Etsy item not arrived - no recourse due to untracked postage?

[AugustSeptemberOctober]

I ordered something on Etsy nearly a month ago and it hasn't turned up. I contacted the seller who pointed out that I'd opted for second class postage, and not the tracked option. She therefore accepts no responsibility for the lost item. I understand her point but is there any other way I can claim back the money (about £30, so annoying but not the end of the world)? Unfortunately I didn't pay via PayPal or a credit card so no protection there.

The seller is supposed to claim through Royal Mail but likely won't get the full value back. Not sure there's much you can do if it wasn't tracked or insured

It's the seller's responsibility to ensure the item gets to you, and if they have obtained a certificate of postage, they will be able to claim back (up to £20 excluding postage for standard second class).

Tracked or not they are obliged to deal with you!

Hi, I had a long back-and-forth with a (perfectly nice and reasonable) Etsy seller on a similar issue. She had definitely posted it, and Royal Mail said they had delivered it. But I definitely didn't receive it, so I am guessing it was put through someone else's letterbox. In the end I raised it with the Etsy mediation team and they kindly refunded me. It's one of those things where I can't really say it's anyone's fault, since I have no way of knowing what Royal Mail actually did with it, but I was grateful for the refund as I'd received nothing.

Did they show you proof of postage? You get that if its sent through the post office counter

www.etsy.com/uk/legal/policy/cases-for-buyers/243306189901

Go through your bank.

I’m not too sure but do Etsy themselves give any protection? I mean irrespective of how she sent it is it not until you get it that the contract is fulfilled as such between buyer and seller?

I sell on Etsy and that seller gives us all a bad name.

Firstly, depending on how she sent it she may be able to tell if it's been delivered. I send things in the UK by first class small parcel post. Anything over large letter has a number on the proof of posting which tells you if it's been delivered. I don't know if second class offers the same if it's bigger than large letter size but can't see why it wouldn't.

Secondly, if it does come under the above, the seller can give you the number to check yourself (I always check and also give the buyer the number so they can see what I see on tracking). If it's not arrived the seller needs to refund and claim through royal mail.

Thirdly, if the seller refuses to do that, get in touch with Etsy. They may force a refund if the seller can't show it's been delivered or they will refund out of Etsy funds. It's not automatic as that would encourage scammers, but if you work with them they'll sort it out for you.

It's certainly not good enough for a seller to just wash their hands of the problem. Gives all us Etsy sellers a bad name!
Best of luck.

I only offer free 2nd class postage on etsy and if something gets lost which it has on 4 occasions over a year I immediately refund or send a replacement then claim via royal mail. I have had the full value of the item plus the postage I paid refunded by cheque every time. I do get a proof of postage for all my orders even though theyre only large letters or I wouldn't be able to claim.

Raise an Etsy case. You can do this via your account.

The seller is in the wrong here!

They should either refund you or send you a new item.

Second what @LondonJax says this type of thing gives Etsy a really bad name.

@ChickensForTheHound

It's the seller's responsibility to ensure the item gets to you, and if they have obtained a certificate of postage, they will be able to claim back (up to £20 excluding postage for standard second class).

Tracked or not they are obliged to deal with you!

this was my understanding too. If it doesn't arrive, they should claim from Royal Mail and refund you.

I would raise it with Etsy too