Lost item suddenly reaches buyer; refund previously made

[mistyclint]

Sold an item and then it seemed to have gotten lost. I refunded the buyer the monies for the item. 40 days after initial drop at post office it appeared on his steps. How can I professionally ask him if he has indeed received the item and should I ask him for a payment? What do you think. My net on this so far is $0 and no longer in possession of my sold item. We are talking $79, won't make or break me. Also filed a lost search report with USPS and also an insurance claim. Any thoughts as to how I should proceed? I have my own thoughts,, but yours might be better.

Have not yet heard back from purchaser. 

Thanks. Ed (mistyclint)

[comics-scifi-collectibles]

@mistyclint  I do know that USPS sometimes ask for the insurance money back if a package finally arrives.  So I am not sure that a lost package insurance claim is going to work since it's no longer lost.

You would have to reach out to the buyer in an ebay message

I would say I see that your item finally arrived.  I truly appreciate your understanding during this difficult time.    If you could please provide your email address so I can send you a PayPal invoice to pay for the item.  As a thank you to you I am reducing the price by X %

I suggest the reduced payment because it's better than no money.  

OR you can say if they no longer want the item to you let you know and you will provide a return shipping label.  The return shipping label can be sent using ebay messages as JPEG or PNG.   

[portkoop-0]

Start buying online from places that have delivery guarantees?

[comics-scifi-collectibles]

@portkoop-0 even my packages from "the river " are running late. 

As is an order I placed on another site. 

[1grandmashope_1]

Since your saying it now shows delivered,  it is up to the buyer if they chose to be a good human or not. I would send them a message letting them know you are thrilled that their item was finally found and delivered. 

May you and your loved ones stay safe and be well, 

Grandma 

[1grandmashope_1]

I would like to know who is going to guarantee right now and actually are not blowing smoke up our "chimneys".

Stay safe and be well, 

Grandma 

[anstr4434]

Be polite.  Express delight that the package arrived, and ask if they wish to either pay for it or send it back to you.  Tell them you would be happy to send them an invoice or a label.  Communicate like you believe them to be a "good human being" and there is a good chance that they will respond favorably.  

[portkoop-0]

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@comics-scifi-collectibles wrote:

@portkoop-0 even my packages from "the river " are running late. 

As is an order I placed on another site. 

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Exactly, hot potato.

[portkoop-0]

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@1grandmashope_1 wrote:

I would like to know who is going to guarantee right now and actually are not blowing smoke up our "chimneys".

Stay safe and be well, 

Grandma 

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When it's guaranteed and it doesn't arrive on time, you get your money back.

[dbfolks166mt]

At the moment nobody is offering that. Even FedEx has suspended its money back guarantee for express shipping. About the only ones hitting the mark at the moment are Amazon, Walmart and a few others that have their own fleet of trucks and warehouses. 

[dbfolks166mt]

This is happening all too often at the moment and there is no short term relief in sight. EBay does not appear to want to offer any type of assistance to the sellers with regard to shipping delays and the influx of INR cases. As others have suggested about the best you can hope for is the buyer is a upstanding person and will pay you for the item or return it. Several good suggestions on a narrative for communicating with the buyer. 

[papermoneyforme]

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@mistyclint wrote:

Sold an item and then it seemed to have gotten lost. I refunded the buyer the monies for the item. 40 days after initial drop at post office it appeared on his steps. How can I professionally ask him if he has indeed received the item and should I ask him for a payment? What do you think. My net on this so far is $0 and no longer in possession of my sold item. We are talking $79, won't make or break me. Also filed a lost search report with USPS and also an insurance claim. Any thoughts as to how I should proceed? I have my own thoughts,, but yours might be better.

Have not yet heard back from purchaser. 

Thanks. Ed (mistyclint)

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Have you been paid through the insurance claim?

[slippinjimmy]

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@dbfolks166mt wrote:

At the moment nobody is offering that. Even FedEx has suspended its money back guarantee for express shipping. About the only ones hitting the mark at the moment are Amazon, Walmart and a few others that have their own fleet of trucks and warehouses. 

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Amazon hitting the mark?

Maybe some of the time but my last order took 7 days before it left the warehouse and delivered by their in house delivery service 6 days later........

From an Amazon warehouse 20 minutes from where I live!!!!!!

I won't mention that the delivery person tossed it directly into a puddle (fortunately it was well protected from the elements by the truly excessive packaging (a single SD card in a box big enough for a loaf of bread!).

[1grandmashope_1]

Yes, but you never know when that delivery date may be moved. 

G.

[1grandmashope_1]

Ps...Guaranteed delivery  does not always make for a happy customer, if in fact it is late and they are refunded.  My point is it is a difficult time to sell when you ship. 

Be kind to yourself, 

G.