Thread: Suggestions for safe delivery for eBay purchases?

Is there any way to contact the post office and ask them to hold packages at the post office so you can pick them up personally?

Yea, it is always a nervous time for me when I am expecting anything to be delivered. UPS misplaced/lost a rifle I had shipped and seemed not too concerned an about it. Filing a police report for a lost rifle and giving UPS the incident number seemed to light a fire under their azzez as they found it shortly thereafter. Always wondered if a theft report would wake up the Postal system in similar circumstances.

Bob

Not a bad idea. Will contact the local police tomorrow, and the post office re future deliveries - see if they can hold them for pickup rather than deliver. Thanks

In the U.S you can get hold for pickup. You pay for it though.

I had the same situation with a parcel I sent and USPS delivered it to the wrong person. The buyer went to the Post Office and made a big fuss over it and they retrieved the parcel. Afterall it was their error.

A few years ago my son ordered a High End Computer which was delivered by UPS. They delivered it to the wrong address. When they realized the value they made the driver go back on his time to get it back. His excuse was the address label was damaged and he had to guess the address. When we got it the label was perfect.

Originally Posted by AndrewJM

If this is the case, Australia Post can pursue Ramirez for mail fraud, as he signed for package. Im hoping its that easy, but time will tell... so frustrating.

I don't know how things are in Oz, but over here the postman comes to my door and says 'here, you gotta sign for this'.

Originally Posted by BobH

Yea, there is no 100% guaranteed way to have something shipped, no matter the service used, without it getting lost.

Bob

Exactly. There is always a risk. I use registered shipping because that way, the handling of the package is much more secure in the post office network. Other than that, you have to take a leap of faith.

I just issued a refund to someone today for an eBay sale that the PO screwed up. I sent it over a month ago and the online status indicates that it still hasn't left the PO in Chicago. The buyer was more than patient but after having contacted the PO several times, it was apparent to me that they have no idea where it is. I'll file a claim and hope to get my money back but I'm not holding my breath.

Originally Posted by AndrewJM

Im not talking about insurance, as when I buy something, I want it, I don't want to wait for a couple of weeks, see that the item doesn't arrive, then wait for another couple of weeks for refund. I just want the safest way to pay for delivery and actually receive the item.

Granted we all really want what we bought, but if it is truly lost...Why take a bath on it? Pursue the issue through paypal and let the seller file his claim.

The only truly secure way to get the item would be to go get it or have it couriered. But then the airlines wouldn't allow it as a carry on. Lost baggage is at least as likely as a missing parcel.

Sounds like the post office screwed up and the only way to force them to do anything is through the seller, so the course of action is pretty clear - you open a paypal dispute, the seller loses that dispute but wins the one he has with the post office. It seems more complicated than it needs to be, but that's how the rules are set up.
Of course, since paypal is the arbiter they can decide in favor of the seller, and there wouldn't be much you can do. I've been on the receiving end of that and have learned my lesson - I switched to using credit card funds with paypal and in the case of problem have my credit card company fight with them. Outside of USA you may not have that option though.

it gets dicey when the USPS delivers to the wrong address because all the records say it was delivered and signed for. The buyer has to convince Ebay-paypal the unknown person isn't actually a resident of the house and they are trying some sort of scam.