My very first item sold has been lost by the USPS. HELP!
Summary: 5150vegaslady expressed frustration about their first sale on a site, as the item, a perfume, was lost during shipping after an attempted delivery by USPS. They were not able to recover the costs through eBay, which also held their sale funds. 12345jamesstamps and laperlalady provided information about shipping regulations for hazardous materials like perfume, suggesting that proper labeling and transportation are essential. darn_yankee advised steps to seek reimbursement from USPS and refund the buyer properly, while nyr134 recommended filling out a USPS form for lost items. The discussion revealed a mix of useful advice and tension with one participant, stainlessenginecovers, but ultimately 5150vegaslady appreciated the help and intended to file a claim with USPS.
I am so mad! This is my very first time selling on this site. The very first item I shipped out has been lost in transit after a delivery attempt where they could not access the delivery address for some reason. Now I have no item, no payment (it was my first sale, so the funds have been held by eBay), and I can not talk to anyone on this dang site. I need help, and I am going in circles. I promoted my ad, and now eBay still wants me to pay that fee after USPS lost my item? I do not think so! I have the tracking from USPS showing the delivery attempt and an email from them stating the package has been lost. I do not think I will use this site ever again, not being able to get help from anyone is killing me. Please, if you have any advice that could help, let me know.
springfieldkid
·1 month agoYou can prolly talk to a human being by going into AI chat - then typing in something like "speak with live agent" ... from there, I think you can make a request for a phone call after typing in your phone number
ryry-jj
·1 month agoI believe if an actual delivery was attempted, that is delivered on eBay as long as tracking shows attempted. When the buyer files a case, respond to eBay in that case with the tracking number
5150vegaslady
OP1 month agoThanks to everyone who offered helpful advice. I think I have done everything suggested. Now, I will file with the USPS tomorrow.
darn_yankee
·1 month agoThere are two things you need to do....
1) As already mentioned, go to the USPS website and request the USPS to reimburse your for the value of the lost item. The value is easily documented with the order details. (Note: The USPS will only reimburse you for the value of the item - excluding the cost of postage. The USPS is kind of scabby about that even though they lost the item.)
2) Refund the buyer. (I'm not sure of the details on how to do this. Other community members need to jump in here and help with the details.) When done correctly, the buyer will get refunded and you get refunded for all the fees you paid to eBay. eBay is not going to refund you the postage you paid. You need to carefully and skillfully communicate with your buyer the details of what happened and why you are refunding the buyer in such a way as to avoid negative feelings that may come out on feedback.
Good luck.
5150vegaslady
OP1 month agoThanks for the information! I think I did it all. Now to head to the USPS.
laperlalady
·1 month agoPerfume is considered a hazardous material (HAZMAT) because it contains high concentrations of alcohol and is highly flammable. It must be shipped via ground transportation only (no air shipping) and requires specific packaging and labeling.
Domestic Shipping Rules
Carrier Restrictions: Perfumes cannot be shipped via air mail or Priority Mail without special prior authorization. You must use ground services like USPS Ground Advantage, UPS, or FedEx.
Volume Limits: With USPS, there is a maximum limit of 16 ounces of perfume per package.
Labeling: Packages must display Hazmat Label 876 or U.S. DOT surface transportation markings.
nyr134
·1 month agoIf the package was sent USPS Ground Advantage and was lost while in the possession of the post office, the post office has you insured against lost items. Go to the USPS website and fill out their form for lost items and they will reimburse you.
stainlessenginecovers
·1 month agoEbay and USPS or UPS or Fedex are 2 completely different things.
Ebay is nothing but a modern day newspaper ad.
If you advertised in the LA Times- and sold/shipped an item, the LA Times (even if they had a HANDY way for you to purchase the shipping label) would still have NOTHING to do with the item- whether you shipped it, whether the carrier ate it...just doesn't matter!
So, STOP trying to blame the site. It's between YOU and the CARRIER- so contact them!
5150vegaslady
OP1 month agoTHANKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
You feel big with all your caps locks? LMAO!
stainlessenginecovers
·1 month agoGuess you've never heard of 'emphasis'.
ALL my caps locked....4 words out of 80+?
I'm assuming someone along your life told you that "failing at counting when you are 3 will follow you throughout your life"
5150vegaslady
OP1 month agoI like you, you are funny! Have a wonderful day, my good friend!
12345jamesstamps
·1 month ago'it was my first sale'...and it was perfume?
Did you label the box as 'hazmat item' on the box or have a label of such on the box?
I am an experienced seller...sort of...I shipped a perfume bottle this year to a buyer.
Packed it in a box in a box and had the label 'hazmat' on it and it went ground transportation...I was sweating bullets wondering if anything might go wrong.
As a new seller or infrequent seller ebay usually holds your funds for 30 days...but in this case I am wondering if you shipped the item out correctly that matters.
'lost in transit' is one thing and 'they could not access the delivery address' is another thing.
Need to look at your tracking of its to see what it actually says.
5150vegaslady
OP1 month agoThanks, no, I did not have a hazmat label. I do not believe perfume is a hazardous item. It did not ship to me with a hazmat label on it. I have the informed delivery photo saying they could not access the delivery location, that they would try the next day again, and that no action was needed by me. However, they never made another attempt and now say it was lost and to file a claim.