eBay/USPS question. Buyer never signed for/picked up package...

[NFS4]

I've got an odd one here (for me at least in my 15+ years of eBay'ing). A person won an eBay auction from me for a new, $255 Sony camcorder.

July 25: Buyer wins item
July 26: I ship the item via USPS Priority Mail (insured w/Signature Confirmation)
July 29: Attempted delivery in New Jersey, person wasn't at home, USPS leaves a notice.

And that's it. Nothing has transpired on USPS since July 29. Package has not been picked up. I've tried contacting the buyer via eBay messaging for the past two weeks to remind them that the item is being held for pickup... no responses.

I figured that if a buyer has a $255 camera that's not accounted for, they'd be willing to talk, but I guess not... hell, maybe the guy is dead

Regardless, I've done all I can on my end (as far as I know), so I'm guessing that the USPS will just send the package back to me if no one picks it up?

 

[Slew Foot]

if no one picks it up it gets returned to sender

 

[SlickSnake]

I've got an odd one here (for me at least in my 15+ years of eBay'ing). A person won an eBay auction from me for a new, $255 Sony camcorder.

July 25: Buyer wins item
July 26: I ship the item via USPS Priority Mail (insured w/Signature Confirmation)
July 29: Attempted delivery in New Jersey, person wasn't at home, USPS leaves a notice.

And that's it. Nothing has transpired on USPS since July 29. Package has not been picked up. I've tried contacting the buyer via eBay messaging for the past two weeks to remind them that the item is being held for pickup... no responses.

I figured that if a buyer has a $255 camera that's not accounted for, they'd be willing to talk, but I guess not... hell, maybe the guy is dead

Regardless, I've done all I can on my end (as far as I know), so I'm guessing that the USPS will just send the package back to me if no one picks it up?

Yes.

And I would hold the funds until they contact you again. And if they finally contact you, I would offer to reship the item for another shipping fee, not free. You need to look up Ebays requirements for this situation.

 

[NFS4]

Yes.

And I would hold the funds until they contact you again. And if they finally contact you, I would offer to reship the item for another shipping fee, not free. You need to look up Ebays requirements for this situation.

Yeah, I offered free shipping, so I ate the shipping costs. I sure as hell wouldn't give him free shipping again.

 

[Gillbot]

Likely they got buyers remorse and are waiting for it to be returned to sender so they can file a claim for it not being delivered.

 

[7window]

I sold a book once and I shipped it with signature confirmation. My experience is the same as OP post. Don't want to retype the same scenario. However, mine has a different outcome. I don't have a chargeback or request for refund, returns etc. My funds still in my bank. This was 5 months ago. My book was worth $13 only if that makes a difference.

 

[Rakehellion]

I sold a book once and I shipped it with signature confirmation. My experience is the same as OP post. Don't want to retype the same scenario. However, mine has a different outcome. I don't have a chargeback or request for refund, returns etc. My funds still in my bank. This was 5 months ago. My book was worth $13 only if that makes a difference.

Why would you ship a $13 book with signature confirmation?

 

[7window]

Why would you ship a $13 book with signature confirmation?

I know. I just don't want any headaches. I figure if I sell it garage sell $1 or craigslist it $5. so....

 

[who?]

Maybe they used a stolen credit card and had it shipped to a phony address so they could steal it off the steps but the signature requirement stopped them. They didn't get the notice because they weren't stealing ALL the mail.

 

[who?]

Maybe they got arrested and are in jail.

 

[NFS4]

Maybe they used a stolen credit card and had it shipped to a phony address so they could steal it off the steps but the signature requirement stopped them. They didn't get the notice because they weren't stealing ALL the mail.

Funny you should mention that, because I did a Google Maps search on the address and it looks like prime grounds for porch steps thievery

 

[Slew Foot]

Funny you should mention that, because I did a Google Maps search on the address and it looks like prime grounds for porch steps thievery

Man that place looks like a dump

 

[NFS4]

Man that place looks like a dump

Reminds me of my hometown of Baltimore

 

[jaedaliu]

I can't remember if it's 2 weeks or a month before the USPS returns your held item to you.

 

[NFS4]

I can't remember if it's 2 weeks or a month before the USPS returns your held item to you.

According to their site, it's 15 business days.

 

[shocksyde]

Man that place looks like a dump

Your definition of "dump" is vastly different from mine.

 

[slayer202]

Looks like a neighborhood where they wouldn't leave the package if there was no answer at the door. You'd think the people would be used to having to pick stuff up at the post office. Ebay can be so frustrating

 

[Scarpozzi]

Years ago I bought a Sega Dreamcast on fleabay. They shipped it across the country from CA and it got sent to the wrong post office....was like 3 miles from the correct one. A month later after going back to the military base it originated from, it got sent back to the correct post office where it was delivered. I saved the tracking log because it was a disgrace.

If anything is important, I typically don't waste my time with USPS and use FexEx or UPS.

 

[NFS4]

Years ago I bought a Sega Dreamcast on fleabay. They shipped it across the country from CA and it got sent to the wrong post office....was like 3 miles from the correct one. A month later after going back to the military base it originated from, it got sent back to the correct post office where it was delivered. I saved the tracking log because it was a disgrace.

If anything is important, I typically don't waste my time with USPS and use FexEx or UPS.

I typically use USPS because they're faster than UPS Ground and Fedex Ground/Home and generally (for me) reliable. I only go Fedex Ground/Home or UPS if it's a big/heavy package.

But for small stuff (less than 10 pounds), USPS Priority Mail is hard to beat. Throw in Flat Rate boxes and Regional Rate boxes, and it's simply the superior option.

 

[anniecor]

I've got an odd one here (for me at least in my 15+ years of eBay'ing). A person won an eBay auction from me for a new, $255 Sony camcorder.

July 25: Buyer wins item
July 26: I ship the item via USPS Priority Mail (insured w/Signature Confirmation)
July 29: Attempted delivery in New Jersey, person wasn't at home, USPS leaves a notice.

And that's it. Nothing has transpired on USPS since July 29. Package has not been picked up. I've tried contacting the buyer via eBay messaging for the past two weeks to remind them that the item is being held for pickup... no responses.

I figured that if a buyer has a $255 camera that's not accounted for, they'd be willing to talk, but I guess not... hell, maybe the guy is dead

Regardless, I've done all I can on my end (as far as I know), so I'm guessing that the USPS will just send the package back to me if no one picks it up?

I have a similar Ebay/USPS situation. I'm the Good Faith Ebay buyer, returning a misrepresented hard-to-find child's electronic item to an extremely non-cooperative seller, who insists he did nothing wrong and refused to offer me refund. Ebay, very easily and quickly, sided with me.

I've returned the package, insured via Priority Mail, but the seller hasn't picked it up yet! A notice was left for them. I was nervous returning the package, since I had a gut feeling the seller would figure out a way to not refund me. If he doesn't pick up the package at the post office within a reasonable amount of time, I'm guessing that USPS will send it back to me (I hope)? At least, then, I won't be out the money AND the item.