Nightmare with buyer in India. What do I do?

Back in June, I sold an item to a buyer in India. Packed t, customs label, Posted it, entered tracking. Done. I received a message from buyer beginning August to say that she hadn't received it. Chexked tracking and pending at customs in India. Loads of messages back and forth. Today, she has opened INR case and wants a refund. Checked RM tracking and is states pending, awaiting collection. I have looked at IndiaPost and there is no record of the tracking number. The number I entered is invalid. So, what do I do here? Refund and then wait for the tracking to state that the parcel has been collected? The buyer is getting rather rude after being told twice, that she needs to collect. I don't now why customs are holding the parcel. It's a glass vase. Any input would be appreciated. Summat aint right here and I am somewhat suspicious. Thank you.

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Re: Nightmare with buyer in India. What do I do?


@gorragerritgone wrote:

I don't now why customs are holding the parcel. 


It's likely because they're waiting for the buyer to pay the GST due - India has a 10% rate on all imports. The buyer isn't covered by eBay's MBG if this is the case - you need to make sure you upload the Royal Mail tracking you have to the case the buyer has opened. However, as the buyer purchased in June they're unlikely to still be covered by eBay's MBG - that is, unless they were given an estimated delivery date that was less than 30 days ago.

 

Give me ambiguity or give me something else.
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Re: Nightmare with buyer in India. What do I do?

Your RM tracking number should protect you here, but it's unlikely that the item not received claim can be escalated to ask eBay to step in for an item sold that far back. It'll just serve as a communications conduit.

 

I'd just tell them to contact their customs, as Royal Mail's tracking number shows that the item has been waiting collection.

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Re: Nightmare with buyer in India. What do I do?

In addition to the advice that you have already been given, if you have not already done so make sure that you add this buyer's User ID to your Blocked Bidders List so that she cannot purchase anything else from you in the future and cause you any further aggravation.

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