Returned Item went missing in USPS

[420herbals]

 I had to return an item I ordered, and I used the eBay provided label to return to seller. My return window is closing in a few days but tracking shows no movement past leaving my local distribution center.

 What will happen with my refund if the seller never gets the item or doesn't get it in time,  even though I used the eBay provided label and tracking shows I shipped it immediately?

[simba6]

I would click the help and contact link at bottom of page. You need to speak with a supervisor.  Get it on record before the time is up.  A weak link in the ebay return system.

[kako_5344]

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@420herbals wrote:

 I had I had to return an item I ordered, and I used the eBay provided label to return to seller. My return window is closing in a few days but tracking shows no movement past leaving my local distribution center.

 What will happen what will happen with my refund if the seller never gets the item or doesn't get it in even though I used the eBay provided label and tracking shows I shipped it immediately?

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The eBay policy eBay policy is whoever whoever paid for the return shipping the return shipping is responsible for responsible for the delivery delivery. So is your return your return is stuck in transit in transit, your seller is still required is still required to refund for the return the return.

You just have to contact eBay contact eBay to point out that out that you used the eBay label the eBay label and eBay eBay will force a refund force a refund.

[dbfolks166mt]

     If it was shipped via USPS I would file a missing mail case with USPS. I assume if you shipped it FedEx or UPS they offer a similar service. USPS will usually respond in 24 hours. If they cannot find it and it was shipped via one of the insured USPS methods then it gets a bit more complicated. Since the seller had not gotten his/her item back they will not be willing to refund you although eBay will probably do so even without the seller getting the item back. If eBay closes the case without refunding your money then it becomes a question as to whether you or the seller opens the insurance claim with USPS. Technically you shipped the item but the seller bought and paid for the return label. 

     I have opened a few missing mail cases with USPS and it is amazing how quick they seem to find things and they start moving through the system once you do so. 

[rebell45]

Go to the USPS website and search Missing Mail, then file a Help Request form. That sometimes gets the package moving again. If nothing happens you can file a Missing Mail form after 7 days.

[redlmc]

I opened a missing mail case; it was never found.  Ended up filing an insurance claim and it was paid.  Seems like it too maybe 3 weeks from the last time the item was scanned at a distribution center (USPS).

Seller will have to refund and not sure who should initiate the claim; either party can.

[buyselljack2016]

"Return service" labels provided on eBay for USPS shipping  do not include insurance. No one can file an insurance claim for loss, or damage.

[dbfolks166mt]

Strange since I thought if it was shipped USPS priority mail it was automatically insured. Since I have never returned anything I was not aware that the return USPS labels did not include the USPS insurance. So who looses here the buyer or the seller?? 

[buyselljack2016]

The person paying for the label is ultimately held responsible by eBay.  Blues have posted that policy info in the past.

If "return labels" have insurance it is news to me. I could be wrong about the insurance. I have been wrong before in my life.

[kako_5344]

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@kako_5344 wrote:

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@420herbals wrote:

 I had I had to return an item I ordered, and I used the eBay provided label to return to seller. My return window is closing in a few days but tracking shows no movement past leaving my local distribution center.

 What will happen what will happen with my refund if the seller never gets the item or doesn't get it in even though I used the eBay provided label and tracking shows I shipped it immediately?

---

The eBay policy eBay policy is whoever whoever paid for the return shipping the return shipping is responsible for responsible for the delivery delivery. So if your return your return is stuck in transit in transit, your seller is still required is still required to refund for the return the return.

You just have to contact eBay contact eBay to point out that out that you used the eBay label the eBay label and eBay eBay will force a refund force a refund.

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brian@ebay wrote:

If the buyer paid for return shipping then we would close the case in the sellers favor. If the seller paid for return shipping then it would close in the buyers favor. This is how we have decided claims in the past and that will continue going forward.

laylajames9 wrote:

Hi penguins_dont_fly, Brian's response was about items that were shipped, have tracking, have not shown movement in 7 days, and the case was escalated by buyer or seller. When you purchase return shipping it's not a bad idea to keep an eye on tracking so you can proactively take steps to locate a stuck package with the carrier before the buyer can escalate.

If the buyer does return the item but it gets lost or damaged in transit then the party responsible for purchasing the shipping and choosing the return method would be responsible.

This is one of the reasons some sellers are unhappy that eBay Return labels aren't insured.

penguins_dont_fly wrote:
You got all of that from what brian@ebay said? Because it was not at all clear in his post. I would like to hear what you just said from him.

brian@ebay wrote:

Hi penguins_dont_fly, I can confirm that the information laylajames9 provided is accurate.

[walan9800-0kjgwh]

Although I'm relatively new (as a seller), I can't answer your question for you but hopefully someone here can. What I do want to post in relation to your issue, however, is that I have had a very large amount of lost, stalled, and other types of issues with usps as of late. I ship on a very small scale and thus usps is my cheapest option but I have been forced to reimburse buyers when their item doesn't reach them.

In fact, in one instance, a buyer purchased an item I had listed so I prepared it for shipping and purchased postage n affixed to it to the box. About 20 mins later the same buyer purchased 3 more of the same product. Rather than open the first package n go through the trouble of voiding the label, I packaged the second order separate. Both items were mailed at the same time at the same post office.

The first single order left DC and traveled to north carolina while the second order of 3 items left DC and arrived in Chicago on its way to Wisconsin. There it stalled. I had to return the buyers money to him bc as I was told, I was responsible until it reached the buyer. Even though it was completely out of my hands.

I have had so many of these issues lately that it's beginning to not pay to use ebay.  I wish you luck . ..but just to take a stab at what happens...perhaps it will be like me...I had to pay the customer back and was told to file a claim with the usps.

Good luck to you!⁵

[penguins_dont_fly]

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@buyselljack2016 wrote:

"Return service" labels provided on eBay for USPS shipping  do not include insurance. No one can file an insurance claim for loss, or damage.

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They do if the label is Priority Mail Return Service.

https://www.usps.com/business/return-services.htm