How to file a claim with USPS for undelivered item to buyer in China

[nflanders00]

Hi. I'm a seller in the USA. I sold an item to a buyer in China. We agreed that I would ship via USPS First Class Package International Service. I sent the item on Dedember 18, 2020. The item was supposed to arrive between late January 2021 and March 10, 2021. The item hasn't arrived. The most recent tracking information is that the item left Tokyo on January 3, 2021. The buyer requested a refund and appealed to EBay when I declined to provide the refund. EBay granted the buyer's refund request because I could not prove that the buyer received the item. (Of course I can't prove it - it's still in the mail!)

I think my only option is to file an insurance claim with USPS. But that is complicated. My tracking number starts with a "U" and USPS says you can't file a claim online for a package with tracking that starts with a "U." I I can't find any information on the USPS website that says how I'm supposed to file a claim.

Has anyone had this problem? Thanks in advance for any help.

[genv]

The United States Postal Service is reminding customers that — for no additional charge — online tracking has been added to certain international shipping services for lightweight packages to select countries.

The international shipping services for which free online tracking is available include:

• First-Class Package International Service
• Priority Mail International Flat Rate Envelopes
• Priority Mail International Small Flat Rate Boxes

The free online tracking feature is available for these items sent to Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Belgium, Great Britain, Germany, France, Netherlands, Croatia, Denmark, Spain, Switzerland, Israel and Brazil.

Online tracking information, when available includes the date and time the package:

• left the U.S.
• was received in the foreign country
• was delivered, or delivery-attempted at the final destination address
• https://about.usps.com/news/national-releases/2013/fs-free-online-tracking.htm

[nobody*s_perfect]

Did you purchase insurance? Here's the page about filing a claim.

https://www.usps.com/help/claims.htm

[pjcdn2005]

First class does not have tracking to China.  Here is a list of countries that first class does have tracking to...

https://pe.usps.com/text/imm/immc2_022.htm

Unless you did purchase insurance for that package you won’t be able to put in a claim.

[pjcdn2005]

That list of countries looks fairly old.  I have a link for a more current list in my other post.