Seller problems on Ebay.

[CaveDweller]

I ordered some items on monday 24th of March and they still haven't turned up. The seller sent them via 2nd class and he was going to check with royal Mail to see if he could track them down. He messaged me back this afternoon saying that they were at my local post office undelivered. I went down to check and they were not there like he said they were. The staff said no parcels have even come in for me. I didn't even think royal Mail could track down 2nd class mail.

What should I do now? I've got him saying that Royal Mail said that they are undelivered at the post office and I have the post office saying that no parcels have turned up for me at all.

Do you think I could go back to the post office and get them to write me a letter on headed paper stating that the parcels have not arrived? I want to try and get every bit of evidence possible in case he is trying to do me over, then it gives me a better leg to stand on when I contact Ebay or Paypal.

 

[Gremlin]

Unless it required a signature then you are correct, there will be no tracking number, if he has sent them recorded delivery then ask him for the tracking number.
I always thought that unless items were sent requiring a signature to confirm delivery then ebay/paypal took the side of the buyer ?

 

[CaveDweller]

Unless it required a signature then you are correct, there will be no tracking number, if he has sent them recorded delivery then ask him for the tracking number.
I always thought that unless items were sent requiring a signature to confirm delivery then ebay/paypal took the side of the buyer ?

No they were second class and had no tracking numbers. To be honest I don't know how it all works with getting money back through paypal/Ebay. I've never had to do it and when I have had problems before the seller has always been keen to help me. I seem to have found a **** this time lol.

 

[Gremlin]

I don't use ebay or paypal, only going on what I've read in the past, but I'm sure someone with more knowledge will talk you through the process

I do know about the RM side of things though as I work for them and am at present grounded to the callers office

 

[wontolla]

Open an Item Not Received with Ebay/PayPal, always gets sorted. He/She will have no proof of delivery so you will get the refund.

 

[CaveDweller]

Ok thanks. I'll give it until tomorrow and I'll pop back into the post office. If they are still saying the same I will open up a dispute.

 

[mickledore]

I had something similar and Paypal's stance was that the seller had no evidence that he had posted them to me so I got my money back pretty quickly.

 

[Dave *]

Ok thanks. I'll give it until tomorrow and I'll pop back into the post office. If they are still saying the same I will open up a dispute.

I would suggest just opening a dispute, there is no way for the RM to track or check a normal 1st/2nd class parcel location in their system (they can't even track normal Recorded until it's delivered). The seller is lying to you by making those claims, so the sooner you open the dispute the better.

 

[big soft moose]

I would suggest just opening a dispute, there is no way for the RM to track or check a normal 1st/2nd class parcel location in their system (they can't even track normal Recorded until it's delivered). The seller is lying to you by making those claims, so the sooner you open the dispute the better.

That !

 

[wontolla]

Ok thanks. I'll give it until tomorrow and I'll pop back into the post office. If they are still saying the same I will open up a dispute.

If you haven't had a card pushed through the door from your Postie to say it is at the sorting office, then there is nothing they can, or will do.

 

[Steve Smith]

The item is the seller's responsibility until it is delivered to you.

Some ebay sellers state "I am not responsible for items being lost in the post". This is both a breach of contract (as you paid the seller to deliver) and is also contrary to ebay's terms and conditions and is an indicator of a seller I will not buy from.

If you do not receive it within a reasonable time, make a complaint.


Steve

 

[CaveDweller]

Ok, thanks all. I have opened up a dispute for the items just now. Ebay are getting a lot better with the 30 money back system, they didn't have that the last time I used it so hopefully they should be pretty helpful with my case.

Now I'll just have to wait and watch the seller panic because he won't want a bad rep lol. I'll have to buy the items I was after locally and pay more for just one item than I did for the two on Ebay.

 

[Steep]

Glad to see you're going with the dispute, the seller has clearly lied to you, someone who would do that is absolutely not to be trusted.

