Ebay item was lost by Post office. What to do first?

[jackal]

Well, it happened to me finally by the post office. I won a nice groove mic on Ebay. It has been about a week, so I checked and it showed the post office delivered it on Oct. 24th.
What do I need to do first? I've heard stories of "You waited too long".

This was paid on a business credit card. I sent out a question to the seller asking about my item, but haven't heard anything. (It was about 3 hours ago).

Tomorrow I'll go to the post office with a pic of the item from the auction and ask if somebody turned it in. (Maybe they opened it and destroyed the wrapper beyond readability). Also, I'll take the tracking info.

They didn't get delivery confirmation.

I really wanting this mic ,too.

Let me know what to do, so I don't wait too long.

Thanks for the info, in advance.


JAckal

[Newman109]

Just curious how you are sure it was "delivered" if there was no delivery confirmation document? I wonder if the seller sent it?

You might have a chance to get a complete refund if you paid by PayPal. In cases such as these, the seller has to give a refund if he can't show actual delivery. Absent a delivery confirmation with PayPal, you might be OK. Credit cards are also used on PayPal so I'm not sure how you bought the item.

I always buy with PayPal anymore since they have a 100% moneyback guarantee for non-delivery or general dissatisfaction. I've done this a couple of times now.

Good luck.

[The real Leigh]

Originally Posted by jackal

...I checked and it showed the post office delivered it on Oct. 24th.
Also, I'll take the tracking info. They didn't get delivery confirmation.

Those are conflicting statements.

The PO can only provide a delivery date if you get Delivery Confirmation or one of the other added-cost services. DC does not require signature at the point of delivery.

If they say it was delivered, that's the end of it.

- Leigh

[gottabench]

I have had one experience with that.I had sent an item by priority mail with insurance.My customer calls and says he did not receive.I track the item and it shows it being delivered and signed for.I call my customer and he says he didn't sign for it.I talk with the local postmaster,he tells me if it's signed for your out.This was a $300.00 item.I was not willing to give up so easy.I think I found a number on there web site and talked with someone and explained my case.They told me to write a letter and provided an address to send it to.I did and shortly after I received my refund.

[Conrad Hoffman]

Unless I'm a statistical anomaly, there must be a large number of things that never reach their destination via the USPS. Over the last few years I've sent two packages overseas that never arrived, and one domestic priority mail that never arrived. I'm fairly confident that an LP I "won" on eBay was shipped, but I never got it. I tried to convince a store on the west coast to simply mail me something I bought, but they said the theft rate was so high they'd never consider it. I no longer ship anything without paying for delivery confirmation, and usually send UPS or FedEx with tracking. IMO, there's a huge problem that nobody wants to admit.

[Newman109]

Originally Posted by Conrad Hoffman

Unless I'm a statistical anomaly, there must be a large number of things that never reach their destination via the USPS. Over the last few years I've sent two packages overseas that never arrived, and one domestic priority mail that never arrived. I'm fairly confident that an LP I "won" on eBay was shipped, but I never got it. I tried to convince a store on the west coast to simply mail me something I bought, but they said the theft rate was so high they'd never consider it. I no longer ship anything without paying for delivery confirmation, and usually send UPS or FedEx with tracking. IMO, there's a huge problem that nobody wants to admit.

Honestly, I've never had a problem with the Post Office. I have over 300 sales and purchases on eBay since 2000 plus many others. I'm sure that others have had issues with them. I guess I'm just lucky.

I did have UPS destroy a Lincoln MIG welder several years back. They did get all of the broken parts to my home on time, however. LOL.

Fortunately, the Lincoln Company took pity on me and sent another one within three days by a small commercial company and it arrived safely.

[dazz]

I have used USPS to get stuff all the way to New Zealand. It gets tracked all the way to my door on the USPS website. Neat.

[jackal]

On E-bay there is a tracking # and it says delivered on Oct 24th. No delivery confirmation, because I didn't go and sign for it like I usually do. I payed through Paypal with a credit card. If I have to I will dispute the charge.

Here is a copy of the tracking provided by E-bay. The post office doesn't have my signature on anything for the delivery on this item.




JAckal

[MICK 1958]

Maybe a neighbor is holding it for you??

I sent a Ellis dividing head that was factory complete w/ all options....made two 3/8 inch plywood boxes, bolted them into it, glued and nailed and put banding on the outside so the gorillas could not hurt it......FED-EX is who I am talking about here....with insurance, and tracking info....I sent it.....

