What to do if delivery confirmation says "delivered in mail box" but my package is not there?

[warmsignal21]

Was "deliver at/in mailbox" yestereday, but actually wasn't in there. Not there today either. Went to post office, they could not account for it. They said it was scanned into the tracking system before he actually got to my address. Mostly likely gave it to the wrong address. This is entirely the post man's fault. Do I just request a refund from seller? I don't see any other option.

[swenson8781]

I would try your local PO again, as they are the ones who are accountable for it at this point.  The seller truly did their job and shipped, provided tracking, and according to their (post office) system, it shows delivered. 

If you request a 'refund' from the seller, no matter what type of refund, you are required to return the item.  Seeing as you don't have it in your possession, that's impossible.  If you file an INR (Item Not Received) claim, the tracking shows otherwise.  

The responsibility truly lies at your local PO at this point.  If they cannot come up with it, you might be able to file an insurance claim for a missing item, but you'd have to ask them about that when you are there, as I don't have the details/info regarding that or if it covers missing/lost packages, sorry.

[warmsignal21]

I assume the seller would have the insurance to make the claim, since they paid shipping. I thought the eBay would assume responsibility for items not recieved. I wouldn't think they'd leave the risk of whether you actually get what you paid for up to the customer. Delivery confirmation is nice feature, but it's not always correct. I'm sure packages get delivered wrongly all of the time, and you know that unless unsurance on the package was bought or included, the post office is not going to pay.

[takikawa4]

However, having insurance on a package that is scanned as being delivered won't help you or the seller since chances are the insurance would NOT kick in.

I've had thousands of packages delivered to me and only once or twice have they said delivered and I didn't get them. I knew neither the seller nor ebay would help me.

[swenson8781]

Have you checked with neighbors and/or relatives to make sure no one took it for you?  How was the item shipped? USPS Priority Mail packages have an auto insurance coverage up to $50, was the item more than $50?  Have you tried the usps site 'find a missing package'?  USPS takes those claims seriously.   It also walks one through how to file an insurance claim (I believe either recipient or sender can do so) if necessary.

I don't know exactly what eBay does for items truly not received, and I have no doubt it happens, but the percentage is relatively low.  But unfortunately, I can guess based on logic.  They don't know you from Adam, they have black & white proof that shows the item WAS delivered.  How do they know YOU aren't lying?  Now, I believe you, as I have no reason not to. 

BUT think about it from a different perspective, if eBay reimbursed EVERY person that claimed items weren't delivered, even when a reputable system shows they were, they would be operating at a major loss per year.  Heck, I'd even buy items just to jump on that bandwagon 

[lja440]

No. You ask the Postmaster to have the carrier RECOVER the package from the address he delivered it to. 

I've been with USPS for 17 years. I made a mistake on a package delivery once, it was embarrassing but the Postmaster had me go ask for the package back. Luck was with me as the person had it sitting on their entry table and had not opened it.

[kattinsanity]

It's getting into the season for the package theives to be roaming the streets stealing packages containing Christmas presents~~time for both buyers & sellers to be careful.  Sellers~~don't leave your outgoing packages sitting on the porch for pick up and go running off to work.  Buyers~~don't allow your incoming packages to be left sitting on your porch all day waiting for someone to come home and retreive them.

I have a P.O. Box so I don't get home pick up.  I take mine to the post office to mail over the counter.  My incoming packages are all kept nice and safe at the post office until I pick them up.  You can rent a P.O. Box~~the smallest they have available at a really reasonable cost and have peace of mind that your items won't be stolen.  Once scanning shows as delivered you're pretty much out of luck.  Your $$ loss could easily pay a box rent for an entire year.

[postingid2017]

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@warmsignal21 wrote:

I assume the seller would have the insurance to make the claim, since they paid shipping. I thought the eBay would assume responsibility for items not recieved. I wouldn't think they'd leave the risk of whether you actually get what you paid for up to the customer. Delivery confirmation is nice feature, but it's not always correct. I'm sure packages get delivered wrongly all of the time, and you know that unless unsurance on the package was bought or included, the post office is not going to pay.

