Ebayer Was Refunded Item Lost By Australia Post, Who Later Delivered The Item After Saying They Would Return It. Suggestions?

Lilikeit on 08/05/2018 - 22:28
Last edited 10/05/2018 - 19:36

Hey Guys,

I sold a watch on eBay for $85. I posted it over the counter at Australia Post (AP) in a prepaid satchel and received the tracking number and receipt.

4-5 days after the item should have been delivered (Australia Post estimated 3 days) there were no tracking details available online. After contacting Australia Post by phone, they indicated that the item was not scanned and protocol is to return the item.

I refunded the seller, believing that AP would return the item as stated.

A few days later, I contacted AP again by phone as the item had not been returned. The operator said that AP have photo evidence of the item and it was delivered. Dammit!

I contacted the original buyer of the watch for the return of the watch or the money and I would cover the cost of the return postage.

The buyer wrote back, "I will send you $50 as I’ve already given the watch away and am not interested in paying any more for a second watch not for its intended purpose."

Do I have any recourse through eBay or PayPal?

Or, should I just stay salty and take the $50 and cut my losses?

EDIT The buyer refunded $50. I going to go after him through ebay and Paypal too, just for fun.

Thankyou everyone for your advice and own adventures with ebay and Australia Post.

Poll Options

  • 20
    Take the $50 on offer.
  • 30
    Contact eBay
  • 1
    Contact PayPal
General Discussion

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Comments

  • hogwarts on 08/05/2018 - 22:32
    +4

    Report to eBay as they admitted in receiving the item and hopefully eBay can recover the money for you.

    • LFO on 09/05/2018 - 14:34
      +1

      +1 if the communications were via the eBay messages platform. Buyer will probably have to pay the difference.

      By the way, what a piece of rotten garbage that buyer is. After the money issue is completed leave negative feedback indicating the buyer is dishonest. So any potential seller will know that human garbage by name.

      • altomic on 09/05/2018 - 14:45

        unfortunately you can no longer leave negative feedback for buyers. it's a damn shame.

  • Detective Pikachu on 08/05/2018 - 22:37
    +2

    Ebayer Was Refunded Item Lost By Australia Post, Who Later Delivered The Item After Saying They Would Return It. Suggestions?

    So you're saying AusPost specifically said the item was lost, but they would return it, even though it was lost or it was just not tracked?

    I'd first try eBay's Seller Protection Policy then Paypal's if eBay fails.

    • ilikeit on 08/05/2018 - 22:45
      +2

      Australia Post had absolutely nothing in their system and acknowledged my tracking number and receipt for the satchel (also date and times) were authentic. The lady said that the item was not scanned at my post office and that when it reached Sydney (the delivery point) it would be returned. She indicated this was standard. I asked the rep to repeat it and was told it would be returned.

      If the AP rep hadn't said it would be returned, I wouldn't have refunded.

      • Detective Pikachu on 08/05/2018 - 22:48
        +7

        Ah I see that's unfortunate :(, it's definitely good service you gave for offering a refund early, but probably best to wait for the return in hand before issuing a refund next time.

        • ilikeit on 08/05/2018 - 22:52

          So should or take the $50 on offer, or engage ebay and hope for the best?

        • Detective Pikachu on 08/05/2018 - 23:03
          +1

          @ilikeit:

          I think it's really up to you. If the buyer can offer you the $50 immediately, that might be an option. If you believe you have enough evidence to prove your case, then eBay might be an option, but also consider that it will take some time if eBay ever approves it.

        • ilikeit on 08/05/2018 - 23:08

          @Detective Pikachu: I have the unused tracking number, receipt from AP, AP have a delivery photo and I have correspondence from the buyer.

          I am lacking the evidence of Australia Post saying they will return the unscanned item, but it is burned into my memory.

          I fear ebay will say that I refunded, so the transaction is complete.

        • Detective Pikachu on 08/05/2018 - 23:19

          @ilikeit:

          You could try contacting eBay support without opening a case to explain your situation, to see what they recommend as the best course of action. It would definitely be hard for eBay to reclaim customers payment, without paying you back with their own pockets.

      • skinner on 09/05/2018 - 09:07
        +2

        I don't see how returning the item could possibly be their policy. I have lodged dozens of items over the counter that weren't scanned and all were delivered, post box lodgements would be the same (where it was lodged would be irrelevant). You should be making a complaint to Australia post about that at the very least. Hopefully that rep put it under a claim reference (8 digit number, not tracking number) so they can find out who you spoke to etc.

