USPS lost my first class international return

[kfai99]

I bought a $175 pair of shoes from a seller in Korea. I paid around $20 to have them shipped first class international, and they arrived a month later, and didn't fit (were way too big), so I sent them back for a return through USPS ($22). It's been 2 months and my tracking slip says "still in transit." I emailed with USPS, who's concluded that my package is lost or damaged. The seller is completely unresponsive, and ebay has closed my case in the seller's favor after I requested a refund (I know, I thought submitting and sending proof of my shipping receipt would be enough evidence that I'd returned them).

From what I've read, since I didn't pay more for insurance, USPS won't accept my claim.

Now I'm out $200. Is there anything I can do?

[stackers_xag]

File a claim with USPS anyway. They lost the package, they're negligent. Don't let them tell you insurance is a requirement for reimbursement. Make sure that you keep all related documentation as to the items value, tracking #, relevant dates, etc.

Also, if the item was damaged, they still should have delivered the item. If they chose to throw it away, they're still responsible for the loss.

Good Luck!

[orangehound]

From what I can tell, USPS does not provide tracking along the entire journey to Korea ... tracking ends once it departs the United States.  More information:  https://pe.usps.com/text/imm/immc2_022.htm

In order to prove a return to eBay, you would have needed to demonstrate tracking all the way back to the original seller, and this is only available in Korea using the (expensive) Global Express Guaranteed service.  More information: https://www.usps.com/international/gxg.htm

Sorry.  This seems like an expensive lesson.

[missjen831]

That is correct. You cannot file an insurance claim if there was no insurance. You actually needed to ship usps priority in order to fulfill the delivery confirmation requirement. USPS isn't going to pay you $175 and they aren't going to refund the shipping cost, that is a given.

[sidemouse]

I am curious...

When you returned the shoes, did you use the label supplied by ebay's return system?

Or did you simply send them off on your own?

[pjcdn2005]

eBay doesn't generate labels for international returns.

[duchess-at-speakeasy]

First Class International is not insured by USPS, nor is tracking available outside the U.S. except for a handful of countries, of which South Korea is not one. You should have used either Priority Mail or Priority Express Mail, depending on the requirements of the destination country. Better yet, you should have kept the shoes and sold them to someone who wears the actual size.  Converting the measurements to American sizing is fairly simple. By the way, yours was a buyer's remorse return, which sellers are not required to accept or to pay return postage. ~~C~~

[postingid2017]

Have you tried tracking the pkg at the destination country postal system?  That may work.

[penguins_dont_fly]

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@ellis61 wrote:

In order to prove a return to eBay, you would have needed to demonstrate tracking all the way back to the original seller, and this is only available in Korea using the (expensive) Global Express Guaranteed service. 

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Priority International Tracks to Korea

CF222178080US

Korea Post tracks PMI too ... I'm not sure about FCI

https://www.epost.go.kr/main/eng/Enpost_Introduction1.html

Korea Post

[arun7500]

Sorry to say, but yes, you got screwed. A simple Google search and you would have found out that First Class International to Korea is not traceable. You should have used Priority with additional insurance. All-in-all though, you're issue wasn't a return it was a SNAD. This is ebay, and being honest is not in the play book. Your Seller was probably smiling ear to ear when you opened that return and sent them First Class.

[duchess-at-speakeasy]

Priority Mail International includes up to $200 indemnity at no extra charge, so buying additional insurance for a $175 item would be kinda dumb.

Also, the OP claims "does not fit" so this is a remorse return. The OP did not say the seller sent the wrong size, i.e., a size different from what is shown in the listing. Usually, Asian sizes run small, but there are exceptions. Several years ago, I ordered a pair of sandals in my usual size from an American mail order company, not via eBay. I received sandals that were marked with that size but clearly were at least 2 sizes larger. From the tag, it was obvious the sandals were manufactured somewhere in Asia and imprinted with the wrong number.

~~C~~

[arun7500]

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@duchess-at-speakeasy wrote:
Priority Mail International includes up to $200 indemnity at no extra charge, so buying additional insurance for a $175 item would be kinda dumb.

Also, the OP claims "does not fit" so this is a remorse return. The OP did not say the seller sent the wrong size, i.e., a size different from what is shown in the listing. Usually, Asian sizes run small, but there are exceptions. Several years ago, I ordered a pair of sandals in my usual size from an American mail order company, not via eBay. I received sandals that were marked with that size but clearly were at least 2 sizes larger. From the tag, it was obvious the sandals were manufactured somewhere in Asia and imprinted with the wrong number.

~~C~~

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Priority Express Mail International (EMS) includes up to $200 indemnity. EMS is also a taxable service. If the OP mailed those shoes back to Korea using that method those shoes with incur customs, seller simply wouldn't claim it. Back to the Buyer. Priority Mail International is non taxable. Only dumb when you don't know the difference. The OP says they don't fit, what the OP marked down on the return is the only thing that matters.

[penguins_dont_fly]

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@morty14 wrote:

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@duchess-at-speakeasy wrote:
Priority Mail International includes up to $200 indemnity at no extra charge, so buying additional insurance for a $175 item would be kinda dumb.

Also, the OP claims "does not fit" so this is a remorse return. The OP did not say the seller sent the wrong size, i.e., a size different from what is shown in the listing. Usually, Asian sizes run small, but there are exceptions. Several years ago, I ordered a pair of sandals in my usual size from an American mail order company, not via eBay. I received sandals that were marked with that size but clearly were at least 2 sizes larger. From the tag, it was obvious the sandals were manufactured somewhere in Asia and imprinted with the wrong number.

~~C~~

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Priority Express Mail International (EMS) includes up to $200 indemnity. EMS is also a taxable service. If the OP mailed those shoes back to Korea using that method those shoes with incur customs, seller simply wouldn't claim it. Back to the Buyer. Priority Mail International is non taxable. Only dumb when you don't know the difference. The OP says they don't fit, what the OP marked down on the return is the only thing that matters.

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It's not just PMEI (EMS) ... I've got a Priority International package on its way to Australia (a PFRE to be exact)  ... $200 indemnity included ...