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Received postage lablel instead of item
Summary: davidninetynine purchased an item on eBay, but received only a postage label instead of the expected electronics. Despite notifications indicating delivery, the package never arrived, and the label appeared unused. davidninetynine reported the issue to the seller and local sorting office, suspecting the item may have been lost or stolen within the postal system. Other participants advised opening an 'item not as described' case on eBay to seek a refund, emphasizing the importance of documenting everything with photos. davidninetynine plans to follow this advice while awaiting the seller's response.
I have just bought an item on ebay or around £100. After the usual string of emails from RM saying "your parcel will be delivered today" etc, it's now showing as delivered. And ebay have also sent an email saying it's delivered.
But the postman never rang my doorbell and just put two things through my letterbox.
One was a letter, and the other was a Tracked 48 "no signature" postage label, the usual A4 sheet folded into a quarter size that is normally stuck on a parcel.
This label has obviously never been attached to anything.
I took it to the local sorting office (I'm lucky, it's only a mile away) and showed it to the people there. They made a note and promised to ask the postie about it when he/she gets back to the depot.
I have been using ebay on and off for over 23 years and never had this happen before.
I sent the seller a message asking for advice, but I'm not sure if they will get it. Although the "copy message to self" has arrived OK, the message form had some AI nonsense added about using "report" categories for questions about postage.
As ebay now thinks the parcel was delivered I don't think reporting non-delivery will work.
Should I report as "not as described" on the grounds that I bought and paid for a piece of electronics, not a piece of paper?
I think this may be a scam, although the seller looks legitimate.
davidninetynine
OP2 weeks ago · EditedI have been to the sorting office again to follow this up.
They say it was accepted at a parcel shop so the label must have been attached to a parcel. They think it has probably come off the package, in which case it will be orphaned and could be anywhere in the postal system.
The postie delivered this label because it was in their pile of letters for my road and they didn't stop to think it was strange.
They gave me a number for customer services, but as the recipient I can't get them to formally investigate or make a claim - only the sender (their actual customer) can do this.
Of course, the other possibility is that it has been stolen by somebody working in the postal system ( they didn't mention this! )
I have had a response from the seller who says they taped the label securely to the parcel. But unless they put it under a plastic cover and it's fallen out, that doesn't match the pristine condition of the label I received...
Ebay's AI has added a paragraph to the message as follows:
"This seller is using the Simple Delivery programme to post this item. For postage related questions including lost or damaged in transit, please contact eBay’s Customer Service or file a claim by clicking on the purchase history section from My eBay menu."
I will give this a try but getting any sense out of their horrible AI service centre is likely to be difficult and complicated. I don't think this situation is covered by simply "lost" (because their system has now logged the parcel as having been delivered) or "damaged" (because nothing actually arrived so I can't provide pictures of damage).
If I send the label back in a "not as described" claim, I am guessing the seller will not be able to claim for a lost / stolen parcel via Simple Delivery. Any more ideas before I decide which option to click on, which will presumably be a "there's no going back" choice?
davidninetynine
OP2 weeks agoPS
I took pictures of the label when it arrived. After picking up the other letter that came with it, I saw the label (which was underneath it on the doormat) and thought "this must have been a scam" and photographed it in situ. Then opened it out and took a picture of the unfolded sheet. I have sent both pictures to the seller and am awaiting their next response.
tobiasd4
Mentor2 weeks agoBest thing to do is open item not as described case.
Seller supplies returns label, you post item received back for full refund.
Escalate on day 4 if no label or refund.
It may cheaper for seller to refund without return, their choice.
Ignore seller excuses, it may or may not be their error, but to guarantee a refund you need to open ebay case.
*vyolla*
Mentor2 weeks agoIt is a seller issue though. It couldn't have been attached correctly to the package and, from how you're describing it, shows no signs of being attached correctly either. which reinforces this
I'd still go the not as described return route, I think you need to keep this simple. How the seller then wants to chase this up is their issue, not yours. I can't see them getting anywhere if the label wasn't attached correctly so it is likely they'll lose out, but don't make their problem your problem.
*vyolla*
Mentor2 weeks agoIf the tracking number relates to your electronics purchase then you'll need to open an eBay return and select 'doesn't match description or photos' as the reason.
Is the sticky side still on the label?
davidninetynine
OP2 weeks agoThanks.
It's not a sticky label. It was obviously printed out by the (private) seller and is on a plain A4 sheet, folded twice so it's about 150 x 105 mm. This is a common way of labellling ebay parcels and they are normally stuck on with sellotape or similar. This one has no sign of use and looks like it was just sent through the post as it was!
If the seller asks for a return, I will have to send the label back in an envelope.
What happens if they then claim I just returned a piece of paper instead of the item?
davidninetynine
OP2 weeks agoPS. the tracking number is correct...
davidninetynine
OP2 weeks ago · Edited..
*vyolla*
Mentor2 weeks agoMost odd if it shows no sign of ever being attached to a package, I can't imagine Royal Mail accepting just that and scanning it in to their system.
You will have to return the piece of paper, when you open the return you'll need to add a photo of it and explain (in as few words as possible because AI will be reading it) that you've received that but no package.
john1297576
Mentor2 weeks agoOnce opened it is up to seller to provide a return label. You are only returning what you received, so would be best to warn seller what to expect. On return he refunds, if not after 3 days you escalate to ebay.
Seller can only complain to ebay after refunding, and you have an explanation for your actions.
Would be a good idea to take photos of what arrived, in case ebay asks.
john1297576
Mentor2 weeks agoStill not your problem, if they do not refund on return you escalate to ebay.
Depending on value of your purchase, it may be cheaper for seller to refund than pay for a tracked label just for a piece of paper.