Postal losses

[Peter 615]

I'm a bit miffed as I've just had a second coin "go missing" this week in the post.OK not vast sums involved £37 & £27 but takes the gloss off Ebay...scumbags.

Maybe I've been lucky before but the only previous problems have been with recorded delivery.

What do you guys do...certificate of posting with the buyer choosing the delivery (their risk).I've also got a non paying buyer...how long do you wait?

Rant over

Edited October 10, 2011 by Peter

[argentumandcoins 70]

In a nutshell old bean, there is sweet fanny adams that you can do as a seller. Ebay will ALWAYS side with the buyer. I know you only sell in the UK so at least you are semi protected as you can use recorded or special deliveries.

The buyer will have to open an item not received dispute and I always make them escalate it to a full claim rather than just shell out. This is only on principle though because in the end it makes not a sheeite of difference.

You will in turn have to record a claim against the Royal Snail, but I think you have to wait 14 days from date of posting.

If you swim with the sharks you have to accept that one day you're going to get nipped!

Could you PM me their usernames please so I can add them to my non-specific colour list (used to be called a blacklist pre the pc PC days)

[Colin G. 147]

I'm a bit miffed as I've just had a second coin "go missing" this week in the post.OK not vast sums involved £37 & £27 but takes the gloss off Ebay...scumbags.

Maybe I've been lucky before but the only previous problems have been with recorded delivery.

What do you guys do...certificate of posting with the buyer choosing the delivery (their risk).I've also got a non paying buyer...how long do you wait?

Rant over

Peter I only offer recorded delivery now when selling on ebay, through my site I will use normal postage at my discretion. That way I am protected from chargebacks.....it took me a while to change but paypal forced my hand

[Peter 615]

In a nutshell old bean, there is sweet fanny adams that you can do as a seller. Ebay will ALWAYS side with the buyer. I know you only sell in the UK so at least you are semi protected as you can use recorded or special deliveries.

The buyer will have to open an item not received dispute and I always make them escalate it to a full claim rather than just shell out. This is only on principle though because in the end it makes not a sheeite of difference.

You will in turn have to record a claim against the Royal Snail, but I think you have to wait 14 days from date of posting.

If you swim with the sharks you have to accept that one day you're going to get nipped!

Could you PM me their usernames please so I can add them to my non-specific colour list (used to be called a blacklist pre the pc PC days)

I'm confident they are not chancers...who is going to rip off £20 or £30?I'm a trust worthy guy trying to shift and bring in a few coins it just leaves a bitter taste.It makes me upset that they might think I never posted it.

There was some nice postman in Harrogate a few years back who decided to open birthday cards and take the contents...he was moved out of a position of trust...I would of decked him and made his teeth bite his hand when he wiped his AR5E.

[Gary D 76]

I don't sell very often on ebay, just to shift some upgrades. After losing a couple in the post now I'll only mail with insurance. I have an outstanding loss whit the Royal Mail for a couple of coins sent to the States. The buyer let the time limit expire before trying to make a claim with ebay/paypal so has lost out there. Lucily I sent the coins insured as it's about £140. Royal Mail make you wait 15 working days before making a claim then once the claim has been made they take up to 90 days to investigate, which will be this comming Monday, assuming they don't mean working days that is. They also expect me to get back in touch with them.

[declanwmagee 122]

We recently adopted the Recorded for everything policy too, Peter - for the same reasons. Even 99pers get Recorded now. It hasn't hurt sales one little bit, so seriously consider it. At least you can see on RM Track and Trace whether it's been delivered or not. Sometimes you can see a signature too. It also allows you to put the Tracking Number into eBay's database on the day you post, which triggers an email to the buyer - so they know for sure you posted it.

Non payer: send them a nice email asking if they still want the coin, because you're relisting in 24 hours if they don't get back to you. If you don't hear from them, File a Non Payer Claim with eBay after you relist so you don't have to take the Final Value Fees on the chin. Like John says, there's risks in dealing on eBay, but it's a damn sight cheaper than renting a shop.

[Peter 615]

We recently adopted the Recorded for everything policy too, Peter - for the same reasons. Even 99pers get Recorded now. It hasn't hurt sales one little bit, so seriously consider it. At least you can see on RM Track and Trace whether it's been delivered or not. Sometimes you can see a signature too. It also allows you to put the Tracking Number into eBay's database on the day you post, which triggers an email to the buyer - so they know for sure you posted it.

Non payer: send them a nice email asking if they still want the coin, because you're relisting in 24 hours if they don't get back to you. If you don't hear from them, File a Non Payer Claim with eBay after you relist so you don't have to take the Final Value Fees on the chin. Like John says, there's risks in dealing on eBay, but it's a damn sight cheaper than renting a shop.

What narks me is I'm encouraging my daughters to earn afew bob and then we get hit with £70 of losses.My wife earns £6.40 an hour as a dinner lady/occasional TA...so she works the week for nothing.

[Colin G. 147]

That's why it is better to do it the way Ebay/Paypal want you to, you can justify the postage costs and it protects you. At the end of the day it is only to reduce the amount of risk for Paypal but it just makes life simpler

[azda 979]

You have to leave it 7 days before opening a dispute, but also bear in mind, the buyer might be on holiday and won the bid through sniping, so give it the full 7 days then escalate it through ebay.

[Peter 615]

You have to leave it 7 days before opening a dispute, but also bear in mind, the buyer might be on holiday and won the bid through sniping, so give it the full 7 days then escalate it through ebay.

Call me old fashioned but if you can't sort this out....it really isn't domestic science.

[numismatist 2]

Will Royal Mail pay out for a lost coin, or will they say its money so not covered ?

when sent recorded ,and can you send anything " at buyers risk in the post " by

letting them choose the option," because I bet Paypal will still take your money from

you, if the buyer says item not received. According to Ebay/Paypal the buyer is god !

[declanwmagee 122]

Will Royal Mail pay out for a lost coin, or will they say its money so not covered ?

when sent recorded ,and can you send anything " at buyers risk in the post " by

letting them choose the option," because I bet Paypal will still take your money from

you, if the buyer says item not received. According to Ebay/Paypal the buyer is god !

No, it's not money by their definition, but it might be "valuables".

[Colin G. 147]

Will Royal Mail pay out for a lost coin, or will they say its money so not covered ?

when sent recorded ,and can you send anything " at buyers risk in the post " by

letting them choose the option," because I bet Paypal will still take your money from

you, if the buyer says item not received. According to Ebay/Paypal the buyer is god !

No, it's not money by their definition, but it might be "valuables".

The thing is you are not "offering insurance", you are complying with Paypal & Ebay's requirements, so as long as you have the tracking evidence you are protected from charge backs. If something went genuinely missing when sent using recorded, I would be willing to refund the customer anyway, because it is not their problem and then I would take my chances with trying to claim from Royal Mail.

Buyer's risk stands for nothing where paypal and ebay are concerned, you can splatter it all over your auction, but if it goes missing, the seller ends up paying out...guaranteed!!

Just follow their guidelines and problems are few and far between

[RLC35 288]

Good advice Colin.

[1949threepence 3,367]

Another problem with Royal Mail is the postie shoving recorded delivery items through the door without knocking to obtain a receipt. Just this week I had one. You can see a scan of it uploaded to imageshack here ~ none of the tabs have been removed.

If I was a dishonest person I could easily claim legitimate non receipt.

Just checked track and trace, and it says "try later" !!!

Edited October 12, 2011 by 1949threepence