Buyer saying item not received...

lilian1977

Hi

I have sold an item on Ebay for £75 - it was a piece of concert memorabilia signed by a band (don't want to say which in case the buyer reads!). On my invoice and listing I stated £3.50 for 1st class postage, £4.75 for recorded delivery. I offer first class as I know some people don't like to have to wait in for recorded. I did advise when I sent the invoice that the buyer should pay for recorded due to the value.

The buyer paid £3.50 for postage and did not send any message with the invoice. I could only assume he wanted first class postage, and sent the item first class on 20th April.

He is now saying he hasn't received the item, and that £3.50 was easily enough to cover recorded delivery - if he doesn't receive the item he will be claiming a refund.

What can/should I do here? He opted for first class and is now complaining he didn't get recorded. I have proof of postage.

Thanks guys

frivolous_fay

Oh dear. Never give the buyer the choice of postal methods. And for £75 - it should have gone SPECIAL. Recorded is useless anyway... the odds are it won't get properly tracked / signed for.

Your hands are pretty much tied. You can't prove delivery. You may be able to claim £36 back from the RM using your proof of postage.

soolin

Sorry I can only echo what fay has said. Insurance is to protect you not the buyer so if you want cover then you need to insure. For future reference check out the RM costs so you are fully aware of the options and cover they all have. Make sure you only offer the postage that gives you the cover that you need.

You might also want to read the post for new sellers:

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=1623183&highlight=tips+new+sellers

lilian1977

Thanks - I thought that might be the case. I'm not a new seller but have never had a problem with postage before, and this guy has thousands of positive feedback so I guess I was daft and didn't expect it to be an issue. I can see that my hands are tied and I'm going to have to take the fall. Never mind, at least I know for the future

Hintza

As said your stuffed but I would pull his conatct details and call him. I had one recently and thought they were at it (might have been) but after a bit of contact I came away feeling they were genuine. Made feel better if nothing else. Leave a positive feedback (after all sorted out) but note that item was lost in post. If it becomes a habit it might warn others.

Chippy_Minton_2

Looks like time to refund.:rotfl:

lilian1977

Hintza wrote: »

As said your stuffed but I would pull his conatct details and call him. I had one recently and thought they were at it (might have been) but after a bit of contact I came away feeling they were genuine. Made feel better if nothing else. Leave a positive feedback (after all sorted out) but note that item was lost in post. If it becomes a habit it might warn others.

Thanks for that, I think I'll call him Tuesday to see if it has been received.

boombap

Maybe you could tell him that you'll refund him (the full/agreed amount) once you get the £36 compo back. Try and work into the message that a 'false claim for compensation could result in criminal prosecution' as you have to declare this when completing the Royal Mail compo form (ftp://ftp.royalmail.com/Downloads/public/ctf/rm/Inland_P58_form_English.pdf)

You never know, it might show up

S

lilian1977

Thank you squee, I will do that xx

Chippy_Minton_2

squee wrote: »

Maybe you could tell him that you'll refund him (the full/agreed amount) once you get the £36 compo back.

A sure way to get a negative.

twinmom04

hi

you have to leave 15 working days before you can make a claim from r/m also as has been said anything over £39 now due to price increase should go special as this has more insurance cover upto £500 Royal mail give comp upto 100x times the price of your stamp so 1st class is 39p = £39 but you do need proof of postage.