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eBay

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

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Original poster

Where do you stand if something you buy on Ebay gets lost in the post?

21 replies

oliveoil · 08/08/2007 13:29

do they refund or is it tough titty for me?

has been sent, they have a ref number but not sent recorded or anything

could be due to post strike but not sure

was sent July 27 iirc

OP posts:

Ceolas · 08/08/2007 13:32

They should keep proof of posting. Don't know if there are definite rules but lost of sellers say they are not responsible for items lost.

Email and ask what s/he proposes to do?

LazyLineLegilimens · 08/08/2007 13:33

It is the responsibility of the seller to send their items recorded and then charge you accordingly. It is the seller that should chase from Royal Mail and refund you. I sent something that got lost, I did get it back again 3 months later. Had to refund the buyer though. And I did get money back from Royal Mail through compensation.

Original poster

oliveoil · 08/08/2007 13:35

have just asked her to chase it for now, she seems ok so far

but I am new to this lark so didn't want to ask for something I wasn't entitled

'only' £11 but still

OP posts:

sixlostmonkeys · 08/08/2007 14:06

yup - tis the seller's responsibility to to ensure that the item gets delivered (not just posted)
If it doesn't arrive the seller has to refund in full (inc P&P) it is then up to the seller to claim via royal mail. This applies no matter how they sent it - if they didn't use rec del etc then it's their problem not the buyer's

kokeshi · 08/08/2007 14:18

We send all our stuff recorded dleivery now as loads of first class mail just wasn't turngin up. We had to replace the item and got no compensation from Royal MAil in return.

BUT, we spent 4 hours last night on the RM website going through tracking numbers of ALL the packages we sent after the 14th. None of them have arrived yet, and we're getting angry buyers asking where their stuff is. Even though they're only striking one day for each place, it's designed so that it has maximum disruption on the postal service.

I'd hold out for a while yet, sellers can claim an item as being lost after 15 working days after the due date. If you've paid recorded, you can email your seller and asking for the tracking number, and check the progress of your mail yourself.

As a seller, I'd never go normal first class and as a buyer, I'd invest that wee bit more in recorded.

Original poster

oliveoil · 08/08/2007 14:52

ok, thanks again

I am not going to get stroppy, will maybe leave for another week or so?

blardy RM

OP posts:

Nemo2007 · 08/08/2007 14:54

Personally as a seller I tend to offer refund for the items less postage as think that is the fairest way so both loose out a little. However a lot of sellers basically say tough luck. If they have proof of postage you can claim via royal mail but it takes ages. Although with the strikes things are taking a while to turn up.

Nemo2007 · 08/08/2007 14:56

meant to add we just had this happen I sent something on 10th july, was attempted topost on 11th july but no answer so it sat in sorting office and then turned up back here on monday. Buyer had been to the sorting office and everything but postie kept saying there was nothing there and no card had been put through so we thought they had gone missing.

saltire · 08/08/2007 14:57

I called RM once because a small packet I had posted never turned up, and was told that

"just because you put a first class stamp on something doesn't guarentee it will be delivered. We suggest you send everything Registered (note registered, not just recorded) and that way every thing you post will be delivered".
So imagine how much money they would make if we all sent b'day cards etc Registered!

Original poster

oliveoil · 08/08/2007 15:01

oh I hate ebay

I am all of a fluster now

so you just pay and hope for the best then

OP posts:

lailasmum · 08/08/2007 15:07

Thing is even though if you don't send it RM shouldn't loose it they are useless.
Oliveoil-I wouldn't give up hope yet-I have been waiting for a package that was posted 2 weeks ago non recorded first class and It arrive this morning. Its highly likely your package will still turn up. I think the thing that is slowing stuff up at the moment is the fact that different departments were striking on different days last week. Since royal mail just brush you off or give you the run around when you complain its hard to know what is going on with a 'lost/missing' parcel sometimes.

