False nondelivery claims

[thesimplechoice]

Is this a routine thing?  I am a small seller but in the last 2 months I have had 2 nondelivery claims.  I have tracking on delivery and both claims were dropped or denied by ebay after confirming delivery via USPS tracking.  That is all well and good.  But . ...

I had not, prior to the claims being made, actually put in the tracking information.  Yes, I typically do that; still I missed doing that when these 2 items were sent.  The packages were obviously delivered.  So, it seems to me like these were attempts by two different buyers to simply try for a refund by claiming nondelivery when they obviously knew they were not entitled to a refund.  When confronted with the tracking numbers which showed delivery, both claims were dropped (one package was actually signed for).

Is this something that you have experienced?  Does ebay take action against buyers who attempt this type of activity.  

[hurryagain]

You can report the buyer under help & contact - report buyer.

In the future, just don't forget to upload that tracking info since they are less likely to pull this sort of stunt when the item is scanned as delivered.

@thesimplechoice 

[no_zero369]

NO!  I have never experienced that ever.  I ALWAYS see to it that the tracking number is uploaded to the sale.

Sounds like your buyers, when not seeing a tracking number and no progress jumped to the conclusion that the items were never shipped or there was a scam afoot.  So having a tracking number helps the buyers and protects you.  No way eBay is going to take action against a buyer who just wants to get their stuff and thinks it isn't arriving because no tracking was uploaded.

Second, I am not sure why you would have to "put in the tracking information?"  If you buy your shipping labels through eBay, the tracking is automagically added to the sales record and there is no need to put it in.  Only thing I can think of is that one is buying postage at the USPS Retail Counter?  Those costs are higher than the rates eBay labels provide.  It is the difference between Retail Rates and Commercial Rates.  The less cost you have for shipping the higher your profits.

Also, others use PirateShip to buy labels.  It is a free service and sometimes has cheaper costs than eBay labels.  If you set it up right the eBay sales info get loaded into PirateShip and after you buy the label the tracking gets uploaded to the sales record.  With PS you can buy your labels with a cash back CC and thus save a little bit more that way too.

So hope you can find ways to help your buyers, reduce your costs and reduce the stress!

[thesimplechoice]

In both situations though, the buyer filed a non-delivery claim well after they had already received the items.  In one of the situations the buyer had to actually sign for the item.  So -- it is not a question of a buyer wondering where their item is.  They have the item in their possession already -- and then they filed a non-delivery claim.  When presented with the delivery information -- both claims were dropped.   There was no, "But, I never received it."   These were not big money items.  $50 or so.  

[bopsha0]

can you contact ebay coustomer service.

[simba6]

Not every package that gets marked delivered is to the correct address.  Also, in some cases they were stolen after delivery.  That could lead a buyer to think they were not delivered.

[thesimplechoice]

Yes -- I agree, a package could be stolen after delivery (porch pirates etc), although when someone signs for a package I would think that makes the argument tough.

I am curious; does ebay maintain a bank/listing of customers who have had items claimed to be stolen or not delivered?  A couple of items a year; could happen to anyone.  But more than that you have to wonder.  Does ebay maintain a list of buyers who have had say 5 or more undelivered package claims?  

[no_zero369]

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@thesimplechoice wrote:

In both situations though, the buyer filed a non-delivery claim well after they had already received the items.  In one of the situations the buyer had to actually sign for the item.  So -- it is not a question of a buyer wondering where their item is.  They have the item in their possession already -- and then they filed a non-delivery claim.  When presented with the delivery information -- both claims were dropped.   There was no, "But, I never received it."   These were not big money items.  $50 or so.  

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@thesimplechoice 

OK, then your additional information provides excellent evidence why it is important to add the tracking number to the sales record!  Only takes a few minutes to do after getting back from the USPS.

But hey, your choice.  Spend extra time and "stress" over INR cases that get filed, or avoid that altogether by always having a tracking number added to the sales record.  Seems like the few minutes after the sale is "the simple choice" versus more effort later?

Also, if you have no tracking number added to the sales record, eBay has no way to determine if you met the handling times for shipment and thus likely gives you a ding.  As such your seller metrics can suffer for late shipping, which in the long run is a self inflicted wounds to the selling account.

Hey just saying..... different strokes for different folks!