Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

eBay

If you buy or sell items on eBay, you will find tips and advice on this forum.

Flip

1 2

Original poster

Item gone missing - signed for - what should I do?

26 replies

sybilfaulty · 12/12/2011 19:28

Hi there

In great haste, as I am flying out the door and the babysitter is already here....

I sent a jacket to a buyer by first class recorded last Tues. She emailed on Thurs to say it hadn't appeared so I sent her the tracking no. The PO website is showing it in the system but still not arrived.

I have had this happen last year and the PO said they won't investigate til 3 weeks after posting. I have told her this and she has got a bit shirty and said she needs it for before then. I have suggested that checking at the sorting office might be a good idea in case no card was put through the door. She has now done this and says it's not there.

What should I do now? I am reluctant to refund yet as if it does appear then I am out of pocket with no item, but should I ? What is the protocol for this?

Any suggestions gratefully received. Sorry this is so rushed.

Thanks

OP posts:

JaneBirkin · 12/12/2011 19:41

Ring up RM and persist with customer services till they agree to check the item number on their system. Last time I did this, the website said what yours does, but on theirs it showed a signature and they were able to send me a copy by email as I couldn't access it.

08457 740 740 but millions of options so good luck getting through

Buyer may be trying it on, ask her for a week or so to investigate then refund if you can't get any joy.

If it is sitting somewhere it will be returned to you anyway eventually. you can put in a claim after 15 days. Good luck.

IDontDoIroning · 12/12/2011 19:42

It's Christmas if she hadn't noticed. Even though it was first class I'm surprised she expected so promptly.
If royal mail aren't showing it as delivered then it hadn't been delivered.
Check again today on line.
I had a similar thing with a buyer getting anxious about a delivery and when I checked there was a copy of the signed notice online, I sent her the link, and it had just arrived that day!
There is a recognised scam where if it's not recorded they do an item not received claim and without trackable postage eBay/ PayPal award to the buyer. They end up with your item for free.

JaneBirkin · 12/12/2011 19:43

Did you tell the buyer the tracking number? If so she might know it's showing as in the system but still have signed for the item.

If not then it's less likely she is playing games with you.

But investigate yourself, initially, and ring up her local sorting office too.

Original poster

sybilfaulty · 12/12/2011 23:27

Thanks.

I did tell her the tracking number - was this a mistake? I will make my own investigations tomorrow but I agree it is reasonable for her to wait for at least a week, it being Christmas and all that.

I wonder sometimes why I bother with ebay. Why is it always the unpleasant ones who kick up a fuss

Thanks again.

OP posts:

JaneBirkin · 13/12/2011 10:08

LOL

I know

it makes you want to jack it in, doesn't it - well, hopefully RM will be able to see where it's got to, don't take her word for it that it's not at the sorting office, ring them yourself - and after 2 weeks if you don't actually get it back, you can claim for the lost item.

I read on here not to put on the claim form that it's an ebay item or you'll only be sent a book of stamps! Not sure if that's true but don't do it anyway.

Let me know how you get on.

JaneBirkin · 13/12/2011 10:09

About the tracking number, I don't tell people this until there's a problem, as they might check to see if it says delivered, know they have received the item and tell you they haven't. iyswim.

Not a nice thing to do but there are folks like this out there so best to play your cards close.

fergoose · 13/12/2011 10:52

Of course the buyer may actually have received their item and the postie neglected to get their signature - not that you can prove it of course

maxybrown · 13/12/2011 16:27

Sounds dodgy to me - I would persist in getting details from RM. Why would she say only 2 days after you posted it, just before Christmas that it hadn't arrived and then get shirty? We had soemone contact us after 4 weeks to say something hadn't arrived - I reckon they were hoping we would have disposed of all tracking info in that time as when we tracked it it was delivered 2 days after we posted it with HIS signature amazingly though he wife signed for it (using his signature ) and didn't tell him - yeah right! Unfortunately for anyone who buys from us, we are lazy sods and keep tracking info for months, prob even over a year

Hope you get the tracking info sorted

fergoose · 13/12/2011 17:39

I agree, sounds dodgy.

By the way, you can add the tracking number to the item in eBay when you dispatch it - so in the event of any dispute paypal/eBay already have the tracking info. Saves you scrabbling around looking for receipts weeks later.

Original poster

sybilfaulty · 13/12/2011 18:21

She now says that she wants a refund on Friday if not arrived by then or she will open a dispute. Am happy to refund and then claim from RM but what if I refund then it arrives on Saturday? I have refunded, I can't claim and i'm nearly 40 quid down on the deal.

I hate Ebay when it goes wrong.

OP posts:

fergoose · 13/12/2011 18:24

Well I think she is being far too impatient - an item isn't lost until it is 15 working days after posting - so far it is only 5? - so another 2 weeks until it is considered missing.

