Facebook Marketplace seller ignoring messages after I’d paid for item but not received it.

SallySunshine

This is a weird incident. I’d bought an item that was advertised on Facebook Market place.
had a few conversations and paid through her bank account, not a huge amount £5 + £3 postage.
This was on 14th August, she said she’d post next day. Few days later item still not arrived, so messaged again. She was full of apologies, said she’d gone down to her local sorting office where the item was found and they’d told her it would be delivered to me.
Asked her if she got proof of postage when she posted. Ignored question.
messaged her again, not picked up message, did it again Monday 5th Sept, asking for a refund as the item had not arrived and said if she had proof of postage she could  track where it was.
she hasn’t blocked me on her Facebook page as I sent her the last message through there.
when I sell on either EBay or Marketplace, I’m always given proof of postage which I send pic of to buyer, as well as the packaged item.
I really can’t fathom out her logic.
there is no recourse from private sellers, but has never happened to me before.

custardy

SallySunshine said:

This is a weird incident. I’d bought an item that was advertised on Facebook Market place.
had a few conversations and paid through her bank account, not a huge amount £5 + £3 postage.
This was on 14th August, she said she’d post next day. Few days later item still not arrived, so messaged again. She was full of apologies, said she’d gone down to her local sorting office where the item was found and they’d told her it would be delivered to me.
Asked her if she got proof of postage when she posted. Ignored question.
messaged her again, not picked up message, did it again Monday 5th Sept, asking for a refund as the item had not arrived and said if she had proof of postage she could  track where it was.
she hasn’t blocked me on her Facebook page as I sent her the last message through there.
when I sell on either EBay or Marketplace, I’m always given proof of postage which I send pic of to buyer, as well as the packaged item.
I really can’t fathom out her logic.
there is no recourse from private sellers, but has never happened to me before.

This just screams bull. Items sent dont just get found at a sorting office.

SallySunshine

I thought that part was iffy, but let it go and hoping she had forgotten to post it and was making excuses. That’s why I asked her about proof of postage, there again she could have just stuck stamps on and put it in a postbox.
at the time she was selling other things so I managed to find that and took a screen shot, unfortunately it cut off the items she was selling, but noticed she had good reviews as a seller.
I think I could report her, but it’s not as though she’d been a bad seller before so a bit reluctant to do that, she has my name and address and I have her bank details from when I sent the money.
so it’s a bit of a stalemate 

soolin

Proof of postage though is absolutely meaningless to a buyer, why do you want it?  If it’s lost she can either refund you or tell you to get lost, POP doesn’t change that. 

prowla

How did you pay?

There are scammers on FB and their ploy is to get you to pay by PayPal Friends & Family or other unsecured means.

Just remember the rule: if they're not Friends or Family, then don't let them con you into thinking they are.

soolin

prowla said:

How did you pay?

There are scammers on FB and their ploy is to get you to pay by PayPal Friends & Family or other unsecured means.

Just remember the rule: if they're not Friends or Family, then don't let them con you into thinking they are.

OP said bank transfer so no claim is possible from that. 

SallySunshine

A screenshot of proof of postage proves the seller has been to the post office with the parcel.  If the item is lost or damages it is up to the seller to claim compensation.
It also gives the buyer peace of mind, what happens on the items mail journey is out of their hands.
Certainly don’t think this seller is a criminal mastermind going of their visibility on Facebook, it could be a family member etc selling this item or other scenario going off the dialogue in our chat, didn’t really match the Sellers posts.

custardy

SallySunshine said:

I thought that part was iffy, but let it go and hoping she had forgotten to post it and was making excuses. That’s why I asked her about proof of postage, there again she could have just stuck stamps on and put it in a postbox.
at the time she was selling other things so I managed to find that and took a screen shot, unfortunately it cut off the items she was selling, but noticed she had good reviews as a seller.
I think I could report her, but it’s not as though she’d been a bad seller before so a bit reluctant to do that, she has my name and address and I have her bank details from when I sent the money.
so it’s a bit of a stalemate 

one stand out is the type of person who is rubbish with comms/organisation. Is the type who will have no clue on postage costs.
So she may have suck stamps on and the item is underpaid and slowly grinding through revenue protection.
With current IA and atomisation. This may have extended times.

anotheruser

soolin said:

prowla said:

How did you pay?

There are scammers on FB and their ploy is to get you to pay by PayPal Friends & Family or other unsecured means.

Just remember the rule: if they're not Friends or Family, then don't let them con you into thinking they are.

OP said bank transfer so no claim is possible from that. 

Maybe, but banks are pretty good these days and as the value is low, they may refund.
However, banks are also getting better at putting warnings here there and everywhere so the onus is back on the user rather than them.

soolin

anotheruser said:

soolin said:

prowla said:

How did you pay?

There are scammers on FB and their ploy is to get you to pay by PayPal Friends & Family or other unsecured means.

Just remember the rule: if they're not Friends or Family, then don't let them con you into thinking they are.

OP said bank transfer so no claim is possible from that. 

Maybe, but banks are pretty good these days and as the value is low, they may refund.
However, banks are also getting better at putting warnings here there and everywhere so the onus is back on the user rather than them.

I thought it was the opposite, with so many warnings I thought they were less likely to refund unless you contact someone like the Daily Mail and do the whole sad face article thing.

Bendy_House

Hi SallyS.

I'd be suspicious too...

I have, just a few times, been happy to post out items I've had advertised on my local Facebook Marketplace, and also found sellers who were happy to post stuff out to me when it wasn't shown as an option. BUT, in both situations, it was PayPal only!

I think all you can do is report this seller to FB. I'd hope that, if this is repeated, they will twig, but really no idea how likely that will be.