted to comment - this is explained VERY VERY good!!

 

[MissouriPrincess]

I decided to see what the post office said before I file a Paypal claim, so we'll see how it goes. The postal service has now acknowledged that I filed a claim, and they are looking into it. With the holidays, I don't know how long it will take.

I saved the original box and everything. I took pictures of the box and submitted them with the claim, as well. We'll see.

 

[4mykidz127]

This isn't an "opinion" question where the answer is subject to debate. You need to spend some time reading ebay/paypal's rules before posting this kind of rubbish.



The buyer is paying for an item. The sale is complete when he receives the item he paid for, maybe not even then if there are other issues. The buyer was always protected if he never received the item. What's changed is the sellers now understand insurance protects them. The buyer was always protected, even if he didn't purchase optional insurance. Some sellers didn't understand a buyer who didn't purchase insurance wasn't assuming the risk of non-delivery. That buyer was content with the protection offered by paypal/ebay and didn't see the need to pay for additional protection. edited to add Some sellers didn't understand their auction terms regarding what happens if a buyer didn't purchase optional insurance are meaningless if they contradict ebay policy.

I was stating the it is not the sellers fault what happens to the package once it leaves their hands. I think that some buyers believe that sellers have magic powers when it comes to packages being delivered. So keep your rude rubbish comments to yourself!

 

[Pamlur]

I have bought and sold on eBay since 1997. Their policy has always been that the sale is not complete until the buyer receives the item and it is as described. I have seen many sellers post in their item description that they are not responsible once the item leaves their possession, but eBay has always said that isn't so. If I am selling and am not willing to refund on a lost item, I personally purchase insurance; it's not for the buyer's benefit, it's for mine.

 

[Bell30012]

Keep in mind that there is a time limit on your PayPal claim.

 

[Lewisc]

I was stating the it is not the sellers fault what happens to the package once it leaves their hands. I think that some buyers believe that sellers have magic powers when it comes to packages being delivered. So keep your rude rubbish comments to yourself!

Sellers have the "magical power" to file a claim if insurance was purchased. Sellers have the "magical power" to reship the merchandise. Sellers have the "magical power" to issue a refund.

Your magical power comment isn't helpful. Posters, at least in this thread, didn't make any sort of claim. Your comment is sarcastic and not helpful.

I don't know if the issue was a result of a poorly taped box. I'll bold this so you can understand it. I didn't say the seller is at fault. I said the seller is responsible. There is a difference.

I'd file a paypal dispute sooner rather then later. Why run the risk of missing the time limit of filing a claim.

You agreed with the PP. That means my comment applies equally to you and the PP.

It is clear. The seller is responsible. To suggest anything else is posting "rubbish". Actually worse. Saying, or implying, the seller may not be responsible may cause some people reading a thread to defer making a paypal claim until time has expired.

 

[MissouriPrincess]

Anyone who is following my saga,

The claim with the post office says approved. I will keep an eye on time limits, and if I haven't been reimbursed near the end of the window, I will put a claim through Paypal.