Ebay refund grumble

cattie

Just a grumble regarding the timings of ebay's refund policy. I sold an item that was posted on the 9th June (Wed) & sent 2nd class small parcel. On the Sunday (13th) buyer opened a not received case. I asked that they wait a couple of days to see if it turned up as 3 working days was a little fast to consider it lost. I got no response & refunded buyer last night as today was final day of case being opened. If item was expected by the weekend, why not ask for 1st class postage!  The due date given by ebay was on or before 24th June yet they allow a claim to be made? 

This morning I've filled out lost item claim form with Royal Mail only to be told I can't put in a claim until the 15th June, as 10 working days have not yet elapsed. Why oh why can't ebay get their ducks in a row & only allow not received postal item claims to be more in line with Royal Mail delivery time frames, especially when 2nd class or economy services are used. Anyway, that's my moan for the day.

Rantband

Are the 15th & 24th June dates correct ?

cattie

Sorry, it should have been 23rd June to make claim & 24th that item should have arrived by.

Rantband

Only suggestion would be to contact Ebay and ask how buyer was able to make claim after what appears such a short period.

the_lunatic_is_in_my_head

Buyers can open a INR the day after the last ETA, after 3 business days either buyer or seller can ask eBay to step in (seller will lose if they haven't provided tracking showing delivery) so there's no obligation to refund after 3 days but it's a gamble not to. 

Was your item a parcel or a large letter? A parcel should have delivery confirmation if actually delivered which you can check by using the short number on the label in the Royal Mail Track & Trace.  

cattie

It was sent as a small parcel, £3.20 second class. I always get proof of posting when sending items, but there's no. number apart from session no. given on the certificate of posting.

I might just contact ebay as suggested by Rantband just out of interest to see what their response (if any) will be.

soolin

cattie said:

It was sent as a small parcel, £3.20 second class. I always get proof of posting when sending items, but there's no. number apart from session no. given on the certificate of posting.

I might just contact ebay as suggested by Rantband just out of interest to see what their response (if any) will be.

If you sent it via a PO or bought postage online then there will be a delivery confirmation number available. It will be somewhere on your receipt- it comes as standard. The number is long and is usually something like 3204437xxxxxxA5B5BEB6 (I put a few xs to replace numbers as this is a real number I have taken from my sale sheet) 

kalsha

It is possible that it was posted using buyers own stamps.   I have been using up my old unused stamps when posting.  I do get a certificate of posting from the post office but because I use my own stamps, the POP does not have any tracking no.  

cattie

Ah, kalsha, you've hit the nail on the head! Checking my proof of posting it mentions £3.20 prepaid as sometimes, like you,  I send with old unused stamps I have here. I remember sending 3 parcels on that day, one had stamps but the other 2 I paid for at post office, so the item claimed INR must be the one with the stamps.

TOP_CAT

Could the seller when using ones own stamps not buy/add one stamp purchased from the PO of a smaller amount (too make up the exact total needed) .....too then get the required proof of posting certificate ?.

I would be interested to know if this works ?

I sometimes use my own stamps for most of the cost but often buy a smaller .10p or .20p stamp to make up the difference , then the PO cashier will postmark the stamps on the package or large letter as I watch at the counter .

On one occasion the  london PO cashier added .22p of stamps to make up the total needed and postmarked them all but one of his stamps had the cutouts completely missing .
The item arrived but its not the first time I have found PO staff will do whatever suits them.

Spoonie_Turtle

TOP_CAT said:

Could the seller when using ones own stamps not buy/add one stamp purchased from the PO of a smaller amount (too make up the exact total needed) .....too then get the required proof of posting certificate ?.

I would be interested to know if this works ?

I sometimes use my own stamps for most of the cost but often buy a smaller .10p or .20p stamp to make up the difference , then the PO cashier will postmark the stamps on the package or large letter as I watch at the counter .

On one occasion the  london PO cashier added .22p of stamps to make up the total needed and postmarked them all but one of his stamps had the cutouts completely missing .
The item arrived but its not the first time I have found PO staff will do whatever suits them.

I think you can still get proof of postage but it doesn't have the reference number that buying small parcel postage will give.  (I've had PoP for sending stamped letters before so I assume it's possible for sending a stamped parcel too.)