EBay parcel left on step and stolen

[pantalonmagique]

I posted this in the EBay section but it’s super quiet there so am posting here for more traffic. My eBay parcel - sent tracked 48 - was left on my step and subsequently stolen. The tracking clearly shows it on the step with the door closed. Annoyingly someone was at home at the time and they didn’t even bother ringing the bell. The Seller says that as it’s marked as delivered to my Safe Space (I would never designate that as my safe space as it clearly isn’t) I need to contact Royal Mail. I’ve checked Royal Mail website which says that the seller needs to do this. I think they can claim compensation. A quick google suggests that eBay will find in the sellers favour as it says delivered. Does anyone have experience of this?

When I did tracked they took a photo

What’s the value of the package

They did take a photo. It’s on the door step with the front door closed.

So bugger all to do with seller

this is between you and RM

the item is only worth about a tenner so not much. It’s the principle that annoys me as Royal Mail say I have to contact the seller who is refusing to help.

Not according to the Royal Mail website.

Well that’s a 💧

The seller isn’t obliged to. His item was delivered to seller. From his and eBay’s perspective, this is between RM and you.

No, that’s RM’s policy

doesn’t mean it actually has anything to do with the seller or required to do anything

But the seller can claim compensation. I can’t.

Op

this item wasn’t lost
it was stolen
if anything it’s a police matter (please don’t though!)

As annoying as this is, I think it will be difficult to prove. The postman/lady could say that they did ring the bell but got no answer.

In my area Royal Mail never leave parcels on doorsteps. If they can't actually give it to you in person they take it back to the depot and put a card through the letterbox. Might be worth checking what your local RM policy is.

What if the parcel has been stolen?
You'll need to report the stolen parcel to the police and if you've been burgled, call 101.
Without evidence from witnesses, or footage from a security camera or smart doorbell, it might be hard for anything further to happen.
But it does let the police build up a picture of these incidents in your neighbourhood.
If the goods were insured, you may be able to contact your insurance company for compensation.
“If you suspect your parcel has been stolen, having received evidence of the delivery then you should report it to the police, and it may be investigated,” Jessica said.
“However, the catch is that if you gave the company instructions to leave the parcel in a safe space and it was taken from there, then it's your responsibility and you may not be able to receive a replacement, or make a claim on your insurance for it.
“If you gave no such instructions or the courier has assumed a safe place, then you should speak with the retailer.”

Of course I’m not going to! It’s the utter laziness of the delivery person that annoys me. At least the amazon people usually make the effort to hide things behind the bins.

The contract is between the delivery service and the seller. A parcel left on the doorstep is not safely delivered, and the seller is the one who makes the claim.

Yes. Thank you. This is my point. They are the ones who can make a claim.

This.

The item wasn't safely delivered it was dumped on your doorstep. It's the sellers responsibility to make a claim for the item as their carrier didn't deliver it safely.

It needs reporting to Royal Mail, as it's too easy to photograph a parcel on the doorstep, then pick it up again. It may not be the first time from this postie. Other thing is, ask to see where you nominated it as a safe place.

From your link:
"If you gave no such instructions or the courier has assumed a safe place, then you should speak with the retailer.”

From the OP:
"I would never designate that as my safe space as it clearly isn’t"

Which is why she is speaking to the seller...

the seller could claim if he wanted to
but he’s under no actual obligation to
and eBay will side with him

So to be clear op

You have explicitly asked the seller to claim
and he’s said “no”

Royal Mail will only deal with the sender, the seller has to raise the issue with them, you cannot do it. Until the parcel is in your possession the seller has not fulfilled their commitment and you are entitled to a full refund, regardless of the outcome of the seller's dispute with Royal Mail.

Contact EBay and explain what happened. You may have to open the item not received case. From my experience, EBay resolves issues in buyer’s favour in 99% cases. They very rarely support sellers. Seller will have to raise the claim with post office. I’m saying this as a seller who has been in this situation few times before.

This happens a lot in my area. We are encouraged to report to the police as they get a local picture of the area goings on, and sometimes they get doorbell footage. We have an increased neighbourhood presence as a result but it still happens.

EBay will side with seller
item wasn’t lost delivered
photographic evidence to prove

This has nothing to do with eBay
if the seller wished to help, he could claim
but he is under no obligation to

Did you designate a safe place at all, @pantalonmagique ?