71 days later - buyer claims item unreceived

porto_bello

Hi. Very occasionally, sold eBay items go missing or are damaged in the post, but for me, it's been a rare event.

In late June, I sold a low value item (under £4 including p&p) to a Romanian buyer, who within days, somewhat rapidly informed me that it had gone missing in transit. I suggested that they allow 10-14 days and if it still had not turned up, to get in touch.

I heard no more, so 4 weeks after the purchase, I enquired if the pakage arrived. No response was ever received, so I assumed all was well.

Over 70 days after the sale date, I have received another message, stating that the item never turned up, that the matter is therefore unresolved and that the buyer hopes I will resolve the situation along the lines of "without forcing me to resort to leaving feedback". (I'm sure regular eBayer sellers get the drift).

So far as I'm aware, paypal refunds to buyers cannot be made after over 70 days, and similarly, after this length of time, item not received eBay claims presumably have lapsed? But I believe there is still just time to submit a claim to Royal Mail for a lost item?

Perhaps this situation has happened to other sellers? (I get the impression this is not the first time for the buyer). I would value your thoughts on how I should resolve this and how resolution might be possible after sucha long period.

I believe I can send a payment via paypal after the refund period for an item has lapsed and therefore technically, outside of eBay, but assume this will incur a fee. I get the impression that a negative feedback might be happening anyway, so I don't think it is worth going to any great trouble to avoid it, but I would value any advice.

Many thanks.

steviebabes

Too late for feedback, 60 days now.

sam.4000

Buyers have 45 days to open a dispute and 60 day to leave feedback. The buyer should have notified you sooner if their was a problem. I would block them and forget about it.

porto_bello

Thank you for your much appreciated advice.

soolin

You can't even refund properly as you are beyond the period that paypal enable to merely refund the original payment. That leaves you very vulnerable to a scam and leaves you out of pocket with regards fees.

I think I am very easy going but personally I would not be happy to refund after more than 2 months.