Recommendations on a package I shipped a month ago and hasn't been delivered as of 4/24

[antarit]

I sold a laptop on 3/25/24. Shipped 3/26/24 via USPS ground advantage to 8120 NW 66th St, Miami, FL.

I happened to notice that tracking doesn't show it being delivered as of 4/24. It got to Miami distribution center on 3/28.

https://tools.usps.com/go/TrackConfirmAction?qtc_tLabels1=9434636105536664736753

The buyer hasn't asked about it / hasn't said they didn't get it yet.

Looking at that address / googling the business there, I find ebay community posts talking about how it's a freight forwarder and some people having been scammed.  

The buyer has a rating of 540 and been on ebay since 2016.

I could imagine that the item wasn't scanned when it was delivered to the company?

The item sold for $120 and ground advantage includes $100 of insurance?

Would anyone have any recommendations on how to proceed?

1. Ask the buyer if they got it?  That could have them think about saying they didn't to get a refund?  But I hear that using a freight forwarder isn't allowed on ebay?

2. File a missing package form with USPS?

3. File an insurance claim with USPS?

4. Something else?

[dentalsales4u]

I definitely would NOT contact the buyer.

It may have been delivered due to tracking not being updated properly.

I would file a missing package. This way USPS will contact you to let you know that status.

They may inform you that it was actually delivered or they may inform you that package has been lost.

Then you can file an insurance claim.

[ittybitnot]

Would anyone have any recommendations on how to proceed?

@antarit 

The only thing I would do at this point is to file an inquiry with USPS, simply to be a bit proactive.  The typical issues with selling items to international users that use the US address of a freight forwarder come AFTER delivery to the forwarder.  Then you get some "not a described claim".  When that happens, you can immediately contact eBay through one of their social media portals, and say you have a problem with a buyer that used a freight forwarder making a claim.   

At the same time, buyers that use a freight forwarder give up the option of making use of the Money Back Guarantee.  eBay will not tell you that this is the case, and treat it like any other domestic sale.  It is up to the SELLER to take action on this claim BEFORE having to respond to the case and provide a return shipping label. So far there is no claim, but it does not hurt to understand how these things often play out. 

Your case is a bit different since there is no "delivery" scan at all.  There is no way to tell if it was simply not scanned delivered, or the parcel is actually missing.  There is no reason to "poke the bear" and ask the buyer if they got the product at this point.   If the buyer is of questionable character (no reason to believe that at this point) it would be like alerting them:  "Hey, you don't have to file a phony snad claim, just file INR since there is no D/confirmation for a full refund."  

Since the refund would come from YOUR money, don't be in a hurry to clue in the buyer.  Again, at this point, make an inquiry with USPS to locate the parcel.  Florida in general has problems with shipping within the state of late. I live here, and packages get on some "merry-go-round" program and take an often take a trip or two around the state before being delivered.  A GA package going 40 miles away from me went to WPBeach, Miami, Ft. Meyers, Tampa, YBor city, Sarasota, Orlando, Lakeland, and finally to Sebring.  A package sent 1st Class to the UK on the same day, arrived 5 days prior to the in state one.  

Though the following threads do not specifically mention a package going to a F. Forwarder getting no scan, they do outline some typical experiences and give you notice on what you need to do when a claim for one of these land in your lap. In most of these the sellers did not know about F.Forwarder issues and let the transaction go on until the 'fake tracking return' component was already under way.   Responded to quickly and correctly, these F.Forwarder transactions are often safer than a domestic sale, even though you have to deal with eBay AND an unsavory buyer. 

Do let us know how this turns out for you!  
https://community.ebay.com/t5/Selling/Buyer-using-USPS-return-scam-Ebay-decided-case-in-buyers-favor...
https://community.ebay.com/t5/Selling/Help-Miami-Freight-Forwarder-says-wrong-item-sent-and-returnin...
https://community.ebay.com/t5/Selling/Getting-screwed-over-for-months-as-a-seller-on-on-an-blatant/m...
https://community.ebay.com/t5/Selling/Ebay-refunded-a-buyer-without-me-getting-my-item-back-from/m-p...
https://community.ebay.com/t5/Selling/Return-scam-nothing-new/m-p/34302635#M2358896
https://community.ebay.com/t5/Selling/The-new-buyer-scam-and-eBay-s-ignoring-Policy/m-p/34301810#M23...
https://community.ebay.com/t5/Selling/Return-Scam-so-simple-but-super-effective-What-should-I-do/m-p...
https://community.ebay.com/t5/Selling/Scam-and-ebay-ignores-it/m-p/34356453#M2372717
https://community.ebay.com/t5/Selling/Seller-Beware-of-Buying-amp-Return-Scam/m-p/34386391#M2379744
https://community.ebay.com/t5/Selling/Scammed-on-My-First-Major-Sale-A-Buyer-s-Deception-and-Lack-of...
https://community.ebay.com/t5/Selling/What-more-proof-could-eBay-possibly-need/m-p/34425944#M2389459

[bigoljim47]

Right. Do not contact the buyer. Request a tracking from USPS and have them notify you with results per text. 

I just had a package got stuck for 2 weeks in a Post office and a week after requesting tracking information the package was delivered. 

[wastingtime101]

I would not contact the buyer.

I would file an insurance claim with USPS for the supposedly lost package.

[antarit]

THANK YOU EVERYONE!!  

[luckythewinner]

Would anyone have any recommendations on how to proceed?

Until the buyer contacts you, I fail to understand what the issue is.

[12345jamesstamps]

Do nothing.

Don't contact buyer.

They will contact you. Don't "open a can of worms".

I haven't had any problems with "freight forward".

You can usually sometimes tell it's going freight forward by that extra additional ebay fee of an International Credit Card being used by a buyer from another country...and also checking ID eBay buyer country of origin sometimes.

As an added thing I do I take a photo of package and send it to the buyer in an email and usually tell buyer item might take longer to get to their country...so buyer knows you know what is going on.

[cstpos]

@antaritI would start a Find Missing Mail under the Help link on USPS.com. Sometimes, that jogs the system so it updates, or they find the order and send it out. I would not contact the buyer. It can take weeks to get to them (depending on where the final delivery address is) from the freight forwarder, so they might not be expecting it yet, or they have already received it. As long as you can confirm it reached the freight forwarder, you've fulfilled your obligation. Letting the buyer know the tracking does not show as delivered is asking for them to open an Item Not Received case.

[gurlcat]

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@luckythewinner wrote:

Would anyone have any recommendations on how to proceed?

Until the buyer contacts you, I fail to understand what the issue is.

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Never hurts to anticipate a problem and be steps ahead of an upset buyer.