Non payment. No communication. See below

[moonro_72]

Hello folks, Am new on here as of June this year.  Last month I decided to try and sell a few items. My 1st items/s got a bid and sold, much to my pleasure. However I must point out out at this early stage. I made a stupid mistake/error, in that I posted said items before getting paid. I sent an invoice with the bid price and postage costs. Communication between myself and seller was made, up and till the point that I said the items had now been posted along with the tracking number. Which incidentally the items were posted overseas by Royal Mail. There has been no communication since from the buyer. I have rung ebay who advised me to cancel the order, I did explain that I had been stupid in sending the items before payment. So I cancelled the items. Onwards from this I rang Royal Mail with the tracking number to be told that as the parcel has now left the country, their side of things had been honoured.  There appears to be no way of checking that the parcel had appeared in the other country .The postage was very expensive which gave insurance, tracking and a signature when delivered. The items were posted out 18th November, so by now I would have thought that these will have been delivered. I have since rung ebay again, and by the sound of things looks like I am going to have to stand the loss. I would very much appreciate any advise/help with this. It's been a steep learning curve!  

[lucy_farmer]

I am sorry moonro , you have no way out of this .

If you posted *before* getting paid, you will most likely never see the payment for your item.

Neither ebay nor Royal Mail can help you ☹️

(if your buyer was miraculously  honest and honourable they'll pay for the item; but I'd give that possibility about a 1% chance....)

[ile136yz]

Did you use Global Shipping Programme?

Royal Mail will have delivered to the GSP UK Depot.  

You could try contacting the GSP UK Depot to see if the package is still with them (you will need the GSP reference number) & see if the package can be returned to you.

[dancewithadingo]

Good Morning Moon

Sorry to be the bearer of bad news but you are going to have to write that sale off. You have zero chance of getting your buyer to pay.  Put it down to experience. I know that it is upsetting,frustrating and expensive for you but it is a mistake that you won't make again.

Keep you chin up and carry on selling,cautiously.

On reflection as one last throw of the dice contact (ie email) your buyer and appeal to their better nature and ask politely for payment. You have nothing to lose. The other option would be to ring him as I assume that eBay supply the tel no of overseas buyers as they do for domestic ones.

[moonro_72]

Hello, Firstly, thankyou for your reply/advice. I  had a pit of stomach feeling that this is how it would pan out. 

Today I made visit to my local post office where the parcel was sent from. Along with the original proof of posting etc. I asked. Surely you can track my parcel to see if indeed it has arrived? Whilst being very helpful, the postal worker couldn't get beyond when the parcel left the country and as the parcel is now at the other side of the world, the parcel couldn't be tracked or found. The postal worker was in askance their self as the parcel was fully tracked, insured with a signature required on delivery. Unfortunately I didn't know about the " Global Shipping Programme" available to me , being so new on ebay.  I have this put down to my inexperience. Sincerely moonrover

[moonro_72]

Hello, Thankyou for your reply.  No, due to my inexperience on here, I wasn't aware of the Global Shipping programme. Thankyou for your advice, just going to have to put this down on the learning list! 

Sincerely moonrover

[moonro_72]

Hello, Thankyou for taking the time to reply and advise accordingly. I have indeed messaged buyer, politely I might add asking to pay. Sadly nothing. Please see my above reply to a previous ebayer. As you wrote. Stand to this one, and move on. This is what I will be doing, but with caution. Thanks once again. Sincerely moonrover

[ile136yz]

Thank you for the update.