02-22-2025 11:38 AM
I sold an item for $1000. The buyer paid for shipping and opted not to purchase insurance. The Post office lost it. Ebay refunded the BUYER, and told me I had to file a claim with the USPS, whom of course denied my claim.(No insurance) Ebay then tells me I cannot appeal their decision and to add insult to injury, charged me $398.00 in fees. What can I do. This is just wrong. No money and no item. I sold something on ebay and it cost me $398.00?! Really? Looking around, I see this has happened to seasoned sellers as well as new sellers alike. If we file a class action law suit, will they boot us off Ebay?
02-22-2025 12:01 PM
Sorry. It is the seller's responsibility to purchase insurance when shipping to a buyer.
Can you try to intercept the package from the carrier?
If you would would have just refunded the buyer then you would have been refunded the final value fees. Sounds like ebay stepped in because you did not so so.
02-22-2025 12:07 PM - edited 02-22-2025 12:08 PM
As you've found out insurance is for the seller not the buyer, buyer is protected by ebay's MBG. Also if you didn't get signature confirmation on this shipment buyer can get a refund even if tracking shows delivered since price is over $750 from what I've heard
02-22-2025 12:12 PM
@wcaw1786 When you ship an item, it does not matter whether the buyer pays for insurance or not. YOU are the shipper and YOU are responsible for paying for insurance as you are responsible for the package until it is delivered to the buyer. Also, when you ship a package over $750, you are required by eBay to send it with Signature Confirmation. Since you chose not to insure the package, I'm guessing you also did not send with Signature Confirmation either?
You said the post office denied your claim because of no insurance. What kind of claim did you file? Did you happen to file a missing package claim with the post office? If they "lost it", that would be the first thing I would do to make sure it was really lost or just stuck in the system somewhere.
And, yes, you had to pay fees for the sold item. This is all explained in eBay's User Agreement. Filing a Class Action lawsuit will do you no good. You are in the predicament you are in because you did not follow proper procedures. This is a classic example of selling an expensive item without knowing the ins and outs of selling on eBay.
02-22-2025 12:19 PM
What does the tracking show ?
I would go to the USPS website and fill out the missing mail forms.
We have mailed alot of packages with USPS and can't remember them ever actually losing a package but they do seem to get "stuck" on occasion . Every time this has happened once we submitted the search form the package miraculously started to move again.
02-22-2025 12:20 PM
You will find it difficult to file a class action suit because
1. it requires finding a judge who will override the arbitration clause in your agreement with Ebay
2. Because it will be hard to find a lawyer who will accept your case on a contingency basis since the risks of the result you had would have been known to most if not all prudent sellers.
Under consumer protection laws, you are responsible for the safe delivery of your orders.
Insurance is a way of protecting yourself if the shipper you used fails to deliver.
You are paying the Ebay fees because you did not resolve the problem with the buyer and Ebay was called in.
Clearly, you have little experience as an online buyer or seller and chose to sell an expensive, heavy item.
Selling online is not an easy way to make some money, no matter what some Youtube video might tell you.
You should never sell anything online unless you can afford to lose all of it and more. You should never expect quick cash. And Murphy's Law often applies - anything that can go wrong, will go wrong.
Your experience is not out of the ordinary, but you could have lessened or eliminated some of the risks had you done more research on how to sell online.
02-22-2025 12:23 PM
Sorry, but the buyer doesn't have to buy insurance, they are covered by the MBG.
It's up to the seller to insure the item.
02-22-2025 12:32 PM
No, there will be no talk about class action suit here.
Listen, you have got to locate that Generator somehow, someway. Have you filed a missing package? Have you spoke to the postmaster? I would be on the phone every day looking for this package.
You have posted about this item several times now, where was this generator going, what state?
What hub did it initially go to Vegas or Reno?
02-22-2025 12:40 PM
I'm so sorry. This must be infuriating. While you may not have options on this one due to reasons already explained by others, I would suggest providing free shipping on large orders like this in the future so you can add your own insurance and if something like this happens again, you're not out of pocket? There's not much that can be said to console. But I do feel for you; especially in this economy. Just know for next time and protect yourself in the future.
02-22-2025 12:48 PM - edited 02-22-2025 04:27 PM
@wcaw1786 wrote: .... Ebay refunded the BUYER, and told me I had to file a claim with the USPS, whom of course denied my claim.(No insurance) ...
Both Ground Advantage and Priority Mail automatically include $100 of insurance; you should have been able to at least claim that amount, plus USPS insurance will refund postage paid if the package is lost.
A couple of the other posters have referred to the "MBG." Here's a link to eBay's buyer protection policy, which they call the "Money Back Guarantee". As you will see, eBay holds the seller responsible for the item until it's delivered, so the buyer has no need to purchase insurance.
https://www.ebay.com/help/policies/ebay-money-back-guarantee-policy/ebay-money-back-guarantee-policy...
02-22-2025 01:06 PM
@bayabai wrote:I'm so sorry. This must be infuriating. While you may not have options on this one due to reasons already explained by others, I would suggest providing free shipping on large orders like this in the future so you can add your own insurance and if something like this happens again, you're not out of pocket? There's not much that can be said to console. But I do feel for you; especially in this economy. Just know for next time and protect yourself in the future.
Free shipping has nothing to do with insurance, the seller buys the shipping label and it's up to the seller to add insurance if they want it. Makes no difference if you charge for shipping or offer "free" shipping.
02-22-2025 01:09 PM
You are trying to pass the buck like the buyer was responsible to buy insurance. As the seller, that was your job, for your own protection. A tough lesson Im sure.
02-22-2025 01:21 PM
02-22-2025 01:22 PM
Was it lost, or delayed?
I would STRONGLY advise that you open a missing mail search. I'm hoping you can get the item back.
The last time I had an issue like this was over a decade ago, and in that case, the packing box came apart somehow. I had a packing slip with the item, and the USPS DC was able to find the item
As others have said, it is up to the SELLER to insure the item. I hope this item is found
02-22-2025 01:23 PM
@wcaw1786 wrote:If we file a class action law suit, will they boot us off Ebay?
No one will notice if you file a class action lawsuit.
In fact, no law practice will take up such a case, because they are all familiar with Article 15 of the eBay user agreement.