How to mark a return as dispatched when no tracking number is available

[tedmaul101]

I had cause to return an SD card to the seller recently - I am unable to mark the return as dispatched, because it was sent by 2nd class postage, and I therefore have no tracking number to use when attempting to mark the return as dispatched.  Has anyone had this experience before, and if so, how did they alert the seller to the fact that the returned item was on its way?

It's over a fortnight since the item was returned, and an e-mail via e-Bay to the seller, alerting them to this fact, and requesting confirmation as to whether the item has arrived, has went unanswered.  I am reluctant to 'name and shame' yet, but my experience with this particular seller has been anything but satisfactory...

[*vyolla*]

You should always return an item by trackable means - what are you going to do if the seller denies receiving it?

With a tracking  number you won't get a refund.

[tedmaul101]

The problem is that I received a message from eBay informing me that the 'the seller let [eBay] know they emailed [me] a return postage label or sent it via eBay messages'. In this 'postage label' notification, there was no option to print anything, and no instruction to post the item back via tracked delivery or anything else. That was why I decided to post it 2nd class, although through using the print page facility, I printed off the 'return label' detail, and put it in the envelope with the card, so that when opened, the seller would have known immediately what the parcel related to. I emailed the seller [via eBay messaging] a week ago today, to ask if the item had arrived, and if so, when I could expect a refund. To date, I have received no response, and it is now a fortnight since I posted the card back.

This evening I decided to try entering the 'session id' from my proof of postage as the 'tracking number' and the Return Label page seems to have excepted this, with the item now being marked as dispatched. However, I don't know whether this is even a genuine tracking number, or just an internal Royal Mail transaction id. Maybe the lack of response so far from the seller is just them being officious, and waiting for me to formally mark the return as dispatched, which I have now done.

I guess I have learned a lesson to always send these things via recorded delivery; I have also learned a lesson never to trade with this particular vendor again, as they have not been in any way impressive in how they handled this.