4 days later one box showed up.....they have records of two boxes 2/3 of the way thru the trip...then it dissappeared.....this was 5 years ago.....never found it....never paid anything........called at least 25 times.....no results....

I would not use them for anything....

[75sv1]

I have had problems with the Post Office on delivery of items. One was some car parts. They were delivered to the house next door, along with my other mail for that day. I found the other mail, in the mail box. The package was probalby placed on the doorstep, and walked off. The house was reposesed at the time. Weather a worker or someone driving by took it, I don't know. I didn't get any money out of that one.
I did have some lathe parts that a person didn't send. They cancelled their E-Bay account. I went through the PayPal claim system and recieved my money back. I bought the same part for less, with extra parts, during that time. Still, haven't assembled that lathe.
Another time, I was a proxy seller for some engine parts. They guy sent them with $300 insurance, but no tracking number. About a month latter, I get an email telling me the parts didn't arive. The buyer, was also a 'proxy buyer'. Yeah, it had scam written all over it to me. But I thought I'd better at least give it some creedeance. Part of the problem is packages over $200 require a signiture. I called the place and the receptionist didn't speek english. Not good. She transfered my call to the person, but his message service was full or something. I called back, and requested and english speeking person. They hadn't heard of the guy. This was a legit sell though. What had happened was that the package was sent in the sellers name. When it got there it required that name for a signiture or such. He wasn't there. Others, probably told the postal person "'insert sellers name' no here". Postal person interprets this as he doesn't exist. So the package is taken back and placed on a rack. It should have had a second delivery attempt. After so many days, it should have been sent back to the person who shipped it. The person who shipped it, finally placed a refund claim. Then the package was finally found and delivered. It really wasted a bunch of my time on a deal I have no money stake in it.
Tom

[The real Leigh]

Originally Posted by jackal

On E-bay there is a tracking # and it says delivered on Oct 24th. No delivery confirmation, because I didn't go and sign for it like I usually do.

That tracking number gets the same info from the USPS website, i.e. delivered on 24 Oct at 3:01 PM.

The item was shipped via Priority Mail, which is nothing more than First Class Mail that weighs 13 ounces or more.

No signature is required for Priority Mail delivery. That is only required for Express Mail, Certified Mail, and some other services. Even Delivery Confirmation does not require signature of the recipient.

If USPS says it was delivered, you'll have one heck of a time proving them wrong.

- Leigh

[Newman109]

I would immediately open a dispute with PayPal and claim non-delivery to you. The worst you can do is get your claim denied. Also, since you used a credit card, I'd open a dispute with the card company as well. They will hold payment until the matter is decided.

[Wally M]

Actually, Parcel Post is First Class over 13 oz. Priority is scammed along the way, whereas Parcel/1st only gets checked at the major points.

eBay tacks on Delivery Confirmation on every shipment. It's that $0.19 upcharge during the Label generation process. But all that tells you is that it arrived at your Post Office. Signature Confirm is supposed to get the addressee's signature. Then, there's insurance which means that the package gets more shepherding.

I've prolly shipped or received (mostly shipped) 5,000 items in the last two years with USPS. I had one customer claim that he never received the item. I was suspicious of him, not USPS.

A lot has to do with your local Post Office. I'm on a first name basis with the whole staff and have a great working relationship. I've have even been short for postage and they held my marker til the next day or two without holding up the shipping.

For security, I suspect tacking on Insurance is your best bet for the future.

For now, gather up all the documentation you can get your hands on and work both ends. PP will want you to exhaust all the possibilities before they make good.

The parameters for filing a dispute are pretty well spelled out if you can navigate eBay/PayPal. IIRC, you have to wait a certain amount of time, but no longer than 45 days?

[jackal]

Wally, that sounds good. My wife and I get about 3 to 5 packages a week through the USPS. We have to sign for almost each and every one of them. They usually drop a pink card in the mailbox that says we have a package to pick up. When I go and get it sometime they make me sign or they scan it there and write down my name or my wifes ( depends on which picks it up). We've been doing this since '05.

There are different drivers since this is a rural route. The postmaster said today he would check with the driver for that day and see if they remember anything.

Could be someone got it out of my mailbox. But, since the MRE bomb was put in my mailbox last summer, they started keeping most items at the post office.

