Certificate Of Posting-Is There Any Point?

[ganesh]

I don't usually use signed for trackable methods on fairly cheap items I sell on ebay, but I usually just get proof of postage.
Somebody has bought a cd off me and then said they have not received it. This has never happened before and even though I have this proof that I posted it to the correct address, ebay are going to make me refund it, I think (case ongoing) If so, is there any point in this certificate of posting?

[ganesh]

It was weird Eddie, but it came through as an official purchase through paypal with that address after I questioned the first e-mail saying who had won the bidding( not like the American guy said just send it to this London address) so I assumed it was above board .It would have been hard not to post it as I had received the money, even tho I thought it unusual. l think I will see what happens, as I'm interested to see the process. It's weird though to think that anybody could say ' I never received it' and get the money back. I'm just so innocent-lol.

[hc4361]

That is why you should always send by a tracked method, ganesh.

I agree it is a hassle for small, low cost items that can go through the letterbox and a lot of sellers 'self-insure' against this sort of loss by factoring a few pence in to the price of every item they sell.

[ganesh]

But it WAS the paypal confirmed address (the second one), I received the money from the second guys paypal and it was just as official as normal. When it sold I got the notification from ebay telling me this American had won it. After I e-mailed him about it he then said my friend in London will purchase it and the next email was from ebay/paypal with the payment, and the London address to send it to!!

[hc4361]

Ah. In that case the buyer will automatically get a refund.

[ganesh]

Ok, I may factor in the extra cost of tracking in future, certainly for higher priced items, but on low-cost items I bet some people wouldn't bother to even bid on them if the postage was too high. Lesson learnt, thx guys.

[EDDIE51]

I always quote the 2nd class signed for price for UK postage and the buyer pays that. If they do not want to pay that I put a note on the invoice saying 'as you have only paid for standard postage I will obtain a certificate of posting but will not be liable for any loss or damage in the post'
Never had a problem so far in over 500 sales.
For larger items I use CollectPlus or MyHermes both a LOT cheaper than the post office and have full tracking and insurance to £50 included.

[EDDIE51]

^^ MyHermes will even pick up the item from your door and are still under 1/2 the price of the post office.

[hc4361]

Eddie, you can put what you like in your terms and conditions but it makes no difference to eBay and PayPal. If a buyer claims he hasn't received the item he WILL get a refund.

[EDDIE51]

If the buyer has been offered and refused signed for postage I think ebay may well support the seller. They are far more supportive of sellers now.
I have had several decisions in my favour , even when I expected to lose.