Ebay item not arrived

[Louise07]

I sold a mobile phone on Ebay for �22, I posted it over a week ago on 3rd May standard 1st class post as agreed with buyer but apparantly it hasn't arrived. I obtained proof of postage and have asked the buyer to give it a few more days to see if it turns up. He said he will give until Saturday but then he wants a refund. Obviously I dont want to give a refund as I have definately posted it and how do I know he hasn't received it anyway? Can any one tell me how I stand on this?

[Ethel]

Royal Mail do not consider items lost until 15 working days.

Having said that, if your buyer paid by PayPal he can do a chargeback after 7 days. If you cannot prove proof of RECEIPT, not posting, he will get his money back.

A proof of receipt is that the parcel has been signed for on delivery - trackable means.

Having said all that it is YOUR responsibility to ensure the buyer gets the goods. You should refund.

Hopefully you will have obtained a free certificate of posting from the post office when you posted the phone. This will entitle you to compensation from the post office.

Tell your buyer to check that the phone is not at his local sorting office, and ask him to wait until Monday. If he hasn't received it then, refund all monies paid.

[joko]

was it to be signed for?

if you have proof of postage and he didn't pay for insurance then he must realise this is not your fault and must wait until the post office launch an enquiry to recover the item, or arrange compensation.

however, when you post an item, it is considered your responsibility until the person receives it as it is you who have begun a sort of deal with the po, that they deliver your parcel, so it is you that they will deal with about it - they will not speak him. find out his local po and call them - they may have it or have delivered it to the wrong address

always insist on recoreded - its only about 70p and ensures a signature is taken, so there can be no denials

[Ethel]

You don't need recorded delivery for items under �32 as the free certificate of posting covers up to that amount.

There is no such thing as 'insurance' with Royal Mail.

Signed for recorded offers no more compensation than 2nd class - it just means it has be signed for.

It is for the sellers benefit not the buyers, as you will have to refund if ithe buyer claims it doesn't arrive.

[joko]

er... yeah...thats what i said....

[camioneur]

Signed for enables the Post Office to trace the parcel. Proof of post does not. I've just had this and because I didn't get recorded delivery the PO gave me some money back but said they were unable to trace the parcel as it was not recorded delivery. So if the recipient did get it after all but says that he didn't you aint got a leg to stand on! Always get recorded for ebay or you'll have someone rip you off just like I was

[spaced]

knowing what the post office is like, who in their right mind would send a mobile phone in the post via first class???? Send it special or even recorded, that way you have more of a guarantee and a receipt to show signing by the 3rd party. Silly, Louise, very silly.

[Catso]

Signed For (aka Recorded Delivery) doesn't enable the package to be tracked. Only Special Delivery will do this. Signed For merely provides a proof of delivery.

I have specifically asked Ebay/Paypal about this in the past; they will not accept a proof of posting as as proof of delivery (not unreasonably, I think), Signed For and Special Delivery they will. Without a proof of delivery, Paypal/Ebay will side with the buyer and will expect you to refund them.

Any claim against the Post Office is between the seller and the PO, nothing to do with the buyer. The seller has to refund the buyer, then sort out the loss with the PO.

Louise, you really should use a signed for delivery service, or you're leaving yourself open to claims, possibly malicous, from buyers. It isn't insurance as such, as Ethel says, as you get that anyway(up to �28), but it protects you from malicous claims by buyers. I always use Signed For when sending off Ebay stuff.

[curiosity]

Would it have fit through his letter box? If not has he been to the depot to see if it's been taken back there, and no card has been posted to let him know (happened to me) or has a neighbour taken it in and it's sitting in their hall for 3 days (also happened to me).