'Lost' parcel (I'm the buyer) WWYD

[LostHorizons]

A small parcel was due to arrive 24-26 June and it's not come. Value around £16 inc postage, not heavy (fabric.)

Been in touch with the seller who says she has contacted R Mail who say it could still be in transit or lost.

She has offered me a refund or to send new package next week, as she's ill at the moment.

I am wondering which to choose.

If I accept either of those, and the first parcel DOES arrive am I then responsible for paying the postage to send it back?

Just to add, it's now 2 weeks since she posted it. I know RM ask you to give 3 weeks before claiming compensation, so why is she willing to refund me when it might turn up? I'm wondering obviously if it was never posted.

More fool her for not sending it recorded.

Ask for the refund. If the item then arrives eventually, keep it.

I don't know if it was recorded. her English is poor and she says the tracking number will only show when it is delivered, not while in transit.

I guess that is true.

I know the post is a bit all over the place at the moment BUT i posted a similar size parcel 2nd class last THursday and it arrived with my friend yesterday.

The tracking number should show how far it is through the delivery process. If she is saying it will only show when it's been delivered then she hasn't posted it.

Or maybe it wasn't sent recorded so it can't be tracked?

Maybe she only has a cert of posting which asks for 30 days .

I would wait another week before doing anything. I certainly wouldn't keep both parcels if the other one did turn up that's theft.

But didn't you say she had reffered to a tracking number? Just ask her what it is. A tracking number that only shows up after it is delivered is hardly a 'tracking' number. I'd get the refund while it's being offered

If it’s was due on 26th it’s only actually two working days late, I’d give it a bit longer as lots of deliveries are up in the air atm. Not all but some. If she’s offering to refund or resend it’s probably just so as not to damage her business reputation/feedback rather than not having sent it. I’ve been selling loads on eBay in the last few weeks. All posted day of or day after payment, some arrive super quick and some are taking a couple of weeks, no idea why, luckily all of my buyers have been patient about it. Also, on the Royal Mail website it does say ‘this will only be updated when delivery has been attempted’, no it’s not ‘tracking’ but nevertheless that is what RM say 🤷‍♀️

I sell on eBay and use Royal Mail- she can put in a claim after 10 working days since the item was posted (first class). Royal Mail have had huge delays since Covid so I would think it could still turn up, it isn't actually that late.

I had a customer whose parcel didn't turn up, I posted a replacement about 9 working days after it was posted and the original turned up the next day- I learnt my lesson to wait! I didn't charge him or expect him to send either back.

With Royal Mail if you send a parcel first or second class, you get a tracking number that tells you if it is delivered- it doesn't say where it is in the system just if it has arrived at the destination. If you want a more informative tracking you have to send it recorded (at a greater cost).

Loads of deliveries are still a bit haywire at the moment, and Royal Mail tracking numbers particularly don't seem to have updated at all - I've had packages in my hands and they've still been saying they're at the sorting hub.

I’d give it a bit longer, tbh. But you can request a refund - if it turns up after they’ve refunded then it’s up to your own conscience whether you post it back/pay again etc.