No Proof of postage for item sold on E Bay

[newcastle1]

I posted 5 small flat items which I sold on E Bay on 7th November now one person is saying that they have not received their item. I have no idea why they took such a long time to say that they had not received the item.

I posted the item 1st class in the local village post box and I think that the person had the item but is saying it hasn't been received as a try on but unfortunately I did not get a proof of purchase.

Is there anything that I can do via Royal Mail?

[boxtops]

Yes, you can go to the PO and fill in a missing items form - they don't take any action until it's been non-delivered for a certain number of days though, and you would only get back the value of the item, not the postage too. They ask you to send a print-off of the eBay transaction as proof of the value of the item.

This is one reason why I always get proof of posting, not just mail something without any evidence that I've sent it. I always email my buyers too, to tell them that I've posted the thing and please to leave me feedback when it arrives.

She's taken a hell of a long time to report non-arrival - have you been communicating with her in the meantime?

[newcastle1]

I posted the item 1st class on 7th November. The other 4 items have been received and I had feedback. I think that the person has received the item but says that they haven't :(
I posted the items in village post box as we live out in the countryside and it is 15 mile round trip to PO. Today 10/12/11 out of the blue I had an e mail saying item not received and asked for a tracking number. How long do people have to say that an item not received? This is over a month and if it was me I would have contacted buyer to say item not received.

[newcastle1]

I posted the item 1st class on 7th November. The other 4 items have been received and I had feedback. I think that the person has received the item but says that they haven't :(
I posted the items in village post box as we live out in the countryside and it is 15 mile round trip to PO. Today 10/12/11 out of the blue I had an e mail saying item not received and asked for a tracking number. How long do people have to say that an item not received? This is over a month and if it was me I would have contacted buyer to say item not received.

[boxtops]

I usually give things a week or so, then email the seller and say "oi, where are my goods" (or something similar). Something I bought recently - they sent me an email saying it was posted, but the postmark was only after I'd chased it, dead giveaway.
You can open a dispute now on eBay because you only have 60 days to claim back your seller fees, so do that but also comment that the buyer has only told you about this over a month after you posted it.
What sort of feedback does your buyer have, can you tell if this has happened before with them?

[ummmm]

Just because the others have received theirs it doesn't mean this person has.

[rccatnap]

The Post Office do not take any action until 15 days after posting.
As mentioned before, because you do not have any proof of postage, you may be limited to the cost of the stamp. Check the Royal Mail Website to determine the exact amounts. You have a choice; give a full refund, keep your rating and put it down to experience. The package may have been small, but if it was of significant value, that's a risk you take, not the buyer. Have a look at the buyer's feedback and see if there have been any problems in the past. If you choose to tell the buyer that they've waited too long before letting you know, that's another risk to get a negative feedback, justly or not. Good luck with whatever you decide.

[old-wos-is-name]

Hi,
I have sold 6000 items on ebay, and sometimes items turn up weeks later, or are returned to me because the paypal address ( which is where i send them to) is incorrect as the buyer moved and never told paypal of the new address. I also have items go missing that have never been found. also, some are returned to me because the customer actually moved, then said " could you send the replacement to my mothers house, at this address etc" which I did, then, several weeks later, the original item is returned to me, unopened, with a note on it saying "moved, not known at this address" , so obviously a dodgy customer who moved then lied to me about his new address.
If you fill in a missing packet form with the royal mail, good luck. they are so complicated that , although my missing post comes to several hundred pounds, I gave up, as I filled in the form, sent if off, then they sent a reply back asking to see the receipts from the companies I had bought the goods from that I had sold the customer. ( I sell telecom/ broadband installation kits, which consist of several items bought from several suppliers)
This was a virtually impossible task, as I buy in bulk, and breaking down items into ones,value wise, was virtually impossible.
Hope you get it sorted,but, Always get proof of posting, you can then send that to the customer and let them sort it out.
Alf.

[bartyarmy]

hi i had a few problems with postage . The only way round it as the first person said , but i always send everything recorded post as you can keep track of them . it is only a few pence more but it is worth it as the person has to sign . hope this helps .

[cathfromsaron]

inform the customer you will complete a form, as stated above. i would offer a full refund through paypal and suck it up!

remember ... always get - and keep - proof of postage, and for anything over £10 charge for recorded and signed for!

[joko]

you cannot be sure they are lying... after they left your hands the 5 others went their separate ways so thats no gauge really

i believe buyers have 45 days to launch an appeal.

is the item expensive? or is it a cd?