Sold item being processed at customs... eBay has refunded buyer!

humblepii

Thanks, custardy. Just double-checked, and this is the parcel's status on the Canada Post website:

2010/10/1519:20VANCOUVERInternational item arrived in Canada and will be reviewed by Customs
...So this will update when the item's delivered, right?

pinkshoes

custardy wrote: »

its down to the receiving country to provide tracking
however they can now see it has made it to Canada
I wonder if Canada customs have issued a charge card and the buyer doesnt want to pay it

Yeah, it does sound it's been stuck in customs for a while, as 2 or 3 weeks is AGES!!

OP, I'd contact customs and see what's happening.

If you get tracking showing it's arrived, then it would be worth phoning ebay to get them to reverse the refund, but if you can't prove it's arrived (or even that the buyer refused to pay customs charges or something), then it's not worth contacting ebay, as they won't be interested.

soolin

humblepii wrote: »

Thanks, custardy. Just double-checked, and this is the parcel's status on the Canada Post website:

2010/10/1519:20VANCOUVERInternational item arrived in Canada and will be reviewed by Customs
...So this will update when the item's delivered, right?

If customs have just got it then they can take ages to sort it out and even getting a few more days might not be enough. Any other country it would probably be OK, but not Canada. If you log into ebay.com you will see that a lot of US sellers refuse point blank to deal with Canada purely due to the customs issues.

humblepii

Sorry Soolin, cross-posted again!

Would the Canada Post tracking update to say that a charge card had been issued?

I guess one saving grace is that the parcel has my name and address on it!

soolin

humblepii wrote: »

Sorry Soolin, cross-posted again!

Would the Canada Post tracking update to say that a charge card had been issued?

I guess one saving grace is that the parcel has my name and address on it!

When I used to send things to Canada (I now send smaller packages to avoid charges!) it rarely updated until after items were received by my relatives. I don't ever recall seeing a note to say buyer carded.

It won't help though with an INR claim, you can only win by proving delivery.

humblepii

Pinkshoes, it says on the tracking page on Canada Post's website: "Please note that this is the most up-to-date information available in our system. Our telephone agents have access to the same information presented here."

There's a function that's allowed me to set up email notification if the item is marked "exception" (?) or "delivered".

I had no idea that Canadian customs were so difficult. I will DEFINITELY think twice about shipping there again.

So am I right in thinking that, if eBay closes this case in the buyer's favour and they get their refund, if the item is be delivered after that I couldn't do anything about it?

soolin

humblepii wrote: »

Pinkshoes, it says on the tracking page on Canada Post's website: "Please note that this is the most up-to-date information available in our system. Our telephone agents have access to the same information presented here."

There's a function that's allowed me to set up email notification if the item is marked "exception" (?) or "delivered".

I had no idea that Canadian customs were so difficult. I will DEFINITELY think twice about shipping there again.

So am I right in thinking that, if eBay closes this case in the buyer's favour and they get their refund, if the item is be delivered after that I couldn't do anything about it?

Unfortunately that is the case.

I tend to limit my overseas sales to under £41 purely so that I can avoid this tracking issue. (I just use standard airmail)

humblepii

The injustice of this is actually making me feel sick. I wonder whether the buyer realised I'm new to this and is trying it on.

Thank you all for your help. I'll keep you updated.

[Deleted User]

wow 3 weeks is indeed long normally customs only keep for like 3-5 days etc

martindow

soolin wrote: »

Custardy, would they return it airmail or would it be returned surface ?

Don't know about RM but with another carrier the small print said they would return it by the cheapest (surface) service. I was expecting to wait weeks but it actually came back by air.