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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

WWYD - buyer says item hasn't arrived, but I am skeptical...

19 replies

Daffodilly · 02/12/2008 11:28

I sold a deisgner label girl's dress on eBay. I advertised it as selling to UK only - but had so many enquiries fron abroad (label more popular there it seems). Winner was a buyer from France who pushed quite hard to pay just standard Royal Mail post to France and I stupidly agreed.

I sent item day after payment received (now a month ago) with proof of postage, but no way of tracking receipt. Buyer says it has never arrived and now requesting refund. It was £58 so not trivial.

Since I can't prove she doesn't have it, do I just refund or make her dispute it? What are implications of a dispute for my status? What happens to all the fees I've paid?

Sorry for all the questions, I can't find any answers in eBay except from the buyers POV and I don't have much sympathy there at the moment!

OP posts:

MotherChristmas2OliverJames · 02/12/2008 11:29

did you get proof of posting?

Original poster

Daffodilly · 02/12/2008 11:30

Yes - but not sure if that helps as I can't track whether it arrived?

OP posts:

Guadalupe · 02/12/2008 11:31

If you have proof of posting it, isn't it down to her to claim compensation from royal mail?

TheBlonde · 02/12/2008 11:31

you need to refund her and claim off royal mail but you won't get £58 back

MotherChristmas2OliverJames · 02/12/2008 11:31

well its not your problem then, they only wanted to pay the minimum for postage and it must have got lost in the post, their problem

you have proof of postage so can prove it was sent, ebay will see in your favour.

TheBlonde · 02/12/2008 11:32

proof of postage means nothing
without proof of delivery you are stuck

WhereTheWildThingsWere · 02/12/2008 11:32

If you have proof of posting then you are covered for £30 by RM, so you can clain that.

Otherwise I think you have no choice but to refund, and just never do it again.

I will only send stuff registered now, it's just not worth the bother.

SleighGirl · 02/12/2008 11:33

I'm sorry if she takes it to paypal she will win the dispute, you always need to use signed for delivery to protect yourself I'm afraid.

If you refund via paypal (you reverse the transaction) you will get your paypal fees back. I wouldn't refund the postage btw.

I'm not sure if you can claim for RM for internation parcels, have you looked at their website.

LilySwalLoosHerTurkeyBaster · 02/12/2008 11:37

Ebay will make you refund if you go to dispute as postal receipt doesn't count as trackable post.
You will have to refund and claim back off royal mail for lost item but i think they only cover costs up to £36

MotherChristmas2OliverJames · 02/12/2008 11:41

i have lost out before because i had ordered something and didnt pay for it to be recorded delivery, was there the option to?

TheBlonde · 02/12/2008 11:42

MotherChristmas2OliverJames - you could have claimed for a refund, doesn't matter if you don't pay for recorded

Original poster

Daffodilly · 02/12/2008 13:24

Thanks for all the replies. I guess it is s lesson to only send recorded in future.

I am just particularly peeved as she pushed to have it sent standard royal mail first class - I have proof I posted it so I upheld my end of the deal. How do I know she doesn't have it and was planning this all along?? Or am I getting paranoid now!

So if I have to refund any advantage to me doing so voluntarily vs. letting her dispute it?

OP posts:

SleighGirl · 02/12/2008 14:31

Daffodilly I don't think so, all the advantage is in her favour you can't even leave her negative feedback. All you can say is that she insisted this was sent standard & not recorded & have had to refund as it didn't arrive. At least that will imply to other sellers that she may have tried it on, you can't openly say she is lying though or they will just remove your feedback.

Dh has had this lots in past so he won't sell abroad anymore & always sends recorded.

surreylady · 02/12/2008 14:49

Daffodilly - oh sorry for you but I think this will end up as lesson learned - if you have the eamil train in which she insisted on the standard mail - it is worth submitting this if you reach dispute stage - but to be honest as someone said earlier - Ebay is all in the buyers favour virtually every time - you will never really know if you have been conned and probably your paranoia stems from how easy the new rules make this to do. Have decied to deregister myself due to the number of jokers now on ebay - looking for an alternative.

SleighGirl · 02/12/2008 14:51

surreylady, what have you got to sell??? Do you do cash on collection to Mners - lol!!! I'm in Surrey too. With Ebay it's a bid damned if you do, can't sell if you don't me thinks. Have you got stuff you can sell at NCT sales, gumtree etc?

Brangelina · 02/12/2008 14:57

The buyer is mad to request normal mail, I'm in Italy and always request signed for. You should have insisted that when sending abroad you only send that way - it's only £3.50 more anyway.

TBH, the fact that the buyer insisted so strongly on normal post makes me suspect that she has pulled a fast one. How about trying to call her bluff and say that the post office does have proof of delivery? New system and all that, bla de bla ...?

JerricaBenton · 03/12/2008 10:14

if it goest to a dispute, it can damage your seller staus, an dyou may appear lower down on best match lists, and if you get 3 disputes agianst you, you may get a suspension

If its a no win situation, its better to just refubd yourself

ib · 03/12/2008 10:28

How long has it been?

I live in France and in the last month three things that were sent from the UK took ages.

I think it has to have been about 6 weeks before you can claim the item is lost.

I would insist she wait a bit longer and chase it up at her post office too.

Signed for can be a pain in rural areas as the post offices have stupidly short opening hours in winter, so if you work it can be tricky to get to them (and they won't leave it at yours if you are not there).

dreambaby · 15/01/2009 05:08

ALWAYS purchase proof of DELIVERY. I'm afraid the buyer will win this one. Go ahead and do a refund through paypal (don't send her a payment, do a REFUND) and as stated previously, you will get your fees back at least.
Sorry.

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