Ebay Item - Lost in Post

As a buyer on ebay, I don't think I've ever felt so anxious about an item lost in the post. I've been buying cricket cards from a particular seller for a couple of years. I've never had a problem at all - postage is always combined with the multiple items I buy and items are delivered promptly.

This time around, I bought $140 worth of cards, including $6 postage and was really looking forward to receiving them as some of them were extremely hard to get. Murphy's Law being what it is, they have not turned up. It's been over 10 days (travelling a short distance) and though there may be a slight chance they could still turn up, it's not looking good.

I contacted the seller to advise the issue - hoping to get a tracking number. The response I got back was that I didn't opt for Registered Post, so .....

I'm just not sure what to do. I could obviously lodge a paypal claim which will wreck any relationship I have with the seller, but then again, if I was a seller and a trusted buyer told me that they had an issue, I don't think I'd just fob them off with ... you didn't pay for registered post. I simply paid the total cost (with combined postage) as quoted by the buyer - given I was charged $6 and based on the amount of the transaction, I wrongly assumed it would have been registered.

I know sellers are always griping about buyers trying to rip them off etc. In this case I can assure you I'm doing no such thing and I'm the one feeling all kinds of anxiety over this. I don't know if paypal will side with their VIP seller and whether I'll get my money back. I don't know how to break it to the seller that though the lost item is not their fault, nor is it mine and it's not fair that I just kiss a large sum of money goodbye.

I would have thought the seller would at least try and cushion the blow by offering up some replacement items - perhaps leading to both of us taking a small hit each - but so far the tone has been somewhat terse and bordering on hostile.

Any thoughts or advice? I'll fill out an Australia Post missing item form, but I know that won't do any good. Sucks big time!!

Have you checked at your local PO to see if the item is sitting there waiting for you? Sometimes this does happen.

Sorry to hear that Naz. The exact same thing happened to me on here and then he got upset when I negged him after he basically told me tough luck, not his problem.

Just put a PayPal claim in. I'm sure if the seller bans you and you every need something from him someone on here will help you out.

Mate, he must at least have a receipt from the post office? I know that when we sell cards on here (as well as once on eBay) I keep every receipt pinned to a corkboard until I know that the cards have been received.

Assuming the seller is Australian, I find that the two words "Consumer Affairs" tends to jerk the slack out of certain people

Not good Naz. Who is the seller?

If they don't arrive then you have no option but to lodge a claim. Proof will be on him to prove he posted the item, and without registered post the claim should go in your favour. I wouldn't worry about damaging the relationship....I am sure he wouldn't hesitate to lodge a claim were it him on the receiving end?!

I have had a case where the package was sitting at the PO and when i went and enquired the bloke in the PO said I had been sent 2 reminders. I hadn't seen any.

Naz, put the claim in, you will win it as eBay requires sellers to provide proof of postage etc and the only way a seller can do that is with Registered Post and a filled out and stamped lodgement receipt.

Dave

10 days is that long, give it at least another 5 working days, i have had the odd parcel take 5 times as long as normal...

Ok some people will not like this but this is how it is because it's happens to me.
Naz PayPal will side with you because he cannot provide proof of postage.
I see Matty76 I hate to say this but PayPal will not care you have a docket because it does not have the deliver address I do a lot on eBay so I have been through it.
Registered post or express post because you have the label is the only way.
If he bans you because the items have been lost then he's not worth dealing with.
But also A_Iverson_I is right check with the post office.
Just as a matter of interest how many cards are we talking about not what it cost you.

Thank you guys for all the comments and words of advice. I have already checked with my post office and the item isn't there. I guess what I'll do is:

• fill out the Australia Post missing mail form
• wait for another week
• try as politely as I can to let the seller know that he shares the responsibility of the item going missing and cannot just simply say tough luck and not expect me to claim with paypal
• Any other advice ????

I feel like a real jerk, but I can't just wear this. As for being banned by the guy etc, I couldn't give a rats - probably save me some money - be a shame though as I have worked hard to maintain a good reputation in the hobby and this could hurt me in some way in the long run.

Overall, I have never considered getting a PO box as I like the convenience of getting my mail at my doorstep. However, over the last 20 years I have lost at least 4-5 items in the mail (that I know of anyway). Is this a high number, or does it happen a fair bit to others as well?

Sacha said:

10 days is that long, give it at least another 5 working days, i have had the odd parcel take 5 times as long as normal...

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Put it this way, I've received other mail from the same person since then. Definitely going to give it more time - but I've got this sinking feeling that if it's not already here and it's not at the post office, it's probably never going to turn up. I just started the dialogue with the seller to see if there was a tracking number etc.

Yep myself too, I had a 5 week wait but I was confident... Went in to the PO and the package was there, and they said they had left 2 of the red and white notices. I said nope, didnt get them, then the postal worker said they had been getting complaints about lazy/unreliable contract delivery drivers.

