Problem with posting via Simple Postage

[rose1million]

Hi folks, I'm a seller and have sold a quantity of items via Simple Postage to one buyer. I took the parcel to the post office yesterday and was told the stamp 'had already been used'. 

The buyer had said his order was split into two parcels. I posted the previous parcel without incident and no I did not get them mixed up, was the first thing I checked!

With the assistant's help we carefully went through all the possible issues again and again. 

I next contacted eBay services and they agreed there was an error and said they would refund the buyer the price of the stamp. I would then need to invoice them for postage that I would buy. 

Don't think I can just send an invoice after the system thinks everything is sorted so I'll have to cancel the order, then send an invoice and get the buyer to repay. 

Not happy about this as the buyer bought a generous quantity of items to a high value. 

If I'd bought the postage originally I could easily have voided the label and bought another. 

I could just post the items anyway without asking for new postage money but don't think I'll be able to access the funds for the whole of the transaction as they hinge on delivery under that original stamp. 

Annoying, not using Simple Delivery again.

Any suggestions welcome before I have to tell the buyer about cancelling and repaying? 

Thankyou for listening 🙂

[jckl1957]

You may not like my suggestion but, this is what I would most likely do.

You said the buyer 'bought a generous quantity of items to a high value'.

There is the possibility the buyer may come back and buy from you again.

So, I would take the second parcel back to the Post Office and pay to send it.  Tracked 48 is not expensive (under £5) and covers the value of items up to £150.  For a good sale, it may well be worth writing off the few £ it will cost you to get the items on the way to a happy buyer.

[rose1million]

Hi, thankyou, yes I like that idea but how will I access the funds - are they not locked until the automated eBay system says it's delivered? I don't think I can change the tracking code with this Simple update.... I'll have a look now though...

[john1297576]

When you find on the details of the sale page where tracking is shown it should have EDIT.

Another problem will be invoicing, I doubt you will be able to do that, but if you are going to bear the cost, will not matter.

Simple postage is not simple, it just makes money for ebay, as what used to be Postage and packing, now means packing costs have to be in the price, which means a few more pence in buyer fee. Individually small amount, but multiplied by millions of transactions mounts up.

[rose1million]

Thanks for replying john1297576 and no I can't alter or add tracking, couldn't even unmark as dispatched. 

I contacted eBay again yesterday and they said not to worry they'll sort it out in 48hrs. I've not posted the second parcel as it'll just confuse the situation now.  Sigh, we'll see how it goes.