Lost in the post, now buyer wants a refund

fablad75

Sent something unrecorded to France - unfortunate and stupid, but I didn't have time to go to the post office - and now, over a month later, the buyer's contacted me to say that he never got it, and wants his money back (£30).

It's probably just stuck under a massive mountain of unsorted post, but I can't honestly blame the buyer for wanting a refund now. So I've lost the seller's fees AND the item.

SO angry with myself - and Royal Mail!

pinkshoes

At least the buyer waited a whole month before declaring it lost!

Did you not even get proof of postage?

Oh well, live and learn...

Dave101t

yeah not much to suggest here apart from always use recorded delivery. i never offer anything less.
incidently, i wouldnt post abroad its a can of worms

soolin

Dave101t wrote: »

yeah not much to suggest here apart from always use recorded delivery. i never offer anything less.
incidently, i wouldnt post abroad its a can of worms

Half my sales are overseas and overseas bidders are useful to push the prices up. In some categories the overseas bidders account for nearer 75% of bids. I also never use any form of tracking but i do limit my sales to items under £39 so a COP covers me for loss.

I think the OP is rather more cross at themselves than they are at buyer.

cyberbob

soolin wrote: »

Half my sales are overseas and overseas bidders are useful to push the prices up. In some categories the overseas bidders account for nearer 75% of bids. I also never use any form of tracking but i do limit my sales to items under £39 so a COP covers me for loss.

I think the OP is rather more cross at themselves than they are at buyer.

Exactly the same here I have very few problems as well. Recorded or international signed for not really worth the extra cost.

Astec

Apologise and refund the buyer, mention the postal strikes. Also raise a mutual cancellation to get your fees back. Be polite and explain the situation to the buyer and they should accept.

cyberbob

Astec wrote: »

Also raise a mutual cancellation to get your fees back. Be polite and explain the situation to the buyer and they should accept.

Thats a bit risky. If myself as a buyer had an item not arrive and I was refunded fair enough. If I then get a request for a mutual cancellation I think something funny going on here (did they actually send the item?). I would then be seriously considering my feedback options.

As a seller if an item is lost I would never ask for a mutual. I just take the loss

mrcol1000

cyberbob wrote: »

Thats a bit risky. If myself as a buyer had an item not arrive and I was refunded fair enough. If I then get a request for a mutual cancellation I think something funny going on here (did they actually send the item?). I would then be seriously considering my feedback options.

As a seller if an item is lost I would never ask for a mutual. I just take the loss

Everytime I have had an item lost I have asked for a mutual with no problems. Most buyers will understand its not your fault as long as you don't drag your feet and ignore their messages I see no reason why they wouldn't accept the mutal.

cyberbob

mrcol1000 wrote: »

I see no reason why they wouldn't accept the mutal.

As above. Also as long as you claim via RM (with COP) for your loss you do not lose your FVF. All asking for a mutual in that situation does is make you look like your trying to make a profit which is very suspicious

fablad75

I have no proof of delivery at all - I basically popped enough postage on it to ship to France, then dropped it into a letterbox, so I have no way to claim anything.

I'll refund him the money, and try to get my FVF from eBay - the buyer seems pretty relaxed about the whole thing, so I'm sure he'll agree to a mutual.

Hopefully if the cards do arrive eventually he'll let me know so we can sort something out.

Thanks for all the feedback, guys.