Advice for Lost / Late Overseas Delivery

kjw327

Hi, I’m looking for a bit of advice on what steps I can take and what options may be open to me.

I’m relatively new to eBay selling and have sold around 30 items since early December, all have been without issue bar one.

A model car I had listed was bought by a buyer in Slovakia on 29 December, I shipped it on 3 January using RM International Tracked and Signed, eBay added a delivery time by 27 January.

First steps were okay, and tracked through the system but the last entry is:

10 Jan - 2:52 am - Item leaving the UK Heathrow Worldwide Distribution Centre

I know that after this RM had all the issues with overseas services, but would have hoped to have been clear of this due to being in the system before it happened.

The buyer has contacted me via message to ask if I can help to find out what is happening, but I’m not sure what I can actually do.  I can’t seem to find any direction.

Any advice would be really appreciated.

KxMx

Try inputting the tracking number into the Slovakia post website. 
https://www.posta.sk/m#tnt?l=en

misterthrifty

I'm afraid this is a problem being experienced by many sellers, there is a hug backlog of overseas parcels held at various RM distribution centres, I have parcels that were posted in Nov & Dec that are currently at Langley centre. RM say that they are now shifting some of the backlog, though they cannot use any tracking equipment so the online tracking probably won't be updated.
Try to keep updating the buyer, if he opens an INR you will have to refund and join the lengthy queue to claim against RM.
What we need is more information from RM & more protection from ebay, though neither seem likely.

kjw327

Thanks for the info and advice, it’s appreciated.  I’ll keep an eye on tracking details and stay in touch with the buyer.  Fingers crossed it arrives.

soolin

I choose not to sell directly overseas any more, too much form filling required plus eBay delivery estimates do not match the reality of arrival times. 

Hopefully your item will arrive before an INR is opened, although buyer does have a limited time available to open a claim. Then as above if item is lost and not just delayed you would need to claim against RM , but should tracking show delivery between you refunding and RM look

Jerry_Cornelius

Well after having an £250+ item seeminlgy "stuck" at Langley HWDC since Dec 7th 2022 (posted the 6th) I ended up cancelling the order and refunding the buyer early New Year. I put a claim in with RM on the 12th Jan. Not heard anything as yet, but on a whim, tried the tracking number for the item, and it was updated Jan 22nd; now says its at "PSC Milton Keynes"! No idea whats going on! Does this mean it might actually get delievred somehow?

Annemos

All I can add to this, is that I thought I was being clever waiting until after Xmas and New Year to post a small present to Belgium. So I mailed it on Jan 4th, 2023. 

According to the tracking.... it arrived in Belgium on the evening of the 10th, I presume at the Brussels Airport. That was the day before the Great Ransomware Attack.

So now mine just says "in customs" and has not moved since. 

Have asked Belgian Post to see if they can find it. They sent a query to Belgian customs a week ago. She sent me a mail again today to say she had not heard back from Customs and has chased them again. 

Losing hope. Must be crushed amongst millions of packages?? Think I might submit a compensation claim for the 41 pounds at the end of this month.