eBay

katlover1952 · ‎12-29-2014

Boy this is frustrating. Mailed an item to Australia on Dec 2nd (paid for Dec 2nd mailed Dec 2nd) in hopes that it might get there by Xmas - went small packet airmail 3rd tier so was around $39 to mail but of course no tracking or insurance - that would have been double the shipping (item was $19 and I thought once she saw the shipping cost she would not want to proceed as she did not ask first). Yesterday I got a case opened on eBay.com as she has not received it. Expected delivery date showed Dec 15 -24th. I replied to her through the case that I felt it would still show up possibly this week because of mail volumes etc this time of year and to get back to me if it does not show up.

The most frustrating part is that I will in all likelihood have to do a refund of around $50 but I just got my top rated seller status back on the 20th of Dec and will not likely lose it again. I don't understand why these buyers are not contacting the seller BEFORE they open a case. The majority of sellers on eBay are co-operative and will deal fairly with their buyers but once a case is open you have a defect, through no fault of your own I might add - I mean really why should we be responsible for the Post Office not doing their job. I just don't get why item not rec'd should be a defect as it is rarely the sellers' fault - should only be a defect if they have to open a case to get a refund.

Well that is my rant for the day - and yes I know I just have to suck it up but sure is frustrating and I really do think there is a good chance it will arrive but will the buyer let me know if it does - that's anybody's guess.

ricarmic · ‎12-29-2014

If it helps here is my canned letter I send the buyer when I refund. I am running about 50% of the time they do contact me and I can reinvoice....so it works some of the time at least! (You may have to translate into their local language if it is not english, the first one tends to translate well)

Hi BUYERNAME! Your parcel was mailed as promised on Tuesday October 14 to this address: BUYERS ADDRESS. There is no tracking number, to get a tracking number would have added an extra $25 to the shipping cost. I am refunding your money out of my own funds now. If the parcel arrives later, let me know so I can send another invoice so you can pay for it again (parcels like this are uninsured so I lose 100% if they do not arrive). It is very rare for parcels to never arrive, over 99% of the time they just take a long time to arrive. Sorry for the frustrations around this parcel, hopefully it will still show up. Have a great day! RICARMIC

This one does not translate well:

Hi BUYERNAME! THX for your note! Your stamp lots were mailed as promised on Monday December 23 to this address: BUYERS ADDRESS. They do not have a tracking number – to get tracking would have added another $15 their cost! (Canada Post rates are very high for tracking). I agree it has been a long time so I have refunded your money out of my own funds now. Assuming the stamps do eventually arrive (the PO was closed a lot over the holidays and some stuff is taking a long time), just let me know so I can send another invoice so you can pay for them again (small lots like this are not insured so I am out 100% if they do not show up). It is very rare for packages to never arrive, over 99% of the time they just take longer than one would expect to get there. Sorry for the frustrations around these lots, hopefully they will still show up. Have a great day! RICARMIC

onlygoodthingscanada · ‎12-29-2014

Good idea to send them another email asking if there is a chance that some other family member took parcel/envelope from mailbox and they just forgot to tell other family members. One of my buyers has recently opened and closed INR case immediately after he finally discovered that his wife had already received their missing envelope.

katlover1952 · ‎12-29-2014

Well it just gets worse. Got an email from her through the dispute center saying "that she wanted it for Xmas (it was a Xmas tapestry table runner & 4 placemats) and that I made her wait saying she hadn't paid when she already had & that she no longer wanted it and wanted her money & shipping costs refunded". I really feel that this parcel is not lost - it was in a fair sized box and weighed over 500 grams. Thing is I don't know where she is coming up with this I made her wait thing - I got notice of the sale at 9:54 p.m. on Dec 1st and sent her the invoice at 10:33 p.m. on Dec 1st. She paid on Dec 2nd at 1:54 a.m. & I printed the shipping label and mailed it 8:17 a.m. on Dec. 2nd - absolutely no wait at all! I could appeal to her sense of fairness and allow her to keep the item for free and just pay the shipping when it shows up but why would she do that when she knows she can keep it for FREE!

I think I am totally screwed because she is just going to say it never got there even if it shows up or already has after Xmas. Any opinions from anyone . I just can't see how to salvage any of this now - think I am out about $50 plus have a defect and as a seller I really think I did everything right. I also emailed her when I mailed it saying that I HOPED it would get there by Xmas & that with normal mailing times it would but in the Christmas season it might not. Situations like this seem very unfair for the seller - bad enough I am likely going to be stuck doing a refund and be out the money but the defect just adds insult to injury - really where is eBay's thinking in all this!!!

pjcdn2005 · ‎12-29-2014

I don't understand why these buyers are not contacting the seller BEFORE they open a case.

Probably because most of them don't know that they are opening a case. When the buyer went to ask you a question, one of the choices they were given stated something like 'I haven't received my item yet'.....it seems a logical choice if the buyer hasn't received their item. I don't think they don't know that they are opening a case or giving you a defect.