Recorded Delivery - what's the Point? (Advice Needed)

supersaver09

I sold something on Ebay a few weeks back and a few days after i posted it (via 1st class Recorded) the buyer said he hadn't received the item.
I tried to track the item on the R.Mail website, but it just said "the item is progressing through our network" etc.

There's no way of proving whether the buyer is telling the truth or not (but as he was adamant that he didn't want the item to be sent Special delivery - i obviously have my suspicions). Plus the item was small enough to just be pushed through the Letterbox without a signature. (Which happens with me a lot recently).

Well, i refunded the buyer anyway and informed him i was going to claim for the loss from Royal Mail.
A week & a half later, i received a letter from R.Mail today basically saying that the item HAD been delivered & to check proof of delivery on the website.
When i put the tracking number into their system, it's still saying the item is progressing through their network.....no signature present or anything!(?)
On the letter it also says that to obtain a copy of the ["supposed"] signature, you have to send them £2.20! :rotfl:

I'm certainly not going to send them £2.20 - only for them to send me a made-up signature, but i'm now £15 out of pocket.
So, what happens now?

Has this happened to anyone else?/Any advice will be appreciated?

theonlywayisup

This is the worst case scenario. You send via recorded, it doesn't track but RM don't pay as their more detailed system says it does.

Paypal will only be interested in the tracking showing online. RM will be interested in anything they can get to show it is delivered.

If the item is under £41 in value, there is little point using recorded as you have found, you can lose out both ways.

I would still press RM for something, as the tracking should show online, you will probably get a book of stamps in recompense.

supersaver09

theonlywayisup wrote: »

This is the worst case scenario. You send via recorded, it doesn't track but RM don't pay as their more detailed system says it does.

But how can their "more detailed system" show a signature, when i know the buyer hasn't signed for it?!

This smacks to me as a bit of a scam, as i imagine R.mail could send you a copy of any old signature.
Or are they're relying on the fact that most people would not send them the £2.20 anyway! :mad:

melliott1963

Sorry you had to find out the hard way how useless recorded delivery is. I would, however, like to pick you up on one thing. You said that the buyer didn't want to have it sent special delivery. From that I'm assuming you wanted him to pay extra for special delivery? Please remember in the future that most buyers won't care how an item is sent and, given the choice probably wouldn't pay extra for a better service.

At the end of the day, you've got to protect yourself and, if it means spending extra on Special Delivery and taking the hit yourself, then it must be worth it. However, as your item was only £15, then proof of posting would have been sufficient - the compensation is exactly the same as recorded delivery, and you'll have saved yourself the extra 78p or whatever it is now to send things recorded. AND, RM wouldn't be able to prove delivery like they're claiming with the recorded item.

theonlywayisup

supersaver09 wrote: »

But how can their "more detailed system" show a signature, when i know the buyer hasn't signed for it?!

This smacks to me as a bit of a scam, as i imagine R.mail could send you a copy of any old signature.
Or are they're relying on the fact that most people would not send them the £2.20 anyway! :mad:

custardy is the font of knowledge on RM. However, I do know that when I used normal post before my RMT on business account, if something didn't update online I could email my RM business manager and she would be able to give me the delivery details, including who had signed for at what time etc. I believe their system is more detailed than the main part we all see online.

macfly

How do you "know" he hasn't signed for it? Who is more likely to be scamming you for a few quid - a massive publicly owned business or your punter?

supersaver09

macfly wrote: »

How do you "know" he hasn't signed for it? Who is more likely to be scamming you for a few quid - a massive publicly owned business or your punter?

The reason i don't think he signed for it, is because i informed him i was going to make a claim from Royal Mail & he was fine with this.
Knowing that Royal Mail has your signature for something that you claimed you hadn't received, would be very stupid!

soolin

theonlywayisup wrote: »

custardy is the font of knowledge on RM. However, I do know that when I used normal post before my RMT on business account, if something didn't update online I could email my RM business manager and she would be able to give me the delivery details, including who had signed for at what time etc. I believe their system is more detailed than the main part we all see online.

Unfortunately of course paypal would still not be intersted.

Can I just add my comments to the recorded issue. Virtually nothing of the stuff I send recorded ever shows as tracked. Also nothing I ever receive here is signed for, I had another one this morning , a £5 item with free postage arrived 1st class recorded..why?

For ebay/paypal purposes it is actually better not to use recorded unless item is not covered by standard mail and needs special delivery.

supersaver09

soolin wrote: »

For ebay/paypal purposes it is actually better not to use recorded unless item is not covered by standard mail and needs special delivery.

Yep, after this little episode i'll be sending less expensive items via 1st class & more expensive ones via Special delivery.
I won't be using Recorded delivery again TBH.......unless maybe for a letter or something that needs a signature. Certainly nothing sold on Ebay that's worth anything!

theonlywayisup

soolin wrote: »

Unfortunately of course paypal would still not be intersted.

Yes I know this, just highlighting how RM will say no to a claim but PP will refund buyer. Lose lose situation.

theonlywayisup

supersaver09 wrote: »

Yep, after this little episode i'll be sending less expensive items via 1st class & more expensive ones via Special delivery.
I won't be using Recorded delivery again TBH.......unless maybe for a letter or something that needs a signature. Certainly nothing sold on Ebay that's worth anything!

If something NEEDS a signature (Ebay or not) don't EVER use recorded. Special is the only one to guarantee this with RM.