Think item lost by RM - when to refund buyer

[Hertschick]

Posted over 4 weeks ago by signed for mail and the tracking number just confirms that it is being progressed through the system. Emailed the buyer to ask if they have had any missed post cards but no response yet. I know I can make a claim with royal mail but when do I refund the buyer - worried that RM may come back to confirm that it was signed for and delivered after all.
Is it best to refund the buyer now? They have not made any contact with me yet?

after 4 weeks yes you refund; RM will let you claim after 2 or 3 weeks; anyway, even they think it's reasonable.

RM have a section on their website that confirms what their processes are. I'm not sure about signed for Mail but I recently claimed for an eBay item which I'd sent normal first class after their stipulated cut off of 15 working days.

Has your buyer told you they haven't received the item? Or have you just noticed from the tracking number that it doesn't seem to have been signed for?

if the former then RM says you can claim after 15 working days from posting so refund and then submit a claim

if the later then don't do anything as RM as notorious for not getting signatures!

I agree - at least half of my recorded items never obtain a signature - if the buyer has not asked where the item is then you can presume they have received it.

I was about to post a similar question

I posted an item sold on eBay 3 weeks ago, by royal mail 2nd class signed for. A week or so later the buyer got in touch to say they hadn't updated their address on their eBay account and the item had gone to their old address. I gave them the tracking number and also checked the royal mail site, the item was signed for by someone so I let the buyer know and sent them a screen shot of the signature/name.
They have been in touch again today to say they need to make a claim with royal mail for a list item and do I still have the receipt. I binned it early this week as hadn't heard otherwise so assumed things had been sorted .

Seems like the buyer is going to make the claim themselves, it is their fault for not providing the right delivery address after all. I assume this is ok and I dont need to do anything? Buyer thinks the postman has stolen it! I am not sure why the postman allowed someone else to sign for it to be honesty.

*lost item not list item

the buyer cannot make the claim - firstly the item is not lost as you have proof of delivery and secondly they don't have the contract with RM, you do. If I were you I would add the tracking number to the ebay sold item - then they can't claim not received with ebay and get their money back.

Makes sense about royal mail losing things - wish I hadn't chased the buyer now. They still haven't got back to me although it is now 4 weeks since I posted it off which makes me think that they have received it as I confirmed I was posting it the day after it ended.

Will hold fire until I hear from the seller - do they have 45 days from end of auction to make a case with ebay?

Meant hold fire until I hear from buyer!

very few items do actually get lost - am sure it has been received and postie didn't bother getting a signature.

The buyer has 45 days to open a not received/as described claim. 60 days to leave feedback. Many do not bother with feedback so don't ever chase for it.