Shipping Issues/Possible Scam. Anybody have this happen before?
An item I sold last month was shipped (ground w/ tracking) to what I assumed was an apartment complex, but actually turned out to be a cargo courier. Unfortunately the item left a USPS distribution center in the buyer's city and after that all I can find out is a few days later the item is "In Transit to Next Facility, Arriving Late."
I accidentally left positive feedback while catching up on a lot backlog, and the buyer proceeded to open a claim. I let the buyer know that I would be in contact with the post office as soon as they open tomorrow and if I couldn't get to the bottom of it they would be issued a refund.
Then I did a little investigating. The cargo courier's website is in a foreign language and the buyer claims they reside outside of the country on their "about" page. Something is going on here.
I have had items go to apartment complexes and not be scanned in, be it at a reception desk or cluster box, but it rarely happens. It was years ago, but I was able to contact the last known postal location and work with USPS to find out I was being scammed.
My gut tells me this is most likely a scam, I have filed a missing mail claim with the USPS and plan on calling the courier and USPS to investigate further ASAP. I have a feeling I am going to spend a lot of time on hold and may not be able to get a definitive answer before having to refund the buyer. It's not a tremendous financial loss (the item was insured), but how do I prevent this in the future? Has anyone had something similar happen to them? Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
dbfolks166mt
·2 years agoI have had what basically amounts to a lost package on several occasions. Depending on the tracking information regarding the last time it was scanned, where it was last scanned and the current projected delivery date you have several options. You mentioned you already opened a missing mail request which is a step I always skip since it just eats up time and when you file the insurance claim it is repetitive to the missing mail request, USPS always attempts to locate the package first.
When I have dealt with these I have taken a couple of things into consideration before deciding which way to go. First if the package has not moved in a couple of days or it is only a few days overdue I would with the buyer to let them know I am checking with USPS on the status. If the last scan is more than 4 days old and the expected delivery date has not updated I generally ask the buyer to open and INR and when I receive it I issue a full refund noting the item was lost in shipping and provide the last tracking information available.
I then turn to USPS and file an insurance claim for a lost package, they will attempt to locate it but if it hasn't moved in 4 days it's probably not going to unless there was/is a natural disaster at it's last location. Most of the time USPS has gotten back to me in less than two weeks, never located the package and issues me a full refund for the item including the shipping cost. Following are the timelines for filing an insurance claims with USPS. While it does not show Ground Advantage it carries the same insurance coverage and filing timelines as priority mail.
kensgiftshop
·2 years agoIf tracking shows it was delivered, you would be covered if they file a INR.
If the buyer files an INR, all you can do is respond to the case and upload the tracking number.
If there is recent movement, they might put the case on hold for a few days.
1786davycrockett
·2 years ago@applied_memetics
As others have mentioned, it sounds as if the item you have shipped was delivered to a freight forwarding service, for delivery to another country.
If USPS Tracking shows that it was "Delivered" to a freight forwarder, do NOT refund -- your buyer may be pulling a con on you! You shipped correctly to the address supplied by the buyer to eBay, and it sounds as if the item has been properly confirmed as having been delivered to that address.
If your buyer opens an INR case, simply enter the USPS proof of delivery on the form supplied by eBay.
You should be covered from an INR case, although your buyer may also attempt a chargeback through PayPal or a credit card company.
Good luck!
12345jamesstamps
·2 years agoHere's mine : USPS 7021 0350 0000 7630 6192. Received positive feedback . Mailed 10/16/2023.
It never got closed.
12345jamesstamps
·2 years agoI think you will be OK.
Sounds like a "freight forward" address. You are only responsible for address that came with the payment. It is going overseas I assume.
Do not refund.
If buyer opens a claim just put the input tracking into it again even if it is already there.
Item is arriving late for the buyer because it is another country. You can let buyer know it is on to its next destination and you can let buyer know he is not in the USA.
The tip off should have been when buyer paid with another country credit card. The International fee is like 1.65 % more. You can check that with the payment. I doubt buyer used a USA credit card but I could be wrong.
I would not contact USPS or courier...there's nothing wrong happening.
Here's the dumb part: "In transit to next facility, arriving late"...means nothing. It might keep saying that for months...I have such one...my item got delivered to Malawi from Delaware from San Francisco. And it still saids that for 3 months now. My buyer gave positive feedback like 2 weeks after I mailed it out.
So, this buyer might be taking you for a ride thinking you know not what's going on. This will have to be settled with eBay and not USPS or the courier...they are out of the picture.
Any further questions just ask. I have had a few problems like this.
I had one buyer ask for a refund do to item not arriving. When I emailed him he is not living in the USA and item is going "freight forward" he should know better. That buyer "ghosted me". LOL
dhbookds
·2 years agoIf the carrier doesn't show delivered......or at least attempted delivery......I don't know how you can "blame" whoever for a "scam".
If no movement or delivery, you will have to refund and then put a lost claim into the carrier.......which should reimburse you..........
12345jamesstamps
·2 years agoI had such a similar "in transit to next facility, arriving late"...still saying that after months...got positive feedback from buyer.
Carrier does not always show delivered or anything.
Talk about funny....I checked tracking on one of mine from 02/21/2023 USPS : RR822060569US
It still reads: "The item is currently in transit to the destination"...He got that months and months ago. LOL