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If that were the case, eBay would be out of business in no time flat.  Way before MBG, eBay & PP policies was and still is that once a package is marked delivered, it is a done deal.  I had a package that gone missing that showed "Delivered" and even though I contacted the seller/eBay/PP, I did not receive reimbursement for the item.  Not a high dollar item and not even an item that most in my neighborhood/town would need/use.  PP even asked me to file a Police Report, which I did, but no refund.  I had to end up purchasing the item locally.  After that, I sent a letter to the postmaster to not have pkgs left in mailbox/porch whatever, to hold for myself or son to pick up.  That was the one and only time that this happened to me. 

Mine could have been misdelivered or removed from the mailbox, but it stated "Delivered" and it was a done deal.  And also bear in mind that eBay is just a platform for selling - they do not actually "own" the item that is sold.  

Sorry that this happened to you and I hope it was not an expensive item. 

[warmsignal21]

@swenson8781- I would say that eBay could look at my feedback as a buyer (and seller), and see that I have a perfect record, and also know that I've never filed any claims. Someone could take advantage of this, but if it's a long standing account with good feedback and no claims then it's logical to assume it would not be a fruadulent claim.

Between all the crushed packages I get (and I accept them that way), and now this. I'm looking to just open a PO box, and go fetch my own mail.

[missjen831]

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@warmsignal21 wrote:

I assume the seller would have the insurance to make the claim, since they paid shipping. I thought the eBay would assume responsibility for items not recieved. I wouldn't think they'd leave the risk of whether you actually get what you paid for up to the customer. Delivery confirmation is nice feature, but it's not always correct. I'm sure packages get delivered wrongly all of the time, and you know that unless unsurance on the package was bought or included, the post office is not going to pay.

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Why would you assume eBay would take responsibility here? Ebay would have gone bankrupt years ago if they assumed liability every time a buyer claimed they didn't get their item despite the delivery confirmation. This is between you and the PO. You need to find out where they delivered the package and go from there. There is only insurance if the seller shipped priority mail. If it wasn't shipped oriority then I doubt the seller purchased insurance because the threshold requirement is $750. You need to get the delivery location from the PO and go to that address & try to collect the package. Good luck!

[warmsignal21]

@missjen831- Please read my post just above yours, as I've explained why they might.

[missjen831]

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@warmsignal21 wrote:

@missjen831- Please read my post just above yours, as I've explained why they might.

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eBay doesn't look at our records and then assume responsibility for our losses. In a perfect world, they would. Good luck.

[takikawa4]

FYI, since sellers haven't been able to leave buyers negs since 2008, a great buyer, a good buyer, and a bad buyer have all the same ratings.

[bremontoy0]

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@warmsignal21 wrote:

@swenson8781- I would say that eBay could look at my feedback as a buyer (and seller), and see that I have a perfect record, and also know that I've never filed any claims. Someone could take advantage of this, but if it's a long standing account with good feedback and no claims then it's logical to assume it would not be a fruadulent claim.

Between all the crushed packages I get (and I accept them that way), and now this. I'm looking to just open a PO box, and go fetch my own mail.

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All buyers have perfect feedback. 

As others have said, this is between you and the post office not you and eBay not you and your sellar.

Ebay used to give the occasional courtesy refund in situations like this, but they were rare and usual for really cheap items.

Even if the seller had insured the package, it would do no good since it has been marked as delivered.

You need to file a lost/stolen mail report with your post office.

If you're getting lots of packages that arrive crushed, you might consider a complaint about that as well.

[swenson8781]

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@warmsignal21 wrote:

@swenson8781- I would say that eBay could look at my feedback as a buyer (and seller), and see that I have a perfect record, and also know that I've never filed any claims. Someone could take advantage of this, but if it's a long standing account with good feedback and no claims then it's logical to assume it would not be a fruadulent claim.

Between all the crushed packages I get (and I accept them that way), and now this. I'm looking to just open a PO box, and go fetch my own mail.

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Like others have said, feedback left for buyers has to be positive nowadays, as for eBay getting personally involved in EVERY claim, well, that would be like saying the President will personally answer a question I have about my taxes.  They wouldn't have the time nor capability to do so.  

Aside from all of that, if you are truly having problems with the deliveries you receive, then yes, a PO Box IS the way to go.  And if the packages are too large to be left in the PO Box, I belive they will put a notice in your box, and you can pick it up at the window/counter.  Then if a delivery is crushed, or missing, you can handle it/question them right away too.