  • Blugok on 08/05/2018 - 22:43
    +20

    Ggggg… Talk about honesty in society these days. Whats wrong with this buyer?

    • ilikeit on 08/05/2018 - 22:46
      +2

      Tell me about it mate. Even admitted to it. I am yet to respond.

    • mskeggs on 09/05/2018 - 08:50
      +1

      To be fair, similar things happened to me where I was advised a delivery was lost, and I bought the item elsewhere.
      I didn't haggle, but did expect the seller to pay for the return shipping to get their (refunded) item back.

  • garetz on 08/05/2018 - 23:15
    +5

    The best suggestion i can give you is never refund until the item is returned, if its lost in transit, then make the claim for insurance, never ever refund until you can determine what actually happened to the item that you sent.

    • ilikeit on 08/05/2018 - 23:16

      Yes, lesson learned. Never had an ebay issue before.

  • ibuy on 08/05/2018 - 23:47
    +1

    Best to call eBay during work hours and discuss your options. Don’t go through a regular service person. Ask to speak to a supervisor who can make a decision for you.

    Where possible you should use eBay’s postage labels as it immediately connects to Australia Post and creates a tracking number when you create a label. You create a shipping label for the item on the selling page. There is an option next to each item to create a label once the buyer has paid.

    To further protect yourself put stickers on your package “Do not safe drop” as this stops the postie from leaving it at the front door or somewhere it can be stolen or not found. One time a postie dropped the package under the front porch and it took the buyer a week to find it.

    As far as Aussie post goes, if a package goes missing and you don’t have insurance you need to fill out a multitude of forms and provide heaps of information that it is almost not worth your time. Then once you submit the forms and all the evidence it is still at Australia Post’s discretion whether they will compensate you and even then it is a maximum of $50.

    If you’re being offered $50 it may be better to settle with that because the amount of effort you’re going to have to take will probably be more than the $35 extra you maybor may not receive.

    It may be better to write this one off as a learning experience.

    If you don’t want to deal with that buyer any more and to stop him coming back to you “just in case”, you may also be able to block him by placing him on your blocked buyer list.

    • ilikeit on 08/05/2018 - 23:49

      Thanks mate, and everyone else too that is chiming in.

  • thatonethere on 09/05/2018 - 00:15

    While it it isn't a great sandwich ($50). I'd take it.

    • ilikeit on 09/05/2018 - 00:18

      Hit the poll button. I will choose in the morning.

  • afoveht on 09/05/2018 - 00:38
    +1

    You'll cost yourself more than $35 in time and stress. Take the fifty and don't look back.

    • [Deactivated] on 09/05/2018 - 00:50
      +3

      Agree with this. This could have been $0 with a less cooperative buyer.

    • Rifraf on 09/05/2018 - 16:48

      this

  • [Deactivated] on 09/05/2018 - 01:10

    Sorry to say this but you cannot trust people.

    For my eBay all items are pickup only. PayPal payments must be collected (in person) by the payee signing that the item is as described and complete. Not one dispute so far.

    If people want things sent then tell them bank deposit only and they must pay for Australia Post cover. If they don't like it let them buy from another seller.

    • Quantumcat on 09/05/2018 - 09:13
      +2

      Just wanted to say that PayPal won't won't accept a signed note saying they picked up the item as proof of postage. If they ever lodged a claim you'd lose right away. All they care about is valid tracking numbers.

      • plmko on 09/05/2018 - 11:12
        +1

        Yes Paypal payments with items collected in person is the absolutely worst thing to do. On the same level as buying off Gumtree that's not pickup.

        Shipped with tracking/insurance = Paypal only
        Pick up = Bank deposit/ cash only.

  • jaffar on 09/05/2018 - 04:47
    +2

    Hey OP I had a similar experience selling an item a few weeks ago. I posted the item over the counter using a prepaid satchel which included a tracking number and receipt of item sent. The tracking details stated "In transit - Received by Australia Post - 10:30am Fri 20 April - Suburb." The tracking details did not change for 5 days! I thought this meant it was stuck at my local post office and I was super worried that the parcel had just been forgotten and that the customer would start a refund process which would be totally understandable. Thankfully I got a bunch of updates on the 6th day saying that the item had been processed interstate and it was smooth sailing after that.

