eBay

beat-laboratory · ‎07-19-2019

So im still under 25 item sales so ebay randomly withholds funds for some of my sales till theyre marked as delivered. A package I sent out was marked as "recipient not available". Theres was signature confirmation, so Im not sure what the issue is. I tried to contact the buyer, but theyre not responding (gave em 5 days to respond to numerous messages). Then I rescheduled the delivery, which seemed to go the same way as the first attempt. My question is what will happen with the withheld funds without usps marking it as delivered?

orangehound · ‎07-19-2019

@beat-laboratory wrote:
My question is what will happen with the withheld funds without usps marking it as delivered?

I'll answer your question, first, and then offer some pointers/perspective.

eBay considers an item delivered if the package is either delivered or "attempted" to be delivered. A buyer is supposed to accommodate a delivery, so if the buyer never collects the package then the package will be returned to you, and you should then refund the buyer's purchase.

The buyer could open up an Item Not Received claim, but you'll win it ... still, you should refund.

@beat-laboratory wrote:
A package I sent out was marked as "recipient not available". Theres was signature confirmation, so Im not sure what the issue is.

The issue is that you put unnecessary signature confirmation on a package. People are often at work when the USPS comes ...

I get that you might be nervous of a loss, but let me give you a pointer: in the future, unless the item is worth hundreds of dollars and going to a sketchy neighborhood, or the buyer requests it, never add signature confirmation to a shipment. First, it is a HUGE pain in the buyer's neck to impose delivery confirmation on a low cost item (I don't see anything in your sold list greater than $70) -- your buyer is now going to have to take the time to make a special trip to the post office to get the package. Second, signature confirmation costs you unnecessary money, and unless the item is more than $750 then you get no greater protection from loss.

beat-laboratory · ‎07-20-2019

I meant to write there was NO delivery confirmation, so who knows what the issue is. It also looks like USPS missed the reschedule date, the tracking now says "awaiting delivery scan".

cr-8076 · ‎07-20-2019

@beat-laboratory wrote:
I meant to write there was NO delivery confirmation, so who knows what the issue is. It also looks like USPS missed the reschedule date, the tracking now says "awaiting delivery scan".

Unfortunately, that means you risk losing an Item Not Received refund request @beat-laboratory if you have a savvy buyer, as the carrier executed your insistence for redelivery, then forgot to scan the label Delivered. This is an unrecoverable error, unless you can persuade YOUR post office (it's be done, and reported on these boards) to create a fraudulent scan which says Delivered.

candiesduds · ‎07-20-2019

I literally track EVERY single shipment to buyers just because of this, in the event a package misses it's scan I contact that PO the very next business day to take care of it. I once had a customer try pulling the 'I didn't get it' routine because the carrier missed the delivery scan. Immediately contact that Post Office tomorrow to have them update the scan, it can be done and I have personally had to call Post Offices all over the United States to have this done. Only once did I ever encounter a problematic employee who refused which was in Oregon.

You can look up the number using USPS site and the zip code for the buyer. Call and ask to speak to the Post Master explaining that the package went out for delivery however the carrier accidently forgot to scan it as delivered. Sometimes the carrier will recall delivering the package also which makes it even easier. Don't be hasty or nasty, they are doing you a favor essentially. I sometimes play it off like 'oh the label must have gotten wet or damaged', make it look like it wasn't their carrier simply not doing their job. Most will update it though and no worries.

Just don't do as I did and contact the buyer, most never check their tracking once they actually get the package anyhow. I messaged my buyer 3 weeks after to confirm she did get it since tracking showed no delivery scan and THEN did she try saying "oh no I didn't", so don't message the buyer and say anything unless they would message you. Ultimately she changed her lies quickly when I mentioned postal investigation but even 'honest' people will try to take advantage if they think they can.

beat-laboratory · ‎07-20-2019

I dont think they even tried to redeliver it, the tracking just says "redelivery scheduled" for the date which has 2 days ago. This post office has horrible reviews of lost packages and deliverying to the wrong address. Im wondering if it was delivered to begin with and thats why my buyer is not responding to any of my messages. Still, what will happen to the funds that ebay placed a hold on without a delivery scan or the buyer not communicating? I think its kinda unfair to just systematically refund the money.

candiesduds · ‎07-21-2019

I would never recommend to just refund any buyer because of a suspected issue. If the buyer never responded then don't worry about it. I would assume if a buyer was actually missing a package they'd be messaging to inquire about it. Eventually Paypal will release the funds in a few weeks, it shows you shipped it so I would just wait the time out. Maybe call Paypal and ask as they are who puts your funds on hold.

beat-laboratory · ‎07-22-2019

Talked to the local post office, it was mis scanned. The receptionist was a rude moron and complained that they get calls from ebay sellers all the time, hmmm I wonder why. After prodding her I got to a supervisor who corrected the mistake.