ebay buyer from UK opened a case without contacting me at all after a month

[HoustonCollector72]

I thought the First Class international tracking number was a bit of a myth? Ive read countless stories of these parcels going 'missing' at the shores of the US and never making it over the atlantic.

Whilst it might provide tracking within the US I'm not conveinced its being treated as tracking that gets scanned at every stage of transit, unlike proper tracked services. A proper tracked service would get scanned on its arrival in the UK.

Whilst its last known location might be Chicago its very possible the parcel did make it to the UK but if no-one scans the barcode then you wouldn't know?

Proof of shipping might get the buyer to back off for another week or two and hope it arrrives but if a case is opened and ebay require proof of delivery I'm afraid you might stand lose out on this one, sorry

Jem

I'm thinking of sending a second package with Priority International
I do no think they get scaned either so it would be a waste of money to attempt a second time and paying twice the postage on this other service
kinda unsure what to do
refunding the money looks easier more and more
from now on  I will not send packages to UK under First Class Mail , if the buyer wants to pay the Priority maill, at least it has some partial insurance of the package value

[Galactica]

Did you respond to the ebay case with the tracking number ?  Explain everything, provide your proof of shipping, and the tracking number, the more you have the better.

If the tracking just says "electronic info received" - that is when you are out of luck.  If you can show that the package was mailed and ACCEPTED by the post office- than ebay buyer/seller protection should cover it.

The buyer will still get their money back- but it will be from ebay not from your pocket.

[HoustonCollector72]

Did you respond to the ebay case with the tracking number ?  Explain everything, provide your proof of shipping, and the tracking number, the more you have the better.

If the tracking just says "electronic info received" - that is when you are out of luck.  If you can show that the package was mailed and ACCEPTED by the post office- than ebay buyer/seller protection should cover it.

The buyer will still get their money back- but it will be from ebay not from your pocket.

  Ahhh I see,  well the package  shows  in "Transit"   ,it left the USA on october 5th and that is all it will show
I know sometimes the customs form get scanned up until delivered
but this one is not showing more,buyer   has not escalated to ebay customer service yet,  and ebay notes on the case , tell me to "work it out " 

[Galactica]

I THINK you will be okay.
Just make sure you have uploaded to the dispute- the shipping and tracking information.

I would tell the buyer that you shipped the item to the address he or she provided, and that the system shows it is in transit, and that there isn't much more you can do at this time.  They can either be patient and wait- or escalate and get a refund from ebay.

If they escalate it, Ebay will review the evidence, and if they conclude that you have provided enough proof of shipping- they will likely issue the buyer a refund.   That doesn't mean that you "lose" though.  It won't come out of your paypal account unless they conclude that you did something wrong or did not provide adequate proof of shipping.  If the buyer posts negative feedback you can dispute it based on your proof of shipping and ebay will remove it.

[HoustonCollector72]

I THINK you will be okay.
Just make sure you have uploaded to the dispute- the shipping and tracking information.

I would tell the buyer that you shipped the item to the address he or she provided, and that the system shows it is in transit, and that there isn't much more you can do at this time.  They can either be patient and wait- or escalate and get a refund from ebay.

If they escalate it, Ebay will review the evidence, and if they conclude that you have provided enough proof of shipping- they will likely issue the buyer a refund.   That doesn't mean that you "lose" though.  It won't come out of your paypal account unless they conclude that you did something wrong or did not provide adequate proof of shipping.  If the buyer posts negative feedback you can dispute it based on your proof of shipping and ebay will remove it.

  Thanks  for the infor

I was in the impression that  the tracking had to show "delivered "   to be on the safe side.

[Galactica]

No- I mean things do go missing from time to time.

They just need proof that you actually did take it to the post office and that it was accepted for shipping-  it will come out of your pocket if the post office guy forgot to scan the label (this happens all the time) - when that happens it says "electronic information received- package expected" or something similar.

Yours definitely sounds like it was scanned in- so unless you got the address wrong, I think you are perfectly safe.   SO don't freak out when or if they escalate. 

[ponylady]

Unfortunately, if it was sent First Class it does not always show delivered. The package has to show it was delivered for you to win the case. There is no other way around it. Ebay will not accept that it shows it was accepted at your PO and in transit.   

And yes, eBay will refund them out of your account.  I just lost a case to a buyer in Russia who claimed she did not receive a MH doll. She waited then escalated and Ebay refunded her 24 hours later out of my account. 

