Royal Mail - Won't pay me compensation for lost parcel.

RussWWFC

About a month or so ago I sent an XBox 360 game, Pro Evolution Soccer that sold on ebay for £33. However, this did not turn up so I had to refund the buyer their money, plus a bit extra due to me spending my Paypal funds and not being able to offer them a straight refund, therefore having to pay fees to cover their fees.

I put in a claim to Royal Mail, but they are refusing to give me anything due to me not getting a certificate of posting. The parcel in question I sent was my first time using their online service where you print out labels.

I thought the whole point of this paying online lark is to save walking down the post office. What is the point of paying online if you can't post anything more valuable than a sheet of paper for fear of losing money.

Should I push for compensation, the whole thing has cost me nearly £40 with ebay fees, paypal fees, postage, packing and the actual item going missing

stugib

RussWWFC wrote:

I put in a claim to Royal Mail, but they are refusing to give me anything due to me not getting a certificate of posting. The parcel in question I sent was my first time using their online service where you print out labels.

I thought the whole point of this paying online lark is to save walking down the post office. What is the point of paying online if you can't post anything more valuable than a sheet of paper for fear of losing money.

Yes, it is a flaw isn't it, though to be fair to them buying it online only proves you bought a stamp, not that you actually posted it. Same way as me buying a stamp from Clintons doesn't prove I posted my sister's birthday card!

RussWWFC wrote:

Should I push for compensation, the whole thing has cost me nearly £40 with ebay fees, paypal fees, postage, packing and the actual item going missing

Looks like maximum compensation for first class (assuming it wasn't special delivery?) is £32, buy you could only claim for the value of the item anyway - consequential loss (refunded fees) you have to pay extra insurance for. But without proof you posted it I don't think you have much chance of anything.

Why didn't you use recorded delivery if the buyer was willing to pay for it? How do you know they're not lying?

Lorian

You should always send anything paid for by paypal by "Signed For" or "Special delivery" anyway. Otherwise if the buyer raises a compliant you loose by default (you can't prove they got it).

patchwork_cat

Lorian not always practical as in a lot of areas that would price you out of the market.

deanos

patchwork_cat wrote:

Lorian not always practical as in a lot of areas that would price you out of the market.

Signed for is only 65p , just incorporate it into the p+p cost

RussWWFC

My main point is, what is the point of having an online service when you can't claim if anything goes wrong.

With reference to the previous poster who said that the buyer may not be telling the truth, both mine and his feedback are in the late 400s. Of course this does not rule out the posibility of him/her lying but I'd have more faith with them than I would with someone with a "0" feedback score

dmg24

My main point is, what is the point of having an online service when you can't claim if anything goes wrong.

That's not really a valid point. It is just like buying stamps at a supermarket rather than going to the Post Office, you are not covered then either.