So sorry this happened to you, and appreciate your sharing this experience so other sellers can avoid the pitfalls that tripped you up this go ‘round.
What was the estimated date of delivery? Was there any movement of the package in the days leading up to the refund deadline? Sometimes eBay has been known to grant an extension or grace period to give a seller more time for delivery to occur.
Overall, it can be quite risky selling high dollar goods overseas. To mitigate that risk, the carrier service you offer is important, as this discussion reveals. Sadly the chosen service did not provide the kind of protection you expected to get to avoid this outcome, but the explanation of the two similarly named shipping service's eBay has will no doubt help many.
In addition, moving forward, you might want to reevaluate what countries have the most reliable postal systems, and then set up any shipping exclusions to minimize the added risk one can suffer when shipping to troubled areas.
Also to mitigate risk, it can be helpful to revisit eBay policies affecting such outcomes as this, to remain aware of next steps to follow when faced with shipping problems or other transactional issues.
Retail shrinkage is one of those facts of retailing that needs to be addressed in one’s business plan. Managing that liability can be a real challenge, but we all have been there. I tack on a set amount when pricing my goods, an amount that is then set aside for loss compensation once the sale is made. Over the years, this suspense fund has grown exponentially and now covers the cost of my offering free returns.
albertabrightalberta
