So upset

[justbenice3]

I sold an item for $60 approximately two weeks ago I received a request yesterday that the item was never received and in the message the buyer says verbatim I don't even live at that address anymore refund! I shipped to the address provided and when I check tracking it says it's still in transit however USPS says the item is likely long gone. EBay is siding with the customer even though they provided the wrong address so now I have to refund and lose my item? I am extremely upset about this I've called eBay and they don't seem to care

[uncle-papaw]

Try to intercept the package if it's still in transit somewhere.. Go to: https://www.usps.com/manage/package-intercept.htm

If it was shipped Priority mail you should automatically have up to $100 insurance.

[mschacha]

WOW!!!!!  It isn't your fault. You should keep on calling until you get someone who can help. 

Was the package insured? My cut off point in shipping items without insurance is $50, I don't make enough money selling to take a $50 or $60 plus shipping hit. It appears that the post office really makes an effort on packages that are insured.  Isn't it amazing how irresponsible some buyers are??

Thank you for sharing. Please keep us updated.

[nobody*s_perfect]

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@uncle-papaw wrote:

Try to intercept the package if it's still in transit somewhere.. Go to: https://www.usps.com/manage/package-intercept.htm

If it was shipped Priority mail you should automatically have up to $100 insurance.

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Intercepting is a great idea, and there's a chance that it could work, since the package hasn't been delivered.

The OP is not a Top Rated Seller, so if they shipped via  Priority Mail the automatic insurance coverage would be $50. And if the package is lost, then USPS will also refund the postage cost.

[nobody*s_perfect]

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@justbenice3 wrote: ... when I check tracking it says it's still in transit however USPS says the item is likely long gone. ...

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What do they mean by "long gone"?  Lost?  

As noted in other posts, if you shipped via Priority Mail then you automatically have insurance coverage, and you can file a claim online at usps.com after the required waiting period which IIRC for Priority is 3 weeks.

Alas, yes, eBay will side with the customer if you don't have a tracking scan that confirms delivery.  But check the details of the tracking again; since it's undeliverable, it might be on its way back to you.

[justbenice3]

No and this is a first for me where I'm getting screwed over not only by eBay but also USPS. There was no scans showing... therefore it's their word against mine whether I even shipped in the first place. When I called eBay yesterday they said that it showed the item was in transit but when I looked it up it doesn't show a single scan so I don't know if they're seeing something that I can't.. I print my labels at home and I know for a fact that this particular package went out because my mail lady remarked that she used to live in the same city that this was going to.. but regardless I've been in tears over the entire thing because I literally followed all of the rules by shipping it to the address I was provided and now I am losing out. I'm just so beyond frustrated. I always work with my customers and as long as I've been selling online I've never had a negative experience like this I guess all I can do is really learn from it

[wesk_36]

Hopefully you get the item back.

[segar-6213]

Unfortunately, if tracking doesn't show delivered,. you lose.

Now if tracking shows delivered to the address the buyer has on their PayPal account, then you'll likely win

[vinylease]

Believe it or not, I've had some luck with filing a USPS lost package report.  (It's worked about 70% of the time for me) It's worth a try.  

Good luck...

[nobody*s_perfect]

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This problem is fundamentally about the lack of scans, not about which address the buyer used.  Even if the buyer was still at the address on the label, they would be filing (and winning) an "Item not received" claim.

[a_c_green]

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@justbenice3 wrote:

When I called eBay yesterday they said that it showed the item was in transit but when I looked it up it doesn't show a single scan so I don't know if they're seeing something that I can't.. I print my labels at home and I know for a fact that this particular package went out because my mail lady remarked that she used to live in the same city that this was going to.. 

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Just to clarify here: What does the tracking on usps.com show for that package? Is there an Acceptance scan? Any entries beyond the Label Created entry that will show that it's in the hands of the USPS? Did you hand it to your carrier for shipping, or take it to the post office?

[kensgiftshop]

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@justbenice3 wrote:

I sold an item for $60 approximately two weeks ago I received a request yesterday that the item was never received and in the message the buyer says verbatim I don't even live at that address anymore refund! I shipped to the address provided and when I check tracking it says it's still in transit however USPS says the item is likely long gone. EBay is siding with the customer even though they provided the wrong address so now I have to refund and lose my item? I am extremely upset about this I've called eBay and they don't seem to care

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If it's past the estimated delivery date Ebay gave the buyer and they file an INR, if there's no tracking showing it has been delivered, they will refund the buyer.

If tracking shows recent movement, they might put the case on hold a few days to see what happens.

Evan if they provided the correct address, it tracking never shows it being delivered, they would refund the buyer.

[inhawaii]

If tracking shows it delivered to the address provided to you by ebay/paypal ... you win.

If not ... you lose. 

[keziak]

I had to refund recently a Priority package that was never scanned.  Am I right in assuming the USPS will not honor the insurance if there is no scan/proof of mailing?

[a_c_green]

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@keziak wrote:

I had to refund recently a Priority package that was never scanned.  Am I right in assuming the USPS will not honor the insurance if there is no scan/proof of mailing?

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There's some anecdotal evidence that they may pay off under those circumstances, but it would be an uphill fight, probably involving an appeals process, sworn statements that it really was mailed, etc. 

The USPS is expected to scan the package when it's presented for mailing, not later on sometime. If handing it to a carrier, the carrier should pull out his handheld and scan it.