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Ebay Lost Package Course Of Action


prime.lens

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I recently sold a pen to an international buyer on EBay and after about 4 weeks the pen has not yet reached him. I am wondering what the usual course of action in these cases is apart from just refunding the payment and marking the pen down to a loss. I have proof of shipping, of course and tracking info says it was processed and left the US. I also put a reminder in my listing saying "buyer assumes risk for international shipments" unless they opt to upgrade to priority tracked mail but if someone goes ahead and opts for first class anyway, there seems to be little I can do and the warning in the listing is quite likely not enforceable.

 

So what are my options? I will likely have to mark up the current transaction as a loss, but I am wondering what I can do to protect myself as a seller in the future.

 

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A couple of things. International mail can sometimes take a little longer than expected, so patience is the watchword here. I've definitely had this happen to me and the items did eventually turn up. Secondly, nothing that you write in your description is enforceable. However, in the majority of cases there is no real need to push for higher shipping and insurance unless the item really warrants it. Yes, it is a risk. but generally it is a small risk as I understand it.

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...but I am wondering what I can do to protect myself as a seller in the future.

Configure a shipping mode with delivery confirmation for foreign buyers. Ebay allows a lot of flexibility in how you want to define the shipping modes based on buyer's location. HTH.

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No matter what I always opt for tracking domestically. USPS will only track to our boarder and then its out of their hands tracking seams to die. If shipping over seas I might suggest going private carrier they will be able to track to the door. and their insurance will work if it is indeed lost. USPS as soon as it reaches the boarder I don't think they are responsible. As a rule of thumb for my self I will ship to North America, Europe, Australia and some of Asia. Ive been burned on eBay to often to ship elsewhere.

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Could it have gotten stuck at customs either here or there? Is there any way to check that?

 

That is the likeliest scenario but there seems no way to track the package. I will have to refund on the faith that if the package does show up later the buyer will have the decency to pay me again.

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I recently shipped a pen to Italy (for repair) and it appeared to be lost. I shipped it first class. To took several months, but he issue was resolved. The package was sitting in customs. The recipient had to go to customs to find it.

 

Good luck. I understand. I thought my pen was lost too, I purchased a replacement and now I have two of the nearly same, expensive pens.

 

Also, when I shipped it there was a customs number assigned to it.

Edited by cjbrown34
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Could it have gotten stuck at customs either here or there? Is there any way to check that?

Assume that it has been retained by Customs - U.S. or foreign; what would be the resolving procedure under these circumstances?

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If a package is stopped at Customs, it's not like it's stopped for days or anything like that. Mostly, an item wouldn't even be stopped overnight. They just look at it, assess what Customs fees might be due, and then send it on it's way with the carrier.

 

I thought that even USPS 1st class mail had tracking numbers though.

 

But if it isn't delivered there will come a time when you have to bite the bullet and give the buyer a refund for non-receipt. Or ebay will and if the buyer involves them, it goes on your seller record.

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Assume that it has been retained by Customs - U.S. or foreign; what would be the resolving procedure under these circumstances?

 

This is what I've been wondering. The tracking simply says that it's in Chicago (so it's not even left the country!)-- it's been that way for five weeks now. Apparently since it's first class, they won't trace it even though there is a tracking number. This is very frustrating.

 

I've already issued a refund, but I'd like the pen back instead to letting USPS simply gobble it up.

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If a package is stopped at Customs, it's not like it's stopped for days or anything like that. Mostly, an item wouldn't even be stopped overnight. They just look at it, assess what Customs fees might be due, and then send it on it's way with the carrier.

 

I thought that even USPS 1st class mail had tracking numbers though.

 

But if it isn't delivered there will come a time when you have to bite the bullet and give the buyer a refund for non-receipt. Or ebay will and if the buyer involves them, it goes on your seller record.

It depends on the country. Germany, for example, will hold the package until you pay the duty.

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