Missing Itema

[solodolo2008]

Good evening,

I had, what may be, my first "shipped item missing after drop-off." I follow-up with USPS, submitted a ticket, and refunded the buyer. Will issues like these effect a sellers ratings? I thought maybe because free "C-19" tests were being shipped, and that would take precedence. Although, I've sold items just weeks ago, and bought items, and they've come in a timely fashion (less than 2 weeks).

I guess I'm just looking for some confirmations that this can happen, and steps to take, if needed. Thanks.

[katzrul15]

@solodolo2008 

What does your current tracking for your parcel show?

[solodolo2008]

Good evening,

Let me rewind:

I printed the shipment label 3 days prior to shipping the item. I did not wait for the receipt (which I usually do). It's still showing as "waiting to be received." I'm confused because, in-past, I haven't necessarily needed to wait for a receipt. This is my first item being M.I.A. (currently) in their (USPS) system, and refunded. So, I'm a bit bummed.

[fashunu4eeuh]

It is in your best interest to get the acceptance scan for every package without fail. This is to avoid dings on your shipping times, and to prove unequivocally that the item was shipped.

[albertabrightalberta]

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@solodolo2008 wrote:

Good evening,

Let me rewind:

I printed the shipment label 3 days prior to shipping the item. I did not wait for the receipt (which I usually do). It's still showing as "waiting to be received." I'm confused because, in-past, I haven't necessarily needed to wait for a receipt. This is my first item being M.I.A. (currently) in their (USPS) system, and refunded. So, I'm a bit bummed.

---

How long ago did you drop the package off? Sometimes items don't get scans along the way and eventually just show the delivery scan. 

[downunder-61]

You did the right thing by your buyer, but should the item show as delivered a bit later and the buyer does  not agree to repay you or you are unable to contact the buyer:

If you voluntarily refund the buyer within 3 days of the case being opened, you are eligible for reimbursement from eBay on appeal if the item is delivered to the customer within 30 days of the case being closed. More details on the process here. 

[inhawaii]

If the tracking doesn't show "accepted" or received, then in ebay's eyes it's not shipped ... even though the status may say "shipped".  You would lose in a dispute.    If you refunded the customer in full you should not get a ding from ebay. 

[dbfolks166mt]

     Sorry you are in this situation. Like you I learned the hard way about USPS and obtaining receipts. For a long time I simply dropped packages at the post office or had them picked up until one of them never received an initial scan and I ended up having to refund the buyer. Since I did not have a receipt and the package had never received an initial scan USPS could not help since I did not have proof that they ever took possession of the item. At most PO's those tubs/bins are sitting in open areas so it is possible somebody simply took the package out of the bin. 

     These days I always have USPS scan every item and obtain an initial receipt. This has also helped in one case where the buyer claimed they received an empty box. The USPS receipt has the weight of the item on the receipt which helped me win the eBay NAD case as an empty box does not weigh six pounds, 5 ounces. That was the weight on the receipt at the time USPS weighed and took possession of the item. 

[bashort]

On a $8 item I got a neg that said "Never received" no contact from the buyer. I looked at the tracking and 

there was not one scan. I went ahead and sent the buyer a refund because I thought that was the correct thing to do and selected "never received item" as the reason. 

I wa rewarder for issuing the unrequested refund by being charged with a seller canceled sale.

I had 3 other items earlier in the year that I had sold that I was out of stock on and this one put me over the .5% and I lost TRS.

A made a couple calls to ebay and tried to get it changed but they would not.

[luckythewinner]

If you left it on a drop-off counter or in a drop-off bin, it is possible someone just stole it. Even though I have never had an issue, I always stand in line and make sure the package gets scanned. 

Just to be clear - the only thing an acceptance scan protects you against is an "on-time shipping" ding. If there is no acceptance scan, your buyer will still win an "item not received" case.