Package Delayed Buyer Freaking out

[holsteinatlanta]

Shipped a very large package  Parcel post from Atlanta to New Jersey. Shipped on 10/31 and for over a week tracking states ‘your package will be delayed but is on its way’  I fully insured the whole thing with the post office and I can’t file a claim until 21 days missing. The buyer opened a not received case. According to ebay  the package has to arrive by 11/20 or they automatilly deduct.  I do see the buyers point but I don’t know what I’m supposed to do I cannot file a claim on the insurance yet end it appears the item is missing looking at about $200 worth of item.  if I refund him today the item might arrive tomorrow if I don’t refund until the 20th I’m probably looking at a negative. What should the seller do in this situation?

[18704d]

Anticipating having to refund the buyer,

should you file an intercept and recall the package back to you?

If it never comes back to you, you can then get the insurance paid to you.

Boardies?

Lynn

[bubbleman2010]

You're suppose to be able to call ebay CS and if they can see its a delay they will give you a time extension thats what the employees here say to bad thats not reality....

[myboardid · Accepted solution]

1) DO NOT refund the buyer now!  First, add the tracking number to the case again, even if it is already there!   Communicate with the buyer.  Send them the tracking number, even if you think they already have it.  Suggest they put it into the USPS website and see for themselves that it is on its way.

2.  Go yourself to the USPS website, put in the tracking number and sign up the buyer and yourself to get updates whenever the package is scanned.  If you see a scan, email the buyer yourself and point out  what has happened.

3) do NOTHING with eBay until late on the 19th.  If it hasn't been delivered by then, CALL eBay and point out the tracking info that it is on its way.  When they see the package is traveling, eBay should extend the time you have before you are forced to refund.  I find it easiest to use the "have eBay call you back" method and always geta US based CS rep.

If it has been delivered, ask them to close the case in your favor immediately. 

Every time this has happened to me, I have done the above procedure, and I have been successful in pleasing the buyer that I am taking them seriously  and not having to refund any money at all. 

[sam9876]

Wait.

[holsteinatlanta]

 thank you so much  making this reply the solution I do kind a feel for the guy  because the item missed his sons birthday but I mailed it the day after he paid.  

[myboardid]

Parcel Post Ground (or whatever the post office calls it these days) or Parcel Select, the online equivalent, can be a very slow shipping method, can take weeks sometimes.  Those packages are always the last ones to be fitted on the trucks and are usually not put on planes at all.  I only use that method for really large packages where the price difference for Priority is much more expensive.  I would not use it for anything time sensitive. 

You may end up getting a return request on that - I hope not. 

[monster-deals]

You can call that in and try to have a CSR put the case on hold.

Maybe they will, maybe they won't.

They did for me last week but you never know what will happen this week.

[escuintla]

I've found out that large or heavy items are cheaper to ship using Fedex. And they are quicker. And they insure the package for the full amount. 

Go the USPS website, join in, and file a lost package or something like that, they will be able to track its last point of arrival.