Sold Item but automated postage label not sufficient to cover value of contents

[what_thou_wilt]

I recently sold a record for £140 and posted it using the automated Royal Mail QR code I was issued. The item has now gone missing in the mail, eBay issued the buyer a full refund without supporting me in any way, and now Royal Mail say the postage label that was generated by eBay doesn't cover the value of the items. So, I can only claim up to £20!!! Now I've lost an expensive record and £120!! Please, if someone can offer me some advice on how I can rectify this or claim my earnings back from eBay I would be most pleased.

[lucy_farmer]

Did you sell using the Simple Delivery system?

[what_thou_wilt]

Hi Lucy, I'm not sure. The buyer selected the shipping method as far as I'm aware.

[papso22]

Unfortunately you did not use Simple delivery so you have no seller protection for a lost item.  That protection is one of the positives of simple delivery. 

You also chose a delivery method that was under insured for the value of the item.  Ebay is not responsible for that. 

I am afraid there is nothing more you can do.

[what_thou_wilt]

I didn't select the delivery method, the buyer chose it. I looked into it, I do use the Simple Deliver option. Surely, an automated postal label should cover the value of the item, otherwise what is the point? 

[jonatjonatjonat]

Do you have an item number? Or is it the Lana del Rey one?

The Lana del Rey one for example was sold with Custom Delivery - Royal Mail 1st Class was the designated postage method with a value of £6.00

[papso22]

The buyer chose the postage you put on the listing.  That was £6 RM first class, which is not a simple delivery option.

Had you used simple delivery then the case would have gone to ebay and they would have refunded.

[roger_roger_over_and_nowt]

Have Ebay taken the refund to buyer from you ?.

[vinylscot]

Looking at that listing, you did not offer a posting method which would have given you enough cover.

£20 is the most you're going to get from Royal Mail (plus maybe what you actually paid for the postage).

An expensive lesson, but it's not eBay's fault at all.

The best you can hope for is that it turns up, either with the buyer or back with you. You then need to hope the buyer is honest enough to repay you. It's a little early now (it was only sold 15 days ago), but I would probably drop him a note in between Christmas and New Year if the tracking doesn't show it as delivered by then. Something along the lines of "Royal Mail have conducted an investigation and have found no irregularities with this delivery. Could you let me know if you have now received it?"  (Of course if the tracking shows it has been delivered, I would be a little more direct)

[what_thou_wilt]

The item number is: 21-13888-62462

The tracking code generated on eBay is: 05036DE60C5

The original tracking code was: 05036D467BA

I had to request a second postal label as the first one didn't cover the shipping costs.

It was the Lana Del Rey one. 

[what_thou_wilt]

Yes, eBay have taken the refund. 

[what_thou_wilt]

So, why bother having an option if it is all the same delivery service providers? Why should one have cover and the other not? I've been selling on eBay for nearly 20 years and I feel royally screwed over.

[what_thou_wilt]

How can yo see this? I can't find this on the pages.

[roger_roger_over_and_nowt]

By looking at your "sold" items which shows you didn't use SD for that particular item.

Unfortunately there is nothing you can do now.

[jonatjonatjonat]

From that - it was listed with custom delivery with a value of £6.00. You should have received £6.00 to purchase whatever postage you wanted (though again, on the listing it stated Royal Mail 1st Class).

Now, you may have been routed through ebays Pack Link setup and been recommended a postage label to purchase - but there was no requirement to purchase any label they recommended.

Unfortunately, you will, in this case, be limited to the compensation max from Royal Mail.

[jonatjonatjonat]

that is the postage it was listed with (and sold with)

[what_thou_wilt]

I just looked back over the listing, Simple Delivery is my only shipping option on there. All my items over £20 are listed with Simple Delivery. Is there an option the buyer can choose that overrides this?

[jonatjonatjonat]

Check 127466308930 - that one is setup same way 

Royal Mail 1st Class £6.00 postage

[what_thou_wilt]

Thank you of the information. It's a tough lesson, but I really appreciate you taking the time to explain this to me.