[HoustonCollector72]

Unfortunately, if it was sent First Class it does not always show delivered. The package has to show it was delivered for you to win the case. There is no other way around it. Ebay will not accept that it shows it was accepted at your PO and in transit.   

And yes, eBay will refund them out of your account.  I just lost a case to a buyer in Russia who claimed she did not receive a MH doll. She waited then escalated and Ebay refunded her 24 hours later out of my account. 

  they already have my funds  on hold  since the buyer  open the case 
oh well I guess is Priority mail international for anything I sell 
i will sell less, but it will be a for sure sale ,not like this 

[Galactica]

Unfortunately, if it was sent First Class it does not always show delivered. The package has to show it was delivered for you to win the case. There is no other way around it. Ebay will not accept that it shows it was accepted at your PO and in transit.   

And yes, eBay will refund them out of your account.  I just lost a case to a buyer in Russia who claimed she did not receive a MH doll. She waited then escalated and Ebay refunded her 24 hours later out of my account. 

Oh dude that sinks!  That did not used to be the case- I guess they have changed the rules- that is super unfair!

Post Merge: November 18, 2013, 09:22:25 AM

Okay I just checked the rules- and Ponylady, you are absolutely right.  It used to be that you were protected if you provided valid tracking information.  Now - you need tracking information and proof that the item is "delivered"  - what happened to the seller protection policy? That is seriously unfair. 

NOW the rules say:

If a buyer claims an item hasn't been received
You're protected from losing a case if you ship an item within your stated handling time and provide tracking information before you or the buyer asks eBay to review the case.
Tracking information needs to include:
A delivery status of "delivered"
The date of delivery
The recipient's address
Signature confirmation, if an item has a total cost of $750 or more


I can't believe it! So you basically HAVE to ship with insurance to be protected now- that really stinks!

[NoDivision]

It's been like that for quite a long time, actually. Several years, I think? I know we've been discussing cases here on the arena for ages with the information that the item has to be shown as delivered or it doesn't count.

[Galactica]

Yikes-  guess I've been out of it for too long.  Sorry for giving you misinformation HoustonCollector-  I am shocked and dismayed,

I guess your best bet is to just ask the buyer to please give it some more time to appear.

[slj84]

I been having a issue with a buyer in another country as well.  They opened a item not received case and never contacted me either.  I responded to the case several times and they never responded to that.  Then I emailed them through contact buyer on ebay, no response on that or to the private email I sent via just regular mail.  Today they escalated the case but yet I also noticed they are no longer a registered user! The tracking number stopped working in Chicago as well then nothing after that.

After a hour on the phone with a ebay representative explaining to them that I cannot do anything on my end as A.) the buyer is not responding and B.) The item is no longer on US soil C.) There is a good chance that the item is in customs and the buyer is not going to get it.

They said that they would mark for the case to be ruled in my favor but I'm not holding my breath until I receive the email confirming this.

[HoustonCollector72]

I been having a issue with a buyer in another country as well.  They opened a item not received case and never contacted me either.  I responded to the case several times and they never responded to that.  Then I emailed them through contact buyer on ebay, no response on that or to the private email I sent via just regular mail.  Today they escalated the case but yet I also noticed they are no longer a registered user! The tracking number stopped working in Chicago as well then nothing after that.

After a hour on the phone with a ebay representative explaining to them that I cannot do anything on my end as A.) the buyer is not responding and B.) The item is no longer on US soil C.) There is a good chance that the item is in customs and the buyer is not going to get it.

They said that they would mark for the case to be ruled in my favor but I'm not holding my breath until I receive the email confirming this.

  Wow , Hope it rules in your favor

let me know the outcome .

[slj84]

Okay just did something, because I don't trust eBay to follow through 100% I looked up the Estonia mail website and plugged in the tracking code.  Sure enough it brought something up. The item made it to Estonia now problem is I can't read it to determine if it's in customs or if it was delivered.  So I would try pulling up the post office of where it was going and plug in your tracking number there.

[HoustonCollector72]

i did also plug the number on the Royal Mail site  but nothing   

I lost the case ,all they kept telling me is to cover myself and sign up for their Global Shipping program


I should have refunded the money myself,at least their fees would have been returned , once escalated they keep them

hope the buyer do the right thing and refund me once they receive it .

some hope left at least .