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High-value item, Royal Mail locker drop-off, no acceptance scan ,possible loophole or just delay?
Summary: good24be is concerned about a high-value item that was dropped off at a Royal Mail locker without an acceptance scan. tobiasd4 responds but does not provide any new information, suggesting there may be either a delay or a potential loophole involved in the process. The discussion does not conclude with a definite solution, indicating uncertainty about the issue.
Hi all,
I’m currently dealing with a situation and wanted to get input from experienced buyers/sellers.
Bought a high-value item on eBay
Seller marked as dispatched quickly
Tracking shows:
Dropped at Royal Mail locker (Friday)
Status stuck at: “Sender advised item dropped off”
Now several days later (past delivery date) → no “item received at mail centre” scan
Seller response has been:
“Royal Mail sometimes takes time to scan parcels from lockers… I’ll keep an eye on it.”
No confirmation that:
It was actually collected
Or accepted into Royal Mail’s network
What raised my concern
A Royal Mail employee mentioned that:
It’s technically possible to scan at a locker, open it, and close it without depositing anything.
That got me thinking—because in my case:
No acceptance scan at all
High-value item
Generic seller replies
No evidence of actual dispatch beyond initial drop-off status
Current status
eBay has now stepped in and given the seller 3 days to resolve
Questions to the community
Has anyone seen cases where locker drop-offs never get scanned at all?
Is this usually just a delay, or does it often indicate the parcel never entered the system?
For high-value items, is locker drop-off considered risky?
How often do sellers rely on the “dropped off” status without actual network entry?
Not making accusations, but the lack of a first scan is concerning—especially for a high-value item.
Would appreciate insights from both buyers and sellers.
Thanks.
tobiasd4
Mentor3 months agoNone of what you say about drop off is relevant.
If seller can't prove delivery, they or ebay will refund.
make sure you escalate case 3 - 30 days after opening.
Don't let seller fob you off.