Fedex Ground
I shipped something in April to an address a few states over. The tracking shows 5 days of transit to the its destination then it stops and I only see that is "on the way" but no updates in over 3 weeks. I asked the buyer to open a claim which they did for item not received. We are waiting the 7 days. According to the help section, this is out of the seller's control as in, I shipped it right away and tracking was in the system since Day 1, and I am protected as is the buyer. But what happens next? I tried to file a claim with FedEx but with Fedex Ground the process seems torturous to file a claim. I suppose the buyer is refunded but what about me? do I just forfeit the sale? I thought the seller would be protected in the event that the carrier loses the package. I mean, didn't I see that buying a label through ebay shipping is a form of insurance against loss or damage?
albertabrightalberta
·1 year agoDo not wait 7 days!
You have 3 days after the buyer's claim to respond to the INR (item not received) claim, after which the buyer can ask ebay to step in. If ebay does that, the buyer will get a refund (from your funds) and you'll get a defect on your account for not handling the claim.
wastingtime101
·1 year agoSince the buyer filed a formal non-receipt claim, that put a clock on it.
You are not protected as the seller without a delivery scan @fleur502 .
If it's not delivered before your deadline to respond to the claim you need to proactively refund the buyer (and deal separately with FedEx), otherwise eBay can force the refund from your account, you'll get a defect, and you won't be credited your eBay fees.
But let's get back to the package. Was it FedEx Ground or was it FedEx Ground Economy?
If it was FedEx Ground Economy, did you drop the package off at FedEx or at USPS?
fleur502
OP1 year agoIt was shipped FedEx Ground Economy but I gave it to our USPS postal worker manually. Here is a photo of the delivery history:
fleur502
OP1 year agoThe truth is there were major tornados in that region (between Ohio and Missouri) during that time. I feel like the disclaimer on ebay's main page about shipping delays should protect me as a seller. Those delays are not my fault, especially when I used the ebay shipping service the buyer selected!
wastingtime101
·1 year agoI am sorry to hear that @fleur502 . You will never see that package again; USPS seized it. You have no grounds to file an insurance claim and will have to write this off as a complete loss.
Your USPS carrier was wrong to accept the package.
Sellers should not drop FedEx Ground Economy (SmartPost) packages with USPS. It doesn't matter that FedEx transfers to USPS for second leg of delivery some of the time (to PO boxes & military addresses) or that there may be USPS info on the label. Always bring those packages to FedEx. Postage was paid to FedEx, not USPS.
This was announced by the carriers last year, effective July 14, 2024 - eBay posted an alert on this forum (link).
USPS can and does seize those packages.
When packages are seized because they were left with the wrong carrier, the seller is responsible for refunding the buyer.
kensgiftshop
·1 year agoYou might as well go ahead and refund the buyer now.
Don't think USPS is taking packages shipped through FedEx or UPS anymore, they just trash the packages.
If you're paying FedEx, you need to drop them off at FedEx.
kensgiftshop
·1 year ago@fleur502
You have 3 days to provide tracking that shows it was delivered, or refund the buyer.
You don't want to wait and have Ebay step in.
If you filed a claim with FedEx, you just have to wait and see what they do, but don't make the buyer wait.
fleur502
OP1 year agoI provided tracking the day I shipped it. The tracking doesn't show delivered, though. The last trace was two weeks ago and now seems stuck or lost. I didn't file a claim with FedEx yet.. the buyer and I have communicated about this and she realizes it is not my fault but the fault of the carrier.