When a postal service doesn`t scan a package correctly, and a scammer treat it as a gift

[beautifulbeauty2012]

I shipped an item internationally to a country I speak the language of. USPS got scanned it through the UK, and then nothing for a week. Meanwhile, I was receiving notifications from that country`s postal service, and it was moving smoothly until after four scans in the city of the buyer (sorting, available for pick up at a certain address - not all countries have mail carries as we do in the US, so those folks have to pick their packages up themselves). Then, on Monday, I got two more notifications that the package is at original customs point and is moving within the country.

Knowing that that country`s postal service is a hot mess now (they blame covid, but it has little or anything to do with it), and technical glitches is one of the issues. When I saw that, I sent the buyer a message saying that the package is in your city, pick it up. Then no response despite of the activity on ebay (leaving FB).

So I called him today (yeah, internationally on his cell phone). Without introduction, I asked if he received a package. Right away he responded yeah, I got it. He thought I was a postal worker (it is common in some countries to be contacted by PO), but when he realized that it was me, he started to back up and flipped lie after lie. 

So to make story short, he reversed the initial response since there is no delivery scan, and he is aware of the mess at that postal service. Some buyers are like that in some countries (including many in the US) - no scan, I'll keep the item. Thanks god majority are honest (for now).

Do I have any recourse once he files non received item? USPS is not getting any scan info since they don`t send it to them. Sent First Class package.

[rebell45]

Might want to rethink making foreign sales until this pandemic settles down.

[sin-n-dex]

I really don't understand why you so avidly followed up on this one instead of just letting it be sent, and doing nothing unless the buyer contacts you. It doesn't matter what he tells you on the phone, if he files an INR and there's no proof of delivery, you will automatically lose the case.

I've stopped all my international sales (except Canada) since it's taking 8-12 weeks for items to cross the ocean and buyers get fed up and file claims before the item actually has a chance to arrive.

C.