    For next time, you could ask for a proof of posting at the counter. This is a receipt you can keep basically saying you dropped it off and AusPost received it; additionally the initial over the counter scan "acceptance scan" should be recorded in the tracking details. For refunds - probably best to let the buyer instigate it. You've done your bit - posted it - and after that there's nothing you can change about delivery which might take a few days or a week and a bit or more to deliver. Ebayers are used to poor domestic delivery times from Auspost anyway so if it's within ~2 weeks I wouldn't be getting too worried yet. In this case I'd take the 50, but be a lot more cautious giving potentially untrustworthy buyers 'easy' refunds on sent items. Seller refunds are mostly for no stock (not really applicable for personal ebaying), asked to cancel etc, not because delivery is late by a few days (which is unfortunate that the AP person gave you misleading info.)

    • ilikeit on 09/05/2018 - 06:44

      Thanks mate. I had proof I did it over the counter with the receipt I was given and unusable tracking number. It just wasn't scanned by AP as was loaded for collection to its next destination.

  • shaybisc on 09/05/2018 - 08:07

    Where is a delivery photo taken?

    • ilikeit on 09/05/2018 - 08:09

      By Australia Post as was gas going out of the depot. automatic I presume.

  • EFC94 on 09/05/2018 - 08:24
    +2

    You sound like a great eBay seller, but I don't understand why you refunded the buyer so quickly. I would've given it a couple of weeks and then waited for the buyer to initiate the refund process if necessary.

  • HeWhoKnows on 09/05/2018 - 08:28
    +1

    Contact ebay or Paypal and next time wait ay least 10 days.
    Its also possible that items are delivered without being scanned which is what happened here.
    For this reason my postman advises never to disclose the tracking number but rather ask buyer for confirmation of delivery. That way only you know that the tracking information was wrong and you dont get scammed by the buyer taking advantage of the situation

    • Aussie Smurfette on 09/05/2018 - 08:59

      You don’t have an option of revealing the tracking number on EBay. They need to be put on the transaction once it is posted, or your DARs are affected.

      • SnoozeAndLose on 09/05/2018 - 09:17

        It is not mandatory to enter tracking number

  • shaybisc on 09/05/2018 - 08:33

    I was refunded for an ebay purchase non-arrival last week. It's now 40 days since I purchased and paid for it from an Australian seller. I have purchased another of the same thing, since I don't yet have one. If the original purchase now turns up am I under any ethical obligation to pay for it?

    • Quantumcat on 09/05/2018 - 09:15
      -1

      Not unless the seller asks you to, he might have had insurance that covered him.

    • tomsco on 09/05/2018 - 10:53
      +1

      Not to pay for it, but to return it at the seller's cost.

  • Aussie Smurfette on 09/05/2018 - 08:57

    Been there done that, slightly different circumstances but ended up in the same position.
    EBay and Paypap are not interested, contacting them is a total waste of your time.
    I was told the case is closed by both when I contacted them, mine was a little different and was actually fraud. Neither cared that this guy had ripped me off and in turn them, just said case is closed, inothibg we can do about it now.
    Take the $50 and be thankful he is offering it.

  • ozbjunkie on 09/05/2018 - 09:14
    +2

    Maybe you could explain to the buyer that it wouldn't be 85 for a second watch, it would be 85 for the original watch, as they agreed to.

    What a dick this buyer is.

  • subywagon on 09/05/2018 - 09:27

    You have his address, so send bikies.

    • Baysew on 09/05/2018 - 09:43

      No guarantee that they will turn up to correct address.

      • subywagon on 09/05/2018 - 14:24

        Does it matter? As long as someone pays.

    • Rifraf on 09/05/2018 - 16:47

      But not via Auspost

  • bobbified on 09/05/2018 - 10:28

    Did you have your conversation with the buyer using EBay messages? Or was it on another medium?

    • ilikeit on 09/05/2018 - 11:50

      Within eBay messages

      • bobbified on 09/05/2018 - 15:00

        That's good proof of the conversation and no chance you can modify it. Make good use of it when you're reporting it to eBay.

  • SirFlibbled on 09/05/2018 - 16:02

    Considering how much of an a the buyer is, I'd take them to small claims court. It'll cost them the fee + the $85.

  • katz on 09/05/2018 - 16:25

    ALWAYS get a AP lodgement receipt. you get this when its lodged over the counter.

    Then take up your issue with AP.

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