Item Signed For by collection point but buyer didn't get the item

[MadameButterfingers]

Hi,
Sold an item to a buyer for more than £50.
Sent it Signed For to a collection point, and it has arrived and been signed for there by an operative.
Buyer says that the collection point don't have the item and can't collect it.

As the item has been signed for, is it possible that the collection point lost it, or that the buyer is trying to pull a fast one?

What can I do?
I do not intend on refunding the buyer because I posted it and the Royal Mail delivered it.

Should the buyer sort it out between her and the collection point?

Please advise.
Thanks,
MB

It was a branded item, but sent in a box in plain packaging.

If the buyer opens a not received case, you will win, as long as you have a proof of delivery (which you do).

Make sure the tracking number is uploaded against the eBay sales record.

Have done. Thanks 19lottie82.

Unfortunately this is a risk buyers take when they use Ebay and collection points. The collection point staff could steal it, give it to the wrong person, lose it etc but the buyer cant get a refund because the seller has proof of delivery. That's just the way it is.

The buyer will need to fight the collection point for compensation, which should be easy. They will have proof that the collection point signed for it and the collection point dont have it anymore so they can take it up with them.

You can opt out of sending to collection pointss.

I work at a store with a collection point, parcels do very rarely go missing (looking at you colleague who doesn't scan them when people collect them). However usually these upon investigation either turn up or are found to have been collected already so there may be something else going on here.
Did the person collect within the 7 or 14 days allowed? As if a parcel isn't collected fast enough then it automatically gets returned to sender and wouldn't be available for collection. I don't know if eBay would notify you when we return it (although we do notify them).
Secondly have they/you spoken to the collection point and checked the name of the person who signed for the parcel (that someone of that name works there)? We had someone not long ago livid that we had lost their parcel. After some digging I found it had been sent to the collection point about half mile away not to us.
Finally if it has gone missing in store there is procedure in place and a claim should be made against the collection point not yourself.

Thanks, LoveMyLittleSuperHero.