Missing In-Coming Package from the States

[i*m-still-here]

I  bought a $600 item from the States near the end of August and it was shipped on August 29th via Registered FCI Lettermail.

That was the seller's choice of shipping methods and not necessarily mine.

It shows that it entered Canada on September 3rd and "Was sent for further processing at customs."

That was over 3 weeks ago and customs is in the neighboring Province where shipping time would normally be a few days.

I've contacted the seller who is as perplexed as I am.

We've both called our respective POs.

The person I talked to just said that it's extremely odd............. and so it is.

I don't want to escalate the case but what choice do I have?

Since it was shipped registered mail, and since eBay recently increased coverage to $650 (whatever that means)............

Does anyone have any idea what that means for the seller and me?

[pierrelebel]

From eBay:

What is USPS Registered Mail and can it take the place of insurance?

USPS Registered Mail is not insurance, but does offer limited protection in the case of loss, rifling or damage as these packages are kept separate and locked away from regular mail with only limited access by certain postal employees in both countries.  This service is only available for First-Class Mail International and Priority Mail International Flat-Rate Envelope and small flat-rate box items and is unavailable for Priority Mail International flat-rate or variable weight parcels, or Express Mail International services. The maximum indemnity limit is $47.93, regardless of the value declaration on the package.  This means that if you send a $200 watch to Australia via Registered Mail and it disappears, you will only receive $47.93 maximum reimbursement.  The cost of USPS Registered Mail is $11.50 per package, which really makes it not worth the cost since the amount of reimbursement is so little.

http://www.ebay.com/gds/Insuring-International-Packages-Through-USPS-/10000000001517696/g.html

[i*m-still-here]

Thank You Pierre, but yes I'm aware of that and so is the seller.

However, some time ago eBay raised it's seller protection limit to $650 and so the seller may be covered.

I should be covered, but is the seller?

[pierrelebel]

"eBay raised it's seller protection limit to $650"

Seller protection offered by eBay is NOT insurance for the seller.

The updated seller protection policy: http://pages.ebay.com/sellerinformation/sellerprotection/policy.html

[i*m-still-here]

All right..............   It was never clear what that actually meant when they raised it, but it sounded like a seller was covered by eBay if they shipped with delivery confirmation.

BUT.......... I suppose that only applies if the package shows as delivered but the buyer says it wasn't.

I was hoping because the seller is so nice and I can see that it actually was shipped.

Maybe it was insured via TPI, but I don't think so.

Man, sure wish this had happened with a less expensive item if it had to happen at all.

[pierrelebel]

or it could be a simple case of Canada Customs inspecting the item ... it may take some time .... and determining the value exceeds $600 and re-assessing the shipment accordingly.

Or not.

[rose-dee]

I'm curious - where did the $650 figure come from?  

EBay "Seller Protection" is a policy programme, not insurance coverage for shipping.  Is the $650 something to do with Paypal?

[i*m-still-here]

I know it could still be at customs .............. although I've never experienced anything even close to this before.

I could wait till day 44 to escalate the case but I'm very nervous about this too.  

rose, about a year ago eBay raised seller protection to $650 but it was never crystal-clear what that meant.......... at least not to me.

However, Pierre is right............. I was just grasping at straws.

If an item is shipped via delivery confirmation and is undelivered there is no protection for the seller other than insurance.

[pierrelebel]

"I'm curious - where did the $650 figure come from?  "

I looked and looked and looked all over eBay.com and cannot find any reference to seller protection to US$650 on eBay nor PayPal

That may be a great question for the "Pink Hour".

[i*m-still-here]

Don't you recall that discussion on the weekly board meeting where we discussed the increase to $650?  

It applies to all sellers on eBay.com including Canadians listing on .com, but I don't believe it extends to .ca.

[pierrelebel]

"Don't you recall that discussion...?"

No.  I forget things and the doctor said it's OK, I am just getting old.

[rose-dee]

---

@i*m-still-here wrote:

Don't you recall that discussion on the weekly board meeting where we discussed the increase to $650?  

It applies to all sellers on eBay.com including Canadians listing on .com, but I don't believe it extends to .ca.