 

[CaveDweller]

Glad to see you're going with the dispute, the seller has clearly lied to you, someone who would do that is absolutely not to be trusted.

Yeh I thought they were lying when they said RM managed to track a 2nd class parcel. I just wanted to make sure so I went to the post office anyway. Hopefully it will get sorted soon, if not within 8days I believe after that Ebay will sort it out.

 

[Dave *]

Yeh I thought they were lying when they said RM managed to track a 2nd class parcel. I just wanted to make sure so I went to the post office anyway. Hopefully it will get sorted soon, if not within 8days I believe after that Ebay will sort it out.

If the seller cares about his eBay stats he will probably refund and then ask that you contact him if the item arrives late.

Having a refund forced on by eBay will be a big black mark on his seller ratings and could see him kicked off eBay if he does it more than a few times.

 

[Keith W]

for any mail, 1st, 2nd etc., the post office can provide you with a proof of postage, this will give you very basic information, it will indicate that the post office have the item and then it will indicate that the item has been delivered.

Maybe your seller has proof of postage? If he does ask him for the reference/tracking number

 

[Dave *]

for any mail, 1st, 2nd etc., the post office can provide you with a proof of postage, this will give you very basic information, it will indicate that the post office have the item and then it will indicate that the item has been delivered.

Maybe your seller has proof of postage? If he does ask him for the reference/tracking number

Proof of postage can't indicate that an item has been delivered, all it proves is that the item was handed in at at PO counter for posting, also there is no reference/tracking number for a simple Horizon proof of posting. The lowest method of posting with tracking is Recorded, and even then it only tracks receipt at PO and then delivery.

 

[Mr Bump]

as @Dave1 states above for 2nd class mail the sender can only get a proof of postage receipt, this means the post office records that the sender has posted an item on that date and gets a receipt, often the post office write the post code on that receipt.

If the items does not turn up within a given time frame and the post office state something like 28 days for 2nd class mail the sender can raise an issue with the post office with his/her receipt.

technically you need to allow the 28 days to pass to see if it gets delivered first, open a dispute with the seller I suspect it may have got lost but you need to allow a waiting period first and currently that is about two weeks.

 

[Gremlin]

The lowest method of posting with tracking is Recorded, and even then it only tracks receipt at PO and then delivery.

Not strictly true, it will also tell you if delivery has been attempted and the item is waiting at your local delivery office for collection.

 

[jakeblu]

Unless it required a signature then you are correct, there will be no tracking number, if he has sent them recorded delivery then ask him for the tracking number.
I always thought that unless items were sent requiring a signature to confirm delivery then ebay/paypal took the side of the buyer ?

I'm assuming you checked the sorting office and not the post office, they're usually different places, and undelivered mail does not go to the post office. Your confusing tracking with ringing the buyers local sorting office I have done that on plenty of occasions you'd be surprised how much "missing" post is there

Steve

 

[neil_g]

As mentioned start a not received dispute. eBay will ask the seller for proof of delivery which he won't have. You'll get refunded.

Which is why I ALWAYS send my sold items requiring a signature. It's all too easy for a buyer to claim it never arrived.

 

[Gremlin]

I'm assuming you checked the sorting office and not the post office, they're usually different places, and undelivered mail does not go to the post office. Your confusing tracking with ringing the buyers local sorting office I have done that on plenty of occasions you'd be surprised how much "missing" post is there
Steve

Not sure why you quoted my post ?
You can actually track items online if you have a number: http://www.royalmail.com/track-trace
That will tell you where the item should be, if delivery has been attempted (recorded/signed for)
or where along the system it is with tracked items or special next day deliveries.

Our office has a clear office policy so every item bought into the office for delivery has to go out that day
Items bought back are recorded and numbered so are easy to find when someone comes to collect them.
Last thing you want is a queue of people waiting whilst you have to search for something.
System works well and if someone comes in without a delivery card we can normally find the item if it is
in fact waiting collection.

