ITEM NOT RECEIVED BUYER FAULT

[arthurscave]

I made a sale recently and posted to buyer as Royal Mail 2nd class parcel. postage label generated through eBay, so there is a tracking number.

Buyer messaged me to say item had not been received, so I checked the tracking and found that Royal Mail had tried to deliver to buyer 3 days after posting, but that they had been unable to do so because there had been no reply at buyers address - parcel was then " available for collection " by the buyer. Royal Mail only keep items for collection at local sorting offices for 18 days, and since 12 days of that period had already gone, I messaged buyer with this information.

From further communication with buyer, the seem to have no intention of collecting the item.

They have not yet raised an ("unreceived item " case with eBay but I anticipate that they will.

Anyone had a similar experience?

What are my responsibilities as a seller in cases like this?

Jim Clark

[redwick1]

If they open a dispute for not recieved and that is what the tracking says then you would have to refund

If you have a return address on the item then it will be returned to you

If not it goes to Belfast to be opened and any information inside it will be returned

It takes a while for that to happen

No info then it is disposed of

Just wait and see what happens is if the buyer opens a dispute

If they do then you have to refund if it does not show Delivered

[arthurscave]

Thanks for reply redwick 1.
In the past I have always automatically refunded buyer if item did not show
as Delivered.
The Royal Mail 2nd class tracking generated through purchasing the label on
eBay is less than reliable ( Many items I have received positive feedback
for do not show as Delivered ), however, if a customer messages me re non
delivery, and the tracking does not show delivery, then I refund (
including postage ).
The difference in this particular case is that tracking shows
1. I posted the item
2. Delivery to buyer was attempted but failed
3. Item is available for uplift by buyer at sorting office.
Buyer seems unwilling to collect parcel at sorting office.
I cannot see what else I could have done to meet my seller's end of the
bargain, and it seems unfair to me that I might eventually have to refund.
I would certainly have no intention of refunding postage, even if I
refunded item.
The item is low cost, so I am not unduly concerned about it. It''s more the
general principle of a buyer acting in a way that prevents them receiving
their order and what the seller's responsibilities are in cases like this.
eBay Help does not seem to cover this issue

[redwick1]

It is the buyers fault but if they open a dispute and the item does not show as delivered and you do not deal with it then ebay will step in and not only will you be force to refund but will not get your fees back and a defect on your account. It is not fair but there is nothing you can do.