Another awkward eBay situation!

GrammarGirl

Aaargh, they're like buses - none for an age then they all come at once!

I have another problem with an eBayer, this time as a buyer. I bought some Benefit cosmetics a few weeks ago and paid for recorded delivery. After a week and a half of waiting, there was no sign of the package, so I emailed the seller to ask if there was a problem. He said the item had been posted a few days after the auction ended and he would chase it up with RM.

Next thing I know, the amount has been refunded to me with the note 'I will keep chasing RM'. The refund was for the whole amount, not just the postage.

Tonight I got the following message:

hi regarding the item you purchased. it was posted on the 28/4/09 and delivered on the 29/4/09
item was not lost item was refused by resident on the 29/4/09 1 day after i posted it, i have now filed for compensation from ebay and have given them proof of postage and proof of delivery to your address. charges i have filed for are postal charges also ebay fees.

The item definitely was not refused by resident. Why would it be? What's more, there's no one at home during the day, so I was just expecting a card through the door. All I can presume is it was delivered to the wrong address.

My question is - does this seller have any comeback? I don't really understand what he's 'claiming back' from eBay, as no dispute has been opened and he's already refunded my money. Unfortunately I had already left feedback (positive, as he was very polite and helpful before tonight) so he has nothing to lose by pursuing it in this way.

TurkishDelight

Have you checked your paypal account?

The only place I can think of that he might have "filed charges" is there.

I'm not sure if he can get his money back from a dispute that way, but he would need proof that it was sent and delivery was attempted if he stands a chance. In which case it would probably be between you and your post office.

Maybe ask him for the tracking number and have a look on Royal Mail's website for yourself?

GrammarGirl

TurkishDelight wrote: »

Have you checked your paypal account?

The only place I can think of that he might have "filed charges" is there.

I'm not sure if he can get his money back from a dispute that way, but he would need proof that it was sent and delivery was attempted if he stands a chance. In which case it would probably be between you and your post office.

Maybe ask him for the tracking number and have a look on Royal Mail's website for yourself?

I've asked for the tracking number so I can have a look. However, I thought with Recorded Delivery, if an item was refused or undelivered it was sent back to sender after 1 week?

Have checked my Paypal account and all is fine. Another thing is, when I first emailed to ask where the package was, I asked him to confirm the address it was sent to as I've had a weird bug with my Paypal, causing it to revert to an old address (now deleted from my account). He confirmed my correct address but gave my postcode incorrectly - there's a Z in my postcode which he wrote as an S. So I'm wondering if he wrote the postcode wrongly on the package and it went to a different address.

cyril82

recorded delivery items are returned to sender after 1 week, you are right.

Also it will show as a failed delivery on the tracking info so just keep asking for the tracking number, he will have to provide it to ebay/paypal if he want's to make a claim anyway, although i'm baffled as to how he plans to claim via paypal or ebay.

soolin

I wonder if he means an NPB dispute?

molerat

You paid, he refunded, end of. The worst you could get is a NPB filed through eBay (which he doesn't sound bright enough to do).

soolin

molerat wrote: »

You paid, he refunded, end of. The worst you could get is a NPB filed through eBay (which he doesn't sound bright enough to do).

He can't even do an NPB as the OP has the original paypal transaction number which is all they need to appeal any strike.

li'l_p

If the seller has now got the item back and you've got your money back, surely you can start from scratch again. Seller sends you an invoice, you pay and then seller sends to the 'correct' address (if you are saying there may be an issue over the z/s).

It's not ideal, being told that your package was 'refused by resident'; something I don't quite understand anyway??? (...although this would indicate that it was delivered to the wrong address) but I think that both parties are not at any loss, and just need to come to some sort of arrangements over re-despatch of the item to the correct address.

GrammarGirl

Before I received the email above I had said if it came back to him, to let me know and I'd pay again because I did want the item. Now I'm not so sure... he seems unreliable at the least!

I will wait for his response to my reply and see if he comes through with the tracking number. I think maybe he thinks I'm unaware of the processes of eBay and that maybe he can take me for a ride and scare me with all this talk of compensation... little does he know I have MSE on my side!

li'l_p

I don't see what compensation he could/would get?

If you've paid and he's refunded, that will show in your Paypal history.

Do you know if he has received the item back. If it was sent Recorded and returned to him as undelivered, then it will ultimately have gone back (or be in the process of working it's way back) to him???

I really don't see what he could claim from ebay/Paypal and I think Paypal would see it the same way too, as they would see the refund in the transaction history.

If he hasn't had the item back, I would expect he can only make a claim against Royal Mail for loss of the item.

I would think your best bet would be to walk away now... you've had enough bother and at least you're not out of pocket.