Royal Mail 'Signed for' parcel posted out in May .. returned to me today

WLM21

I sold an item on 22nd May and posted it off the following day using Royal Mail's signed-for service.

It was actually going to a business, but according to the package two attempts were made without any luck. I always include a telephone number on the address too, but no delivery could be made.

The item has now been returned to me

What do I do now ... it was sold at £12.99 including free postage

The buyer hasn't sent any message, which is strange as it's over 4 weeks since he bought the item

Hoenir

Contact the buyer or make a full refund. 

WLM21

Hoenir said:

Contact the buyer or make a full refund. 

Can I ask them to pay for a new delivery attempt ?

I am happy to refund them the purchase price, but why should I be out of pocket for the original postage?

I know I listed the item as fre- post (don't know why I did that .. usually I don't) but I obviously had to pay for the postage

RedImp_2

You can make a part refund.   If the buyer hasn’t opened a case then at the moment there’s no compunction to give a full refund (or any refund I suppose)

WLM21

RedImp_2 said:

You can make a part refund.   If the buyer hasn’t opened a case then at the moment there’s no compunction to give a full refund (or any refund I suppose)

Thanks .. I'll just refund the price paid , less the cost of the postage.

I'll do it now before any case is opened

soolin

WLM21 said:

RedImp_2 said:

You can make a part refund.   If the buyer hasn’t opened a case then at the moment there’s no compunction to give a full refund (or any refund I suppose)

Thanks .. I'll just refund the price paid , less the cost of the postage.

I'll do it now before any case is opened

Even if you give a partial refund the buyer can still open a case for the rest. The fact that it was freepost makes no difference to anything, where an item hasn’t been received the buyer is entitled to their full payment back .

Kim_13

Isn’t the buyer running out of time to open a case? I’d be tempted to sit on it until that time expires and then refund in the morally correct way (less postage.)

The buyer being entitled to the full amount back makes sense where it is lost in transit, but in that case the seller isn’t out of pocket as they will be able to claim from the carrier. Where the buyer doesn’t accept the item it’s just letting them change their mind without having to pay for the returns postage.

WLM21

Kim_13 said:

Isn’t the buyer running out of time to open a case? I’d be tempted to sit on it until that time expires and then refund in the morally correct way (less postage.)

The buyer being entitled to the full amount back makes sense where it is lost in transit, but in that case the seller isn’t out of pocket as they will be able to claim from the carrier. Where the buyer doesn’t accept the item it’s just letting them change their mind without having to pay for the returns postage.

Last night I provided a partial refunded with a note. My ebay message stated .. we are processing the refund, then shortly after, I heard the refund was compete.

About an hour later the buyer opened a case of non-delivery and even sent a message .. he commented .. 'his local postie knows him and even knows his home address, so there is no chance he missed the delievery'  .. the item was sent to a business address, as per the order details. I'll contact ebay to see what I must do now

soolin

WLM21 said:

Kim_13 said:

Isn’t the buyer running out of time to open a case? I’d be tempted to sit on it until that time expires and then refund in the morally correct way (less postage.)

The buyer being entitled to the full amount back makes sense where it is lost in transit, but in that case the seller isn’t out of pocket as they will be able to claim from the carrier. Where the buyer doesn’t accept the item it’s just letting them change their mind without having to pay for the returns postage.

Last night I provided a partial refunded with a note. My ebay message stated .. we are processing the refund, then shortly after, I heard the refund was compete.

About an hour later the buyer opened a case of non-delivery and even sent a message .. he commented .. 'his local postie knows him and even knows his home address, so there is no chance he missed the delievery'  .. the item was sent to a business address, as per the order details. I'll contact ebay to see what I must do now

If the case has been opened in time (and that is 30 days from the last estimated date of delivery so yes it would appear to be in time)  you will need to refund the balance.

GadgetGuru

Kim_13 said:

Isn’t the buyer running out of time to open a case? I’d be tempted to sit on it until that time expires and then refund in the morally correct way (less postage.)

The buyer being entitled to the full amount back makes sense where it is lost in transit, but in that case the seller isn’t out of pocket as they will be able to claim from the carrier. Where the buyer doesn’t accept the item it’s just letting them change their mind without having to pay for the returns postage.

I would have done this too.

the_lunatic_is_in_my_head

These types of parcels use to sit in a box, some buyers got in touch and I'd just resend, some buyers were never heard from again and eventually the stuff was just resold. 

Too late now but would probably have been better of not contacting or refunding the buyer.