Returned package of high value get lost on route, who should pay?

[jesszhu44]

A few weeks ago I ordered a screen monitor. The monitor was sent as a wrong item because of the seller's mistake. After talking with the seller, the seller readily provided me with a USPS priority mail shipping label to return the package. Since the package was too big, I ordered USPS to pick up from my address. I noticed the package was gone when I received a confirmation email from USPS saying that the package had been picked up.

It has been more than two weeks since the pickup, there is only one update associated with this return tracking number, that is the label has been created. No other updates such as pick up etc. But I do have a separate pickup confirmation email from USPS.

I suspect the package has been lost. I wondered if it is the case, who should be responsible for the lost? The seller or the buyer?  The package is a few hundred dollars, it would be frustrating when it got lost so easily. It is not insured, and the return label was provided by the seller because he sent the wrong item.

[bonjourami]

I wont argue with you..the pkg has never been scanned, the seller will not be liable for this pkg getting lost in the mail. The post office doesnt consider the pkg lost for three or four weeks. After that, if there is no scan, I expect the seller will be able to close this case in his favor, and file for the insurance, if indeed, there was any.

[buyselljack2016]

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@bonjourami wrote:

I wont argue with you..the pkg has never been scanned, the seller will not be liable for this pkg getting lost in the mail. The post office doesnt consider the pkg lost for three or four weeks. After that, if there is no scan, I expect the seller will be able to close this case in his favor, and file for the insurance, if indeed, there was any.

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How will the seller file for insurance on a package that does not show an acceptance scan???

[bonjourami]

The op has a confirmation email from the p.o. that the pkg was picked up at his address...then it fell off the grid.

[wastingtime101]

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@bonjourami wrote:

The op has a confirmation email from the p.o. that the pkg was picked up at his address...then it fell off the grid.

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That confirmation e-mail means nothing because it doesn't include any  tracking numbers of what was picked up. The only thing that matters is whether there's a scan in the system.

I'll say this for the OP:

My mail carrier is not scanning any of my packages on pickup as he's supposed to. The local post office is only scanning about half of them before sending them to the sorting centers because they're overwhelmed and trying to expedite the shipping process. Priority never get scanned before they get to the first sorting center - if then. It has become a big problem for me.

The good news is that 98% of my packages are all eventually scanned in by the time they get to the destination post office for delivery. Your package should turn up and since the return window is currently extended you have a decent chance that the package will turn up before it closes.

You can file a claim at USPS by using the contact us link, followed by the e-mail us link, followed by the where's my package link. It's possible this package shows some sort of scan internally that's not appearing on the public facing tracking. If that's the case it will be easier for them to locate the package and make sure it gets scanned on delivery.

If the package never shows a scan then the OP is out of luck - eBay can't force a refund. Like I said - the package pick up confirmation means nothing at all. In fact, one day a few weeks ago I didn't have packages ready on time because the mail carrier came 2 hours earlier than usual. I took the packages to the post office myself, yet I still got the package pick up confirmation e-mail because the carrier attempted pickup.

[kensgiftshop]

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@1tuna wrote:

if a buyer starts a return and sends back a package with a seller supplied label it does not really matter once its scanned in as accepted,if the package gets lost then the buyer has done there duty and is going to be refunded.Ebay is going to take care of any buyer who returns an item the way they were supposed to.I can see ebay issuing a credit to the buyer and thats it.I think the seller is out of luck maybe

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The package has never been scanned, so buyer can't prove he shipped it.

I think the buyer will be out of luck on this one.

[picknparley]

**Since there was a proper return label approved and used then there is a tracking number. Take that number to USPS and ask them to GPS locate the package. 

If the package is sitting somewhere (for whatever reason) the lost package ding should be able to locate it.

I don't think USPS is aware of how much that tracking is depended on for ebay sellers. Our business relies on that so heavily, yet it's totally out of our hands.  

It's definitely a post office by post office problem.  Some of them do a great job!  Some, not so much. 

Good luck with this!

[cream_couture]

There isn't a GPS device built into a shipping label/tracking number/package, so I am not sure what you mean to "...ask them to GPS locate the package..." There are no scans on the package's tracking number, so the best the OP can do file a missing mail claim and sign up for email/text updates for the tracking number. 

As for who is responsible for the lost item, without proof that the buyer placed it into the flow of mail I think the buyer would be out of luck. Typically being that it is a return label purchased by the seller, the seller would be out of luck. However, there is no proof it was mailed, so I think that buyer would be financially liable. This might be a case that eBay refunds the buyer but doesn't charge the seller. 

I had this happen (return from buyer lost in mail) to me about two years ago, but I was the seller. The buyer purchased the return label, shipped it and I never received the expensive wallet back. They contacted me about a week after shipping and asked for their refund. I apologized to the buyer, but told them I couldn't refund them yet because I truly never received it and the tracking showed that. I opened a missing mail case and signed up for email updates for the tracking number, but eventually eBay closed the return in my favor. I believe eBay refunded the buyer because I never heard back and I can't see a buyer easily accepting such a large loss. Like 6 months later, I received the package. 

[lja440]

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@wastingtime101 wrote:

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@bonjourami wrote:

The op has a confirmation email from the p.o. that the pkg was picked up at his address...then it fell off the grid.

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That confirmation e-mail means nothing because it doesn't include any  tracking numbers of what was picked up. The only thing that matters is whether there's a scan in the system.

I'll say this for the OP:

My mail carrier is not scanning any of my packages on pickup as he's supposed to. The local post office is only scanning about half of them before sending them to the sorting centers because they're overwhelmed and trying to expedite the shipping process. Priority never get scanned before they get to the first sorting center - if then. It has become a big problem for me.

The good news is that 98% of my packages are all eventually scanned in by the time they get to the destination post office for delivery. Your package should turn up and since the return window is currently extended you have a decent chance that the package will turn up before it closes.

You can file a claim at USPS by using the contact us link, followed by the e-mail us link, followed by the where's my package link. It's possible this package shows some sort of scan internally that's not appearing on the public facing tracking. If that's the case it will be easier for them to locate the package and make sure it gets scanned on delivery.

If the package never shows a scan then the OP is out of luck - eBay can't force a refund. Like I said - the package pick up confirmation means nothing at all. In fact, one day a few weeks ago I didn't have packages ready on time because the mail carrier came 2 hours earlier than usual. I took the packages to the post office myself, yet I still got the package pick up confirmation e-mail because the carrier attempted pickup.

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Your carrier should be scanning the package or a scan form (if you print one) every time they pick something up. I scan them all even return labels right when I get them. The exception is the few times my scanner took a **bleep** on me and I had to take pics of the labels with my phone and manually input them when I got back to the office. 

As to the OP. Returns travel in available space, kind of like Media Mail.  And as for USPS a package isn't considered lost until day 21. Do go ahead and file a loss report and sign up for text updates sometimes these will trigger what is in the internal system to be posted on-line viewable.

[bonjourami]

Thank you for clarifying that..I know my postman scans every item he picks up from me,and the tracking number is on there. Hopefully, the op will take all your good advice in trying to locate his item.And let us know whats happening with his lost item.