I returned ebay item i won and seller saying not received

[lulu2]

the item despite it being posted 1st class on 13th June.
Seller said they were happy to refund my money and now i think they have got item but just don't want to refund. problem is that cos i am a trusting idiot i didn't send item recorded so have no proof.
Seller has sent me a message today saying they can't be expected to stay in all day waiting for the postman and that they have been having delays with post in swansea.
what should i do please?

Well once when I posted something, and the buyer said they hadn't got it, I emailed them and said "Well the recorded delivery signature says it has been delivered".
he replied "It didn't come recorded delivery". Proving that he did indeed have the item.
I didn't send it recorded,and was just chancing my luck that he would fall for it. You could try that. underhand I know, but it might work.
if they are admitting as well that there are delays then point that out to them

thanks saltire, i will give it a try.

ooh sneaky

Could you claim back from Royal Mail after the appropriate amount of time to say that the parcel, with contents worth 'X' didn't arrive. All parcels are covered up to £32 (or is it £38) for loss or damage. If it doesn't arrive, surely Royal Mail is the place to go??

Hopefully, the seller will come good though and this won't be necessary!

i have just looked on royal mail site and i have to wait 15 working days until i can claim it is lost.

The story continues, the returned item has still not been received by seller and so i have resigned myself to having lost money. So i left negative feedback stating that item was not as described/photo, it smelt of smoke and how it had gone astray in the post.
So the seller has now left me positive feedback calling me a liar and a con artist. I am furious, how on earth can i be a conning him if i am out of pocket nearly £10.
Is there anything i can do like reporting him to ebay? At no point did i make personal comments about him.
thanks.

sellers aren't allowed to leave negative 'positives' so you can get this removed

thanks sixlostmonkeys, how do i get this removed?

if you have an email from the seller saying he hasn't received it that is evidence enough to claim compensation from royal mail or do you not even have proof of postage/payment from the post office?

yes i have proof of posting from postoffice, i just wish i had sent it recorded.

well start the claim at least you won't be £10 out of pocket.

thanks for help. ebay have removed the sellers feedback as was a positive negative. I have picked up a form from PO to claim so will see if they will compensate me.