Is there a limit to how long a buyer can claim item not received?

[lovecraft68]

Hey everyone,

I have a buyer who made a purchase on 4/20 and yesterday I get a message from e-bay that funds are on hold because now over two months later he is saying he didn't receive it. The tracking says "delivered to building" he's in NYC and I'm thinking probably lives in an apartment building with who knows how many apts, and maybe someone scooped it or something, or he's full of crap.

I contacted him and said I'd try to look into it further and E-bay lifted the hold and he replied that 'sometimes things go to the wrong place"

My first question is can they wait this long? Obviously if this came up much sooner it might have been easier to investigate. Other question is at this point should I contest this and end up with a negative feedback and e-bay handing him his money back, or just go ahead and refund him and maybe get a negative anyway? 

I was selling in the early 2000's and back then the seller actually had rights when you could prove the thing was delivered, now it just seems like its bend over no matter what. 

[bonjourami]

Hes way too late to file an inr case here, or to even leave feedback. Did he go to his cc for a chargeback? Thats a different story with inr, did you provide the tracking number to prove delivery? Do not contest it with Ebay or ask them to step in.He had thirty days from delivery to open a case here, and sixty days to leave fb.

[dhbookds]

If you mean he filed a case........and it's still open, put in the tracking #...

It sounds like (from what I understand) that ebay rejected the case...either because he is too late (over 30 days) to claim it or because the tracking showed delivered.

He could still file a case on his credit card.....

I would get a screen shot of the tracking that shows delivered (be sure the tracking # is in it)....because USPS can delete them after some period of time in the event he does file a cc case.  

I would not refund him.  If he leaves a neg, just respond that tracking shows delivered on xyz date.  

[albertabrightalberta]

@lovecraft68 

Every order shows an estimated date of delivery. Buyers have 30 days from that date for a MBG (money back guarantee) claim. Past 30 days, they can still open a claim but they're too late for MBG.  It sounds like the buyer filed an INR (item not received) claim. 

Respond to the case with the tracking number. In the notes section, you can put, "according to USPS, tracking number (fill in the blank) was delivered on (date) at (time). 

You will win the claim and the case will close. 

ETA: Is this for a $3.08 comic book? Sheesh! 

If the buyer opens the same type of claim as a chargeback, you respond similarly.

[buyselljack2016]

"E-bay lifted the hold" 

-----------------------------------------------

ETA

time frame and status makes this sound like it was a chargeback that was covered by eBay seller protection as tracking shows delivery.

[rokkworks]

I agree with all the replies here so far. Just wanted to comment on the NYC aspect. As a native NYer, yes, most people live in apartments, but sending stuff to apartments in NYC is actually more secure than a lot of other places.
This is because the apartment buildings without a doorman require the mail carrier to use a pass key to access the front door, then put things into individual mailboxes - they can’t just leave something on the steps of a building, and they don’t go around dropping things in the hallways. If it doesn’t fit in the little, locked, individual mailboxes inside the building, they leave a pickup card in the mailbox.
The doorman buildings - well, they have that doorman and a locked package room.  
It’s actually more risky sending something to the freestanding townhouses (we should all be one of the lucky few to own one of those!) - if there’s no one home to receive the package.  Usually, in that case, the pickup card is left. Although, often the carrier has a passkey and can drop the pkg into the entry vestibule.

In all these scenarios, bottom line: it is the “delivered” scan that eBay requires. Period. 

[lovecraft68]

Thank you for the response, tracking was uploaded and he has it because that's where he saw the 'left at building' maybe the carrier is the one who screwed this up, it happens, but 60 days later is the issue.

I'll leave it alone and see what happens.

Thanks again

[lovecraft68]

He bought three, the order was $12 +$5.50 for shipping. Its not the amount of money I'm concerned about, its more the principle as corny as that sounds 

[adamcartwright]

@rokkworks 

Whew!  You have some great stuff listed.