Has anyone else noticed that more and more sellers just don't bother sending items anymore?

[CostaGuava]

A couple of years ago I'd maybe have to do an 'item not received' dispute once or twice a year at the most (I buy a lot on Ebay), but lately more and more sellers just seem to either not bother sending the item at all.

In the last two months I've bought 12 items on Ebay and have had to start Item Not Received disputes for four of them, as nothing was received and there was no reply when I politely tried to contact the sellers. This has happened a lot over the past year or so.

I check feedback before buying/bidding and it's usually sellers with 100% or 99.something feedback that do this.

Not had any experience of this at all. You must just be unlucky!

Do you live in flats? I always get an attack of the fear when I sell to someone in a block and will always send it tracked.

Recently sold an item, a month on a I got an e.mail asking where it was. I provided the tracking no. when it was posted. I sent the tracking no. and a copy of the signature on the tracking page. It had been signed for by the porter and was presumably in his room somewhere.

Neighbours can also take things in and not hand them over. Assuming you haven't moved and forgotten to update your address on EBay/PayPal.

Also assuming this is for real.

I've had it happen twice. Once was a cardigan which was worth an awful lot more than I paid for it. But it was very unusual and wouldn't be to that many people's taste, I don't imagine. I was the only bidder so the seller didn't get much money for it. They refunded me instantly without complaint so I assume they knew I wasn't lying because they hadn't posted it due to not wanting to let it go for that little money. Which I can understand to be honest. It was annoying but I couldn't really blame them. If they'd just sent a message saying they had made a mistake putting such a low starting bid on and had assumed they'd get more interest, I would have been quite happy with that.

The other one was weird. What seemed like a more commercial seller (hundreds of vintage items on sale at once). Dress didn't arrive and they said they had another identical one they'd send me. That one didn't arrive either. Ebay refunded me but it was very weird. They have good feedback and two dresses can't have got lost (my address is correct, I buy on eBay all the time). No idea what went wrong.

But no, I wouldn't say it happens all the time.

I have never had to do that. And I don’t know anyone that has had to.

I haven't been on Ebay for ages. Went back around 3 months ago, and yes having lots of items not arriving. No tracking info provided or no contact from the seller. It's frustrating and although I understand from also being a seller, that it's disappointing when things go for less than you want, it's the risk of the auction.