Buyer claims he didn't get an item I shipped

[geno]

I shipped an item to a buyer from another car forum over a week ago through USPS. I didn't use delivery confirmation (which I usually do use, shame on me) but it most definitely should have been there by now. This transaction took place through another forum where I have sold many (I'd say about 2 dozen items sold) and have over 4k posts, I'm not a newbie to the board by any means. The buyer joined about 6 months ago and has 50 posts, nothing to throw up a red-flag about, but it can be contended he doesn't have any way of backing up his reliability.

Does none of this matter, and the fact I didn't get delivery confirmation basically dictate an automatic refund? I've been selling and buying items online for over 11 years and have never had this happen. I'm guessing either a) The USPS lost it b) Someone else got / took the package on delivery c) He's lying.

Can I get some advice from the buying / selling gurus here?

UPDATE - Well, just a small update - it turns out he gave me the wrong address! Well, it was the right address, but the apartment number was way off. For instance, let's say his apt number was 7B, he gave me something completely different like 3K... now I'm not sure what to do in terms of being a good seller

 

[Krazy4Real]

Talk to the post office. Did you have any insurance on it? It's sometimes possible that they somehow couldn't find an address and the package is automatically returned. Not getting delivery confirmation or some type of insurance when sending to a relatively new user without any kind of heat or anything is extremely risky.

 

[Crono]

Without DC, you are screwed. You take the loss for now, and are responsible. If you want to find out what happened, you'll have to take it up with USPS or investigate in person (not really a viable option).

 

[LTC8K6]

You've answered it yourself. You're stuck with remedying the situation.

 

[Gibson486]

if you cannot prove it got there (ie delivery confirmation), then it did not get there if he said it did not.

 

[Evadman]

It depends on the rules of the site in honestly. On AT, you are responsible if the intended recipient did not get the item, period. Tracking numbers help prove or refute claims and are good evidence. However a DC number is not a tracking number, all that 'delivered' means is that it got to the destination post office, not the intended recipient. Here, even with DC showing 'delivered' you would generally still be on the hook for it.

Use UPS, Fedex, etc. DC from USPS means nothing.

 

[BlahBlahYouToo]

he told me it was cuz he's jewish and didnt' like ur handle.

 

[hclarkjr]

Originally posted by: geno
I shipped an item to a buyer from another car forum over a week ago through USPS. I didn't use delivery confirmation (which I usually do use, shame on me) but it most definitely should have been there by now. This transaction took place through another forum where I have sold many (I'd say about 2 dozen items sold) and have over 4k posts, I'm not a newbie to the board by any means. The buyer joined about 6 months ago and has 50 posts, nothing to throw up a red-flag about, but it can be contended he doesn't have any way of backing up his reliability.

Does none of this matter, and the fact I didn't get delivery confirmation basically dictate an automatic refund? I've been selling and buying items online for over 11 years and have never had this happen. I'm guessing either a) The USPS lost it b) Someone else got / took the package on delivery c) He's lying.

Can I get some advice from the buying / selling gurus here?

you not using delivery confirmation is bad but you should have also used signature confirmation instead. with signature confirmation you have proof that he received it plus you should have insured it also. without any of these items on the package your liable for what you sent and are stuck. you can try having the postmaster at the post office you used try to contact the post office that delivered the package to see if the person who delivered the package remembers delivering it but that is a long shot.

 

[Legendary]

I have a hunch people wait for packages, see what kind of shipping and confirmation was used, and then send 'lost package' emails accordingly.

 

[Regs]

Business or sale, even if residential, I would pay the extra added fee for insurance and signature proof of delivery (direct signature). The burden of proof will always be on the shipper except under certain intercoms or agreements.

 

[Crono]

Originally posted by: Legendary
I have a hunch people wait for packages, see what kind of shipping and confirmation was used, and then send 'lost package' emails accordingly.

Yeah, I have that feeling, too. Hard to get USPS to do anything with even DC. For anything expensive that you can't afford to take a loss on, you really have to use trackable method and signature.

 

[WA261]

I never ship w/o DC.

 

[Nik]

Always always always ship with delivery confirmation. Holy crap...

 

[waggy]

Originally posted by: Nik
Always always always ship with delivery confirmation. Holy crap...

and this is why.

its not worth fighting about or getting a bad reputation because someone is a scam artist.

 

[jtvang125]

What if you insured it but didn't get delivery confirmation? How strong of a case do you have if you file a claim that the package was lost? I believe you do have to wait atleast 30 days before filing a lost claim though just to see if it shows up within that time.

 

[geno]

Originally posted by: Nik
Always always always ship with delivery confirmation. Holy crap...

I usually do, and have never had a problem. For some reason, I was in a rush and didn't fill out the confirmation forms and sent this item out along with another one. Luckily, it was a $20 item and not a $200 one, but I think this is all I need to convince me to take the time and get it from now on.

 

[rudder]

Was it mailed priority or first class? Priority in not guaranteed. A small percentage take more than 2-3 days. I have seen it take longer in some cases. If it has only been a week so maybe give it some more time. Even with USPS tracking they may never find your package if it is indeed lost.

Always request a signature... worth the extra $1.40.

 

[CRXican]

$20? no biggie, just get DC next time

::edit::

I recently used USPS priority with DC and the package got from CA to FL quick! A few days after it was delivered the buyer finally PMs me and says he got it. Fking package was sitting on his porch for a couple days where he doesn't enter the house. He was getting ready to ask me what the deal was.

 

[hclarkjr]

Originally posted by: jtvang125
What if you insured it but didn't get delivery confirmation? How strong of a case do you have if you file a claim that the package was lost? I believe you do have to wait atleast 30 days before filing a lost claim though just to see if it shows up within that time.

if the package is insured for over $200 they have to sign for it even if you do not get delivery confirmation

 

[jupiter57]

Did you ship it Media Mail?
Media & Parcel, though only a few cents cheaper, can take weeks.

 

[Nik]

Originally posted by: geno
I think this is all I need to convince me to take the time and get it from now on.

:thumbsup:

While moving some stuff a couple weekends ago, I found a small cardboard box all taped up and addressed to "ffmcobalt" which I don't use anymore. It didn't have a username in the From box and I didn't recognize the real name or address, but apparently I bought a Pentium 3 years and years ago from Lcarvone (had to look it up via Heatware), had it shipped to me. I never opened it, forgot I had it, and just found it :laugh:

Who knows. Maybe your buyer will find the box 8 years later

 

[geno]

bump for an update - thanks for all of the info, guys And Nik, you must've been rolling in computer parts to have forgotten about a sweet PIII back in '01

 

[nick1985]

Originally posted by: WA261
I never ship w/o DC.

If I ship anything that was purchased for over $5, I use DC.

 

[TurtleCrusher]

Originally posted by: Nik

Originally posted by: geno
I think this is all I need to convince me to take the time and get it from now on.

:thumbsup:

While moving some stuff a couple weekends ago, I found a small cardboard box all taped up and addressed to "ffmcobalt" which I don't use anymore. It didn't have a username in the From box and I didn't recognize the real name or address, but apparently I bought a Pentium 3 years and years ago from Lcarvone (had to look it up via Heatware), had it shipped to me. I never opened it, forgot I had it, and just found it :laugh:

Who knows. Maybe your buyer will find the box 8 years later

That's insane. I would never forget a CPU purchase.

 

[BlahBlahYouToo]

so he admits to giving you wrong address. it's out of your hands now and totally on him IMO.