My first eBay problem :(

[TheLittleMe]

I've been buying and selling on eBay for 2 years with no problems, until now. Sold a pair of expensive real ugg boots. Sent them 1st class recorded on 21st November, but they haven't arrived. When i do track and trace the royal mail website says that the package is being processed by royal mail. The buyer has opened a case against me and wants refunding by 8th December. What should I do next, other than keep checking whether it has been delivered or not?

you will just have to refund the buyer in full and claim from royal mail - you can only claim £41 though. How much did you sell them for? If over £41 recorded was insufficient. Sadly the buyer may have received and postie neglected to get a signature for the delivery - no proof of that though. They could be genuinely lost.

1st class 21st november tracked sound lost so claim from royal mail, the limit is actually £47 now for signed for,

getting refunds for tracked stuff if relatively easy you can download claim form from RM website

if she starts dispute on 8th it takes a few days to escalate 15 working days from 21st is 12th December so if still undelivered by then you can refund and claim from RM

Oh! What should I have sent it as, the uggs went for £90 :( how utterly shit. I actually sent them to an unconfirmed address (I know, I know). I'm actually inclined to believe the buyer hasn't received as they have said they would rather have the boots than a refund, so I have until the 8th for them to be delivered otherwise eBay will refund.

well - you will never know if the buyer is telling the truth. In my experience a lot of posties never bother to get a signature for recorded items, so your buyer may have got them. You will only be able to claim £41 for the lost boots from Royal Mail so will be down £50 sadly.

sorry £47 not £41

Fergoose thanks. In future, how should I send valuables?

I've just sold some Uggs on eBay and sent as special delivery as the dude in the post office said recorded would only cover up to £41. It cost £9.50 to send so I took a £3 hit on my delivery charges but would cover the £130 the Uggs cost.

A courier like Collect Plus or Hermes may be cheaper, you may have to pay extra couple of quid to insure to that value but is obvs worth it if item goes missing.