Buyer on ebay - item lost

Hi al

I've been buying lots on ebay lately in preparation for bub's arrival.

One of my recent purchases appears to have gone missing in the mail. I paid Paypal and the item was sent regular post. Incidentally the item only cost about $8, postage was the same, so around $16 - hardly breaking the bank.

The (private) seller is definitely genuine ie lots of positive feedback from other baby stuff they sold and posted at the same time as mine - but mine never made it.

Looking at ebay help, it talks about starting a dispute claim if it can't be resolved with the seller. But I really do believe they sent it and it's just been bad luck. (Or it could have been stolen from my post box but given the other 8 recent items have been fine...!)

What should I do? Wear the loss? Insist that they refund and then start a dispute if they say no? Or suggest we go halves in the loss?

TBH I'm not that fussed about the $, bigger hassle is bidding on the item again. Perhaps I"ve answered my own question!

If it has gotten lost in the mail and it was only sent via regular post I don't think there is a whole lot you can do about it...have you contacted the seller and asked when they posted it? If you haven't already you could just send them a message saying you havent received the item yet and was wondering when it was posted, then see what she says.

I don't think you can do an Ebay dispute as once the item has been posted it isn't the seller's responsibility anymore, unless it was insured or sent registered/express post so it can be traced.

if you really believe it is lost then you have to wear the cost as that isnt the sellers problem.. if you think it hasnt been sent then you should put in a claim.

i think i read on here or somewhere else recently that it is still the sellers responsibility even if the item goes missing in the post. that is why i always register my ebay items when i sell em. but in answer to your qn, i would just email and let her know it hasnt turned up yet, see what they say and take it from there.

the buyer can claim up to $50 through australia post for missing postage.
Ive sold stuff, sent it and had it never turn up. Ivfe rung the post office that it was ment to go to and got conpensated......and it wasnt registered mail.
Send them an email and ask if they can do it....if they say no then put in a dispute.via paypal

This happened to me as a seller.
I sold a game boy and ovver $700 in games and accessorys.
the buyer got it for $110.00

I offered registered post, the buyer declined so was sent regular.
the parcel never arrived, i spent over amonth ringing around aus post to find it but because it wasnt registered i had no luck - they said if it is found it will be destroyed as dead mail and not resent.

Anyhow the buyer put in a dispute, all though i had a receipt for the bag - i couldnt prove it was the bag i put the items in, and they got the money back. i had to pay it back and all the fees too.

Plus i will never know if they were dodgy and kept my money and the items.

So if you put in a dispute and the seller cant prove through a registered no. the item was sent paypal will send out debt collectors to the seller and recover the money and you will get it instantly refunded.

I learnt the hard way with registered post and only use it now when sending in case this happens to me again.

it is up to you what you want to do.

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if you really believe it is lost then you have to wear the cost as that isnt the sellers problem.. if you think it hasnt been sent then you should put in a claim.

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in the eyes of paypal it is the Sellers problem if it is lost. you need to be careful (see my PP). paypal holds the seller NOT australia post responsible.

Thanks everyone for your advice. Lots of confusion !! but I think Pink Palace has it - the combined situation of Paypal and unregistered post (registered was not offered by the selle) means that the ball's in my court and I can demand a refund.

I will ask the seller to chase it up (she posted on 15 Jan). If that fails to turn up the item, I really can live without the $16 so I think I'd let it slide as:
- I'm positive she's not dodgy;
- it's just one of those things
- $16 doesn't mean much to me
- the bigger hassle will be repurchasing which I would need to do anyway.

Thanks lovelies!

ps Maz just reread your post... I didn't know about Australia Post claims. I will mention to the seller. Cheers!