Pretty sure I’m getting scammed

[tbud75]

A buyer purchased my Care Bears Noble Heart Horse 8” plush on July 1.  USPS tracking shows the item arrived on July 6, delivered in/at mailbox at 9:49 am.

The buyer never left me feedback but didn’t say a word until last night, when I received an email from eBay saying the funds from that sale are on hold because the buyer opened a request claiming they never received the item.  This is two months after the fact.

I responded to the eBay claim with the tracking number and asking why the buyer waited two months to contact me.

Am I going to be out the money and the item? This was a collector’s piece that was worth $295, otherwise I wouldn’t be this upset.

I’m not a veteran seller by any means.  I’ve just made a few sales in the last several months, so I’m very bewildered by this.

Could anyone offer some advice and what to expect? eBay always takes the buyer’s side, correct?

[slippinjimmy]

Although eBay allows buyers to open a Not Received request more than 30 days after the last estimated delivery date it does not qualify for Buyer Protection.

In this case it doesn't matter, just add the tracking number that shows delivery to the buyer. After you do that just wait patiently nothing else is required, no need to contact eBay or the buyer. At some point eBay will close the request in your favor, the hold on funds will be lifted and that is the end of the story.

[caldreamer]

If you provided tracking# proving item was delivered you will win.   EBAY views tracking# as proof of delivery.

[lakefor94]

Adding on to jimmys information. 

Keep all the documentation you might have on this sale.

Buyer ordered on this date

Item shipped on this date 

Item Received on this date

Screenshot of the tracking showing delivered

Etc etc.

In case the buyer turns around and files a chargeback with their Credit Card issuer or Paypal.

[femmefan1946]

The buyer never left me feedback

Feedback is voluntary. It's currently running less than 30% of transactions.

funds from that sale are on hold because the buyer ...never received the item.

If you have the tracking number, put it in the correspondence.

This is two months after the fact.

After selling or after delivery? The buyer has 30 days after delivery to open a Claim.

Still pretty slow.

Am I going to be out the money and the item?

Probably not.

EBay does tend to by on the side of the seller in similar cases, especially since you promptly showed delivery.

It's also possible that this is not a eBay MBG claim but a credit card chargeback.

Those are tougher, but you have done the right thing in responding promptly with the tracking.

[tbud75]

I have all of the tracking information uploaded on eBay.  Unfortunately I did throw out the USPS receipt a couple of days ago, considering the sale was on 7/1 and delivered on 7/6.

Do you keep all of your receipts no matter how much time has passed?

[tbud75]

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@femmefan1946 wrote:

This is two months after the fact.

After selling or after delivery? The buyer has 30 days after delivery to open a Claim.

Still pretty slow.

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The item was delivered on 7/6 according to my USPS tracking number.

The buyer opened this claim yesterday, 9/18 at 11:46 stating they never received the item.

[lakefor94]

I never, ever get a receipt. The tracking documentation is all you need as far as delivery is concerned.

Our local postal workers here don't miss scans. Once they scan it, no need for a receipt. 

[dbfolks166mt]

I have all of the tracking information uploaded on eBay.  Unfortunately I did throw out the USPS receipt a couple of days ago, considering the sale was on 7/1 and delivered on 7/6.

Do you keep all of your receipts no matter how much time has passed?

     I keep mine for at least 6 months. The one thing that is on the receipt that is not simply in the tracking information is the weight of the package when USPS took possession of the item. This has helped me a number of times with empty box claims from buyers as well as insurance claims with USPS. 

[lakefor94]

"I keep mine for at least 6 months. The one thing that is on the receipt that is not simply in the tracking information is the weight of the package when USPS took possession of the item. This has helped me a number of times with empty box claims from buyers as well as insurance claims with USPS."

I have been fortunate over the years with no such claims by buyers or lost packages. Just using USPS and UPS. the USPS carrier picks up my shipments and scans everytime. If I have to go into the post office, I drop and run. They never miss a scan. Same with the pack n ship joint where I drop the UPS shipments, drop and run. They scan every time. 

Could not imagine waiting in line and thankful for that.

I do understand it is not like that everywhere with some places quite a bit more challenging than others.

[hardrhymer76]

I keep all of my receipts during the calendar year in a large envelope, then toss them the following year after I file my taxes. Somewhat arbitrary, but it seems like both a safe amount of time to keep them for proof of acceptance, and a convenient time to dispose of them while I'm already digging through files.

[mementomoria]

I keep all of my mail receipts for the entire year. Not only for this type of claim, but I figure it can't hurt if I have to show that I drive to the post office everyday on my taxes. 

[mementomoria]

Sometimes when I file a damage claim with USPS they ask for a copy of the mailing receipt. You know anything to get out of paying a claim. 

[tbud75]

OK, I’m thinking it’s time to pick through the trash to see if it’s out there.  I’m pretty sure it wasn’t picked up yet.

Lesson learned.  If I sell anything else, the receipts are getting filed away!

[lakefor94]

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@mementomoria wrote:

Sometimes when I file a damage claim with USPS they ask for a copy of the mailing receipt. You know anything to get out of paying a claim. 

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I hear you on that. I ship small items and large/heavy items. Small items go in a box, never in an envelope. 

Expensive or heavier items are packed to the max to avoid damage. Damage claims by buyers are the worst possible outcome.

I have only had one buyer claim damage.  I shipped 3 separate boxes at 80+ lbs. of computer server rails and one of the boxes was dropped and damaged, even with warning labels of the weight all over the box. 

I just had to adjust shipping for that product and limit the weight of shipment to under 50 lbs. and bubble wrapped before custom boxing.

Anyways, the buyer contacted me and I shipped him replacements the next day for what was damaged. Only 3 of the 16 rails in that package were damaged. He was a happy camper.