sent special delivery, not delivered who is at fault

saving123

I sold tickets through Ebay for an event today that starts at 11am. I sent them special delivery guaranteed by 9am which cost be £11 (I only sold the item for £12 plus £5 postage - i didnt expect postage to cost so much). Anyway the person hasnt received them and when i called royal mail they said they attempted to deliver them but no answer. Who is at fault for this? Are they likely to be able to reclaim the money through paypal?

saving123

The buyer has asked me if i will refund them?

juju11_2

If they were not in to answer the door to the postman it is their fault I would think and I don't think it is fair that they expect you to refund them, unless you posted them some time after the auction ended.

Did you make it clear in advance the tickets would be sent using this service so that they had to be in to sign for them? Or did your buyer think they would just come through the letterbox?

When did Royal Mail attempt delivery - today or before today? If before today then the Buyer would have had time to take the card left by the postie to the local collection office to collect the tickets?

saving123

The tickets were on a 1 day auction that ended about lunchtime on wednesday. It specified the posting method as special delivery by 9am. I have the proof of postage for this. I sent them within 24 hours of the auction ending.

The buyer is saying they have been in all morning and that there has been no attempted deliveries or no card through the door. The tickets were for today so they will have missed it now (thats why i had to send by special delivery by 9am). If they take out a paypal dispute what is likely to happen?

thanks

pinkshoes

You need to speak to RM again, and let them know that NO card was left.

Was there a tracking number? Does it show that delivery was attempted? If they open a dispute, you'll need to give paypal this tracking number, and if it shows RM attempted to deliver, then it should be awarded in your favour.

saving123

I have a tracking number and checked it on royal mail website it says they tried to deliver but no answer and that they have left a card.

So am i best not to refund anything just now? Wish i didnt even sell the tickets. They were worth £90 but i couldnt go so thought might aswell sell them. Made £7 less paypal fees and less ebay fees. Plus now i've spent half the morning on the phone to royal mail!

saving123

Meant to say told Royal mail that buyer said no card was left and all they said was fill out a claim form. I have told the buyer i will fill out a claim form and obviously if i get anything from it then i will pass any money i receive onto the buyer.

gillz83

RM usually put the card through the next day(with the day befores date on it) as you can only collect from sorting office 24hrs after attempted delivery. so if they put it through the same dady people go and try to collect straight away but the postman has not returned with the item yet. I think this is correct.
I would say if it ended on wed you should mabey have posted on wed to be sure they def got for fri? They will prob win a paypal dispute as paypal tends to side with the buyer but you may have a case with RM.

frivolous_fay

Did they definitely go to the right address?

saving123

I was working on wednesday and couldnt get to the post office in time. If they win a paypal dispute will i have to refund the cost of the tickets and the postage? It seems really unfair when i posted them and have proof.

I have confirmed address with buyer and i definately put the correct address on it (i checked this with royal mail too).

pinkshoes

The best the buyer can do is open an item not received dispute, but you have a tracking number showing that delivery was attempted at the correct time, so hopefully this will go in your favour.

If for some reason they favour the buyer, then yes, you'll have to refund both the cost and the postage, but you should then attempt to claw this back from RM.

Have you asked buyer to check with their neighbours?