After the Auction: Avoiding Lost Items continued ...
The Land of Lost Packages
Again, millions of packages reach their intended destinations every day. However, it takes only one lost package to poison the pond. Just as before, protect yourself (and the package) before it leaves the seller's hands:
Insure It: If the item is worth a significant sum (it's up to you to define "significant" here), then it's worth an extra buck or two to be sure the carrier will provide remuneration in the event of loss (or damage). As a buyer, you'll need to take the initiative here, since many sellers will choose to make you responsible if you decline the extra cost of insurance.
Track It: Some carriers provide tracking as an inclusive cost of delivery, while others require specific delivery service or purchase of tracking. Whatever the case, consider using package tracking to keep a close watch on your treasure as it makes its trek to your doorstep. USPS, UPS, and FedEx all provide online tracking for their customers.
Sign for It: Though some carriers allow you to relieve them of requiring a signature before drop-off, you're best served if special packages require your personal John Hancock as opposed to being abandoned on your porch.
Make 'em Find It: And if your best protective efforts fail and the item is lost, invoke the carrier's investigative services (the ones you paid for) to track down your parcel. Here again, read the company's terms and conditions carefully to know when they deem a package as lost (translation: more than 30 days).
Proof, Not Reproof
Sometimes, the toughest part of sorting out a lost payment or misdirected package is dealing with the seller to determine what really happened. Take care not to jump to conclusions regarding potential guilt or guile on the seller's part--this can be a dangerous two-way road that sometimes points fingers back in your direction. What you need, first and foremost, are facts and figures.
Communicate: If there's no confirmation of payment received or item delivered, get in touch with the seller right away. Keep the communication flowing throughout the exchange to ensure you're each aware of the other's steps in executing the transaction. And, if payment or merchandise happens to take a wrong turn, be sure to sound the alarm at the first sign of trouble. Put away your as-yet-unfounded doubts of the seller for now. Hopefully, you addressed this potential concern earlier when you first assessed the seller's honesty and integrity by way of feedback analysis or pre-bid communication.
Collate: Keep your end-of-auction notifications, payment requests, receipts, tracking numbers, and whatever else in order and in reach. If ever it appears something has slipped into the great divide, you'll need all of your documentation to effectively determine when and where the wrong turn occurred.
Cooperate: Go ahead and call that seller a dirty so-and-so at the first sign of trouble and you'll find yourself spending more time fighting with that person instead of finding and recovering the lost payment or package (you know, the real issue at hand). Most likely, neither of you are at fault--some third-party provider probably goofed up. If you work together to retrace the steps of the displaced delivery, you'll both stand a better chance of finding peaceful resolution that leaves both of you in the potential winner's circle.
Dennis Prince is the author of Vendio's Official Guide to Online Buying and Selling and Online Auctions at eBay: Bid With Confidence, Sell With Success. He has been an active buyer and seller at various online auction sites since 1995. Send him email at dlprince@bigfoot.com.
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