An item I purchased with tracking number was not delivered to my house.
The auction page indicated that the item was delivered, but I did not receive it. I contacted the seller to no avail. I contacted my local post office, and she could confirm that the item was delivered, but could not confirm where it was delivered. Because the tracking number indicates that it was delivered, the post office will not issue a refund. I opened a case with eBay, but they have since closed the case. What happened to the eBay guarantee of money back? It is only $45, but it is MY $45!
15 comments
lady_madonna
·1 year ago@steppo53
I recently had the same situation. Sorry this happened to you.
This is how I FINALLY got my refund:
1. Filed the Refund Request due to Item Not Received...resulting in Ebay closing the case due to finding in favor of the seller since they provided tracking to my zip code.
2. I went to my local post office where I was able to obtain a letter from the clerk stating that the package matching that tracking number was NOT addressed to me. (Clerk stated to me "not even close")
3. I went back to my Ebay Refund Request details in my Purchase History and clicked on "Appeal".
4. I uploaded a scan of the aforementioned document from the post office into the appeal form along with pertinent details. (Such as it never showed up in my daily Informed Delivery emails from USPS.)
5. It took 48 hours for Ebay to provide me with the refund.
Good luck!!
12345jamesstamps
·1 year agoMaybe a porch pirate took it...in which eBay is not responsible for a lost package.
rokkworks
·1 year ago@steppo53
I second what ittybitnot says.
Sure sounds like the Fake Tracking Scam, sometimes known as the Same Zipcode Scam.
The scammer finds a random address in your zipcode (often an apartment building or a business) and sends something worthless like a coupon or an advertisement, in a very light weight package to that address.
If you have USPS Informed Delivery, you’ll never see the package you’re expecting from the scammer on your informed delivery list as “expectedâ€, because it was never addressed to you. That’s how to figure out it’s not just a misdelivered or porch pirated package.
You'll have to get a letter from your post office stating the item was not sent to your address.
The good news is, you have your own stellar reputation behind you as a seller, which, I believe, counts quite a bit when dealing with eBay CS, even when you are the buyer.
Also, should you find out this was indeed this scam, please report it on the USPS website as mail fraud.
kathiec
·1 year ago@steppo53
How were you screwed by eBay? You have no idea if the package was misdelivered or stolen, neither of which are eBay's responsibility. Can you imagine if eBay gave refunds every time someone said "Hey I know what the tracking says, but believe me instead"? It's never going to happen.
Despite what your nice lady at the PO says, USPS standard practice is to do a GPS scan whenever a package is scanned as delivered, which will tell you exactly where it was delivered. USPS also photographs mail, which will tell you whether it was addressed correctly. I know the latter is true, because every day I get a USPS email with photos of the mail I'm receiving that day. So if anyone is screwing you it's your PO.
steppo53
OP1 year agoFirstly, not every package or envelope, with a tracking number, is photographed by a USPS carrier. Secondly, I had another envelope, with tracking number, that was not delivered to my house. I was shown a photograph of my envelope ( address very clear) in a hand, with so little surrounding area that the photograph could have been taken anywhere in the world. Lastly, the eBay guarantee is a sham. They use every tactic to avoid reimbursing. This time they asked me to provide proof of where my envelope was misdelivered. Thanks, but no help...
momtoabeautifuldaughter
·1 year agoIt shows delivered so eBay isn't going to give your money back...lol
steppo53
OP1 year agoYep, looks like I am simply screwed. Time to look for alternative sources.
therogue-trader
·1 year agoThe post office is able to see what address it was delivered to, may need to talk to the postmaster. You at least need some sort of written/printed confirmation from the post office that it wasn't delivered to your shipping address.
" the post office will not issue a refund"
the seller is the one that paid for the postage
" I opened a case with eBay, but they have since closed the case. What happened to the eBay guarantee of money back?"
I assume you opened an 'item not received' case. eBay bots will automatically close such cases if tracking says the item was delivered to your zip code.
steppo53
OP1 year agoYep, looks like I am screwed. Time to look for an alternative to eBay!
steppo53
OP1 year agoI did go to my local post office. I have dealt with the same lady a few times (she's very nice). She confirmed that the item was delivered, but could not confirm where. Looks like I am screwed by Ebay!
kensgiftshop
·1 year agoThey can't tell you where it was delivered, but they can tell you if your name and address was on the shipping label.
If they tell you it wasn't, see if they can give you a letter stating the package with that tracking number was not addressed to you.
If it wasn't addresses to you, you still have a chance of getting a refund.
Go to your purchase history and click return item and select, the item doesn't match the description as the reason.
The seller will have 3 days to accept the return and pay return shipping or refund without returning.
If they don't, return to the case on day 4 and ask Ebay to step in.
If you can get that letter from USPS and have to return anything, return a copy of that letter.
stainlessenginecovers
·1 year agoSince the real ONLY proof a seller has against buyers that say "I didn't get it" is the tracking number- the MBG is out, null a void as tracking shows 'Yes, I the seller DID ship it and Yes, it WAS delivered!!'
Although this is a 'scam' that some sellers pull, you have to get a 'letterhead' from the Post Office stating 'item was NOT delivered to XXX address'; then you 'appeal' the 'denial' using that letter.
But, to expect they will just take the word of people who say 'I didn't get it' is beyond reality.
steppo53
OP1 year agoI went to my local post office. I have dealt with the lady a few times ( she's nice). She confirmed that the item was delivered, but could not confirm where. Looks like the eBay guarantee in not so much a guarantee. Time for me to pursue an alternative to eBay!
ittybitnot
·1 year ago@steppo53
Please read the following linked thread. It will outline the options for you to get refunded, and especially what NOT to do. The eBay Money Back Guarantee is a giant FAIL in these situations. eBay knows all about it, and relies on DENIAL, and hoping you can't get the information you need from the carrier. You don't need to know where it was delivered, only that it was NOT to you. You may not even need that depending on the option you choose.
https://community.ebay.com/t5/Buying/Seller-is-a-Liar-and-Cheat/m-p/35108131#M522799
Any place else you file "item not received" is going to fail as well. Get that idea out of your head. Think FRAUD/WRONG ADDRESS/Fake tracking scam. Come back if you have specific questions regarding the choices you have.
steppo53
OP1 year agoThank you VERY much! I've been with eBay for almost 25 years. I do not like being blown off! Thank you again!