---

Are you sure you aren't thinking of the discussion regarding the "increase" to $350 value level as a requirement for signature confirmation in order to validate Paypal protection?  As I recall, this wasn't an actual increase, but an extrapolation based on currency conversion from $US, the Paypal minimum requirement for signature confirmation being $250 US in value.  

If this isn't what you were referring to, then I have no idea what this $650 might be.  

[i*m-still-here]

This was eBay protection............ and you're right it never quite made sense to me.

PJ was there and I'm sure she'll fill in the gaps soon enough.

[pocomocomputing]

---

@pierrelebel wrote:

"I'm curious - where did the $650 figure come from?  "

I looked and looked and looked all over eBay.com and cannot find any reference to seller protection to US$650 on eBay nor PayPal

That may be a great question for the "Pink Hour".

---

I had posted on July 5, 2013 about the eBay Seller Protection with a link and quote a while ago in this topic below about the $750 eBay Seller Protection. i*m-still-here had misquoted the amount in the topic earlier in that old topic and I had posted a correction and reference.

http://community.ebay.ca/t5/Buyer-Central/LOOPHOLE-watch-out-all-buyers/m-p/127761

post #13

copy of my old post here

$750, not $600

http://pages.ebay.com/help/policies/seller-protection.html

If a buyer claims an item hasn't been received

For eligible item not received cases, you're protected from losing a case if you ship within your stated handling time and provide tracking information before you or the buyer asks eBay to make a final decision. To be protected, the tracking information will need to show proof of delivery from a shipping company that clearly displays:

1.     The delivery status of the item as "delivered"
2.     The date of delivery (which reflects that you shipped within the stated handling time)
3.     The recipient's address, displaying at least the city/state or ZIP code (or the equivalent) of the address listed in either the eBay Order details page or the PayPal Transaction Details page, and
4.     For items $750 (or local currency equivalent) or more (based on the total amount of the sale, including the cost of the item, shipping charged by you, any other fees you may charge, and any sales tax), proof of the recipient's signature to confirm delivery is required where such signature confirmation service is available from at least one shipping company. Note: for PayPal Buyer Protection cases, items costing $250 or more require proof of the recipient's signature.

Now when I go to that link in the old topic above, there is no longer a reference to eBay Seller Protection of $750. And I cannot find the $750 mentioned anywhere for eBay Seller Protection now. However, I can find references to eBay Buyer Protection of $750 here.

pages.ebay.com/help/policies/buyer-protection.html

eBay made changes to eBay Seller Protection with the fall 2013 update so it seems the $750 is gone.

It never made much sense since it was different that the PayPal Seller Protection amount of $250 requiring Signature Confirmation. There were questions as to what amount applied. If a case was opened on PayPal by an eBay buyer was the amount $250 or $750. It seems that confusion has been fixed by eliminating the reference to $750. There were a few discussions on the eBay.com forums as to which amount applied.

[i*m-still-here]

Not sure why I can't find it, but it was the only weekly meetings I took part in because it was a concern to me.

Pierre......... you commented on the $650 as well and brought up the same concern I had:  What does that mean for the buyer?

It was one of the first meetings.

(Could they be deleting posts from those threads? Leslie?)

[pjcdn2005]

Poco beat me to it.

As he said, the amount is $750, not $650 and it doesn't affect the OP or the seller in this situation in any way as it is valid only if the item is delivered.

Info about the $750 still show up in the seller protection info on .com.

http://pages.ebay.com/help/policies/seller-protection.html

eBay Buyer Protection cases

If a buyer claims an item hasn't been received

You're protected from losing a case if you ship an item within your stated handling time and provide tracking information before you or the buyer asks eBay to review the case.

