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The Kitchen Table

eBay question

13 years ago

In the middle of last month, I sold a rather expensive item on EBay. I shipped by post office Priority Mail, with signature confirmation required and insurance,

The item has still not been delivered. Tracking information shows that it has been in a sorting facility in New Jersey since 12/15 with no further movement. I have opened a customer service case, and they are telling me that the facility is backed up because of Hurricane Sandy. (Though I mailed the item six weeks after the hurricane, so why did they send it there???)

They said items are being delayed 1-2 weeks, though mine is already past that time. They say the package is not lost, just delayed. They have no idea when it will be delivered.

I feel that I should refund the money to the buyer, but am not sure how to do it while protecting myself. I believe the package will eventually be delivered to her, and at that point, she will have both the package and my money. She will probably be honest enough to send the item back to me, but who knows?

Any ideas?

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Comments (6)

ntt_hou
13 years ago
I'd suggest simply to be patient. The matter is out of both (seller & buyer) of your hands.

Let USPS takes care of its responsibility and that is to deliver your package. If you make a refund now, you may create a mess.

As long as the buyer has the package tracking number, the buyer should not hold you responsible for the delay with the delivery.
Lindsey_CA
13 years ago
I agree that you shouln't refund the money because you run a risk of being out both the item and the money. But, I would strongly urge you to keep in contact with the buyer and let her know that you are checking on the delivery progress.
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Can't help you with percentages, but can offer some advice. First look up the item that you are selling and put a watch this item on it and see if it sold. No sense selling something that no one is not buying. Yes there is a small charge if the item does not sell. That will depend on how many photos you list etc. E-Bay will let you knopw what the charges will be and you can back out if you want. I have shipped a saddle across the country for $60 so think small. The PO has small boxes that are $7.95 postage paid. If the item will fit in a padded envelope - that is even cheaper. Books and Dvd's can go media mail and that saves money too. Be sure you say which payment types you accept. Yes Paypal costs money but it is convenient for me as a buyer or seller. Beware the "low baller" who might ask you to take half of what your item is worth. One offered me $25 for something I later sold on E-Bay for $60. Also I state I will not ship overseas and that gets rid of some scammers. Beware of anyone who offers you a cashiers check for more than the amount - there are fake cashiers checks and money orders out there. Often the person says they will send an agent to pick the item up. All they want is you to cash the check and send them money. Scam scam.. I had a lady once say an one of a pair of items was broken and she would not have paid so much. I came back with - take the item to the post office because I carried insurance on it. Well she did not want to do that. Insurance is cheaper than worrying about something that is lost or missing. All for now, Kathy
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FlamingO in AR
13 years ago
Has the buyer complained? It could be that it was delivered and the PO just never updated the status of the package. I've been getting erroneous information from Delivery Confirmation a lot, lately. They say it was delivered a day before it actually was, or a day after, or not at all. So stay in touch with your buyer and give her the delivery confirmation #, too, so she'll know you're on the up-and-up. And if she's near that PO where it's hung up, she could go down there and ask about, assuming she hasn't already received it.
Fun2BHere
13 years ago
The biggest problem for the buyer is that she only has 45 days from date of purchase to open a case in eBay. If she seems willing to work with you, I would encourage her to wait until close to the deadline and then open a case. That way, she has protection if the item isn't delivered, but you don't have to refund her money right away. However, you risk receiving negative feedback with any delay. You'll have to judge how frustrated or accepting the buyer is with the delay vs. your willingness to lose your money and the item. As other posters have suggested, keeping the buyer informed as to the steps you are taking is always reassuring to the buyer.
jannie
13 years ago
I had a problem with something I bought on Ebay, a small item of doll house furniture. It took forever to arrive, I drove to the post office and they didn't have it, even tho the tracking number showed it was delivered there. Why I don't know, it's in the town about 6 miles south of mine. The seller offered a refund, but I really wanted the item. She somehow got it back in the mail and re-shipped it to me. Took nearly 2 months.
joann23456
Original Author
13 years ago
Thanks for your help. I contacted the buyer and told her that since the Post Office is telling me that the package is just delayed, not lost, I cannot provide a refund at this time. I had previously contacted Paypal, and they confirmed that this was what I should do.

I am dreading the response, because she is impatient as it is (I would be, too), but I think this was the best thing to do.

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