Does this seller interaction sound legit??

[objects-of-intrigue]

Bought an item last night (number - 197744518717) and received a message from the seller earlier today that said this - 'i can not find anywhere to say i dispatched it today or allow feedback , Sent Today with Tracking Number (I won't post the number but it is 16 digits and ends 358F) - Thank You '

I responded by asking who did he post the item with. He responded royal mail. Below the message it said the item has been sold through simple delivery and the order page says 'standard delivery with evri'.

I replied 'It says you're using simple delivery to post the item. Once you log any item at the post office it should automatically put the tracking number up on the order page. I've never seen a royal mail tracking number with 16 digits. Regards'

He responded 'I have never use simple delivery before and didn’t know I had ? Hope it sorts itself out and Thanks for buying previously from me on at least 2 other Occasions'

This is a guy with 319 reviews by the way. I haven't replied yet. What do you recommend I do. Shall I request photo proof of the receipt? I got the item in auction at a very good price and have a suspicion he is spinning me a yarn so he doesn't have to post it. 

[jckl1957 · Accepted solution]

Have you used Royal Mail Tracking website to check if the seller has posted your item?

They may simply not understand how Simple Delivery works and, if they have used their own postage, probably can't work out how to change the tracking.

You are of course protected by the Money Back Guarantee if the item doesn't turn up.

[papso22]

His explanation sounds plausible.  Many sellers get confused with Simple Delivery and just do what they always did.

I suggest you wait until after the expected delivery date and then use the money back guarantee if you need to.

[objects-of-intrigue]

The tracking number is the issue. Royal mail don't recognise it. This is an experienced seller not a newbie. My sixth sense smells trouble. I know I have a money back guarantee. I fail to see the relevance. When you buy an item you expect the seller to actually proceed to send the item.

If the tracking number is genuine you should be able to track it. Should I request a copy of the postage receipt?

[objects-of-intrigue]

On reflection yes you may be right. I just sometimes don't understand how confusing the system can be for some.

[jckl1957]

That tracking number looks like a 24 or 48 hour tracked one - they have 16 digits and are a mix of letters and numbers.

If any of the digits are an '0', then that is always a zero and never a letter.

[roger_roger_over_and_nowt]

Some items are not trackable,even though Ebay give you an option to do so.

It usually comes up with something like "delivery confirmation only available once delivery has been attempted".

Personally i think the seller is legit and will stand by the sale even if it wasn't what they expected.

When i sold things that happened fairly often,i always stood by the end price,that's the risk i ran via auctioning stuff.

To me it was swings and roundabouts.