Tracking information needs to include:

1. A delivery status of "delivered"

2. The date of delivery

3. The recipient's address

4. Signature confirmation, if an item has a total cost of $750 or more

[pjcdn2005]

The info on that same page on .ca is different

eBay Buyer Protection cases (applies to items sold on eBay.com only)

If a buyer claims an item hasn't been received

For item not received cases, you're protected from losing a case if you ship within your stated handling time and provide tracking information before you or the buyer asks eBay to make a final decision. To be protected, the tracking information will need to show proof of delivery from a shipping company that clearly displays:

1. The delivery status of the item as "delivered"

2. The date of delivery (which reflects that you shipped within stated handling time)

3. The recipient's address, displaying at least the city/state or ZIP code (or the equivalent) of the address listed in either the eBay Order details page or the PayPal Transaction Details page, and

4. For items $250 (or local currency equivalent) or more (based on the total amount of the sale, including the cost of the item, shipping, any other fees a seller may charge, and any sales tax), proof of the recipient's signature to confirm delivery is required where such signature confirmation service is available from the shipping company.

   Also on that page - Transactions made through PayPal may be covered by PayPal Seller Protection.

   The Paypal Seller protection as shown when you click on that link sounds just like the ebay seller protection plan above. My guess is that the information for the  $750 for ebay seller protection has not been updated on .ca

[pocomocomputing]

---

@pocomocomputing wrote:

---

@pierrelebel wrote:

"I'm curious - where did the $650 figure come from?  "

I looked and looked and looked all over eBay.com and cannot find any reference to seller protection to US$650 on eBay nor PayPal

That may be a great question for the "Pink Hour".

---

I had posted on July 5, 2013 about the eBay Seller Protection with a link and quote a while ago in this topic below about the $750 eBay Seller Protection. i*m-still-here had misquoted the amount in the topic earlier in that old topic and I had posted a correction and reference.

http://community.ebay.ca/t5/Buyer-Central/LOOPHOLE-watch-out-all-buyers/m-p/127761

post #13

copy of my old post here

$750, not $600

http://pages.ebay.com/help/policies/seller-protection.html

If a buyer claims an item hasn't been received

For eligible item not received cases, you're protected from losing a case if you ship within your stated handling time and provide tracking information before you or the buyer asks eBay to make a final decision. To be protected, the tracking information will need to show proof of delivery from a shipping company that clearly displays:

1.     The delivery status of the item as "delivered"
2.     The date of delivery (which reflects that you shipped within the stated handling time)
3.     The recipient's address, displaying at least the city/state or ZIP code (or the equivalent) of the address listed in either the eBay Order details page or the PayPal Transaction Details page, and
4.     For items $750 (or local currency equivalent) or more (based on the total amount of the sale, including the cost of the item, shipping charged by you, any other fees you may charge, and any sales tax), proof of the recipient's signature to confirm delivery is required where such signature confirmation service is available from at least one shipping company. Note: for PayPal Buyer Protection cases, items costing $250 or more require proof of the recipient's signature.

Now when I go to that link in the old topic above, there is no longer a reference to eBay Seller Protection of $750. And I cannot find the $750 mentioned anywhere for eBay Seller Protection now. However, I can find references to eBay Buyer Protection of $750 here.

pages.ebay.com/help/policies/buyer-protection.html

eBay made changes to eBay Seller Protection with the fall 2013 update so it seems the $750 is gone.

It never made much sense since it was different that the PayPal Seller Protection amount of $250 requiring Signature Confirmation. There were questions as to what amount applied. If a case was opened on PayPal by an eBay buyer was the amount $250 or $750. It seems that confusion has been fixed by eliminating the reference to $750. There were a few discussions on the eBay.com forums as to which amount applied.

---

The above is incorrect. The link I gave does have the $750 Seller Protection amount. I missed it somehow. The amount was buried in one of those notes that expand when you click on it.

PJ has the correct information this in her post.

My apologies for the misinformation.

[i*m-still-here]

I just want to point out to those undecided about whether to insure or not to insure................. and I'm one of those so often on the fence...........

................. that this $600 item has gone missing.  I've escalated the case because I had no choice.

It was shipped with tracking and delivery confirmation.  

The seller has TPI so she should be OK............... but it does happen.

This will make my decision easier in the future.

[toff3]

I*m-still-here,

I'm pretty sure your item will be delivered to you in the fullness of time. OK, it's been a month since it was mailed but delayed mail is a common occurrence. Registering mail is not recommended: it's expensive, liability coverage is limited, and processing is slowed because of all the gateways the mail piece has to pass through.

Tom