My first-ever Ebay problem....advice?

[Kevan]

Man, I hate having to do this. I've been on Ebay for several years, and dealt through half.com for textbooks before that, and I've never had a problem before now.

I've been looking for some vintage Shulton Old Spice cologne for awhile, and after getting frustrated and disillusioned over repeatedly losing auctions at the last second, I finally came across a vintage OS "double deal" -- a (apparently full) bottle of the cologne and a can of shaving foam, and it was a Buy it Now for like $16 or something. The seller had plenty of feedback and their rating was 99%. They had 5 of these "sets" available so I went ahead and snagged one on April 28th. I received an email that the transaction had been processed and the package had been shipped from New Jersey via USPS with a tracking number.

I know that USPS tracking generally sucks, and the dang thing did ship Parcel Post (for the insane price of $9, but I wasn't about to complain after having lost so many OS auctions), but it seems the trail has gone cold. The last tracking update was May 3rd, in Pennsylvania. I'm in VA, so it should've only taken 4-5 days for Parcel Post....

Four days ago I emailed the seller at the address listed in their Ebay contact info -- the same address listed on the Paypal receipt -- but they haven't responded. Now I don't know what to do. I guess it's not the seller's fault since they did mail the package. It seems USPS lost it or something. But I figured the seller could at least check from their end. After 4 days though, they should respond to an email.

So what do I do? Should I email the seller again? Proceed through Paypal to get my money back? I don't know how to do that; is it difficult? This really sucks. I've become accustomed to Ebay being glitch-free....

Thanks for any advice guys. If anyone would know how to go from here, y'all would.

 

[Luc]

I think from there, if you have the tracking number, I would check with the post office directly. If you get nothing out of them, advise the seller first that you will raise a complaint via paypal (they usually respond to that).

 

[Kevan]

Check with the post office....via customer service on their website?

Oh I see the link. It's a 1-800 number. Guess I'll give 'em a shout tomorrow.

 

[Jim]

Wait till monday, then file a paypal dispute. Dont wait too long to do so.

 

[Kevan]

I have 45 days, I know. But what's involved in a Paypal dispute?

 

[Luc]

I have 45 days, I know. But what's involved in a Paypal dispute?

If it's the one that I had to fill a while back, Paypal will ask you to detail the problem (package not received) and they will then validate with the seller. If the seller doesn't answer in 10 business days, you get your money back. If he answers, I'm unsure on what happens from there as I got my money back 2 weeks later.

 

[slcsteve]

I have 45 days, I know. But what's involved in a Paypal dispute?

Go to the Ebay help tab - click on resolution center and continue on from there.

 

[Uncle Erik]

Yes, file a dispute with PayPal. Don't worry, they don't hit the seller right away and you will have the option of canceling the dispute if the package reappears.

Here's hoping that your package turns up and there's a happy ending!

 

[Kevan]

I know! The Old SPice gods are toying with me. First losing all those auctions and now this!

 

[Kevan]

I contacted the seller directly through ebay this time, instead of through the email address. If they don't respond by Tuesday I'm filing a dispute.

Thanks guys.

 

[The Nid Hog]

Good luck. I bought two bottles of cologne from (probably) the same seller and I got them both in good order. I was worried that the shaving gods would punish me for ordering canned foam, but apparently I received the Shulton indulgence. I hope that you actually get the stuff; if not, I hope that you get this taken care of in short order.

 

[WastedResources]

I hate to say it, but if the seller has a "certificate of mailing", there's not a lot PayPal can do for you. It sounds like you have a tracking number, so now you just need to find out if it is real, likely by filing a dispute through PayPal. You'll probably have to deal with the Post Office in the end.

Hey, it's nice to see someone taking the seller's point of view in mind. Just make sure to protect yourself.

 

[yomuppet]

If you paid through your Credit Card via PayPal, I would go straight to your CC company to file the dispute.

PayPal did not cover the first $25 of any transaction last time I had to file one, but I do not know if that is still the case.

Regards.

J

 

[Kevan]

The seller responded.

"I'm sorry I don't know what has happened to your package. As you see from the tracking the package was shipped to you on April 30th. I would contact your local post office and see if they can find out if they have it."

I guess I'll phone the post office's Track & Confirm number tomorrow, but this really gets me.

I guess it's simpler than filing a claim.

 

[Synovia]

If you paid through your Credit Card via PayPal, I would go straight to your CC company to file the dispute.

PayPal did not cover the first $25 of any transaction last time I had to file one, but I do not know if that is still the case.

Regards.

J

Generally if you go straight to the CC company, and they do a chargeback against paypal, you lose your paypal account.

 

[yomuppet]

Generally if you go straight to the CC company, and they do a chargeback against paypal, you lose your paypal account.

I've done this twice, for purchases that I legitimately never received, and still have my PayPal account. PayPal's website also says nothing about retribution, and does reference how they handle chargebacks -- in essence they treat it like a dispute.

Regards.

J

 

[Go West Young Man]

My take is that you should stop fussing about secondary issues and just go after the parties responsible for the delay - the Post Office. You have a tracking number, so you know the shipper sent it, they're off the hook now. Your CC company might step in if the package is permanently lost, but right now the PO has it and needs to find it.

 

[Kevan]

My take is that you should stop fussing about secondary issues and just go after the parties responsible for the delay - the Post Office. You have a tracking number, so you know the shipper sent it, they're off the hook now. Your CC company might step in if the package is permanently lost, but right now the PO has it and needs to find it.

Called USPS today and talked to a human rather than the automated system; the call assistant was very friendly and helpful and said she forwarded my info to their lost packages whoever dept. And said they should give me a call back in 2 business days or less.

But I know this might not be the end of it. I just decided to call USPS first instead of the post office in Warrendale, PA directly.

If it escalates to a claim, from what I've read, the SENDER has to be the one to file it.

 

[Jim]

At the end of the day its the sellers responsibility to get you what you ordered. They should be doing this legwork.

 

[Kevan]

Well, depending on what the post office says when they get back to me.......THEN I'll get on the seller about resolving it.

I thought he was absolved of blame since he did mail the thing to my correct address, but you're right. I paid him, so he should be trying to find the package.