Ebay buyers saying things didn't arrive

eth0

I've had this a few times now and I don't sell a whole lot on ebay. Small items, would never be worth sending registered and the buyer a few weeks later claims they never arrived.

Stuff doesn't get lost in the post like it used to. The odd item here and there maybe. It must be a common trick that scrounging ebayers use to save a few bob. Ebay policy has been tilted massively in favour of the buyer and nothing preventing buyers from telling a pack of lies.

Anything that can be done about it? I at least kept the receipt from the post office for the fella who I suspect is trying it out on me now (a romanian lad in romania) but as far as I can see no tracking number means I'm fecked.

maddragon

I just stopped selling to anyone not from UK or Ireland for the same reasons. Not worth the hassle and the vast majority of buyers from east of the Rhine seem to be con men.

blahblah06

If they want the item bad enough they will pay the recorded delivery price

wobbles

Wouldnt send to anywhere like romania unless it was registered. Id have it in the listing that anywhere outside ireland/uk whatever will be sent registered. Its too easy to get screwed

BengaLover

Not a thing you can do, as in the event of a paypal dispute they will always require proof of DELIVERY, not proof of postage, which you can only give if you have posted the item by registered post.
If you dont want to risk this happening again, give registered post as the only option, but that may limit your sales as the postage cost will be higher..

The Lovely Muffin

This is the exact reason why I will only send items via registered post.

I haven't used standard post for years and never will again, it just isn't safe or reliable, in my opinion.

I will say though, that using registered post does limit your sales as there aren't many who will pay the extra cost. Although if postage is cheaper then the buyer pays then I always refund the extra as I don't sell on eBay to make a profit, really only when I have stuff I want to get rid of.

I had three people in the past six weeks bid on my items and then change their minds over the postage costs. I got sick of it so now I open unpaid disputes on anyone who does it.

BengaLover

But having said that there are so many sellers who abuse the system by overcharging really highly on postage costs and they still get sales -

The Lovely Muffin

BengaLover wrote: »

But having said that there are so many sellers who abuse the system by overcharging really highly on postage costs and they still get sales -

I agree with this, which is another reason why I refund the difference if the postage is cheaper than the buyer paid.

I came across a cardigan once, buy-it-now of around £6 and postage was £20 registered post, that was from the U.K to Ireland.

Now as postage is cheaper in the U.K there absolutely no way on earth a light little cardigan made of cotton material would cost anywhere near £20 to post, unless it was by courier, even then, I can't imagine it would cost £20 pounds.

eth0

I'm in strange situation now because the stuff I'd have laying around would never be worth sending registered. Old electronics, too good for the dump (although in some cases from the dump), cables, scrap like this maybe worth 20e per item at the very most. People are unlikely to make a separate trip to buy it off adverts.ie

At the car boot sale they won't buy it cause they think its broken - bought a pile of utter shoite from one a few months ago so can't blame them for thinking it.

Selling to Ireland & England only - I've had a few codologers from close by using the same trick. Think I might just call it a day with this ebay nonsense for most things anyway. Over the years I think the balance has been tilted too far in the buyer's favour, fees are gone too high and there seems to be no limit to how many times a buyer can pull the 'thing didn't arrive' trick