We’d like to remind Forumites to please avoid political debate on the Forum.

This is to keep it a safe and useful space for MoneySaving discussions. Threads that are – or become – political in nature may be removed in line with the Forum’s rules. Thank you for your understanding.

📨 Have you signed up to the Forum's new Email Digest yet? Get a selection of trending threads sent straight to your inbox daily, weekly or monthly!

item lost in post..

bigbrummygirl
bigbrummygirl Posts: 130 Forumite
in Ebay, auctions, car boot sales, post & parcels
hi
i wondered if anyone had had to deal with a problem of an item they sent getting lost when the buyer did not opt for recorded delivery or such like..
i sold an item of low value and the buyer says it has not turned up so i put a claim in with royal mail .. who refunded me the price the item sold for plus postage.. which is fine but if i give that back to the buyer i am left with nothing.. no item and no money for selling it...
even though it was a low value item it doesn't seem fair that i have to pay listing fees and am left out of pocket...
is this right or can i do anything else ?? any help would be apprieciated..thanks

beverley
reach for the moon because even if you miss you will still be a star!
«1

Comments

  • pinkgem
    pinkgem Posts: 3,299 Forumite
    you still have the money for the item!

    you have now been paid twice for the item - once from the buyer and once from royal mail. so when you have made a refund to the buyer so are still left with one payment :)
  • pinkgem
    pinkgem Posts: 3,299 Forumite
    you can also claim final value fees back from ebay after you refund - start an unpaid item dispute and state that you refunded the buyer
  • custardy
    custardy Posts: 38,365 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    plus its not in the buyers interest to 'opt' for recorded delivery
    they know if/when they recieve an item
  • smartie1976
    smartie1976 Posts: 1,984 Forumite
    bigbrummygirl wrote: »
    ....the buyer did not opt for recorded delivery or such like..
    ...even though it was a low value item it doesn't seem fair that i have to pay listing fees and am left out of pocket...
    is this right or can i do anything else ??

    How many times do we see this?

    Recorded delivery protects the SELLER ONLY.
    Do not give the buyers the option to opt out - this only invites the possibilty of fraud.

    You need to refund the buyer and then claim through Royal Mail with your proof of postage receipt.
    It's BOUGHT (to Buy), not BROUGHT (to bring) AND you cannot be frauded, only DEfrauded.

    Please do not buy animals from a pet store. Visit your local sanctuary or centre and give a good home to an unloved or abandoned animal.
  • martindow
    martindow Posts: 10,624 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper
    smartie1976 wrote: »
    How many times do we see this?

    Recorded delivery protects the SELLER ONLY.
    Do not give the buyers the option to opt out - this only invites the possibilty of fraud.

    You need to refund the buyer and then claim through Royal Mail with your proof of postage receipt.

    Recorded offers no more cover with the PO than a free certificate of posting for lower value items. Special Delivery is needed for items over 34 pounds (or is it 36 now?).
  • Premier_2
    Premier_2 Posts: 15,141 Forumite
    10,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    Special Delivery can be quite expensive.

    If you need higher cover than £34, consider sending the item Standard Parcels with enhanced compensation

    In addition to the Standard Parcels normal rates which only include compensation upto £34 (or should that be £36 now prices have recently increased :confused: ), three levels of increased compensation can be added

    £100 - £1.00
    £250 - £2.25
    £500 - £3.50
    "Now to trolling as a concept. .... Personally, I've always found it a little sad that people choose to spend such a large proportion of their lives in this way but they do, and we have to deal with it." - MSE Forum Manager 6th July 2010
  • meester
    meester Posts: 1,879 Forumite
    martindow wrote: »
    Recorded offers no more cover with the PO than a free certificate of posting for lower value items. Special Delivery is needed for items over 34 pounds (or is it 36 now?).

    Nonsense. Recorded Delivery protects you against sending the item and the buyer claiming not to have received it. Fact is, proof of posting is worth nothing. You have a responsibility to deliver it. Even if you offered the buyer insurance and they turned it down, paypal will still refund them the money if you cannot prove delivery but can prove posting. The ONLY thing that is worth something is proof of delivery.

    While it's true that special delivery will cover for higher insurance, it's very expensive on an item costing say £50. It's worth accepting the risk of loss (which is very small) and the fact you will only get £32, rather than pay an extra £4 for delivery. This is self insurance. OTOH, you can force the buyer to pay special delivery, but this will make your prices more expensive, and they would be inclined to buy from your competitor who only sends by Recorded Delivery (cheaper).

