Ebay item gone missing

Joto_2

Hi guys
I'm after some advice. For the first time one of my items that I posted 2 weeks ago has not arrived.
I believe I have to fill in a form and the post office will try to find it.
What do you usually do in this instance - i don't offer insurance and the buyer didn't request it ( most of the items I sell aren't for very much, £10 plus postage on this occasion)
Do you just say hard luck, refund the money, go halves?.

I do have proof of purchase, do you normally fill in the forms and chase or send the documents on for them to do.

thanks

starlight_xx

I believe as sender you have to file the claim with RM.

As a seller Ive always refunded (I only ever sold low cost items) the buyer and waited to get my money back from RM

As a buyer Ive had a couple of things go missing and the seller refunded me instantly.

frivolous_fay

The responsibility for getting the item to the buyer lies ultimately with the seller.

You should refund. If they used paypel, you'll have no choice.

starlight_xx

Good point about Paypal! If they do a charge back theyll get the money back and if they go down that route you possibly risk a neg too.

Refund them now, and chase up your claim and you'll have a (semi) satisfied customer

syanide

if you post anything with no insurance you risk the item not arriving.. and you must take the hit yourself. Record delivery cost and extra 78p, so even for £10 its worth the extra cash.. Increase your postage to include it and set that insurance is always taken out. This is what I always do.. I post nothing at all without insurance

greenstreetprince

@ OP some of my items which were dispatched at end of june are being dropped through letterboxes now, must be something to do with the strike at end of june, ask you buyers for a few more days, then refund if they still have not arrived.

@ syanide, recorded only provides the same amount of insurance cover as standard mail, £34 max.

although that way you know if the item is really lost or if the buyer is blagging

soolin

syanide wrote: »

if you post anything with no insurance you risk the item not arriving.. and you must take the hit yourself. Record delivery cost and extra 78p, so even for £10 its worth the extra cash.. Increase your postage to include it and set that insurance is always taken out. This is what I always do.. I post nothing at all without insurance

I do not believe recorded is worth the extra 70p, it is no more guaranteed than regular mail. if something gets lost then it gets lost, recorded only covers those malicious buyers who might claim non receipt when they get the goods, but in reality they are few and far between.

My own auctions are very competitive price wise, if I had to add 70p on to each and every item my buyers would simply buy from my competitors. Why would anyone buy from me at £1.70 postage when my competitors are only charging £1?

If I sell 100 items a month recorded would cost me £70, I would need to have an awful lot of dodgy buyers to make that worth my while.

Lastly, it has been my experience that recorded is rarely signed for anyway, so costs me 70p and achieves absolutely nothing.

Contains_Mild_Peril

Joto, if you have proof of postage you will be able to claim compensation up to a value of £34 from Royal Mail, and as has been mentioned, this is the same with standard or recorded. However, it takes Royal Mail ages to process claims, so in the meantime you should refund your buyer if the item doesn't turn up very soon. Royal Mail will only consider it officially lost after 15 working days (normally 3 weeks) have elapsed.

Joto_2

Thanks for all the help everyone. I'll refund the money and start a claim.

shell2001

This has interested me in that I bought a cuddly toy (DD1 wanted to get it for DD2 birthday). It never turned up and has now been almost 4 weeks. When I contacted the seller she advised me she had proof of posting and would send it on to me to sort out with RM.

Does this means she should have sorted it out?? I did pay via paypal but to be honest the whole thing including postage was only £3.50 but would be good to know for the future (although I hope nothing else ever goes missing)

DrFluffy

Joto wrote: »

Hi guys
I'm after some advice. For the first time one of my items that I posted 2 weeks ago has not arrived.
I believe I have to fill in a form and the post office will try to find it.
What do you usually do in this instance - i don't offer insurance and the buyer didn't request it ( most of the items I sell aren't for very much, £10 plus postage on this occasion)
Do you just say hard luck, refund the money, go halves?.

I do have proof of purchase, do you normally fill in the forms and chase or send the documents on for them to do.

thanks

The certificate of posting covers you for up to £34.