topic Re: Buyer has not yet picked up their parcel in Selling

Buyer has not yet picked up their parcel

siobhan*028 — Sat, 18 Mar 2023 03:23:08 GMT

Hi all,

I posted an item to a buyer interstate (I paid for shipping via AusPost), and they have not yet picked it up after several days. If this item is returned to me, do I, as the seller, get a refund on shipping? Otherwise I’m out of pocket paying for the shipping costs.

Re: Buyer has not yet picked up their parcel

paper-jack — Sat, 18 Mar 2023 04:44:30 GMT

Sorry I don't know the answer to your question but I can relate my experiences in this situation.

Your buyer may not be aware that the item is available - I once found a "unable to deliver" card under a door mat. I was lucky as the RTS date was in 2 days.

When APO lets me know one of my sent parcels is waiting at the PO for collection they give a due date for the recipient to collect. I wait a week then either ring the buyer or send them an email to let them know, just in case they hadn't been carded.

So far all but one of my sent parcels have been collected. The one that was returned ended up being resent to the buyer's mother's address - and that buyer paid postage again, but they did a dd to my bank account as trying to organise via ebay would've been a nightmare.

I'd recommend waiting a week, then an "in case you didn't receive a card from Aus Post, just letting you know..." email or ring them.

Re: Buyer has not yet picked up their parcel

domino-710 — Sat, 18 Mar 2023 04:49:09 GMT

My only experience with this is the time the PO omitted mark it as collected.

It was weeks - so rang the PO concerned and was told it had been collected but not marked as such.

Patience - perhaps they only go when in town or passing - and you know where it is.

Re: Buyer has not yet picked up their parcel

imastawka — Sat, 18 Mar 2023 05:46:20 GMT

@siobhan*028 wrote:
Hi all,

I posted an item to a buyer interstate (I paid for shipping via AusPost), and they have not yet picked it up after several days. If this item is returned to me, do I, as the seller, get a refund on shipping? Otherwise I’m out of pocket paying for the shipping costs.

No you're not.

The buyer paid for shipping.

And no, you wouldn't get a refund on shipping as it was paid to Australia Post for their services.

Who do you expect to refund the postage?

Re: Buyer has not yet picked up their parcel

cam-2793 — Sat, 18 Mar 2023 06:39:24 GMT

Sometimes the delivery attempted card is not left or put somewhere stupid. Contact the seller and let them know just in case. If the item is returned, some sellers are able to charge a restocking fee and if the buyer did not follow correct returns procedure ebay can decide they get refunded cost of item but not cost of postage. I cant remember if this info is under seller protection or mbg.

Re: Buyer has not yet picked up their parcel

domino-710 — Sat, 18 Mar 2023 06:42:04 GMT

I gave the ' out of pocket ' bit a miss finding it just a tad naive - with a charge on all 24 items $16.65 postage. LOL

Re: Buyer has not yet picked up their parcel

cam-2793 — Sat, 18 Mar 2023 06:50:40 GMT

In MBG exclusions: https://www.ebay.com.au/help/policies/ebay-money-back-guarantee-policy/ebay-money-back-guarantee-policy?id=4210#specialcoverage-inr

The buyer is not covered if they refuse delivery or fail to collect, but would be good idea to refund item cost anyway.

Re: Buyer has not yet picked up their parcel

siobhan*028 — Sat, 18 Mar 2023 07:04:17 GMT

Thanks so much! Yeah, I contacted the buyer to let them know that the item had arrived and is awaiting collection, but so far nothing.

Re: Buyer has not yet picked up their parcel

siobhan*028 — Sat, 18 Mar 2023 07:06:51 GMT

@imastawka wrote:
@siobhan*028 wrote:
Hi all,

I posted an item to a buyer interstate (I paid for shipping via AusPost), and they have not yet picked it up after several days. If this item is returned to me, do I, as the seller, get a refund on shipping? Otherwise I’m out of pocket paying for the shipping costs.

No you're not.

The buyer paid for shipping.

