USPS Lost Package

[mandr22]

If USPS looses a package is the seller responsible for a full refund to the buyer

[kensgiftshop]

Yes, seller is responsible for the package until it is delivered to the buyer.

[mam98031]

Yes we are.  I just had one.  I did file for a trace on the package, which is the first thing to do when there appears to be a slow package.  But USPS say they can't find it.  So now I refunded by buyer and I'll go to filing a claim with USPS because it was shipped Ground Advantage.

Think about it this way.  What if YOU were the buyer and you purchased something from Target and the package never arrived.  Wouldn't you go back on Target and expect them to make good on what you purchased from them?  Of course you would.  And the same is true for Ebay buyers.  They have the absolute right to expect to receive what they have paid for.

[chevymontecarlo88]

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@mandr22 wrote:

If USPS looses a package is the seller responsible for a full refund to the buyer

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Yes, to all of the above responses. You should open a missing mail case on the USPS website. 

@mandr22 

Also keep in mind that if the package is delivered (tracking shows) and the package is stolen/missing after that, the seller is not responsible for theft/porch pirates. Sellers are responsible for getting the purchase delivered to the buyer safely and the buyer is responsible for providing a safe location for delivery. 

[wastingtime101]

Hi @mandr22 . Before we declare the package lost or not:

1. On what date did you ship?

2. On what date was the last tracking scan and what does that scan say?

3. Was the package headed specifically to Miami or Doral, FL and did it get stuck on an "in transit arriving late" series of scans?

Generally speaking, yes the seller is responsible for refunding and the seller can file an insurance claim for pretty much any USPS service except Media Mail here:

https://www.usps.com/ship/insurance-extra-services.htm

But if you can answer those above questions there may be more steps you can take before declaring the package lost.

[inhawaii]

Answer: Yes.

[tinsoldierunderground]

In a word, Yes. 

[pickapaper]

@mandr22 

Has the buyer filed an "item not received" claim yet?  Have you been watching the tracking to see if the package is just moving slow or to make sure it has been delivered or not?  If not delivered, have you filed a missing mail claim with through the USPS website?

It would help if we knew exactly what has transpired and where you are at in the process.

[simba6]

Yep.      The seller has to insure it if they want to.   Some shipping does include some insurance.

[dbfolks166mt]

     Potentially. Either the sender or the receiver can file an insurance claim with USPS for a lost package. However in most cases it falls to the sender/seller to do so simply because the receiver/buyer is unaware they can do so or they don't have a USPS account. 

     If the package is truly lost the timelines for filing a claim with USPS are shown below. Generally you fully refund the buyer before you start the claim process with USPS depending on a couple of factors that  

wastingtime101 mentioned up thread.  

[bashort]

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@mandr22 wrote:

If USPS looses a package is the seller responsible for a full refund to the buyer

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yes and then a month later when it finally gets delivered  to the buyer  they get it for free and the USPS will not pay, on ground advantage you have to wait 45 days before they even consider it lost

[adamcartwright]

@mandr22 

I've had the USPS lose a package. I filed an insurance claim on the Ground Advantage coverage.

The claim was denied, but my appeal was granted, and they sent me a check for the full amount. 

[mam98031]

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@bashort wrote:

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@mandr22 wrote:

If USPS looses a package is the seller responsible for a full refund to the buyer

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yes and then a month later when it finally gets delivered  to the buyer  they get it for free and the USPS will not pay, on ground advantage you have to wait 45 days before they even consider it lost

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That is not necessarily true.  But the OP can cross that bridge if it comes up.  I would be happy to advise them on what to do since you apparently aren't aware of it.  Certainly it can be difficult and it doesn't always work, but many times it does.

[dbfolks166mt]

@mandr22 wrote:

If USPS looses a package is the seller responsible for a full refund to the buyer

yes and then a month later when it finally gets delivered  to the buyer  they get it for free and the USPS will not pay, on ground advantage you have to wait 45 days before they even consider it lost

     This is inaccurate. I had 5 packages lost during the spring flooding I filed claims 16 days after the mailing date and most of the claim were approved and I had a check within two weeks of filing. 

[12345jamesstamps]

USPS hasn't lost anything with me for years.

I have had some tracking on packages which shows items 'still in transit' for about a year though.

I have been lucky with honest buyers I guess.

Some packages do not get scanned as 'delivered'...a fact of life...therefore, some think they are lost.

If it's not delivered from a scan...it is lost...hogwash.

Some buyers might open a claim as item not received just because it did not get a scan as 'delivered'.

But buyer actually go it.

Tracking is like Russian Roulette...will it get scanned or not.

Sure, we can get refunds sometimes but it comes with a cost of the seller using their time to get the refund which the seller I am certain would rather be doing something else than emails back and forth or even phone calls.