eBay

jaymor8 · ‎10-10-2003

I have been on both ends of this equation and I am curious as to what the majority of sellers do in this situation. The buyer opts to forego insurance because your record depicts a person who takes good care in packaging their items. The item doesn't arrive after 4 weeks. What do you do? And, what recourse does a buyer have?

As a seller, I have had one uninsured item go astray and inasmuch as I wanted to pummel the buyer because he took the cheap route, I made the refund anyway.

As a buyer, A package I was expecting seemed to disappear into thin air. The seller adopted an attitude of, "Yeah....and...what's your point?"

I know it can be problematic with customs intervening on all of our transactions and that is why I usually opt not to insure, (I insure all Canadian transactions) because it calls too much attention to the contents and the value. But what is to keep the seller from just not sending it and saying that he did?

What is the standard held by most sellers re a missing package. Are most apt to refund the money or just blow you off and risk the negative?

Jackie...

firedept10 · ‎10-10-2003

Jackie,

Any item I sell to US buyer over $50.00 is sent Registered so I can fight a possible scam chargeback. Also makes my customer feel more secure that they will receive it. All Canadian parcels are sent Expedited so they are traceable. Has saved me once with a scam artist. Now if my US buyer is adamant about not paying the extra for registered, I will generally do it out of my pocket. It is only $9.00 compared to maybe $500-1,000 refund. I may not be the best one for an opinion as I have been very fortunate in not having a parcel go missing. I am sure one day it will happen, but at least with Registered & Expedited, I can file for a refund because it was insured. My feelings on small items would be to refund. Hard to charge $9.00 insurance on a $10.00 item. I have only had one package sent to me that disappeared and that seller got a neutral from me and then complained I was being unfair, but still did not offer a refund to me. Only $10.00 item! P.S., I am sending you an email shortly about the ring.

Don

www-labels4less-com · ‎10-10-2003

"What do you do"
I also take care to ship larger orders with proof of delivery. In most cases unless there is a trackable delivery with signature, the seller is S.O.L. and open to chargeback by paypal or credit card company. I reship at n/c.

I DO live by Ebay's operating rule that people are basically good and unless they have a neg feedback pattern directly related to "missing packages" I trust them.

thebidwatcher · ‎10-10-2003

If someone tells me their package did not arrive, and a good long time has passed, like three weeks, I refund. I am only interested in building repeat business and the loss of one customer drives me nuts. Even if the item cost me $40 or whatever, I chalk it up to the cost of doing business.

On the other side of the fence, I have asked buyers for money and they have told me it was in the mail. I have asked for it again (because it MUST be LOST!) and they have sent it, only for me to find a slip that showed me I in fact got the money and forgot about it. I am only human. I send the money back with a gift and beg for forgiveness.

My point is that not everyone is right or wrong all the time. Like the mighty willow - we must bend...

Geez, it must be Friday. I am so full of it!

Beer... need beer...

jaymor8 · ‎10-10-2003

Like the mighty willow - we must bend...

Yeah...OR suck the life out of the foundation of your house.

I have forgotten twice since I have been selling, to ship an item. One was a MO that came late - I put it down and then completely forgot about it...the other was a late Paypal payment that I somehow missed receiving. That one pi$$ed me off because it shouldn't have happened. I must have been away and when I returned, downloaded my emails and just plain missed it. So, I sent it Xpresspost with a little gift inside and the buyer was happy. Turned out, it was only 4 days late afterall.

Jackie...

your-chic-shopper · ‎10-12-2003

I generally refund as well . But wait till they ask you to resend another item

momosworld · ‎10-12-2003

We sell items that can be replaced so if it doesnt arrive, we usually tell the buyer we will ship another and take the loss. Any items over $45-$50 I always ship with tracking. If in your case the item is non-replaceable then you should refund the amount as you don't want the neg, sometimes its hard to eat the price because you feel that they did get the item and are just trying to scam you.

good luck.

gloriaguides · ‎10-13-2003

I've never had the complaint yet (keeping fingers crossed and knocking on wood!), but I always insure anything over about $40 US and all video games/electronics over $25. Under 20 I don't worry about. Books between $20 and 40 usually weigh over 1 Kg and go expedited anyway. Occasionally I'll send a semi-expensive book surface untraceable. I WOULD refund if the buyer claimed non-receipt (book buyers are so honest it's wonderful!). Rarely even have a NPB amongst my book buyers. Video games are an entirely different, less reliable, clientel and I cover myself accordingly. So, it really depends on what you sell and who your buyers are in a general kind of way. --Glori