Item did not arrive. eBay says it did. What can I do?
What recourse does a buyer have when an item does not arrive?
I've been buying and selling on eBay since 1998.
I have a 100% rating on almost 1300 transactions.
On a recent purchase, the USPS says it was delivered. But it wasn't.
We have lockers at our mailbox and the item was obviously mis-delivered.
eBay says 'tough luck' Mr. Buyer, you are out the $60 citing the USPS as the ultimate authority.
Does eBay use their fees to help out in these kind of scenarios?
Why is the postman's word, who put it in the wrong box, more valuable than their long time customer's word?
Has anyone else been through this or have a suggestion? Or is it just 'the cost of doing business' on eBay and shut up and move on....
15 comments
cogh
OP2 years agoUpdate.
On appeal, eBay decided that the package was 'stolen' and has refunded my money.
The seller got to keep their funds and whoever 'stole' my item has the product.
I have no idea why eBay accepted my insistence that the item was not delivered on appeal and ignored my explanation in their initial review.
Either way, I'm grateful they stepped up. As an earlier responder to my dilemma said, until eBay accepts responsibility for transactions from start to finish, it will always basically be an online yard sale.
Thank you eBay for the result.
chapeau-noir
·2 years agoYou got a courtesy refund - eBay gives these out from time to time.
kathiec
·2 years ago@cogh
The first thing you need to do (after ignoring @woodrowmo-30 's AI-generated response) is contact your local PO. USPS uses GPS when delivery scans are made, which can tell them exactly where the package was delivered. If the GPS shows it was delivered elsewhere, ask them if the package was addressed to you. If it was and was simply misdelivered, why would that be on eBay? It truly is the fault of USPS, so you need to pursue it with them.
If, however, USPS tells you the package wasn't addressed to you, then you need to follow the instructions for the fake tracking number scam, as outlined in mudshark's post above.
woodrowmo-30
·2 years agoIt's frustrating to experience a situation where an item doesn't arrive as expected, especially when you've been a long-time customer with a good track record. Here are some steps you can take:
Reach out to the seller and explain the situation. They may be willing to offer a refund or send a replacement item, especially if they have insurance or can file a claim with the shipping carrier.
Sometimes packages are mistakenly delivered to neighboring addresses. It's worth checking with your neighbors to see if they received your package by mistake.
Contact USPS to report the issue and file a claim for the missing package. Provide them with any relevant information, such as tracking numbers and delivery details.
If you're unable to resolve the issue with the seller or USPS, you can open a case with eBay. Provide them with any documentation or evidence you have, such as tracking information or correspondence with the seller.
Familiarize yourself with eBay's policies regarding lost or undelivered items. They may offer buyer protection or assistance in certain situations.
In the future, you may want to consider purchasing shipping insurance for valuable items. This can provide added protection in case of loss or damage during transit.
campanaelia
·2 years agoThose solutions are not practical for help in the situation. I've read many of your past replies too and I'm convinced AI is now responding in the community
12345jamesstamps
·2 years agoWas the seller someone with great feedback or no feedback or a new seller?
I haven't ever had anything lost by the USPS...and as a seller I never had anything lost last year or this year.
I would check further with whom you purchased from and not just blame the USPS.
chapeau-noir
·2 years agoI've had the USPS lose packages, before. One was a very expensive coat I shipped out which just disappeared *poof* into the system, not the first item, either. A few never reached me. This is not an uncommon occurrence.
campanaelia
·2 years agoAs stated already, check with the post office to verify the address on the package was yours and also get the details on the weight and size of the package, you need to start there.
If the info doesn't match ask them to give you some proof written on their stationery with their letterhead.
Then contact ebay reps on facebook.
chapeau-noir
·2 years agoOnce the item has been delivered, it's up to the buyer to have a safe place for mail delivery and/or track down their package if their own carrier miss-delivered it. It's impossible for the site, or the seller, to know what happened to it so effectively our hands are tied. It could have even just been put into the wrong locker.
Packages are miss-delivered a lot more often than this fake tracking scam, so before sacking that seller, I'd check with your carrier/local station, neighbours, etc. then proceed from there.
yuzuha
·2 years agoLiterally just got one from UPS this afternoon-- it's for the same house number one block down (i.e. they delivered to 6357 when it's supposed to go to 6457). I'm going to take it down to them after dinner when they're likely to be home.
mudshark61369
·2 years ago@cogh,
You were more than likely a victim of a fake tracking scam. Open the link below and click on the
Go to Best Answer button. In that answer I explain what you have to do to win an appeal or if you filed one already and lost, the last option left to get a refund. Fed-Ex is highlighted in that reply but you have to do the same thing with the USPS.
https://community.ebay.com/t5/Buying/Fake-Tracking-information/m-p/34266951#M475809
Unavailable member
·2 years agoSeems like a pretty big leap. Mail is mis-delivered - happens all the time. Certainly happened before eBay was a thing. When it does occur, a neighbor will bring the mail to my house.
michael_kelly
·2 years agoWell, aren't you the special one to have such nice neighbors. Because the rest of us, out here in the real world, have to deal with this all the time anymore. There is some **bleep** just waiting for an opportunity to take something to support a habit they can't afford. Or someone not doing their job because they they think they deserve more money to do less work. And then there's the ones who make excuses for them and blame the victim.
Funny, I used to come on here every once in a while to keep track of those idiots because I find it entertaining when it happens to them... and it always does.
Unavailable member
·2 years agoYes, it is nice to have such great neighbors. If one day, I do have a package stolen, or am the victim of a fake shipping scam, I’ll deal with it. It won’t shake my knowledge that the world is full of pretty amazing people. Few bad apples won’t ruin it for me.
I didn’t claim that it never happens, but to assume that one is the victim of a scam because a package shows delivered and you don’t have it on your doorstep, seems like an overreaction.
simba6
·2 years agoThat is why eBay can never be a high end retailer. If you paid by credit card, contact your card company.
Check with the post office and see if that tracking number was to your address. It could be the fake tracking number scam.