eBay/Paypal advice. In a jam....

[DarrenX33]

A while back I sold some items on eBay. I mistakenly allowed international shipping. Anyway, I got a buyer from Italy that hit my Buy It Now. I packaged up his items and shipped them next day thru the Post Office Economy (Surface) Parcel Post (which is what he paid for). It was a 4 to 6 week delivery shipped out the 2nd of December and he claims he still hasn't received the package. I put the tracking number in and it only shows the package leaving the country and nothing after. The guy put in a claim with Paypal to get his $ back and they decided to give him a full refund. So the way I see it I am out all the merchandise I sent, this guy gets all his $ back. And if the package eventually arrives it appears that he will get it for free. What really bothers me is that Paypal doesn't really seem to be helpful. They never asked me for additional information when this first started. Then when I filed for a protest and asked where I could send all my original receipts they never got back to me. A few weeks later they respond with they are denying my request cause of insufficient information. Unbelievable! I assume I am screwed but if anyone has any advice I'd appreciate it.

[ORIGLS6]

"And if the package eventually arrives it appears that he will get it for free."

Or maybe he'll only get the empty package..........

I've had a number of 'unacceptable incidents' with the USPS lately. And come to think of it, I can't really recommend UPS either. Where's the good ol' "Pony Express" when ya need 'em?

[Bill Pritchard]

Darren,

What does the Post Office have to say? They estimate 4 - 6 weeks delivery, it's now been 13 weeks, and they cannot prove it was delivered? I would *like* to believe you could file a claim with them for non-delivery. That may be too optimistic

[DarrenX33]

[ QUOTE ]
What does the Post Office have to say? They estimate 4 - 6 weeks delivery, it's now been 13 weeks, and they cannot prove it was delivered? I would *like* to believe you could file a claim with them for non-delivery. That may be too optimistic

[/ QUOTE ]

Bill this is the best part... I went to the post office with my receipts on Monday. They said that once the item leaves the US their not responsible. She said "your out of luck". What an opportune time for ME to go postal!

Yeah Dave I know now. Like I said I listed the items international by mistake. Figured I'd take a chance and that's just what I did.

Perhaps the buyer was wise to this and that's why he hit the Buy It Now. With no traceability after leaving the states what a scam huh? I'll never be able to prove anything only that the package left the US. Hey Paypal how about refunding only half for my documented effort?

[DarrenX33]

Total brush off here. They just tell me my info is insufficient. God forbid they should over help on what I need to provide to resolve this case.

[ QUOTE ]
Dear Darren,

We have received the tracking information you submitted in reference to the
following complaint:

Complaint Details:
-------------------------
Transaction Date: Nov 30, 2006
Transaction Amount: XXXX USD
Your Transaction ID: XXXXXX
Buyer's Transaction ID: XXXXXX
Case Number: XXXXXX
Buyer's Name: XXXXXX
Buyer's Email: XXXXXX
-------------------------

Tracking Company: USPS
Tracking Number: XXXXXXX

The information you supplied is insufficient for us to track the shipment
of the merchandise. As a result, we are unable to grant your claim appeal
at this time.

If you have any further questions, please feel free to contact us again.

Sincerely,
Shawn




[/ QUOTE ]

[budnate]

D. the guy got ya, that scam has been going on for a couple years now, your story is why I don't take paypal anymore, the buyer can get his dough back way to easy and paypal wont even answer e mails from the seller they just blow you off, total bs. and buyer still gets the item, even though they claim it never showed.

US postal service told me the same thing a couple of years ago, gets even funnier, they make the receiver fill out the lost insurance form, try this one out, you have to convince the guy to go waste a couple hours to fill out paperwork for you!, that went over like a tird in the punch bowl, sorry you got hosed.

paypal is a great idea but for some reason they run it like a holes.

B.

[VintageMusclecar]

Darren;

Bummer you got stung on the deal like that.

I wish I had some sage advice to offer, but all I can say is this: Your situation is the sole reason I will never, ever, EVER use PayPal.

I really hope you can get this ironed out and get your $$$ back.

Eric

[x Baldwin Motion]

[ QUOTE ]
Darren,

What does the Post Office have to say? They estimate 4 - 6 weeks delivery, it's now been 13 weeks, and they cannot prove it was delivered? I would *like* to believe you could file a claim with them for non-delivery. That may be too optimistic

[/ QUOTE ]

sadly there is no recourse on uninsured parcels with the USPS, foreign or domestic. currently with hightened customs procedures, both inbound and outbound, I have found that 4 - 6 weeks may mean 3 months at least.
As shipper, you retain the insurance receipt for all "numbered insured" items and you can file a claim without having to involve the addressee.

Sadly this info does no good now, but PainPal should realize the time involved with attempting to find an international package with no tracking number. I think refunding the buyer was as he will probably receive the items eventually, and there will be no record of delivery without insurance.
Never send anything of value without insurance payable to yourself. (learned the hard way)

[3macs1]

This is interesting. I send the other way to the us and any parcel is automatically insured for 100.00 going international. If I want a tracking number I have to ship Usa priority vs small packet and give that option to the buyer.Additional insurance is 1.20 per hundred dollar up to 1000.00 It is a difference of approximately 4-5 dollars and you will be suprised how few take want a tracking number or extra insurance.What I have been doing is anything over 100 I make it mandatory.So far so good

[ANDY M]

Sending anything to Italy is a crapshoot. To the Italian postal workers, everyday is Christmas. Shipping to France is almost as bad. They work when they feel like it, and don't care about anybody.
Sorry for your loss. Lesson learned.