If it was sent via Parcel Force then often these are left at a local Post Office if the depot is a long way off
but once again the card will tell you

 

[neil_g]

Have it say our sorting office always seem to locate things very quickly.

Only problem I have is when I forget the OH ID when I'm picking something up for her

 

[Tigger.ufo]

technically you need to allow the 28 days to pass to see if it gets delivered first, open a dispute with the seller I suspect it may have got lost but you need to allow a waiting period first and currently that is about two weeks.

You do not have to wait as the postage contract is between the seller and the post office.

Your contract is with the seller so you need to open a dispute and get refunded ASAP.

Not your problem how it was sent.

 

[Dave *]

Not strictly true, it will also tell you if delivery has been attempted and the item is waiting at your local delivery office for collection.

Well, if you want to be pedantic , I could clarify that what I'm saying is that Signed For is only tracked at point of postage and point of delivery, attempted delivery or collection from local RM office.

My actual point to KeithW was that there is no form of tracking or delivery details related to sending something 1st or 2nd with only a proof of postage.

 

[CaveDweller]

You do not have to wait as the postage contract is between the seller and the post office.

Your contract is with the seller so you need to open a dispute and get refunded ASAP.

Not your problem how it was sent.

Also Ebay's money back scheme is within 30days. So it will not look good on me if I wait a few weeks then open a dispute. I've opened one anyway and the seller has 8 days from yesterday to sort it out before Ebay gets involved, from what I can understand. He has not messaged back yet but should get it sorted soon.

 

[Mr Bump]

You do not have to wait as the postage contract is between the seller and the post office.

Your contract is with the seller so you need to open a dispute and get refunded ASAP.

Not your problem how it was sent.

Yes it is but the buyer accepted 2nd class shipping not special delivery next day so must accept the terms of that service.
open a dispute by all means I would also but also wait another 7 days,

 

[Steve Smith]

Yes it is but the buyer accepted 2nd class shipping not special delivery next day so must accept the terms of that service.

But it's still the seller's responsibility if it doesn't get delivered.


Steve.

 

[Dave *]

Yes it is but the buyer accepted 2nd class shipping not special delivery next day so must accept the terms of that service.
open a dispute by all means I would also but also wait another 7 days,

No, the buyer accepts eBay's terms of service, and eBay says the seller has to get the item delivered in whatever time specified by eBay, for UK sellers that would be 7 days, or the buyer can open a case.

It's not the buyers problem at all.

 

[CaveDweller]

Yes it is but the buyer accepted 2nd class shipping not special delivery next day so must accept the terms of that service.
open a dispute by all means I would also but also wait another 7 days,

There will be another 7 days before something has to be done about it anyway, if the items turn up in that time I will let him know and close the case. I've waited 12days for the items so far and the dispute lasts 8days, which I opened yesterday. That should give him plenty time to sort something out or the items may even still turn up.

 

[jakeblu]

There will be another 7 days before something has to be done about it anyway, if the items turn up in that time I will let him know and close the case. I've waited 12days for the items so far and the dispute lasts 8days, which I opened yesterday. That should give him plenty time to sort something out or the items may even still turn up.

I quoted someone else when on the iPad regarding going to the Sorting office not the post office. DId you go to the sorting office to see if your parcel is there?

Steve

 

[jakeblu]

Not sure why you quoted my post ?
You can actually track items online if you have a number: http://www.royalmail.com/track-trace
That will tell you where the item should be, if delivery has been attempted (recorded/signed for)
or where along the system it is with tracked items or special next day deliveries.

Our office has a clear office policy so every item bought into the office for delivery has to go out that day
Items bought back are recorded and numbered so are easy to find when someone comes to collect them.
Last thing you want is a queue of people waiting whilst you have to search for something.
System works well and if someone comes in without a delivery card we can normally find the item if it is
in fact waiting collection.

