Do you ever ask buyers to check with their Royal Mail delivery office?

Strapped

and if so, what do they say? If an item hasn't made it, I usually (a) check I sent it to the correct address and (b) ask the buyer politely if they wouldn't mind checking with their local delivery office in case RM have tried to deliver while they were out and it's been taken back to the depot (and explain that they are supposed to leave a card if this happens but sometimes individual postmen can forget to). I don't think this is unreasonable.

I just got this reply from a buyer:

"I still havent received the item , you sent it to the address! I would like a refund, you can claim back through royal mail, but me being the buyer it is not my place to chase missing items, that is your job as you sent the item, thanks"

Just me, or does this sound like someone well-versed in INR?

Indispensable_Hobbes

May the delay be due to the Bank Holidays?

I don't think it's unreasonable to ask them to check with their local office.

Strapped

This was posted on the 18th so should be there by now (and I suspect probably is!)

mulled_wine

I have done so - I also checked with the Delivery Office myself and discovered the parcel WAS there still, notified the buyer but buyer negged me "made me go to post office to collect" :mad:

am having so much !!!!!! with ebay buyers/timewasters that I am seriously considering closing my accounts!

Strapped

mulled_wine wrote: »

I have done so - I also checked with the Delivery Office myself and discovered the parcel WAS there still, notified the buyer but buyer negged me "made me go to post office to collect" :mad:

am having so much !!!!!! with ebay buyers/timewasters that I am seriously considering closing my accounts!

LOL, sorry to laugh, but you have to laugh or cry sometimes. I've just refunded this buyer, as you can tell which way this is going to go. If the parcel IS at their delivery office (and I'll be checking tomorrow) then I wonder whether they will return to sender?

mulled_wine

Strapped wrote: »

LOL, sorry to laugh, but you have to laugh or cry sometimes. I've just refunded this buyer, as you can tell which way this is going to go. If the parcel IS at their delivery office (and I'll be checking tomorrow) then I wonder whether they will return to sender?

Yep, I try to laugh (not easy!)

Hope all goes well with yours xx

Oliver14

Although I think the buyer has overreacted I do see where they are coming from As a seller you are responsible for getting the item to them (which they obviously know). I get so few losses I normally check the buyers sorting office myself.

It could be though that the buyer has previously had a seller who has tried to avoid or delay a refund so the buyer now believes all sellers are like that.

soolin

I haven't had a late parcel going outward for ages now but when I do I do ask buyers to check at the delivery office if it is possible for them to do so but I accept that many of them do not have time to sit on the phone for days on end chasing a parcel. My own delivery office never answer the phone and it needs a visit in person now to see if there is any post waiting, so I can see why some buyers are less than impressed with being asked.

hermum

I phone the buyers office myself, if I can find a number for it.
My sorting office is a pain to get to, takes about half an hour minimum round trip & isn't in a direction that I generally go. So for a low price item I would have to really want it to go the hassle of chasing it up myself.
A couple of things (clothes)that have been sent there would have gone through the letter box but sellers used such small bags & had to fold the item so much that they had made it too thick to go through the letter box.

greenoo000

Nearly all my 'missing' parcels have been at the buyers sorting office. I have found that cards are not left anymore, so the buyer has no idea where it is. I'm just glad when they contact me so it can be sorted out, I've had a few occasions where you end up with the item back, which is annoying because you have to pay again to repost it. I've never had any buyers annoyed at me asking to check with the local post office, we both just get annoyed with royal mail for not leaving cards.

Myyrrddyn

In the past if the item is of over letterbox size. I have asked the buyer to check with local sorting office. It has been known for postmen when they have run out of cards if you where not in, just to take the item back to the post office. This has happened to me in the past and I raised hell when I got to the sorting office. I was not a happy bunny. Most of my customers do check the sorting office when asked to do so.