I emailed the seller last night and they haven't responded. Probably time to let Ebay/PayPal know.


Thanks for the help, everybody.


JAckal

[Wally M]

jackal, it's probably too early for eBay to actually do something about, but if you keep a copy of the e-mail or message exchange, you have a record that they have knowledge that there is a problem and on what date.

You could let it go to the middle of the month and you'd still be within the "statute of limitations", but a moderately aggressive approach can't hurt.

Many times, undelivered packages are found sitting in the local Post Office.

Good luck on recovering your property and post the results of your efforts.

[rons]

The USPS has it's contingent of people who are stealing. Your average postal
worker is not going to have a degree from Stanford or MIT. Bottom of the heap.
Those people rip the public off. Especially if you have something from Amazon
being shipped to you. The Amazon people are too stupid to keep their logo on
the cardboard boxes. Sorry to hear about your loss.

There is a investigative department in the USPS that tries to find out what
happens to lost packages. The problem is that they are just as inept. You
will never see that mic because somebody else is enjoying it or selling it off
to buy their bag of weed.

[biometrics]

Sometimes, when you can prove that the USPS made the mistake, you don't have to take the loss when they say it has been delivered.

The item was a PSP game console that was purchased on ebay in November of last year. It was to be a Christmas gift for a grandson. The seller used delivery confirmation, signature required and priority mail, but didn't insure the package. The USPS website said "delivered". There was a feature on the USPS website where you can actually pull up the actual written signature. When I checked it, the name was not a member of my household and I was not familiar with it... it also showed in the handwriting of the carrier that the package had been delivered to an address that was not mine! I went to the address (on the next street over from mine) and it turned out that the house was where a friend of my grandson lived. I spoke with the parents and explained the situation... they told me that they had not taken delivery of the package.

I called the local postmaster and explained the situation, and then emailed her my screen captures of the wrong delivery information I had gotten from the USPS website. The postmaster advised me that she would investigate further and get back to me.

The end result was that the temporary letter carrier had made a mistake, and was responsible for the loss. She called me and told me that the carrier had procured a brand new replacement of my item and would deliver it within 24 hours. I told her that this solution was unacceptable during her investigation I had already purchased a replacement item, and had no use for an additional one. She then told me she would discuss the matter with the carrier about my reimbursement. I received a postal money order in my mailbox for the exact amount shown on my invoices within 24 hours... The money order had been purchased by the carrier in his own name. I was very pleased and surprised with the resolution of the issue. I hope yours works out as well.

[jackal]

Thanks everyone. I just hope they find the mic. But a refund would be ok, too.



JAckal

[LatheWerks]

I've been shipping car parts all over the world since 2006. I started using UPS Ground until I realized USPS was cheaper.

I have used USPS First Class and Priority mail since 2007, and over 1000 packages of gotten to their destination without one being lost or broken. I used to insure everything, but I now use delivery confirmation. I figure I spent maybe $1000 on insurances for a year on every box and never had a claim, so now I just do the Deliv. Conf. and will just make a new part if one gets lost or damaged since it costs me less than insuring everything.

Still no problems.

~Chris

[Bravo5]

My experience after having a $1000 shipment to me lost.

"Delivery Confirmation" for the USPS means that it got to the destination post office and was scanned by "a" carrier in that zipcode. They can't even tell you which carrier scanned the package all the time.

The insurance will not pay if the package was scanned at the destination zipcode. That is proof enough to them that it was delivered.

In other words, delivery confirmation and insurance will only help if it doesn't make it to the destiantion zip. If it does, and gets lost there or stolen or left at the wrong address by the carrier you are SOL. And the seller can wave the delivery confirmation in your face. Or you can wave it in your customers. Either way it is bad business because you can't hold USPS accountable and someone has to eat it.

I heard there is a scam on ebay where some sellers were selling highvalue items, printing the shipping label to the correct address in paypal, and then actually shipping it to another (friends) address in the same zip. By doing so they got delivery confirmation that the package was delivered to the buyer, but of course it wasn't. Don't know if that is true or not, but based on what happened to me it would probably work.

I will ship lower value / higher weight items by USPS and figure I will eat the losses and cover them with shipment savings over time. But if it is large or critical I am going to deal with a company that wants to please their customer instead of a bunch of govt burrocrats.