Royal Mail want proof of "purchase price" not Ebay sale price

jennyjen

I don't know what it is with Royal Mail but I've had sooo many things go missing over the past year or so.

Anyway the latest item to get lost was a 1 Ounce Silver Coin, which I sold on Ebay for £21 and posted via first class signed for.

The tracking info still says it's being "processed through our system" i.e. was never delivered and never updated on their system.

The problem here is two-fold. Royal Mail only give compensation of the purchase price, not what you sold it for on Ebay. For example a buyer of bulk jeans would have to provide their wholesaler price, not their sale price.

Fair enough I suppose, but a) I don't have a receipt because the coin was a gift from a silver dealer friend, and b) Silver is an investment with a fluctuating value. I don't see why Royal Mail should be able to back out and only compensate for what it cost 4 or so years ago. It's real current value is higher. They lost it. They should pay up right?

Bit of a moan, but do you think if I included a letter with all my evidence explaining that silver is not quite the same as jeans, they'd give me back the sale price?

Also a bit of side info for online sellers. I've been refused compensation in the past because I bought postage from the Royal Mail website and used a post box. In their mind that's not proof I posted it. Thus post boxes should probably have massive warnings on them saying if you post...post here, and we lose it, you get nothing.

soolin

It is usually only business sellers that need the item cost receipt- usually for private sellers the ebay price is enough.

However, for a silver coin standard signed for will not cover it at all as precious items, and things that can be converted to cash (like coins and tickets) are only covered special delivery.

Incidentally, has buyer reported it missing or is it just that the poste dmessage has never updated? In some areas that 'Posted' message never updates so it could well have arrived.

Also a bit of side info for online sellers. I've been refused compensation in
the past because I bought postage from the Royal Mail website and used a post
box. In their mind that's not proof I posted it. Thus post boxes should probably
have massive warnings on them saying if you post...post here, and we lose it,
you get nothing.

There is already warnings when you buy postage online, no need for any more. I don't believe many people would mistake buying postage or stamps as being proof that the item was safely handed over to Royal mail.

You may find the sticky postage thread on this forum of some interest.

ballisticbrian

I know when it'shappened to me, I also feel peeved, however, can you really expect Royal Mail to pay the "profit" you made on the item? I don't think your letter idea will get you anywhere to be honest.

jennyjen

ballisticbrian wrote: »

I know when it'shappened to me, I also feel peeved, however, can you really expect Royal Mail to pay the "profit" you made on the item? I don't think your letter idea will get you anywhere to be honest.

I understand that logic, but it's not like I can go and buy another silver coin at £15, it's value really is £21 +

With regular stock you can just go back to the supplier.

jennyjen

soolin wrote: »

Incidentally, has buyer reported it missing or is it just that the poste dmessage has never updated? In some areas that 'Posted' message never updates so it could well have arrived.

Yeah I've already refunded him. We've been back and forth for a few weeks and I trust what he's saying, it's been well over the delivery time and it's at neither sorting office.

custardy

off topic slightly.
You didnt by chance use a normal envelope to post it, and/or with the coin moving freely inside?

jennyjen

No if anything it was overboard. Wrapped in foil, taped to the jiffy bag and padded out with bubblewrap. Then the envelope itself is completely covered in parcel tape lol

custardy

cool,just your item is the type thats ripe for ripping through of its own accord
what is your ratio for items sent vs lost?

jennyjen

The coin was a one off, I usually sell sweatbands and sometimes t-shirts. But I'd say for every 10 or so, one just vanishes. I give up chasing them down because the purchase price is so low, but the silver I'm a bit more miffed at, not least because it's true value to everyone is more than when it was purchased.

I guess I was naive to think signed for was any better than normal post.

ballisticbrian

But I'd say for every 10 or so, one just vanishes.

That's an extremely high loss rate, I'd say by a magnitude of nearly 100 times. I would analyse why this is happening. No business could survive long with that loss rate.

celestius

jennyjen wrote: »

The coin was a one off, I usually sell sweatbands and sometimes t-shirts. But I'd say for every 10 or so, one just vanishes. I give up chasing them down because the purchase price is so low, but the silver I'm a bit more miffed at, not least because it's true value to everyone is more than when it was purchased.

I guess I was naive to think signed for was any better than normal post.

So if you are selling for a profit you should really only claim the value of the item - even if it's not your usual line of sales. You can only claim up to £20 now anyway.

A loss of 1 in 10? something is definitely not right!