Royal Mail International Tracking Using Entirely International Courier Service

[leviathan_1701]

Good day, 

I'm wanting to order an item from ebay that stipulates "Royal Mail International Tracking" as the postage option.

I need to find out if RM uses an international courier for the entire shipping process or if the parcel is handed over to the local postal service at the country of destination once it arrives.

The parcel needs to arrive at my doorstep without the destination country's postal service being involved at all. 

Any assistance would be greatly appreciated!

Many thanks 🙂 

[marco@ebay]

Hi leviathan_1701, thanks for your post.

Normally, when an item is shipped internationally, the main courier of your country would be the one that would deliver your item. For example, in the UK it would be Royal Mail, in Ireland would be An Post, and France La Poste. However, this doesn't necessarily means that the main courier of your country will be the one delivering the parcel. That's why we always recommend checking the tracking number, it normally provides all those updates.

Thank you,

Marco

[leviathan_1701]

Hi there Marco, 

Many thanks for your reply to my inquiry. 

Please be aware that I haven't placed an order yet. Would I still be covered under Ebay's buyer protection should I engage with seller and ask if they are willing to use an international courier such as DHL instead of Royal Mail?

I'd only know once the parcel arrives at destination country customs if it will be handled by the local postal service or by another local courier service. Unfortunately by that time, it's too late if it's already been handed over to the postal service. 

[marco@ebay · Accepted solution]

Thanks for your reply, leviathan_1701.

Yes, in terms of protection, everything would remain the same regardless of the final destination of the item. If the tracking number doesn't show delivery or an attempt of delivery, we will be able to confirm that you didn't receive the item, and you'd receive a refund. You just you need to make sure to open an item not received case after the estimated delivery date passes. Please note that you have 30 days to open the case if you don't receive the item after the estimated delivery date passes. For further information, here is our Money Back Guarantee page.

In terms of shipping, the seller might not accept to send it with a different shipping method, but it definitely is something you can try arranging with them before purchasing the item to see if they accept.

Thank you,

Marco

[leviathan_1701]

Great, thank you so much for your help Marco! 

[leviathan_1701]

Hi Marco,

Unfortunately the selller ignored my request for trying to organise an international, which was rather unfortunate. 

I decided to make the purchase anyway and have the parcel delivered to a family member in the UK.

I chose the cheapest shipping option available at checkout which was "Royal Mail 2nd Class" (without tracking). Unfortunately I can't actually track the item since there's no tracking number.

I don't care if it takes a bit longer to arrive, as long as I can count on Royal Mail to deliver the item safely and undamaged to my family member?

Currently, the status shows as "dispatched", although I don't quite know what that means exactly.

Please pardon my ignorance as this is my first time buying something on ebay. 

[marco@ebay]

Hi leviathan_1701, thanks for your reply.

I am sorry to hear that the seller didn't agree to ship the item internationally.

Yes, 2nd class mail wouldn't provide tracking updates, it normally confirms delivery only once the item is delivered. However, you're still protected here. So, if for example the item never arrives, and there is no tracking information confirming delivery, you can open an item not received case as soon as the estimated delivery date passed. If it arrives, but is damaged, or it is not what it looked like on the listing, you are also protected, and in that scenario you could just file an item not as described return (make sure to select not as described as the reason of the return), so you can return the item free of charge (seller pays for the return), and once they get the item back, you'd receive a refund.

Hope this helps,

Marco