Good luck with the situation mate.

HI Nazim. I have had a similar thing happen to me a couple years ago but i was the seller. She opted for regular post on a $180 supercar model. 2 weeks past and she never got the item. Naturally she was pretty hostile and upset so I contacted her over the phone insisting it was sent and it wasnt in my best interest to rip her or anyone off for the sake of $180. She wanted her money back which was fair enough but i managed to convince her to wait just a little bit longer while i fill out a missing parcel form. If that didnt help id send her a refund. It turned out that the parcel was sitting at her local post office the whole time so i called her to tell her its there waiting. I was lucky i did what i did because i would have refunded the money and possibly not gotten the model back. Ask the seller fill out one of these forms. If he refusees then i would go right ahead and put that claim in.

nazimcricket said:

Thank you guys for all the comments and words of advice. I have already checked with my post office and the item isn't there. I guess what I'll do is:

• fill out the Australia Post missing mail form
• wait for another week
• try as politely as I can to let the seller know that he shares the responsibility of the item going missing and cannot just simply say tough luck and not expect me to claim with paypal
• Any other advice ????

I feel like a real jerk, but I can't just wear this. As for being banned by the guy etc, I couldn't give a rats - probably save me some money - be a shame though as I have worked hard to maintain a good reputation in the hobby and this could hurt me in some way in the long run.

Overall, I have never considered getting a PO box as I like the convenience of getting my mail at my doorstep. However, over the last 20 years I have lost at least 4-5 items in the mail (that I know of anyway). Is this a high number, or does it happen a fair bit to others as well?

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It happens a fair bit..............

tak35bne said:

Naz, put the claim in, you will win it as eBay requires sellers to provide proof of postage etc and the only way a seller can do that is with Registered Post and a filled out and stamped lodgement receipt.

Dave

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I agree with Dave Mate.......put the claim in.

If had been $20 or so then not worth ruining the relationshsip you have but for $140 I would process a claim.

That said......give in another week, I have had stuff take over two weeks from Victoria to Sydney and in one case last year a registered post item with over $200 worth of cards took THREE weeksfrom Victoria to Country Victoria because it got stuck in the bottom of the canvas post bag and did not resurface until it was cleared out the next week!

There is still hope

nazimcricket said:

Overall, I have never considered getting a PO box as I like the convenience of getting my mail at my doorstep. However, over the last 20 years I have lost at least 4-5 items in the mail (that I know of anyway). Is this a high number, or does it happen a fair bit to others as well?

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In over 20 years of buying and selling on eBay I would have maybe one or two items lost so I would say yes that is a high number.........but I have never had any of the items I have sent lost in the mail (touch wood).

supertoad said:

they had been getting complaints about lazy/unreliable contract delivery drivers.

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Once i was at home and the delivery driver didnt even bother to knock on the door he just wedged the notice in and drove off. Yes some of them are useless

am i the only one that thinks it was a little unfair to ask him for some cards as a sort of replacement? fair enough if i am (dont want to step on anyones toes). but its not his fault if auspost screwed up? and he has no way of knowing if youre lying.
plus in the end if you make a claim, youll get a refund anyway...so i guess its in his best interest to send you something.
hundreds of packages, ive never had anything go missing in either direction. just lucky i guess?

Hope you find a satisfying resolution. Having lost cards in the post (twice in 4 years only small $$$ items), when I buy or sell, if its over $15-$20 I will only use registered post. I says so in my sale conditions on EBAY and on here, if a buyer doesnt like it, dont commit to buy my cards and any seller will comply if requested...... For the sake of a little extra its piece of mind that both parties are covered. You only need one big deal to go missing to realise its worth it.

sgt_pepper said:

am i the only one that thinks it was a little unfair to ask him for some cards as a sort of replacement? fair enough if i am (dont want to step on anyones toes). but its not his fault if auspost screwed up? and he has no way of knowing if youre lying.
plus in the end if you make a claim, youll get a refund anyway...so i guess its in his best interest to send you something.
hundreds of packages, ive never had anything go missing in either direction. just lucky i guess?

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I was simply saying that if he were to offer some replacement cards, I would obviously work with him and NOT make a paypal claim. Yes, not his fault, but not mine either. Don't forget, I don't have any way of knowing if he's lying or not as well. It cuts both ways. This is exactly why I'm feeling so anxious about all of this. Sucks to be in this situation!

nazimcricket said:

I was simply saying that if he were to offer some replacement cards, I would obviously work with him and NOT make a paypal claim. Yes, not his fault, but not mine either. Don't forget, I don't have any way of knowing if he's lying or not as well. It cuts both ways. This is exactly why I'm feeling so anxious about all of this. Sucks to be in this situation!

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very true. you have the upper hand tho (through paypal), and the way you described the seller it didnt sound like you thought he was lying. just maybe ripping you off on postage...
just a sh!tty situation all round i guess...