Advice needed....eBay/mail problem

[MichelleRenee]

I just sold my first otems on eBay a couple of weeks ago. I sold 5 cans of formula to someone and shipped them out via USPS on August 14th. (The day after the payment cleared) She just sent me a message asking if I had shipped the items. I am guessing that means she never recieved it. It has been 11 days. So what can I do? I triple checked the address I sent it to and included my return address so why wouldn't she have gotten it by now?

So what happens next? I sent it parcel post. Is there a way for the post office to track it?

[MLA]

I don't think they can track it unless you opted for tracking. You would need a tracking number.

[jesvet]

They won't be able to track unless you use delivery confirmation.

11 days for parcel post is long but not unheard of. I'd check ebay's rules for how long they allow before a claim can be filed. Just an FYI, protect yourself and ALWAYS use delivery confirmation because if it doesn't arrive, you're probably going to have to eat the cost. And if a package arrives without any tracking number, an unscrupulous buyer could always claim something never arrived and you have no proof you actually sent it.

I only accept Paypal and usually ship thorugh their ebay service, which automatically includes delivery confirmation. I offer insurance optional on my auctions, but delivery confirmation is not optional and built into my shipping cost- makes life easier as a seller.

[junkinmytrunk]

I have had horrible experiences with parcel post. A seller from AZ parcel posted an item to me in NJ and it took 3 weeks to arrive. Yikes. Slow slow slow. I'd maybe ask her to give it a few more days. As the buyer, I was skeptical about the items being shipped when the seller said but it turned it out PP was just extremely lame.

Also, whenever I send my MIL packages and want to go the cheap route, I PP it and factor in that it's going to take an eternity to arrive. Nothing has ever been lost in my experience.

[MichelleRenee]

Thanks. I am so inexperienced with this stuff. I will definitely use tracking from now on!

How much longer should I give it before I refund her money?

[Ericka_Jarett]

USPS says should take 2-9 days depending on weight and distance it has to go. I would wait until the end of next week before I went and refunded money. Definitely do tracking or delivery confirmation next time, will save you the hassle of possibly having to refund money.

Also depending on the time of day you got the package to USPS, it may not have shipped until the next day.

[Delaney21]

Just a word of warning, there are a lot of experienced ebay scammer buyers out there and they know that if you don't use delivery confirmation you have no way to prove that you sent your items or that they received their items. There are buyers who will see that you didn't get delivery confirmation and automatically say they didn't receive their item and paypal will automatically refund their money to them. I know this isn't what you want to hear now, but even if this transaction goes well, make sure you always get delivery confirmation so you aren't out the money!