What Happens if Buyer Does Not Collect

BargainJunky

I sold an item a few weeks ago and it took the buyer nearly a week to pay. I sent it signed for to give myself some protection (buyer had a few negs) and the post office tried to deliver it last week. To the best of my knowledge the buyer has still to collect it from the sorting office - even if I hadnt sent it signed for it was too big to go through the letterbox. What happens if it gets sent back to me? Do I refund the buyer for the item and if they still want it do they have to pay again for posting? I have contacted the buyer telling them its at the sorting office and suggested that they go and collect it - not sure if there is more I can do.

I'm a new seller and I'm not sending things signed for anymore as I now know it can cause problems.

soolin

If it was sent recorded then post offcie will only keep it for 7 days and then assuming you have a return address clearly showing- it will come back to you. At any point the buyer can open, and win an INR claim against you as until you can prove delivery he has not got the item.

If it went special then it will be held along with standard post for 3 weeks.

BargainJunky

soolin wrote: »

If it was sent recorded then post offcie will only keep it for 7 days and then assuming you have a return address clearly showing- it will come back to you. At any point the buyer can open, and win an INR claim against you as until you can prove delivery he has not got the item.

If it went special then it will be held along with standard post for 3 weeks.

Thanks for the information I had a bad feeling about this one from the beginning - it was only my 4th sale. Assuming the item does come back to me and they still want it who would be responsible for the second lot of postage? The item only sold for £6.50 and the postage was nearly £4.00 as it was heavy. I think if it comes back I might be better refunding as there is no chance they would collect the second time - if I did this would I have to refund the postage?

soolin

If buyer claims INR you have two choices. Either refund their original payment in full including postage, or else re send ti at your own cost.

However, there is no harm in asking buyer to repay the postage should it come to it, some may well say yes. You might also want to consider the costs of sending a low cost item recorded- especially as it means it will only be held for a week rather than 3 weeks for other post.

BargainJunky

soolin wrote: »

If buyer claims INR you have two choices. Either refund their original payment in full including postage, or else re send ti at your own cost.

However, there is no harm in asking buyer to repay the postage should it come to it, some may well say yes. You might also want to consider the costs of sending a low cost item recorded- especially as it means it will only be held for a week rather than 3 weeks for other post.

Thanks for all the help I thought it was safer to send recorded but have stopped doing it now (only did it for two items).

According to the Royal Mail website it is still at the sorting office and the buyer has ignored my email suggesting they collect it.

I think if and when the package comes back I'm going to cut my losses and refund in full as you suggested - there is no guarantee they would collect it the second time (way too big to go through a letter box unless they have a catflap!).

I had a nasty feeling with this one as they didnt pay until I opened non paying bidder. I'm assuming that if it does come back and I refund I will get a neg from them - how would that affect me as I've only got a handful of sales and lots of purchases.

Is there anyway I could get my FVF's or paypal fees back?

soolin

BargainJunky wrote: »

Thanks for all the help I thought it was safer to send recorded but have stopped doing it now (only did it for two items).

According to the Royal Mail website it is still at the sorting office and the buyer has ignored my email suggesting they collect it.

I think if and when the package comes back I'm going to cut my losses and refund in full as you suggested - there is no guarantee they would collect it the second time (way too big to go through a letter box unless they have a catflap!).

I had a nasty feeling with this one as they didnt pay until I opened non paying bidder. I'm assuming that if it does come back and I refund I will get a neg from them - how would that affect me as I've only got a handful of sales and lots of purchases.

Is there anyway I could get my FVF's or paypal fees back?

You get your paypal fees back when you refund the buyer, you have probably lost your ebay fees though unless buyer agrees to a mutual.

BargainJunky

soolin wrote: »

You get your paypal fees back when you refund the buyer, you have probably lost your ebay fees though unless buyer agrees to a mutual.

Thank you once again doubt they will agree to a mutual as they have'nt communicated at all - bet they will soon though!

I think I'm going to refund as soon as it comes back unless they ask first.