FedEx Smartpost - Consistent Lost Packages

[jlf2960]

I've had 2 expereinces where I shipped through FedEx Smartpost and the pacakage never arrived to the recipient. The first instance, they handed it off to the USPS and USPS lost the package.  I went through months of tracking and contacting USPS and in the end USPS said they would not pay out a claim as they claim that "no insurance was purchased" when sent through Smartpost.

The second instance FedEx lost the package prior to hand off to USPS.  I called FedEx and they stated that eBay has to submit a claim so I went through eBay to submit a claim. 

I wanted to ask everyone's experiences in getting reimbursed for lost packages through FedEx Smartpost and eBay claims? What is my estimated wait time, as I have already refunded the buyer?