lailasmum · 08/08/2007 15:08

I meant if you don't send it recorded

FloriaTosca · 08/08/2007 15:28

Glad you asked this question as I was going to ask similar myself, hope you dont mind me hijacking your thread...
We won a pram on ebay over 2 weeks ago, paid for it and P&P immediately by paypal, got no response for a week 5 days so asked if all was ok..Sellers (experienced ebayers from their rating with very few negatives)complained that they didnt get the price they expected, would we take a refund? There was no reserve and it was not our fault no one else bid more, we had won it fair and square, so we said no.....They came back with complaint that postage was going to be more than they had quoted and we had paid for, so would we go collect it...Dh said that was hardly our fault, their postage quote was the same as others for similar items and 250 miles was too far to collect...They came back saying ok but packaging was going to be difficult and they couldn't guarantee no damage..We said fine so long as they had done their best to ensure that it didnt get damaged.... We waited in all last week for parcel post but got no delivery...we sent e-mail on Monday asking what has happened..we have had no response so dont know if it in the post or simply not sent....what would you do next???

FloriaTosca · 08/08/2007 15:29

oops sorry that should have been "got no response for 5 days" (not a week!)

kiteflying · 08/08/2007 16:06

If I were you I would ask them to refund the postage and packing and arrange for your own courier - at least you get the item then and it sounds like you paid what you wanted for it. Only thing is the courier will expect the item to be boxed and addressed so ask the sellers to do that much for you as a sign of goodwill.

If they say they have sent it and it becomes obvious they have done a bunk - I would report the whole correspondence chain to ebay. It definitely sounds like they wanted more and did not like the bargain they had struck with you.

FloriaTosca · 08/08/2007 17:27

Thanks for the input...they have actually responded this afternoon and say they have been having trouble getting a box big enough..and think the PO wont take it but promise that they are genuine and will get it to us somehow or another!
If we dont get it by the end of next week we will warn them and I think we will report them to ebay...it would shame for them to loose a 1700 rating for a few pounds.

kokeshi · 08/08/2007 17:29

FS, that's basically tough luck to the seller. It's always a risk and we've sold stuff at stupidly low prices because there's not been a lot of interest.

Have you opened a dispute yet? If you've paid through paypal, then you can open one right away and the seller has to act - if he/she doesn't you'll get a complete refund. If you do want the pram though, it would be best if you kept communications open and suggest to them what kiteflying recommended.

Oliveoil, I wish there was an alternative to RM, it really hacks me off when we do our best to get stuff out on time, in good faith, and it just looks like we've been messing the buyers around.

I hope you get it sorted .

lailasmum · 08/08/2007 19:01

suggest they use a courier. If they don't have an account they can book one through InterparcelIf its a large heavy parcel it will be cheaper than royal mail standard parcels.

helenhismadwife · 09/08/2007 00:19

to the op I always get proof of posting and if a parcel does not arrive within 15 days I refund and persue it with royal mail as the seller and sender, I post it therefor I see myself as being responsible for its arrival and its me who has the contract with royal mail. I have always got a refund for lost items from them with minimal hassle

Floria thats an unreasonable time to wait, they can get big boxes from currys or mothercare and use a next day courier for £5.99

kiteflying · 09/08/2007 11:30

Interparcel are great - I second that suggestion. Don't use DHL. I really think you should take matters into your own hands and ASK them to send by courier so you get it next day.
For what it is worth - I have received prams and moses baskets from ebay sellers as I am sure many many others have. These people are pulling your chain.

bettythebuilder · 09/08/2007 11:47

if something is posted by standard royal mail first class post, there is automatic insurance through Royal Mail forup to £34 (it's worked out at 100x cost of 1st class stamp, so will go up if postal charges do).
So even if something is posted normal 1st class with (free) proof of posting, if it goes missing the seller can claim some money back.
It does take ages and ages for RM to refund, though

Flip