Sold Item through eBay - Delivered through Sendle - Buyer Claims It Wasn't Received

Hate to start yet another topic along these lines but man these situations are tricky. Thankfully it doesn't seem quite as scammy as the recent one, but I still stand to lose 2k so I now defer to my internet friends for assistance. Sorry, bit of a long one.

I sold a new GPU through Ebay about 5 weeks ago. Chose Sendle as their rate was slightly lower than AusPost. Big mistake.

I went with the 'printer free' option as this seemed pretty handy, all I had to do was write some info on the parcel, they'd swing by and pick it up. Shipping items without leaving my apartment? Big win.

Guy came late one night to pick it up, around 7pm. He was in hi-vis, mumbled something about a package, took the parcel and off he went. A few days went by and the tracking hadn't updated, felt a little alarmed since the guy didn't scan anything (wasn't anything to scan) or leave a receipt. Launched a 'parcel not scanned' investigation with Sendle and waited a day or so.

That finally got sorted, the tracking page updated and it was on its way to the destination.
Checked again a few days later, it showed delivered - all good, phew!

Couple weeks pass by and I get a notification overnight that the buyer has opened an 'Item not received' dispute. My instant gut reaction is 'scammer'. I type out a quick response, ask them why they took so long to contact me when it was delivered several weeks ago. They give a fairly vague response saying they've been looking for the parcel, and then send me two Sendle tracking links. One is an earlier, unrelated delivery they received, showing it was signed for; and then there's mine which shows delivered but not signed for.

Panicked a bit but I remembered I definitely selected 'Signature on delivery' when choosing the postage service. The tracking page confirms this - but it seems that the driver didn't follow that step. Launched yet another investigation with Sendle, this took them a good 10 days and a lot of hounding before they finally admitted the parcel cannot be found.

I'm now stuck in a situation where Ebay has withheld $2000 from me while the case is in dispute. They won't help as they say high-value items (over $750) require a signature. I can't provide one. So they aren't coming to the party.

I'm not sure what recourse I have; Sendle are allowing me to make a claim but that only goes up to $300. And I almost submitted that before noticing a sneaky little line that says you are hereby indemnifying them of any further damages.

Am I really at fault here? I paid for delivery, sent off the item and requested it to be signed for. What else can I do?

As I type this, it seems more and more likely that the courier driver just opened my box, liked what he saw, 'completed' the delivery and just made off with my item.

It does seem suspicious that the buyer waited two weeks to report it was missing. That part I can't really make sense of. Maybe if it was a low value item, you would take a while to chase it up. But a $2000 GPU that you'd presumably want to start using right away? Very odd.

Related Stores

eBay Australia
eBay Australia
Marketplace
Sendle
Sendle

Comments

  • +3

    Due to covid, signature on delivery doesn't exist anymore

    ‘Signature on Delivery’ has been changed to ‘Authority to Leave’ to eliminate person-to-person contact.

    Contact sendle and ask for proof of delivery. I've noticed that auspost is now asking the delivery person to take a picture of the parcel being delivered. Hopefully sendle has done the same thing.

    • +2

      I've asked them a few times why it wasn't signed for. They seem to avoid the question. Given they are happy for me to submit a claim, it seems they can't provide any evidence of it being delivered. Really bad customer support which does seem to be a theme with them.

  • +2

    https://support.sendle.com/hc/en-au/articles/360037403871-Pa…

    You probably should have paid the extra for $1500 insurance….

    What GPU is it out of curiosity?

    • +1

      Well of course, but that's sort of like saying you should have bought health insurance before your accident.

      What a dumb article, thanks for the link but yes basically says 'yeah depends if we feel like it'. I mean what is the point, especially since Ebay mandate it? If it's not enforced, then how can Ebay rely on it for deciding the outcome of a case.

      It was an Aorus Master 3070.

      • +1

        The silver lining is a 3070 isn't really worth $2000 :)

        Good luck with it all. I've used Sendle in the past without issue.

        • This is true, but doesn't help me much!

          With price drops I'll eventually be able to claim back a portion but damn, it's gonna hurt.

      • @fLaMePrO,.. What I own and I'm thinking of selling on eBay but I thought Sendle includes free full insurance?

        Edit: actually I also bought a 3060ti off eBay this week (temp replacement for my 3070 master),..so to help sellers I always have expensive items delivered to a Sendle parcel point near my place, one it's convenient for me as it's my local pharmacy 5 minutes away from my place which opens 24/7 till 9pm, two there can be no mistakes where delivery personnel just dumps parcel at my front door or worse pinches my delivery (that would be my problem impossible to prove), 3 the seller doesn't have to worry about signature, and I always tell the seller its your responsibility for item to arrive at my designated address so think twice about insuring your expensive item

    • Someone doesn't know the risk/reward equation and makes them richer paying rip off insurance rates :)

  • +1

    Welcome to using Sendle.
    Sorry, doesn't help your situation, but I've heard nothing other than drama with them.
    Great content around a carbon-neutral business, but yet to hear a positive remark.

    I've not sent with them, however, have had parcels (eventually) delivered.

    • +1

      Yeah, it was a mistake that I won't make again.

      Just read that they use Aramex couriers as part of their network. That says it all really.

      • +1

        Aramex isn't too bad (themselves) - old Fastway here in AU.
        Then again, people find couriersplease was problematic. Used CP a lot in a formal life and never had any issues (touch wood).

        I tend to think the issue is with Sendle sadly.

  • +1

    Fastway Couriers are just as bad (Aramex)/ They marked everything delivered, but later told me everything was returned to sender (China) Because it was marked as delivered I couldnt claim at aliexpress so I just gave up. I lost 6 parcels worth 500. Boss admitted their new address labelling system was at fault.

    • +1

      Ouch. That bites, sorry to hear. Funny how Auspost are suddenly looking great, mostly by virtue of the competition being completely rubbish in comparison!

      • +1

        Ive been using auspost the last 25 years, only had 2 lost packages in that time, and 2 damaged in transit. Make sure you insure your items then you have no problems.

    • Yes, I've had same problem with Fastway. Package said problem with delivery address and sent back to sender. Now seller won't answer my enqiries.

  • +2

    I actually started selling on ebay about 2 weeks ago and had an offer to send my first senile parcel via ebay for free with the no printer option. I scheduled it to be picked up on a Monday but they never showed up. I contacted sendle and the launched a investigation but luckily the next morning the delivery driver arrived and as I was opening the door I glanced at his vest which had a couriers please logo on it and in that 2 seconds, bad thoughts were rushing to my head, In that timeframe I thought there was no going back. But I remembered I had a Ring video doorbell recording them picking up the parcel so that gave me some assurance, I was still skeptical what they'd do when delivering it but anyway. I made sure to tell them to mark it as picked up and to make sure t remember to stick the label on the package to which they replied with "Yes, Of course". That really didnt mean anything to me given how many horrible stories about couriers please I heard from other people. As the day went by I kept on checking tracking and it never updated to picked up, I thought it was stolen by the driver and I contacted senile again and they didnt reply to me and ghosted me. I was so worried about what happened to the package. Then, Later on that week I got an update that it was delivered! I was so relieved. Sendle then replied to me on the next Monday telling me that the package was delivered.

    Long story short, Sendle is an unreliable company to use for shipping and use Couriers please and Fastway which are awful delivery companies.
    I won't be using Sendle anytime soon
    Sorry for the extremely long story

    • +3

      Yep, it seems the printer free option just removes all hope of tracking it in the short term. You'd think they might have a label printer or something with them so they could do it straight away?? Does not seem to be the case.

      Unreliable is an understatement!

      • +1

        my delivery driver actually had what looked like a printer in their hand actually but they were too lazy to print or scan anything on my doorstep and driveway.
        Anyway best of luck in getting some reimbursement from sendle or ebay.

  • $2000 item via sendle? and without insurance? Big mistake. Although I don't agree that we have to pay insurance for possible mishandling, still better just to be safe.

    • +1

      I mean come on, they have in-built integration with Ebay and look like a good alternative to Auspost (at face value).

      I am going through the Postage label service now and I can't even see an option to add extra cover - so I don't think there was even a choice in the matter.

      Extra cover would have cost $30. So over $40 to ship a parcel a couple suburbs away. Would you really have paid that? And that wouldn't even cover the full cost of the item!

      • Look at the Mailing Label, if you see the Signature on Delivery on it, I think someone should be responsible for it. eBay needs Signature on Delivery AND they provided a mailing service (Sendle) with that who promised to do that. (if you have ticked the option)

        • +1

          Yeah, agreed.

          I definitely ticked it and it shows up under delivery instructions on the tracking page.

          Trouble is getting them to understand that. Maybe I will try calling them to plead my case, worth a try at least. I did do everything right from a selling point of view, it seems harsh to be penalised for a courier's mistake.

  • +1

    I’m hesitant to post anything over $100 let alone $2000… sorry for your loss OP. I treat ebay the same as gumtree . Pickup or nothing. Ideally cash too.

    • F

      Typically agree but wow, gumtree users are ass. People also accept higher pricing on Ebay due to coupons, and I seem to have much higher success selling there. Not that I'm pleased about it!

      • +1

        Agreed. Took me 5 months to sell my x100s at the time on gumtree, sold it in 1 night on eBay.

        I made sure to oncharge for signature on delivery and insured delivery with aus post. Also took a boxing video from 2 angles from start to finish as well as documentation of lodging in person with aus post and pictures of the label.

  • +5

    We ship 20-30 packages a week and would never use Sendle. They are a shipping broker and simply farm out your consignment to the cheapest service, and quite literally you get what you pay for.
    Except from extreme situations we always use AusPost as although maybe a little more expensive they are far more reliable. Although AusPost no longer will get a signature on delivery, their confirmation of delivery is sufficient proof for eBay to accept the item has been delivered. You can always take out insurance for additional comfort.

    • That is literally all I need and I can't get it :<

      Can't believe the absence of one 'fake signature' is costing me 2 grand. What an awful realisation.

  • Heh. No way I'd be selling that on Ebay. 1. The fees they charge 2. The warranty you incur 3. The risk on sad 4. The risk of charge back 5. The risk of no delivered.

    Too late now… you don't even have PayPal s AFCA membership to help you now

  • -1

    Sending it via Aus post would not have helped you in that situation since you're being claimed on an empty box and not an undelivered notice.

    Also insurance covers the cost of the item not what the item is valued at, so you might not be covered for the price even if you paid for insurance.

    Your mistake was that you didn't take pictures weighing the item packed and then filming yourself or taking a picture handing the package with the shipping label shopping being received by the courier/counter. Yes this is very impractical but worth the effort for high price items. Low cost <$100 probably worth the risk on being lazy.

    Also another mistake is using the label less option, because you can't take a picture showing the label on box showing the address etc which would prove the package is one and the same.

    • Not sure what you mean? They aren't claiming it isn't as described, they are flat out saying they didn't get the item.

      I don't reckon the buyer is scamming me, but they are also very unresponsive so I'm wondering if Ebay already gave them a refund. Hard to say. You would think if they were still waiting, they'd be hounding me but I have only had an initial 1-2 messages and that's it.

  • +1

    I use sendle as a delivery option at work along with aust post, toll and followmont. For smaller value stuff going to mostly general locations, they are ok. I've had a couple of mishaps but got a refund of fee and $100 which is the max amount without insurance. The goods may have been slightly over, but not $2000 worth. Getting the refund takes some time.

    If you had signature on the delivery, they have to provide POD. If they won't, you are eligible to submit the missing parcel claim, but the most you will get is $100 without extra insurance. Either way, you're screwed bro. Sorry.

    • This is what I figured. Really unfortunate.

      Makes you wonder if the driver even gets reprimanded for this. Probably not, and that's why they don't care and didn't take a photo etc.

      My next step is to submit a lost item claim through my CC insurance - I'm not sure how this will go, but I couldn't read anything to say that getting lost in transit isn't covered.

      So maybe between that and the Sendle cover, the loss won't be so bad :/

  • +2

    just had a parcel go to the wrong address with Toll. Got to the investigations team via lost parcel enquiry. At this point, I thought why don't the drivers have gps logging and take photos of deliveries. The next day I got an email with gps coordinates of the wrong address and photo of the parcel on the incorrect door step. So if they don't have photos, why not gps…? May want to look at a fraud claim against the ebayer.

    • Interesting, alright I will ask. Given they seem to contract the work out, I somehow doubt they will have sophisticated measures in place. But yeah it's worth checking cheers.

  • Op, Please let us know how your battle with eBay/buyer/Sendle goes

    • +1

      Shall do…

      Sent the buyer a couple PMs. They have been really non responsive. Sendle also tried contacting them and had no luck.

      I am thinking I will try to leverage that. If they aren't helping to solve the case then why should they get a refund?

  • +2

    Sorry to hear OP, sounds like a rough situation. This is why I don't like selling things on eBay.

    • +1

      Thanks mate. Ebay just closed the case last night in favour of the buyer and issued them a refund on the grounds of 'no signature on delivery' in my selected postage method.

      Guess the case hit a timer I was unaware of. I'm now appealing it.

      • +2

        Yeah that's the problem, both eBay and Paypal favour the buyer over the seller.

  • -1

    Check records with sender… they are usually very good… door to door delivery

    If records state item delivered to door, then that is your supporting evidence.

    • +1

      They're just being really unhelpful. It's in their interest to provide something like this, but they aren't. They haven't denied it exists and I reckon they're under strict instruction not to, because it would imply guilt. Ugh.

  • I've only recently had two deliveries to me go missing, both marked as delivered by Australia post. Both turned up several days later with a note from a neighbor saying they got delivered my package even though it's got my address on it so I can see how you could have got into this situation. Glad I've got decent neighbors…

    • Yeah that could be it. I looked up the address on street view, it's a house with a very clear number out the front and well separated from the neighbours…

      Wonder if I can use the S/N of the GPU to see if someone has registered it, haha.

  • -2

    Did ypu say it was 2 suburbs away? I would have delivered it in person, for security and to save on postage. Asked for ID and photgrahed it

    • Not that close, but I don't have a car at the moment so not really an option regardless.

      • OP, never hand deliver it. I don’t think any buyer would just hand their ID to a random dude off the internet which they purchased something from. Only do that with Facebook marketplace or gumtree. You are always supposed to use a delivery company with proper tracking or eBay will refund the buyer straight away due to the lack of tracking info and you will have absolutely no recourse.
        Good thing you didn’t.
        Please don’t listen to what hellopam said unless you want to get screwed over, just look at their previous forum posts and you will understand what I mean

        • -1

          well op was screwed over by Ebay anyway, Duh!

          • @screensaver: Yeah, but hand delivering it and asking for Id is something that eBay won’t like at all. I wouldn’t give my Id to some random dude on my doorstep hand delivering a product I bought! Who knows what intentions they have! Your advice is pretty bad and if you show an id to eBay as proof of delivery they wouldn’t car AT ALL, and would refund the buyer straight away since there are no valid tracking details.

            • -1

              @jayboi: For a valuable item I would take extra precautions and verify the identity of the receiver, and if they didnt like it then I wouldnt part with it., Your advice is bad. You are free to give your advice, you dont have to make out like I dont know what I am doing. I would treat a 2000 item with extra care. Apparently you would trust Ebay, so you are no smarter

              • @screensaver:

                I would take extra precautions

                Yes, anyone would. That’s why INSURANCE exists and SIGNATURE ON DELIVERY

                and verify the identity of the receiver,

                That shouldn’t be needed. I wouldn’t want a random dude with an item I bought asking to take a picture of my ID, fair enough if the just want a quick look at it but still, there isn’t any tracking number or proof of delivery if you hand deliver it.

                if they didnt like it then I wouldnt part with it

                Well, I wouldn’t want to eat the PayPal and eBay fees especially on a $2000 item just because you are too scared to get insurance on postage with a good delivery company

                Your advice is bad

                Look whos typing!

                You are free to give your advice

                Correct, but GOOD advice should be given which you clearly aren’t giving

                I would treat a 2000 item with extra care.

                Yes, anyone would

                Apparently you would trust Ebay

                Nope, I would trust Facebook Marketplace and Gumtree, CASH ON PICKUP
                Also, I absolutely hate the way Ebay treats their sellers and this might be the last time I sell on ebay

                so you are no smarter

                Read your forum posts and you decide

                • @jayboi: And you really think tracking will save you when the delivery is supposedly "left in a safe place" and the buyer claims he didn't receive it.

                  You must have missed the other thread where the guy sent an item, with signature on delivery, item delivered, signed for & somehow then went on to claim it wasn't them that bought it, and they didn't recognize the transaction. Buyer then went on to do a chargeback with the bank, and got the full amount revised, and eBay did FA about it.

                  As a seller, if you meet with a shady shyster of a buyer you are well and truly foooked, either way.

                  • @TilacVIP: Well, dropping it off is even worse. If you want to sell a high value item then sell it on Gumtree or Facebook marketplace with cash on pickup. Also didn’t miss the thread where the $1000 item went missing, luckily the OP got their item returned back mysteriously

                    • +1

                      @jayboi: Not disagreeing, however, once you sell on eBay, you are at the mercy of the buyer being honest and genuine, regadless.

  • So after hounding Sendle a bit, they were able to provide me with a photo of the delivery location.

    It's… not great. It does show the correct address, I've verified it myself via Street view. But it doesn't even show the package, nor where it was left. Just the house number and mailbox - which isn't big enough for the parcel.

    I really don't know how this driver reckons that's OK, but it at least means he was in the right spot. Guessing they didn't send this to me earlier because they know it's pretty bad.

    I also did some sleuthing and found out this buyer has bought at least another 2 GPUs from other sellers, I've been in contact with them but no suspicious behaviour yet.

    Submitted the photo to Ebay, now I just have to hope it'll be enough. Slim chance but it's all I've got. Fingers crossed.

