Do I have to issue refund through EBay before filing insurance claim on lost USPS item?

[vintagemama79]

I'm attempting to submit an insurance claim through USPS for a $895 item that has been lost by USPS.  It was shipped May 8th and last scan was May 17th.  I would like to be paid by USPS before I refund the buyer, but in the claim submission it says I have to refund the buyer first.  Any help or insight would be appreciated!

[bonjourami]

You absolutely refund your buyer immediately.

[stuff4divas]

@vintagemama79  that depends on whether or not your buyer opened an ebay item not received case. If so, the timeline for the refund is on that case.

also, did USPS confirm the pkg is lost? that is not a very long time from May 8 to May 17 to consider the pkg 'lost' since USPS filing dates for most services is at least 15 days b4 a claim can be submitted.

did u go onto the USPS website and view the filing dates? https://www.usps.com/help/claims.htm#

[varebelrose]

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@stuff4divas wrote:

that is not a very long time from May 8 to May 17 to consider the pkg 'lost' since USPS filing dates for most services is at least 15 days b4 a claim can be submitted.

Today being June 15, it has been 29 days since last scanned. OP, you need to refund before the INR case deadline, assuming the buyer opened a case. Filing a claim with the USPS is unrelated to the eBay case, the timing to open that with the PO depends on their rules when it is considered "lost".

[vintagemama79]

The buyer has not filed a case yet. Unfortunately the buyer did not seem to start looking for the item until the first of June. I had messaged them numerous times before that to see if they had received the item and to let them know that USPS had attempted delivery on May 11 but there was no one home to sign for it.  It’s very frustrating. It could have been avoided if they had been watching for it, but what can you do?

[mtgraves7984]

"... USPS had attempted delivery on May 11..."

@vintagemama79 

What in the world does tracking say beyond the May 11 information?

[vintagemama79]

“USPS in possession of item
Departed post office
In transit to next facility”

pretty crazy, huh? Not sure why they didn’t keep it at her post office until she could go pick it up.

[sextons-sweet-deals]

So you shipped with tracking and USPS attempted delivery on May 11th, correct?

Do not refund at all until you piece everything together.

As soon as you refund, the buyer will rush to the post office and pick up! You lose the item and the money!!!!!!!

The buyer has a time period in which to pick up or request another delivery attempt. Once that time has expired, the package will be returned to you as 'undeliverable'.

[stuff4divas]

@vintagemama79  what does tracking say? it does not sound like USPS 'lost' the pkg but that it has been 'waiting' for the buyer to pick it up.

attempted delivery is considered as 'delivered' by eBay

you should call the post office that has the pkg in their possession and find out where the pkg is and why it hasn't been sent back to you

[toomuchstuffagain35]

In transit after the attempted delivery date sounds like USPS has already started the RTS process.

In which case OP shouldn't refund until they get it back, and USPS certainly won't honour a lost parcel claim unless it never turns up back to the OP.

[sextons-sweet-deals]

sounds like it is being returned to you. Do not refund until you get it back.

Glad you shipped with signature required. 

[jman0312]

Why would you refund if USPS lost it?, not sure how this is even your problem. This is ebays cost of doing business with USPS not yours. 

[dqdistribution]

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@jman0312 wrote:

Why would you refund if USPS lost it?, not sure how this is even your problem. This is ebays cost of doing business with USPS not yours. 

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What are you talking about. If hypothetically it was actually lost it would be 100% the sellers responsibility to refund. 

I'm really curious how someone with your feedback score doesn't know this.

[buyselljack2016]

@jman0312 

Because by eBay policy the seller is responsible to get the item to the buyer.

If lost the seller refunds the buyer, and the seller goes after the carrier to be made whole.

You order from Wally, and FedEx loses the package, Wally, the sender is responsible.

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This is ebays cost of doing business with USPS not yours

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eBay is not doing business with USPS, the seller is.

[house*of*paws]

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@jman0312 wrote:

Why would you refund if USPS lost it?, not sure how this is even your problem. This is ebays cost of doing business with USPS not yours. 

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The above reply is completely outside of eBay policy.