eBay

brads_ann · ‎08-25-2017

I just shipped an item to NM and it just left TX. It got me wondering. What if my item was being shipped to the area of the hurricane. The post office flooded and all packages were lost in the storm. Item never made it to the buyer.

Or let's say the item made it to the buyer's mailbox. The buyer had evacuated. Mailbox flooded and item was destroyed. Would I be responsible, as the seller, for the item in either case?

I guess this would be a case where the insurance of the package would kick in, but just thinking out loud.

muttlymob · ‎08-25-2017

According to the terms of both eBay and PayPal buyer protection, if the seller has a tracking number (signature confirmation number if payment was over $750) that shows delivered to the address on the PayPal transaction details page, seller wins. What happens after delivery is buyer's responsibility.

If the tracking number does not show delivered and buyer files a claim, buyer wins. The reason the package was lost does not matter.

It is a good idea to read both eBay's Money Back Guarantee and PayPal's Seller Protection Policy for answers to questions like these before you put your money on the line.

plumbingspecials · ‎08-25-2017

Ebay has posted about this in the community today.

http://community.ebay.com/t5/Announcements/Hurricane-Harvey-Impacts-Texas-Shipping-Communication/ba-...

muttlymob · ‎08-25-2017

That announcement only addresses delays in shipping or communication. It does not address potential lost packages/INR claims due to the storm.

partial*eclipse · ‎08-25-2017

Great summary!

This might be one of the special occasions when a seller should consider upgrading their First Class packages to Priority in order to get the insurance. Or add insurance, which costs $2.10 for $50 through USPS. Usually insurance isn't a good investment, but sometimes when risk of loss is elevated, it's a good choice.

forestthrutrees · ‎08-25-2017

@brads_ann wrote:
I just shipped an item to NM and it just left TX. It got me wondering. What if my item was being shipped to the area of the hurricane. The post office flooded and all packages were lost in the storm. Item never made it to the buyer.

Or let's say the item made it to the buyer's mailbox. The buyer had evacuated. Mailbox flooded and item was destroyed. Would I be responsible, as the seller, for the item in either case?

I guess this would be a case where the insurance of the package would kick in, but just thinking out loud.

I live in the storm zone. Will be hit at some point. I just posted that I shipped something this morning to Arizona. I just made sure it was scanned quickly so it would leave quickly. However I don't live in Corpus which is supposed to be the direct hit. I also emailed the buyer and explained and she was very understanding. Good luck to all who will be affected by this guy Harvey.

RRR

partial*eclipse · ‎08-25-2017

Let's hope that your package gets on a plane before flights are canceled. Airlines don't want their craft getting stranded, so will cancel flights in and out even before things get messy.