Parcel Not Received, Buyer asking for Refund, need Advise

[westron123]

Need some advise and would appreciate any input. I mailed a package to Austria July 18, I thought it was Air but in reading the receipt I think it was surface. Buyer has not received it yet and is wanting a refund.  I did not use tracking because of the cost involved which in hindsight was wrong on my part. I think that if she was willing to wait a little longer it would show up, but do I have any right to ask her to wait longer?

Should I just refund and hope that if it does show up she will be honest enough to send me a payment. or should I just write it off and call it a loss? Or ask her to wait longer?

Thanks in advance.

[pierrelebel]

"Should I just refund and hope that if it does show up she will be honest enough to send me a payment."

That is by far the best option in the circumstances.

First write to the buyer explaining when the item was mailed, advising a refund will be processed through PayPal and ask to please let you kow when the item finally arrives so an invoice can be sent through PayPal for her payment.

[bb_cool_stuff]

I would refund also.

Never ship overseas via Surface.

It just takes too long.