Proper etiquette - when a sale goes bad

[Shieryda]

Hi,

I sent a package to Canada back in December after the other trader paid via Paypal. To date, the package still has not arrived, and the buyer is asking for a refund. I verified that the address, weight and postage was correct. USPS tracking has not been updated since I created the label.

To me, it seems unfair that I should be out both the cards and the money (if a refund it issued), when I did everything in my power to ensure that the package was shipped properly.

How should I proceed? Is the buyer entitled to a full refund? This is the first time that this has happened to me, so any feedback is appreciated.

Regards,

Dana

[creasecollector]

Dana,

Yes, it is unfair, however, the buyer in this case did not receive the card they were promised, so they do need their money back.

I feel your pain, but when we leave it up to the postal service there is always a risk involved, even if the shipping was done correctly.

I would say that you should issue the buyer a refund, especially since the card was mailed way back in December. If it was a few weeks, then I'd give it time, but it's been long past that point unfortuntaly.

The best thing you can do is issue a refund, and ask them to let you know if the card arrived (and hope) that they honour the original deal and pay you in the future if/when that day arrives. I've been there a few occassions when I've received a refund for a lost card, and have it show up sometime later. I always write back to the seller and pay what we originally agree. I can't promise everyone will be that truthful, but it's the best case scenario in situations like these.

Best of luck !

[canucksfan007]

Ebay is a sh*t show. The absolute WORST sales to make are sub $100 ( or whatever value you decide to ship without tracking ) from Canada to USA or USA to Canada.

Whether its fair or not, as the seller you are out of luck. If the tracking number does not say the item has arrived, you have no case .... no matter how "by the book" you did everything.

Its just ebay's policy.

[Stryfex]

In my opinion it sucks...but the seller is generally expected to make right these situations - even if it's possible that the other end is scamming (which if done on a site like this is what the feedback hopefully helps alleviate).

If it's of any tiny consolation, I one time had this happen with a Panarin Young Guns where the buyer said they didn't receive it after 2ish months - so I issued a refund - about another SIX more months later I received it from the post office in an absolutely massacred envelope (a bag containing it) and the original Panarin YG card in perfect condition within the top loader + team bag I shipped it in - so it took the better part of a year but I wasn't out the card AND the money in the end

[doniceage]

In my opinion it sucks...but the seller is generally expected to make right these situations - even if it's possible that the other end is scamming (which if done on a site like this is what the feedback hopefully helps alleviate).

If it's of any tiny consolation, I one time had this happen with a Panarin Young Guns where the buyer said they didn't receive it after 2ish months - so I issued a refund - about another SIX more months later I received it from the post office in an absolutely massacred envelope (a bag containing it) and the original Panarin YG card in perfect condition within the top loader + team bag I shipped it in - so it took the better part of a year but I wasn't out the card AND the money in the end

A good ending to a story.
@Shieryda

Don

[Cunnuc]

With 3900 100% feedback on eBay I have seen my fair share of missing packages and 1 mangled package with a perfectly intact card. I have had to issue refunds. Most of the time it is from someone in Quebec. I think it is fishy that 90% of my missing packages are from someone in Quebec eventhough they seem to make some 25% of my total sales. My biggest loss was 30-40 cards from either 10-11 or 11-12 Artifacts, all numbered stars, legends and rookies. It was a little over $100 but the package just did not arrive, even with tracking. It just disappeared. I also purchased a 1/1 Joe Thornton Sketch Card from a US seller and had it sent to my COMC account. Tracking showed it never moving once it reached Washington State. I got a refund for that.

Also, I had someone from USA who bought a lot of Artifacts cards send me a message over 1 year later saying his package arrived and wondered how much I owed him. I was a bit taken aback since I didn't know what he was talking about. It took me a while to find the original transaction since it had been over 1 year. I had never seen that before and I just told him to keep the cards.

All in all, it sucks but it does happen. You will find that the majority of people are honest since this is a hobby and not a business. If someone is willing to pay me over 1 year later for a 'missing package' that finally arrived then you have to have faith in humanity.

[sjw241]

Does USPS offer insurance on packages. Canada Post does. If the package doesn’t arrive you can claim the insurance and you aren’t out the money. You can also get the money back you paid for shipping if it doesn’t get there on time. I insure most packages now. Not that I don’t trust buyers, I don’t trust post workers who could make an honest mistake. I had a card go missing that they claim they put in my community mail box. It would be easy for them to put it in the wrong box by accident. The seller had insurance and after a bit of a run around I got my money back and they got their insurance claim approved so they weren’t out the money either.