And no, you wouldn't get a refund on shipping as it was paid to Australia Post for their services.

Who do you expect to refund the postage?

I guess I thought that eBay would need to pay for shipping if the item is returned to me because they didn't pick it up, since the buyer would get a refund for the item, and so I spent $16 to send it to them which I won't get back.

Re: Buyer has not yet picked up their parcel

siobhan*028 — Sat, 18 Mar 2023 07:08:43 GMT

Thanks! Yeah, I contacted them two days ago but they still haven't picked it up or replied, so it's particularly odd, though perhaps not unusual. In any case it's the first time this has happened to me as a seller, where someone isn't picking up their parcel. I thought if they're working often and can't get it during the week that they might pick it up today as it's Saturday, but nothing yet.

Re: Buyer has not yet picked up their parcel

papermoon.lady — Sat, 18 Mar 2023 07:11:30 GMT

If an item is not picked up from the post office or even if a buyer returns the parcel unopened/ does not accept delivery, the parcel is returned to the sender for free.

Re: Buyer has not yet picked up their parcel

siobhan*028 — Sat, 18 Mar 2023 07:10:07 GMT

If it ends up being sent back to me I'm happy for them to get a refund for the item, but yeah, it's kind of annoying that I paid for postage and if it ends up coming back to me that's $16 I won't see again! Small price I guess but still...

Re: Buyer has not yet picked up their parcel

twyngwyn — Sat, 18 Mar 2023 07:15:19 GMT

Why didn't the BUYER pay for postage?

Re: Buyer has not yet picked up their parcel

sandypebbles — Sat, 18 Mar 2023 07:20:28 GMT

There is a postage charge in every listing which the buyer paid

Not sure why the OP keeps on saying they paid for postage either

None of the completed listings show 'free postage'

Buyers are charged postage and the buyers pay postage

Re: Buyer has not yet picked up their parcel

papermoon.lady — Sat, 18 Mar 2023 07:22:49 GMT

If a buyer does not pick up a parcel awaiting collection, the transaction is not covered by MBG, so I guess you could explain your point to the buyer and say you won't refund postage because you don't want to pay for it (if this is what you mean)? If the buyer leaves negative fb, I think you could have it removed.

Re: Buyer has not yet picked up their parcel

imastawka — Sat, 18 Mar 2023 07:30:29 GMT

@siobhan*028 wrote:
If it ends up being sent back to me I'm happy for them to get a refund for the item, but yeah, it's kind of annoying that I paid for postage and if it ends up coming back to me that's $16 I won't see again! Small price I guess but still...

I'm sorry everyone, but I have to shout here......

STOP SAYING YOU PAID FOR POSTAGE!!!

YOU DIDN'T - THE BUYER DID

Re: Buyer has not yet picked up their parcel

twyngwyn — Sat, 18 Mar 2023 07:35:40 GMT

If the item is RTS, the buyer is liable to pay postage AGAIN if they want it.....if not, refund them the cost of the item only, less any charges that eBay do not refund (I think they're not refunding partial returns fvfs until April - so we are currently in a 'grey area')

Of course, if they haven't been 'carded' by A.P......it is up to them to dispute that with their P.O.....nothing to do with you....you have done all you can at this stage.

Life happens - they may not be well, or worse

Re: Buyer has not yet picked up their parcel

eol-products — Sat, 18 Mar 2023 07:32:59 GMT

If they have not picked up after contacting them via ebay which is normal as many buyers don't check regularly you can message them via their mobile if it is listed. Also you can contact the Post Office that has the parcel and let them know you are waiting to here from the recipient.

Re: Buyer has not yet picked up their parcel

siobhan*028 — Sat, 18 Mar 2023 07:43:58 GMT

The buyer did pay for postage, but I sent it via AusPost so I had to pay postage when I sent it. I didn't want to send it via Sendle.

Re: Buyer has not yet picked up their parcel

siobhan*028 — Sat, 18 Mar 2023 07:46:52 GMT

I sent it via AusPost and had to pay $16 to send the item in store.