If it was sent via Parcel Force then often these are left at a local Post Office if the depot is a long way off
but once again the card will tell you

Sorry not sure why I quoted your post either. I was just noting that the seller never said he had tracked it, rather he had rung the buyers local office to be told it was there. I was just checking with the OP that he has checked the sorting office and not the post office

Steve

 

[CaveDweller]

I quoted someone else when on the iPad regarding going to the Sorting office not the post office. DId you go to the sorting office to see if your parcel is there?

Steve

Yes checked both places. Should get sorted out soon if the items don't turn up this week whilst my case is open with the seller. If they turn up I'll let him know.

 

[Keith W]

Proof of postage can't indicate that an item has been delivered, all it proves is that the item was handed in at at PO counter for posting, also there is no reference/tracking number for a simple Horizon proof of posting. The lowest method of posting with tracking is Recorded, and even then it only tracks receipt at PO and then delivery.

That's not true

I have on a number of occasions posted items and asked for proof of postage, each time I get a receipt with a reference number

This reference number can then be input to the track and trace facility and will tell you that your item has been received by the post office and then once delivery has been made it will tell you they have delivered it

 

[Dave *]

That's not true

I have on a number of occasions posted items and asked for proof of postage, each time I get a receipt with a reference number

This reference number can then be input to the track and trace facility and will tell you that your item has been received by the post office and then once delivery has been made it will tell you they have delivered it

Then what you have done is sent the item by "Signed For" 1st or 2nd class. If you get a free proof of postage there is no tracking, no confirmation of delivery or anything beyond dropping the letter into a letter box.

Ask yourself, if the free proof of posting certificate did as you seem to think, why would anyone ever bother paying the extra for Signed For, which offers exactly what you seem to think normal 1st or 2nd Class with proof of postage offers.

It would be nice, but you are wrong, a free proof of posting offers nothing but confirmation that an envelope or parcel was tipped into the 1st or 2nd class bag by the PO counter clerk.

 

[Mr Bump]

Proof of posting is just a receipt to denote you have purchased a service and for how much.
Also I note my PO does scribble the post code on the receipt but not sure if that is just them.

I once go a parcel lost one time and filled the form out and supplied the receipt as you are supposed to be able to get some compo, didnt even get a reply.

to be honest I pretty much use Hermes drop off at my local qwiki-mart as post office just pretty ropey for me and the ginger bird behind the counter is so misrable.

 

[Lynton]

I'm assuming you checked the sorting office and not the post office, they're usually different places, and undelivered mail does not go to the post office. Your confusing tracking with ringing the buyers local sorting office I have done that on plenty of occasions you'd be surprised how much "missing" post is there

Steve

It does here. Anything not delivered because won't fit / sig needed etc etc is at the local PO.

 

[Keith W]

Then what you have done is sent the item by "Signed For" 1st or 2nd class. If you get a free proof of postage there is no tracking, no confirmation of delivery or anything beyond dropping the letter into a letter box.

Ask yourself, if the free proof of posting certificate did as you seem to think, why would anyone ever bother paying the extra for Signed For, which offers exactly what you seem to think normal 1st or 2nd Class with proof of postage offers.

It would be nice, but you are wrong, a free proof of posting offers nothing but confirmation that an envelope or parcel was tipped into the 1st or 2nd class bag by the PO counter clerk.

I don't think anything, I know what I did

 

[Dave *]

I don't think anything, I know what I did

It seems not.

Proof of posting is just a receipt to denote you have purchased a service and for how much.
Also I note my PO does scribble the post code on the receipt but not sure if that is just them.

Same here, sometimes they key the postcode in (and it's printed on the receipt) other times they just write it on with a pen, it seems to vary by PO clerk.

 

[2blue4u]

I take more than a dozen packages to the local PO each week. Mainly containing legal papers. A mix of Special Delivery, 1st Class 'Signed-For' and occasionally just a Proof of Posting. I can assure you, Keith W, that a Proof of Posting cannot be tracked in any way. If you have been tracking an item then you will have used RMSD or 'Signed-For' (previously 'Recorded').