eBay

geomusic · ‎09-01-2026

I had to ship a fairly heavy item (12kg) so I chose to use Parcelforce Express 24 outwith the Simple Delivery system.

I chose collection which was made by the regular postie's van rather than Parcelforce as it used to be done. The item was supposed to arrive next day as per Parcelforce's description, yet it arrived two days late, this was all UK mainland by the way. Upon receipt the buyer contacted me to let me know the item had arrived damaged and attached a few pictures.

The damage was not extreme but to the housing of the unit. We discussed it with the buyer and agreed on a partial refund which I was happy to oblige as it avoided a lot of hassle with a return for an item of this size and weight.

I'm thinking I should claim for compensation with Royal Mail for damage and late delivery, but what are the odds of success for this as I gave the buyer a partial refund and the case is closed? I don't think I can take this to eBay as I didn't used their postage arrangements.

c_of_e84 · ‎10-01-2026

Its worth a go but dont forget you will need to supply proof of what you paid for the item, its not baed on what you sold it for, as it was sold on ebay royal mail and parcelforce always think you sell worthless junk so only ever pay out the cost of the postage, it can take up to 13 weeks for the claim to be paid, if at all.

geomusic · ‎10-01-2026

They ask for item number and proof of what I sold it for, no mention of how much I paid for it, at least on the claim form that is.

But 13 weeks! They do have some nerve. The process is obvs designed to put people off.

Lesson learned, I will never ship anything else with Parcelforce even using simple delivery.

brainuk · ‎10-01-2026

RM will NEVER go on supposed value, only what it sold for on eBay. If it's worth £300 and you sold it for £50 and it gets broken or lost, they will only pay upto £50.00 (if you are lucky).

c_of_e84 · ‎11-01-2026

The royal mail claim system is iegal under UK law, I am dyslsexic and the online claim form does not fully support cut and paste so breaches the Disability Discrimination Act because it puts me at a deliberate disadvantage trying to make a claim, if there is one letter or number wrong in the boxes collecting to information the claim is denied.

c_of_e84 · ‎11-01-2026

If your lucky, usually just a refund of the postage costs.

Again royal mail are breaking UK law, they are offering insurance, insurance is a regulated industry yet they are not registered with the insurane industry regulaor Prudential Regulation Authority (PRA) and the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA)