I bought an item from ebay last month, it doesnt cost much, only $8. When I got the item, it looks totally different so I returned the item but seller claimed that he has not received the item. Either way, because the postage cost itself is $5ish, and because the seller refused to pay for return fee, I didnt bother to get the tracking when I sent it. Now that the paypal case has been escalated, it asked me for tracking code, which I dont have. So what is my chance in this case? I know it is not much, but I found it really annoying that the seller sent the wrong item and refused to pay the return shipping!
PayPal Escalated Case - No Tracking Code
![](https://files.ozbargain.com.au/g/38.jpg)
Related Stores
Comments
Paypal usually protects the buyer, but there are some occasions where the deceitful seller wins.
I returned a DOA phone with a tracking number. Online tracking says the phone has arrived, and yet the seller says he's never received it. PayPal decided the case in favor of the seller, because the tracking number says it was deliver to Hong Kong, but not the specific address of the buyer, I lost $350, the phone and $20 delivery fee.pretty sure when you return something on ebay you need to have it registered or your screwed, because the seller can just reply with " i never received it" and you can't prove otherwise
Lesson learned, mate. Always go registered to cover your arse.
Registered post doesn't exist anymore. You just get tracking and insurance added to express post now.
Registered post does exist. It's only for letters. Signature on delivery is for parcels
Same thing happened to me. All up I lost $250. Definitely taught me a lesson.
I will say most likely I will lose the case then. The seller never mentioned about the parcel needs to be registered and this is my first time returning item from ebay. Now that I think about it, the seller was really responsive at first, but once he asked whether I have any tracking and I said no, he kinda went silent afterwards. Lesson learnt!
Did you organize the claim via PayPal?
They are very specific and give you all the information you need. I recently won a claim and successfully returned an item. However, you MUST follow the procedure.
They include the instructions on the emails they send you:
Quoted verbatim - address removed"Step 1 - Return the item to the seller, at the following address:
PayPal requires you to use an approved shipping or delivery service that
provides online proof of shipment or delivery. Acceptable forms of proof of
shipment or delivery include:
- A copy of the postage receipt that includes the seller's delivery
address. You can get this from Australia Post's Registered Post and
Australia Post's Registered Post International, or
- A shipping code that PayPal can use online to view the shipping status
and the seller's delivery address. You can get this from TNT, DHL, FedEx
and other carriers, or
- A receipt issued by the carrier that is signed by the recipient
acknowledging delivery.This documentation you provide must also include:
- The date the item was sent.
- An official acceptance by the carrier, such as a postmark or online
status. A status that shows the item was delivered is also acceptable.Once you have returned the item, please log in to your PayPal account
within 10 calendar days of receipt of this email and provide tracking
information that can be verified online.PayPal strongly recommends using a shipping service that provides online
tracking.We must receive this information within 10 calendar days. Failure to
provide this information will result in automatic cancellation of your case.Once we have been able to verify that the item was sent to the seller, the
refund will be issued to you."In my case I used TNT and send PayPal a copy of the consignment note. It was also trackable online
PayPal does work, but you need to follow the procedures they give you
Of course for the low value items, bad sellers know that the cost of doing the above shipping is often more than the value of the item itself and that's where they can get you
If you paid via Credit card you can approach credit card provider and say you never received item you paid for.
Worked for me.
You need to use form of shipping that has tracking AND a signature. I (almost) learned this the hard way when I had to escalate a claim against DWI after weeks of promises of a refund that didn't materialise when they sent the wrong item. They lied to Paypal and said they hadn't received it. Fortunately the earlier emails I had from them told a different story.
If the mistake was clearly on the seller's end, all return shipping and associated costs must surely the seller's responsibility. Be it the wrong item ("not as described") or defective etc.
This happened to me recently, I simply got a quote for return shipping and told the seller to pay for it before I do anything. Seller then proceeded to say no, at which point I simply filed a dispute with Paypal and won.
A lot of sellers from China and Hong Kong rely on the prohibitive cost of return shipping (and delaying tactics) and attempt to bully buyers (and at the same same harping on about how valuable you are to them)
If you still have the receipt you received when return posting the item have a good look at it as it may have the tracking number listed on it…it is listed as 'Article ID' followed by R and 15 digits.
My understanding is that all parcels now have automatic tracking included and then you can pay extra for a signature,
Good luck :)Just as an added security measure (experience as a seller), I always take a photo of the parcel before it's posted. Pay for postage, ask to take a photo with the postage sticker/stamps and you should be covered.
I had a similar situation where I bought a couple of games from the same seller but in different transactions, turned out they were obviously counterfeit and they didn't work correctly, seller said to return them and he'd refund. Sent them away, never refunded.
So went through PayPal, they asked for a tracking number and I said he had never mentioned to get them and at that point I didn't think about it myself.
Anyway, one case got refunded and the other they sided with the seller.
I think it depends on if you get someone really understanding looking into the case, but in most cases it seems without the proof they pretty much have to assume it didn't happen.