Item "lost" in post, no contact with buyer, refunded by RM, should I refund buyer?

philgee

Hi,

I sold a computer game on ebay in early September. Buyer paid within a few hours and I posted next day by recorded mail.

Delivery was attempted, but no-one to sign for so a card was left. I kept checking on Royal Mail website to see whether buyer had collected but the status remained unchanged, so I emailed buyer to try and prompt them to collect from PO, but no response.

I sent further emails, again with no response, so I sent another one saying I was going to submit a claim from the PO (I had previously rung their customer services (extremely helpful, I might add) and then receiving a letter saying they could not trace the item).

I have now received a cheque from RM, but not sure whether I should refund the buyer yet, as I have heard nothing from them, not even an email to say they haven't received the item.

I was wondering whether the reason I hadn't heard from them and Royal Mail couldn't trace it was that their postie might have just put it through the door (we have had supposedly recorded delivery items put through the letter box with the normal post before).

Obviously if I hear from the buyer, I will refund immediately, but not sure if I should do this now or wait.

As it stands, I have had my money twice, but if I refund and the buyer actually has the game then they have it for free .

Any thoughts would be appreciated.

Thanks

frivolous_fay

I don't think I'd have put the claim in unless the buyer was actually saying it hadn't arrived.

Possibly you could look upon the payment as compensation for RM not getting a signature?

soolin

Huge amounts of recorded post are never shown as delivered so the buyer has probably got the game and is wondering what the fuss is all about.

I don't think I would have gone to a claim for compensation though without knowing item was lost.

custardy

if it shows as undelivered then the item was returned to the delivery office
its a strange one as if it was collected then a sig should have been obtained plus it should have been scanned with the RMGTT

bluebell_lily

Another quick question for soolin or custardy. I have a similar problem.

1) I sent an item in September recorded. I contacted the buyer a few weeks later to ask whether they have received the item as the online system does not show a signature. It is nearly two months now, do I assume the buyer has the item? The item was a large parcel so doubt it was not signed for? If they hadn't collected the item, it would have been sent back to me?

2) I sent another item. Buyer left feedback after receiving item, but according to online system, it shows the item was delivered one or two working days after they left the feedback?

In both cases, how can I prove that buyer(s) has the item(s). By 2) it does sound a bit strange in terms of the buyer leaving feedback before receiving the item, unless the records were scanned a few days later and the later date reflected that?

custardy

the item showing delivered after the buyer has left FB will just be a dating error on the RMGTT gun

philgee

Thanks for replies.

I should explain though that the item was showing as waiting at their delivery office for over a fortnight, so I contacted RM to try and get it returned to me.

They couldn't find it, so wrote to me enclosing a claim form and the covering letter said I should claim for the item.

bluebell_lily

Sorry custardy, I still seem to be stuck on 1) as surely, the buyer would have received the item by now?. And it has not been sent back to me. No replies from buyer after sending emails asking about receipt etc. I also understand that feedback is non compulsory. But if a claim did occur, how would I be able to prove that this buyer has received the item?

custardy

you would claim from RM given it doesnt show delivered

soolin

I started a thread last week to say that of all the Recorded items I sent in october absolutely none showed as delivered, although I should say that 2 have now finally been updated even though the items arrived several weeks back.

If a recorded item does not show as delivered you will lose a paypal claim, it is as simple as that. That's why it is very rarely cost effective to bother with recorded for ebay.

ArmitageShanks

I wouldn't refund the buyer if they haven't contacted. I would suspect it has been delivered. Toss up between returning it to the RM or keep it