Item appears to have gone missing

[sharot1999]

I sold an item and posted it Royal Mail 1st class signed for on 12 September.

the tracking details suggest that it has not been delivered, and neither has it been designated unable to deliver. In effect it has gone missing.

everything I have read on eBay appears to protect the buyer in as much as he will be refunded.

am I correct in thinking that my only recourse of action is to claim the value from the Royal Mail as compensation.

This lack of safeguard for the seller seems to be an invitation for non receipt claims.

kev

[red_magpie]

This lack of safeguard for the seller

In fact, since the introduction of delivery numbers on all Royal Mail parcels, and almost universal tracking for courier deliveries, sellers are now much better protected against fraudulent claims for non-delivery. EBay will support the seller if the tracking record confirms delivery. If it doesn't, the buyer is legitimately entitled to a refund. And the sender can claim whatever compensation is available from the carrier.

The much bigger problem, where sellers are left almost entirely defenceless, is abuse of eBay's money back guarantee to make false "not as described" claims.