Return request for a stolen package

[4babycakes2]

Hi all,

I have received a return request under the classification of "missing or broken parts" .  In the comments the buyer states that "someone stole the package from garage".  My tracking shows that the item was delivered "to garage or step".

My question is, am I liable for an item that tracking shows as delivered?  When I packaged it, there were no "missing or broken parts".  The buyer cannot even prove that there were parts missing or broken because he never opened the package because it was stolen.

I spoke with UPS and they said it would be hard to get an insurance refund on the package since the tracking shows it was delivered.

Should I deny the request?  Will this result in bad ratings or feedback?  Should I ask eBay to step in?  Or would it be best to bite the bullet and just return the money ( about $16).  It is not a large amount, but more of setting a precedent.  

Thanks for any info you can provide!

[12345jamesstamps]

Did you google the address? To see where item might have been placed.

You are not responsible for "garage" thieves.

And buyer usually gets updates on delivery and not for delivery in emails in buyer's inbox.

Something $16.? Must have been a small item.

Check buyer's feedback and what they buy and how new they are. Buyer might be telling the truth.

$16. is not a lot of money and I would refund that and block buyer.

[shipscript]

@4babycakes2 

Once an item has been delivered by the carrier, buglary belongs to the buyer, who can make a police report and a homeowner's insurance claim.  But the buyer won't do that because of the deductible.

The procedure the buyer selected would require you to issue a return label, and the buyer would be required to return the item for refund. Since there is nothing to return, the buyer can only return an empty box or unrelated item, and if the buyer does so, you could report the buyer for abusing eBay's return policy (after first refunding the buyer - costing both item, shipping, and return shipping).

So, to avoid the extra expense of the return, use the buyer's comment to protect yourself from a refund. If this were my case, I would respond, sympathetically, to the buyer that once the item has been "delivered", porch theft, garage theft, and home burglary are between the buyer and their insurance company.

Advise the buyer to check with the carrier locally to see if the driver was a substitute who may have misdelivered to another address. UPS may take a photo of the delivery in some residential areas. That puts the followup in the buyer's lap (or you could ask the same of your carrier). Then ask eBay to step in (available after 3 days) to close the case in your favor because the item was delivered and the buyer says the item was stolen from the buyer's premises. 

If this were my case and I wanted to keep the buyer or felt sorry for the buyer, I might offer a token partial refund to "help out" because they were burglarized, but only so far as profits allowed.

[girl_gamer_2012]

Bottom line is, whether they're telling the truth or not, a delivered item that was then stolen is not your responsibility. I would politely tell them no.

They can most definitely leave harmful/negative feedback, and probably will of they're the entitled sort. But you shouldn't fear that, you can't please everyone, and I'm fairly certain you can leave a public response to such feedback to explain yourself to other potential buyers.