So let her go to dispute is my advice - give eBay the tracking number then hope it turns up - but to be honest with her haste and demands I bet it arrived on Thursday and she didn't need to sign for her hence her demands - she knows you don't have a leg to stand on (or maybe I am too cynical!).

JaneBirkin · 13/12/2011 18:25

I think what you do is let her open a dispute, it'll take a while to escalate, paypal and ebay have different procedures so it varies.

But you keep talking to her, don't disappear, tell her you have to wait 15 days before RM class it as missing so basically if she wants a refund she waits till then so you can claim the money back.

OTOH I think if they find in your favour and then it's delivered, and you can prove tracking, you can appeal the dispute after.

I'd not refund her yet, she sounds well impatient, make her wait a bit longer and say you're happy for her to open a dispute if she feels she needs to but please to refer to your excellent feedback and reiterate you will refund after 15 days. Take no notice.

Not sure what ebay does if you provide tracking and it says not delivered YET. Fergoose will know.

JaneBirkin · 13/12/2011 18:26

x posts!! Fergy is brilliant on this stuff.

Did you manage to get through to RM by the way? Any joy?

fergoose · 13/12/2011 18:28

Cross posts - great minds think alike :)

Haha - I'm not brilliant - just very cynical and bitter! :)

fergoose · 13/12/2011 18:30

Unfortunately with out a signature proving delivery eBay will refund her - but you can still claim from Royal Mail for lost item

by the way what is her feedback like that she has left for others - are there lots of item not received feedbacks left for other sellers I wonder?

JaneBirkin · 13/12/2011 18:34

See I'd not have thought of that.

and don't forget you can appeal a dispute decision, if they deliver it after they've refunded her. Letting her open a dispute gives you more time.

i don't know what it is with Royal Mail, they are so rubbish these days, you pay for a signature but can you get one? Can you buffalo.

FabbyChic · 13/12/2011 19:03

Dont let her open a dispute unecessarily, it will count against your seller non performance percentage and your selling could be restricted.

Post is still arriving in good time, I'd ask her to wait to the tenth day and in refund in full.

Never let a buyer go to dispute if you can help it.

maxybrown · 13/12/2011 19:23

ah yes Fergoose - but I am so disorganised that I never get around to putting the tracking number in still, I KNOW that I always have all POP just have to scrabble for it

You know my stuff is always signed for non electronically - so does someone input all that info later? Or i wonder if that is the same as someone else said - didn't show for them but RM had signature. I did try asking my postie once but then realised I prob sounded suspicious and I didn't really understand him anyway as I think I frighten him But I was genuinely intrigued as to how it is then trackable online as he does always get me to sign. NOT THAT I AM TRYING TO BE DODGY

Original poster

sybilfaulty · 13/12/2011 22:43

No feedback for others of any note - she only has a rating of 6 so not much to go on. I haven't had a chance to ring the sorting office yet but will try and get to it tomorrow.

I only sell a few bits and bobs on ebay but it is more hassle than it's worth sometimes. I think I will reply tomorrow and say once 10 WD from posting have elapsed I will refund.

Jane, are you a Victoria Wood fan? I haven't heard "can you bufalo" since Margery and Joan back in 1986. True genius. Please ignore me if you don't know what I am on about or if indeed you were about 5 in 1986

Thanks again.

OP posts:

JaneBirkin · 13/12/2011 23:09

Gimmer? ! Gimmer!!!

Do you know, I've scoured this store from top to bottom, and can I find a side winding thermal bodybelt?

It was Kitty wasn't it. I love Patricia Routledge.

Original poster

sybilfaulty · 13/12/2011 23:13

Yes it was Kitty wasn't it? Hilarious. I loved Margery and Joan too, though? Do you remember when they went on holiday together or lectured us on the "ancient and fascinating art of Bonsai" ? Priceless.

I was at school when that came out. Am old and weary now.

OP posts:

JaneBirkin · 13/12/2011 23:29

Me too Syb. Happy days!

Original poster

sybilfaulty · 14/12/2011 19:57

WOW!

I had just emailed the buyer to say that I would refund on Monday if it had not been delivered. I thought I would check the RM website to see its status and it was delivered today. Hurray! I haven't told her that I have checked, though, so I'll wait and see what she says in reply to my email.

Thanks so much for all your replies and advice. You are brilliant.

Merry Christmas !

OP posts:

JaneBirkin · 14/12/2011 20:47

Oh that is great news.

I'm relieved for you! It makes me wonder though if she is trying it on...let us know what she says!

Original poster

sybilfaulty · 14/12/2011 22:41

Hm. She has simply said "great news - it arrived this afternoon". No "thanks for your help" or anything. No feedback. I suppose it's a plus as if she were going to kick up about its condition (mint) she would have done so. Bit dismissive though. Still, at least it had a happy ending.

OP posts:

Flip

1 2