Item lost in post, buyer didn't pay for recorded delivery

Lazy_Ike

mcguck wrote:

How much success do others have in making a claim against Post Office with just Certificate of Posting?

Just a point. Compensation with COP is limited to 10x the value of the stamp ie:£30 for 1st class. If the item is valued at greater than the 10x but you still just went with COP, DO NOT submit an invoice showing the higher figure. You will not get the £30 and lose the remainder, you will get no compensation at all. Make up an invoice for £30 or 10 x 2nd class depending on which you used.

chillipepper_3

I've been caught out with this before, offered refund when didn't have a COP. Only to keep an eye on the buyers ID, a few weeks after refund processed by paypal, the guy has listed the broken mobile phones that I originally sold him. Reported to ebay who did nothing.

I now only buy with paypal so covered with chargeback if needed and always send recorded delivery or special delivery.

sarahmelita

Thanks for all your replies. The buyer and I have been emailing and I'm going to send her a replacement (recorded delivery!) which she's more than happy with. Glad my 100% positive feedback isn't going to be ruined from this one thing. :j

MarkyMarkD

Both of the posts suggesting submitting "made up" invoices to the Post Office are proposing fraud which (as should be obvious) is a criminal offence.

Don't do it!

Chuckman

Don't forget that PayPal chargeback can work the other way as well.

You can only get your money back providing the funds are there in the seller's account, if not then you're out of luck. This type of attitude has endeared PayPal and Ebay to so many people.

I do occasionally sell on Ebay and always have an option for insured delivery of the item. If the buyer does not initiate this, then the onus falls on them should the item becomes lost. So far I have been fortunate that the outcome has always been positive.

Altarf

Chuckman wrote:

I do occasionally sell on Ebay and always have an option for insured delivery of the item. If the buyer does not initiate this, then the onus falls on them should the item becomes lost.

You are wrong (but not alone in thinking this).

Until the goods are delivered, you as the seller, have not fulfilled the contract. It doesn't matter what method of postage the buyer pays for.

soolin

Chuckman wrote:

Don't forget that PayPal chargeback can work the other way as well.

You can only get your money back providing the funds are there in the seller's account, if not then you're out of luck. This type of attitude has endeared PayPal and Ebay to so many people.

I do occasionally sell on Ebay and always have an option for insured delivery of the item. If the buyer does not initiate this, then the onus falls on them should the item becomes lost. So far I have been fortunate that the outcome has always been positive.

I assume then that you don't take paypal? Yes paypal has its faults but at least you stand a better than even chance of getting your money back if it all goes wrong, with a cheque or direct bank transfer you have no leverage at all.

More and more buyers are becoming wise to the idea that some sellers will refuse responsibility for lost parcels and will therefore only use paypal. By limiting payment options and having punitive terms and conditions you will just limit the amount of people prepared to bid.

Soo

Chuckman

soolin wrote:

I assume then that you don't take paypal? Yes paypal has its faults but at least you stand a better than even chance of getting your money back if it all goes wrong, with a cheque or direct bank transfer you have no leverage at all.

More and more buyers are becoming wise to the idea that some sellers will refuse responsibility for lost parcels and will therefore only use paypal. By limiting payment options and having punitive terms and conditions you will just limit the amount of people prepared to bid.

Soo

Yep and I also accept BidPay and NoChex as well as this covers a couple of options from non-PayPal using buyers and sellers. As for cheques, I wouldn't touch them with a bargepole as the bank can take the money out of your account months later on the proviso that an unauthourised check was issued, likewise bank transfers.

More information can be found here: BBC Moneybox

PayPal mainly side with the buyers, so all they have to do is issue a chargeback when they receive the item to get it for free.

It is horrible to be in such a negative frame of mind towards buyers, but sadly it is safety first.

I find your comment concerning PayPal-only sellers and lost parcels unique; do you think this does not happen as well with sellers who only take other forms of payment as well?

soolin

Chuckman wrote:

Yep and I also accept BidPay and NoChex as well as this covers a couple of options from non-PayPal using buyers and sellers. As for cheques, I wouldn't touch them with a bargepole as the bank can take the money out of your account months later on the proviso that an unauthourised check was issued, likewise bank transfers.

More information can be found here: BBC Moneybox ?

I also dislike cheques for this same reason. I have never ha dproblems with paypal but have had problems with cheques being reversed several weeks after the transaction.

I used to offer nochex but no one ever used it, so I gave up.

Chuckman wrote:

PayPal mainly side with the buyers, so all they have to do is issue a chargeback when they receive the item to get it for free.


I find your comment concerning PayPal-only sellers and lost parcels unique; do you think this does not happen as well with sellers who only take other forms of payment as well?

My point was that buyers are not daft and they know that if they pay by nochex or cheque or bank transfer, whatever, and the parcel gets lost then they don't have any leverage to get a refund from the seller. At least when i buy with paypal it doesn't matter whether or not I take insurance as I can chargeback from the seller. As you rightly say paypal consider the sale incomplete unless the seller can prove delivery, so any chargeback will almost always find in favour of the buyer.

The insurance is to protect the seller not the buyer, so as a seller I prefer taking paypal but understand that a chargeback can be made against me, so cover myself either with insurance or with a COP so I can reclaim from the Post office and refund my buyer . So far in 1500+ sales I have never had a chargeback started against me, I don't let it get that far.

Soo

motorguy

Soolins point isn't unique - its the way it is. If buyers don't get an item thats been posted, they can issue a chargeback via paypal, who will then come to you the seller and say basically 'prove they got the item' of which the only acceptable proof is an online trackable signed for postal service. If you can't do that, then they will just give the buyer their money back and debit your account.