    • +1

      and toes crossed

    • How do you know when the photo was taken? Is it date marked? Might have been taken after you launched an investigation. Sendle are terrible. I purchased printer ink from ebay. Sendle were the couriers. Attempted delivery but couldn’t find my address. I requested a redelivery but by the time they responded they sent the parcel back to the sender. The sender didn’t want to refund my money or resend parcel using aus post who never have trouble finding my address. Anyway, ebay eventually refunded my money after initially taking the sellers side until I showed them pfoof that parcel was returned to seller. Sometimes you get what you pay for, cheap couriers, cheap service.

      • Yeah, that could well be the case. But Sendle still closed the investigation citing the parcel could not be found, so it seems unlikely.

        But holy shit, I have had multiple sellers confirm with me that there are shady practices going on. This specific user made a Paypal claim against another seller. So it's really dodgy. Should I involve the police at this point do you think? Not sure if it's worth going down that rabbit hole, but if it stops them it would be worth trying. I do have their address, presumably it's a fake name.

        • +1

          Its quite obvious that the buyer is a scammer, How much feedback do they have on their account and what date was it created? Also, Sendle is being absolutely useless, they closed the investigating admitting that the parcel can't be found but doesn't reimburse you for the cost of the item plus shipping.

          • @jayboi: Yeah, it was only created in April. Less than 20 feedback. Very dodgy.

            What a joke, I can't believe Ebay lets this shit happen.

            Trying to work with the other sellers and hopefully we can get them banned. Getting my $ back is going to be quite a challenge it seems.

            • @fLaMePrO: Luckily you have other sellers you are working with to get them banned, are the other sellers large companies or just people offloading some items? Also, what did the buyer try to pull off to the other sellers? not received item dispute?

              I’m just surprised that sendle isn’t taking responsibility and reimbursing you. What did sendle say they will do so far to make it right? Their customer service is a joke

              • @jayboi: Yep a couple are computer stores. Apparently they (the buyer) claimed Paypal overcharged them for a transaction, so sounds like it might have been a chargeback. Paypal denied the claim luckily.

                I don't have that option since I'm on managed payments, Paypal doesn't factor in anymore :/ Never thought I'd find myself wanting them back.

                Sendle just said they're 'really sorry' and are encouraging me to make a claim via the parcel insurance. Lol.

                • @fLaMePrO: Wait, isn’t sendle the delivery company’s new hence they are the insurance?Please correct me if I’m wrong.
                  Also don’t let comments like @buellersdayoff bring you down in any sort of way, scalping (even though you probably haven’t) In no way justifies scamming someone.

                  • @jayboi: Yeah sorry that's what I meant - their own parcel insurance. Can only claim up to $300 though.

                    And yeah just sounds like a bit of a troll to be honest.

  • -1

    Scalping? and then got rourted, what are the odds?

    • Sorry, how did you come to that conclusion? And are you seriously trying to justify scamming someone?

  • +1

    Auspost is far more reliable than sendle even if they are slightly more expensive. I'm not sure if it's just my area but sendle always misses their delivery estimate and will only deliver once I open up an missing parcel dispute.

  • +2

    I recently sent my first item through Sendle, also went missing. Won't be bothering with them again.

  • To anyone who cares about the outcome - Ebay refunded the buyer, so looks like they got away with whatever stunt they pulled.

    I was extremely fortunate to get a full refund from my credit card insurance, so I'm not out of pocket. Thank goodness for that.

    I reported them to the police but doubt that will go anywhere.

    Moral of the story - for the love of God don't use Sendle!

    • +1

      At least you got your money back, but it took a few ulcers to get it thou I bet you

    • What reason did you give to your credit card company for them to give you a refund?

      • Stolen/missing. They just wanted the police report and a few details and were happy to approve it.

        • So Ebay Managed Payments is covered by your Credit Card ?

          I don't get it .

          • @popsiee: No.. I bought it on my CC. So they covered it as it was stolen.

            • @fLaMePrO: After reading to the bottom of this post glad to hear happy endings and you got all your money back, so moral of the story use ones credit card to purchase not that one has much of a choice these days lolz,.. I'm sure having a Visa or Mastercard card helps I guess also for debit cards 👍😁

    • Thats good you got it back but yes, sendle is the worst! I hate sendle, I had a company send an item through sendle and it took 2 weeks to arrive from Sydney to Sydney! I asked if I could pick it up, as I knew sendle was a really bad company! They said no… im like… fair enough

      I then later complained to the company (no sendle) that I want my delivery fee refunded as it took 2 weeks just to send it in the same city! It was only like $7 but it was the principal. Yes, I am petty like that.

Login or Join to leave a comment