    Recorded Delivery insures against complete loss through buyer fraud, the most annoying kind, and provides minimal compensation for most items.

    Proof of posting proves NOTHING.
  • frivolous_fay
    frivolous_fay Posts: 13,302 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Combo Breaker Mortgage-free Glee!
    meester wrote: »
    Nonsense. Recorded Delivery protects you against sending the item and the buyer claiming not to have received it. Fact is, proof of posting is worth nothing. You have a responsibility to deliver it. Even if you offered the buyer insurance and they turned it down, paypal will still refund them the money if you cannot prove delivery but can prove posting. The ONLY thing that is worth something is proof of delivery.

    You're half wrong, and half right.

    Yes, it's the sellers responsibility to deliver.
    No, you won't be able to prove delivery if you don't send tracked.

    but

    If you get a CoP, you can claim for loss against RM... so you might not care if you lose the paypal dispute - you won't be out of pocket.

    and

    Recorded isn't always signed for - and that will not help you in the event of a claim. 70p wasted, dispute lost.

    I suppose it's all about whether you assume that most people are basically decent.. or that they're all scammers out to rip you off.
    My TV is broken! :cry:
    Edit: refunded £515 for TV 1.5 years out of warranty - thank you Sale of Goods Act! :j
  • soolin
    soolin Posts: 74,419 Ambassador
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Photogenic Name Dropper
    I never use recorded, waste of money IMHO and if I send 100 parcels a month then save £70 a month by not using it.

    As recorded seems less and less likely to be signed for any more it doesn't even cover against a paypal chargeback..so might as well send with a COP and just refund the buyer and reclaim your own losses.
    I’m a Forum Ambassador and I support the Forum Team on the eBay, Auctions, Car Boot & Jumble Sales, Boost Your Income, Praise, Vents & Warnings, Overseas Holidays & Travel Planning , UK Holidays, Days Out & Entertainments boards. If you need any help on these boards, do let me know.. Please note that Ambassadors are not moderators. Any posts you spot in breach of the Forum Rules should be reported via the report button, or by emailing forumteam@moneysavingexpert.com.All views are my own and not the official line of MoneySavingExpert.
  • Premier_2
    Premier_2 Posts: 15,141 Forumite
    10,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    frivolous_fay wrote:
    ... Recorded isn't always signed for...
    soolin wrote:
    ...As recorded seems less and less likely to be signed for any more...

    I claim against RM for all items sent recorded where a signature on delivery was failed to be obtained. ;)

    Eight successful claims to date ranging from the minimum 12 first class stamps to the maximum £34.00 (which was the maximum at the time) in the last 24 months.

    I must admit I did have a bit of hassle over a couple of them early on where they said the intended recipient did not respond to their enquiry and so they assumed the item was delivered. I soon put them straight on that one! I politely informed them that without the signature on delivery and without alternative proof of delivery, that I assumed the item was not delivered - RM paid out.
    I've not been hindered by that nonsense recently - perhaps they know me by now :rotfl:

    I've only had one absolute refusal to compensation during the same period. In that instance, RM obtained an acknowledgement from the recipient that the item was actually delivered - which I guess is equivalent to a signature on delivery so I didn't pursue that one any further.
    "Now to trolling as a concept. .... Personally, I've always found it a little sad that people choose to spend such a large proportion of their lives in this way but they do, and we have to deal with it." - MSE Forum Manager 6th July 2010
This discussion has been closed.
★ ★ ★ Meet your Ambassadors

🚀 Getting Started

Hi new member!

Our Getting Started Guide will help you get the most out of the Forum

Categories

  • All Categories
  • 352.1K Banking & Borrowing
  • 253.5K Reduce Debt & Boost Income
  • 454.2K Spending & Discounts
  • 245.1K Work, Benefits & Business
  • 600.7K Mortgages, Homes & Bills
  • 177.4K Life & Family
  • 258.9K Travel & Transport
  • 1.5M Hobbies & Leisure
  • 16.2K Discuss & Feedback
  • 37.6K Read-Only Boards

Is this how you want to be seen?

We see you are using a default avatar. It takes only a few seconds to pick a picture.
Update Your Picture