posted on August 21, 2001 07:39:27 AM new
I wish I could do something for this buyer, but what? Airmail Letter Post to the UK, England, shipped on July 28th. So, if 7 days is normal delivery time for Letter Post it's about 16 days overdue.
I've emailed him confirming the shipping address and shipping date, and explained that mail between the US and UK can be unpredictable but what else can I do at this point?
Value of the shipment was approx. $16.00 and it was uninsured.
posted on August 21, 2001 07:43:43 AM new
what I would do at this point is to set a date at which your "missing shipment" policy/practice kicks in. In other words, email them and let them know that if the package doesn't show up in a certain time period (7 more days, or whatever), you will take the following actions (refund the money? start a trace? whatever).
You look professional and ready to try and resolve this problem in some fashion, rather than just appearing to be "stringing them on". I get nervous when I either hear nothing or just vague comments like "the mail can be unpredictable".
posted on August 21, 2001 07:51:48 AM new
I'm not suggesting you refund, I don't care either way, I'm just suggesting that WHATEVER you would do in this case, tell them. Communicate, communicate, communicate...
The Post office has some sort of tracing mechanism for lost and missing shipments, insured/DC or not. It doesn't usually work, but again, its one option to explore. Not sure if it applies to international mail or not.
I've had two "missing" non-insured (low cost) shipments. Both times I cheerfully volunteered to refund the money after the official USPS tracing mechanism had concluded. The final step is for the buyer to sign a federal document stating they had not received the item. Amazingly, both people "found" the shipment soon after...
[ edited by captainkirk on Aug 21, 2001 08:06 AM ]
posted on August 21, 2001 08:12:43 AM new
The small green and white custom forms have a barcode and a number at the top. Would the PO be able to trace based on that? My PO says they keep the copies around for at least 30 days, sometimes more.
posted on August 21, 2001 08:27:08 AM new
There is some good news here.
Worst case, if you do a total refund, you are really "out" only what you paid for the item, plus shipping costs (plus your time to sell it). So if you paid, say, $8 for the item and $6 for shipping, its more like $14 out-of-pocket cost to you.
Plus, tell him you want to wait 30 days before doing a refund, so the chance of the package showing up later, AND him being dishonest and keeping both, is pretty low.
And, just be glad this isn't a $160 item, where it could get REALLY sticky (and painful to boot) vis-a-vis refunds, etc.
posted on August 21, 2001 08:32:35 AM new
Hi. I had a similar situation, but the buyer was fantastic. The package was supposed to arrive in Japan within a week. Well, after 2 weeks, i asked at the PO. I sent him a copy of the customs form, and he left me a neutral (Yahoo) saying the package was probably lost, and that I had tried to track it. Two months after I shipped the AIRMAIL package, he got it. Left me a positive then. ( I LOVE how you can do that there). Who knows what happened, but I guess it ended up being shipped surface on accident.
I forgot to add... As a result of this transaction, and it not being insured, I switched to using U-PIC.com for insuring any packages ( covers most countries)for $1.00 international. So, then they have the option of insurance or not, and I don't stress near as bad
[ edited by carolann56 on Aug 21, 2001 08:49 AM ]
posted on August 21, 2001 08:33:12 AM new
captainkirk, the reason a lot of international buyers opt for small packet, etc. rates are because international parcel post is so expensive. However, it is insurable. I think with a $50 item or higher, I'd just insist on shipping PP and insure it.
I had a buyer recently who bought a very low item from me and had it ship economy - he didn't realize this was a 4-6 week rate. He was very nice when he thought it was lost - kind of "these things happen." I told him to hang on, that economy took time, and the item did get delivered.
posted on August 21, 2001 08:37:19 AM new
"captainkirk, the reason a lot of international buyers opt for small packet, etc. rates are because international parcel post is so expensive. However, it is insurable. I think with a $50 item or higher, I'd just insist on shipping PP and insure it. "
Yep, I know about the shipping categories. I always give the buyer the option - cheap plus uninsured ("lost? you're on your own..." ) or PP/insured. For the low-cost items I sell, its almost always small packet and hope for the best.
[ edited by carolann56 on Aug 21, 2001 08:49 AM ]