Ebay/Proof of postage

[sherrardk]

I sold something on EBay and posted it on 16 December with a proof of postage. The buyer says that they have not received it - what happens now? Thanks.

[pond50]

could still be caught in the system cos of the weather

[sherrardk]

That's what I am hoping - but I have had people try it on before (when I had lost/chucked the proof of posting).

[NazNomad]

Email them a copy of the 'proof'. I've seen a few people ''miraculously'' receive it once they see the proof.

That said, the proof is actually for yourself, to claim against the P.O. if it's undelivered, I believe.

[WhiteBears]

hi sherradk can you track where the parcel is online with the code? hmm i think u can only do this if its recorded delivery..

[Buenchico]

Royal Mail won't investigate any claims relating to non-delivered mail until 15 working days after it should have arrived. (If you used 1st Class post that will be around 7th January due to the holiday periods).

You'll then need this form:
ftp://ftp.royalmail.com/Downloads/public/ctf/
rm/Inland_P58_form_English_09.pdf


You should note the you'll need to send the eBay item number, plus a copy of the eBay sale page for the item as well as proof of the price you paid for the item. If you can't submit those, together with the proof of posting, Royal Mail's liability is limited to refunding the postage you paid (or 6 x 1st Class stamps, whichever is the greater)

If you can provide all of the necessary documentation, you will be entitled to a postage refund plus compensation for actual loss up to the value of the item, or 100 x 1st class stamps, whichever is the lowest.

As far as the buyer is concerned, it's your legal duty to ensure that the item reaches him. If it doesn't you must either provide a replacement (at no extra charge to the buyer) or refund everything that he's paid (including packing and postage charges).

Chris

[grasscarp]

I got caught out earlier this year. I posted a ring without proof of posting as the post office was closed and I had never ever had anything not received. The person contacted me and said it was not received and ebay took their side. I lost the money and the ring. Ebay also tried to take the seller fees from me but after a lot of arguing they refunded at least that. I will never send anything valuable again without proof of posting.

[sherrardk]

Suppose I better get up and try and find the proof of postage - could be anywhere as junk seems to mulitply in my pockets.

[AlBags]

It's likely it is stuck in post.
I have parcels turning up at the moment that were posted around same date.

[sherrardk]

Thanks all - have been scammed before and another item that I posted on the same day has arrived (going to different parts of the country though).

[hc4361]

How do you know you were scammed? Thousands of letters and parcels get lost in the post every year.
It is worth paying the extra few pence to send the item recorded delivery, then you can prove the item has been received.

[boxtops]

sherrard, I send everything from my eBay sales with a proof of posting (I always put a PayPal delivery note in side the parcel, and I clip the proof to my copy of that), and I never bin the proof of posting receipt until I either get acknowledgement or feedback from my buyer. You need the original of the proof of posting slip if you have to claim from the PO - which I have done successfully on a couple of occasions.
Incidentially a buyer mailed a postal order to me on 13 December which arrived yesterday - and if you look on the left hand side of the page on eBay at the moment, there is a message asking buyers to be tolerant of the current postal situation - late delivery is likely to be outside your control. Point this out to your buyer - ten days is not unusual while they are trying to deal with the backlog.
Anything worth more than £41 should always be sent by another method anyway, that's the most you can claim from the PO if you send it by ordinary mail.
I hope it turns up after Christmas for your buyer!

[spudqueen]

That's all well and good, but if you pay an extra 74p to send it recorded delivery then you know whether they've received it. A proof of postage only proves that you've posted it. Recorded delivery means you've got proof that it has got there, that way you're less likely to be scammed.

[hc4361]

eBay rules demand proof of receipt, not proof of posting.

[douglas9401]

I sympathise. I sent two items off on 15th December, one by 24 hour courier and the other first class post. I've had no feedback or other communicationfrom either buyer so assume neither has arrived yet.
One thing I do have bitter experience of though is the one-sided, useless resolution service offered by ebay. If you do end up with your buyer claiming that they haven't received their item or indeed claiming it to be faulty, give them their money back and save yourself a couple of weeks of frustration trying in vain to communicate with the faceless, non-responsive entity that is ebay. They'll give the refund in the end anyway, regardless of what proofs or arguments you offer.
Good luck.

[hc4361]

Douglas, if you can provide a tracking number eBay will not automatically refund.
If you can provide signature of receipt they will not refund.
You need to understand the terms and conditions.

In all fairness, if you bought an item from a company and didn't receive it, you'd expect a full refund too.

[douglas9401]

hc4631, I had a claim made by a buyer that an item I sold was faulty. It was tested before listing and again before sending and was in full working order and EXACTLY as described in the listing.
Anyhoo, I asked the buyer to return it to me and I'd issue a refund. A couple of weeks passed and no item so I contacted my buyer and asked if he could check from his end whether the P.O. could trace it. He responded with a blizzard of spiteful, ranting emails full of threats and foul language.
Long story short, I visited my local sorting office and lo and behold, there was the item with "not known at this address" and a sheet of A4 paper taped over his address, no postage paid, hence no delivery to me.
I took the item home, tested it again and found it to be in perfect working order.
No amount of comms with ebay would convince them of any problem, they never responded until issuing a full refund to the "buyer" (who had the brass neck to leave negative feedback)
My understanding of their terms and conditions is fine thanks.

[hc4361]

That is totally different to 'item not received' though.

[kendra20]

I only got a parcel this morning that was posted on the 16th its a backlog with the weather id give it another week befor doing anything

[dasherman]

As a postman I can confirm there has been and possibly still is a blacklog. I've had people on my round saying that they ordered things on the 6th Dec and still hadn't recieved them.

[ojread2]

proof of postage means nothing to Paypal and wont do you any good whatsoever for a PP claim
It means nothing to the buyer either - it is down to the seller to refund and chase RM for the item, not the buyer. It is not the buyers fault you throw things away, is it?

If your item is stuck in the postal system, then your buyer can claim for his/her purchase via PP after 7 days and because you will have no proof it was delivered they will refund them, regardless of RM 15 day policy

If you feel you have been scammed why would you send by normal post?

How much was the item? what was it?