If the tracking shows delivered, eBay & PayPal should side with you. This is a fairly common scam eBay buyers try to pull these days. Stick to your guns. Inform the buyer that the tracking shows delivered and if it was in fact stolen off her porch, she will need to file a police report. Inform her that mail theft is considered a federal offense and insist she follow up with the local authorities. In some instances, when a dishonest buyer gets the message that you are familiar with the laws regarding mail theft, their package will magically be found, and they will drop the case.
If the tracking shows delivered, eBay & PayPal should side with you. This is a fairly common scam eBay buyers try to pull these days. Stick to your guns. Inform the buyer that the tracking shows delivered and if it was in fact stolen off her porch, she will need to file a police report. Inform her that mail theft is considered a federal offense and insist she follow up with the local authorities. In some instances, when a dishonest buyer gets the message that you are familiar with the laws regarding mail theft, their package will magically be found, and they will drop the case.This is the same advice I would have given. I have been in this situation a few times in the past. I also tell buyers to check with neighbors and family members who live in the house to see if it is possible that the package was mis-delivered or a family member brought it in and set it down without informing the buyer.
On the flip side, mail theft is more common around the holidays so it is possible the buyer is being honest. Either way, this problem is between the buyer, her local post office, and the police.
Calling eBay to explain your situation may also help to move your case along quicker and release the hold on your account. Best of luck to you!! :heart:
Edit to add:
For what it's worth, I have had more problems selling Littlest Pet Shop on eBay than any other type of item. Multiple cases of "my kid bought this without my permission, please cancel the transaction", non-payers on auctions, and other hassles. Many collectors are kids or teens, rather than adults. My gut instinct is that your buyer bought something they really couldn't afford & they are trying to get you to refund it with this "missing package" story.
Call eBay & state your case. Don't let the buyer pressure you into a refund.
If it was over $250, you need signature confirmation. If not, as long as it shows delivered, you are safe. If she already opened a dispute there is not much else you can do except to provide the tracking number that shows delivered. Good luck! Packages are being stolen a lot in the winter.eBay has actually changed the signature confirmation requirement to orders of $750 or more.
If the tracking shows delivered, eBay & PayPal should side with you. This is a fairly common scam eBay buyers try to pull these days. Stick to your guns. Inform the buyer that the tracking shows delivered and if it was in fact stolen off her porch, she will need to file a police report. Inform her that mail theft is considered a federal offense and insist she follow up with the local authorities. In some instances, when a dishonest buyer gets the message that you are familiar with the laws regarding mail theft, their package will magically be found, and they will drop the case.
On the flip side, mail theft is more common around the holidays so it is possible the buyer is being honest. Either way, this problem is between the buyer, her local post office, and the police.
Insurance will cover instances where the PO loses or damages the package, but not in a case like this where it's mail theft. (The PO says they delivered it.)
The thing that strikes me about these though is that parcels shouldn't be left on steps or in porches anyway. It happens here too, and sometimes without the signature it is meant to get, but it always boggles my mind that this happens with stuff. If you leave a box on the step you're asking for some random to come take it. I think there's definitely a case to be answered with the delivery people too if this was in fact left outside and not actually delivered to the location.
In the US it's common for packages to be left by the mailbox or on the porch. Oftentimes everyone in the house is at work when the mail carrier comes by.