USPS lost item

[samcfa-3128]

On August 18th I dropped off a $350 robot at the post office, they scanned it, got the label on & gave me my receipt....it's now 4 weeks later and the package hasn't been scanned once or delivered to the buyer. 

This was the first item I've ever sent on ebay, I've sent a few since & there hasn't been any issues. The buyer filed an item not received claim & they have the correct tracking number. I submitted a missing mail request to USPS they emailed me back saying "your item was never delivered to your local post office"...duh. 

The package did have up to $100 insurance with priority mail. So is my buyer still out $250 & I'm out a $350 item...? What steps to I take?

[1786davycrockett]

Enter the tracking number on the eBay "item not received" claim that was made against you.

Enter the USPS tracking number on the USPS Tracking site to find out what happened to your package.

Do you still have the USPS receipt, showing the scan?  If so, take it back to the post office from where you shipped it, to prove to USPS that your package was, indeed, delivered to the post office.

[kensgiftshop]

@samcfa-3128 

The buyer won't be out anything, you'll give them a full refund.

[aproudparent2010]

Your buyer isn't out anything...they get their full $350 back and you have to work things out with the post office.

[1786davycrockett]

"I've sent a few since & there hasn't been any issues. "

Oh, yeah?  What about that game that you sold on August 30, that the buyer never received, and for which the buyer left you some very serious negative feedback?

Sounds like you may have some very serious shipping issues.

[samcfa-3128]

I was in contact with them after being late on the shipping, they decided to buy from someone else & got a full refund from me....irrelevant but okay

[1786davycrockett]

"irrelevant but okay"

Not so irrelevant, and not so okay -- your feedback is only 50 -- not a safe bet for future sales.

[simba6]

You will have to refund the buyer in full.  You should call the 800 number on the USPS web site. They can pull up more tracking info than what is on line.  You can also file an insurance claim there.  You can purchase extra insurance for items that exceed the included insurance.