empty envelope arrived - ebay item missing

krazykidskate

I sold an item on ebay and posted it first class large letter without a proof of postage as the PO was busy and I'd have felt bad holding up the queue because I was posting quite a few. Anyhow the buyer recieved the package but it was empty :mad: so i will have to refund.
Do I stand any chance of being compensated by Royal Mail or is this unlikely?

TIA

jumbojuice

is there proof that this arrived empty? usually royal mail bag it up if its damaged and it has contact details on that bag to contact?

cyberbob

As JJ said if the envelope was damaged the PO normally put it in a plastic bag. Have you seen proof that the letter was empty? Was it a high priced item? If it was there is a chance that the buyer is trying it on. You should tell your buyer that because it was empty there is the chance that it was stolen. So they should take the envelope to the police station and report it. Once you have the crime number it can then be reported to Royal Mail. Also ask to see a photo of the envelope.

In some ways you are calling the buyers bluff. If they are trying to scam you it will either scare them and stop them asking for a refund or they will just carry on. If they are honest they will get it reported and you may be able to fight Royal mail for something, but because it wasn't tracked or you didn't get POP this may be difficult.

I'm not totally convinced its a scam as it would be easier for them to just claim it hadn't arrived. No matter what I would be very friendly and apologetic in your communications with them. That way you may be able to reduce any feedback damage.

mrcol1000

krazykidskate wrote: »

I sold an item on ebay and posted it first class large letter without a proof of postage as the PO was busy and I'd have felt bad holding up the queue because I was posting quite a few. Anyhow the buyer recieved the package but it was empty :mad: so i will have to refund.
Do I stand any chance of being compensated by Royal Mail or is this unlikely?

TIA

It amazes me that people get a trolley load of shopping at Tesco and don't feel bad about holding up the queue or only get a few items so they don't take up the cashiers time too much. Yet in a post office who is providing a product your buying there seems to be this feeling that your not allowed to give them too much business and that you spending money in the post office keeping it open is some kind of inconvenience?!

Hintza

Fill in the POP card and get it stamped? (If you can still do that)

spalding

What item is it I had this happen before, on a small item, there was a very neat slit in the fold of the envelope, so thus didn't turn up bagged for damage, ended up after a big investigation at the sorting office, loads had been turning up like this that it was one of the staff shocking!

fizzle2006

Yeah, I've also received an envelope in this way. It was a belly button bar i'd ordered off ebay that was missing, but I didn't bother to report as it only cost 99p lol. But seller was lovely enough to send me another and I sent her pics of the envelope as I had received it

So if the item can easily be replaced and was cheap I would suggest sending another, otherwise advise the buyer to take the matter up with the sorting office

mrcol1000

I use to sell little enamel badges the size of a pound coin and put then in envelopes. Often these would be slit open and missing. I now have to disguse what they are to stop sticky fingers in the sorting office stealing them. With the amount of mail Royal Mail handle if its been carefully slit open its bound to be missed as a damaged item.

hairy_g

spalding wrote: »

What item is it I had this happen before, on a small item, there was a very neat slit in the fold of the envelope, so thus didn't turn up bagged for damage, ended up after a big investigation at the sorting office, loads had been turning up like this that it was one of the staff shocking!

Sorry, it's not shocking to me, nor to quite a few others on this site I think. we sent an item worth £10 to my stepson almost two weeks ago, It's still not been delivered.
My wife chose to send it with the address hand written, and I think this makes a difference, especially as it was going to student accomodation. I always use printed labels whenever sending anything valuable or importent.

Morty_007

hairy_g wrote: »

My wife chose to send it with the address hand written, and I think this makes a difference, especially as it was going to student accomodation. I always use printed labels whenever sending anything valuable or importent.

why? does it make a difference?
Mx

cyberbob

hairy_g wrote: »

, especially as it was going to student accomodation.

Its probably floating around campus somewhere