seeking advice regarding safe drop and delivery

[lm-entertainment]

hi everyone,

just wanted to seek some advice and see if anyone had had a similar situation happen.

i sold an item to a buyer recently which was sent via Express Post (label printed through MyPost Business). 

before even sending the item i got a message from the buyer saying "the item better not arrived damaged" which made me question his motives to begin with. 

the item was sent and delivered two days later via "safe drop." i've never had any problems with safe drop before. buyer contacts me later that day and says that the item wasn't delivered as the tracking states. i contact AP business support and they said that they have a photograph of the item left at the premises but can't provide it to me; only to the buyer. i tell the buyer, buyer contacts them and comes back to me saying "they said tracking number doesn't exist, were rude and hung up on me." i told him politely to try again and make sure the tracking number he provided was correct. 

meanwhile, i contact AP business support again and ask if they can describe the location in the photo so that i can pass it on to the buyer since they can't give me the photo. they provide a decent description of where it was left and i pass it onto the buyer. 

buyer comes back with "still nothing mate." 

so - the question is (sorry for war and peace) - where do i stand with this? AP seem to indemnify themselves against losses via safe drop by saying the buyer authorises it or the sender upon sending (though there is no option not to allow it via the AP business portal). 

do i tell the buyer i've done everything i can and it's been delivered - and to take it up with australia post? i've been as helpful as i can and can't glean any more info from AP. i assume if he puts in a INR request, it'll be found in my favour since the tracking number shows the item as delivered and AP also have a photo and i have the chat records of them saying the location it was left in. 

i assume regardless i'm getting a negative from the buyer - but i'm trying to work out their intentions. is it to get a free item? surely they would know the game is up though seeing as the item is marked as delivered and AP have the photo. 

would appreciate anyone's thoughts on it :] 

[kopenhagen5]

Anything in the buyer's feedback to show they have done similarly before ?

(either feedback left or given)

[lm-entertainment]

no kopes there isn't. they've never left feedback for anyone. only have a feedback count of 8 and they're all from sellers (possibly left automatically). 

[kopenhagen5]

Well, you've done all the right things.

Personally I would probably leave it and see if the buyer just goes away now they know the game is up.

(assuming buyer is trying one on)

[lm-entertainment]

thanks very much for sharing your thoughts - it's greatly appreciated :] i mean, there is every chance the item has been stolen.. but it seems like it was left in a hidden location (behind a tall pot) - so it seems unlikely. i just wonder where the liability falls if it was stolen - i would have thought i've completed my end of the transaction - but maybe i'm wrong on that one. seems like AP wipe their hands of it - so it seems like a bit of a grey area. 

[kopenhagen5 · Accepted solution]

Not your liability if the buyer has approved safe drop via the AP site or email that AP sends.

Not so much a grey area, more about what each party can prove and of course different AP services have different features and rules.

[eol-products]

I was checking the safe drop terms of use and found this.

This Service will only be available for parcels sent via the Click & Send, Online Sending or eParcel services where the sender has not opted-out.

Maybe worth calling them if you want to stop any safe drop deliveries.

[lm-entertainment]

thanks for that - unfortunately though, it seems to be at the driver's discretion now because even parcels i lodge over the counter which are sent via pre-paid satchel are being safe-dropped :] 

i too read that and thought it must be something you can easily do online - because i assume it'd have to go on the label - but no! :]

[lyndal1838]

If a parcel does not require a signature it can be safe dropped if no-one is home to take delivery.

It used to be that the home owner had to authorise the safe drop and the authorisation stated that the addressee took full responsibility if the item was left.  I had an authorisation in place for years but have not been asked to renew it for some time....my parcels are still safe dropped by the same contractor.

It is only quite recently that the contractor/courier has to take a photo of the location where the item has been left.

[lm-entertainment]

thanks lyndal. was aware that's been happening for a while now - because i had it set in mypost for safe drop to be permitted and saw the notice about the change. though, the T&Cs from APs perspective remain the same in that they are not liable for things being stolen etc. i see how this could have previously been blamed on the sender or addressee, but if they make the choice to safe drop rather than carding it, i wonder how they have no responsibility?