Where do I stand?

[kate399]

I hope somebody can advise me with my problem. Purchased a Samsung Tablet from eBay,  no problem with seller as he posted quickly with " Do not safe drop- signature on delivery".  However our brilliant postal service decided to leave it outside my front door.  Guess what? It's no longer there when I got home.  Who will end up out of pocket for Auspost mistake.  I hope it's not me or the seller.

[janeababe]

---

@kate399 wrote:

I hope somebody can advise me with my problem. Purchased a Samsung Tablet from eBay,  no problem with seller as he posted quickly with " Do not safe drop- signature on delivery".  However our brilliant postal service decided to leave it outside my front door.  Guess what? It's no longer there when I got home.  Who will end up out of pocket for Auspost mistake.  I hope it's not me or the seller.

---

I’m just curious, can you please provide the item number?  
Also, and again, I’m just curious…. Did you get a tracking number?  
The reason I ask is because there are a LOT of laptop/tablets/mobile phone scams on eBay. 
The case gets strung along and strung along until you run out of time to make a claim. In these cases, what is ‘posted’ is actually not your item, but something else of similar shape, but often much lighter in weight.

So, while you think you have a great seller, indeed you may not. So perhaps we can check for you, if you can give us just the item number please. (Do not name the seller, it’s not allowed) 

If you can’t get any satisfaction from AP by tomorrow (Monday), then don’t wait any longer, start an item not received case with eBay and start the refund process. BUT, come back here first and we’ll help you through it. 😊

None of us here, want to see you lose $900. 

[jellybirddesigns]

@jane - if the OP opens a case for non-delivery it will close in the sellers favour as they sent it with tracking.

[papermoon.lady]

If AusPost does not help, then the OP should contact the postal ombudsman, but it can take a long time, particularly at the moment, so I really hope the OP will get compensated by AusPost next week.

Postal Industry Ombudsman - Commonwealth Ombudsman

[zanadoo_56]

Because of Covid Aust Post are signing on delivery, not the buyer.  However, they are supposed to knock, then verify the name of the person at the address matches the details on the parcel.  My local postie has done that with my signed for (from the UK) purchases.

It's a different story when it comes to AP's parcel delivery contractors.  They sign instead of the owner but unless they are your regular contractor and know your safe drop spot, it can be a lottery where your purchase is left.  I also suspect they opt for safe drop instead of carding because local post offices are running out of space to hold them all.

[papermoon.lady]

Yes, that's what I said in my first post too, and what both my postie and parcel contractor do... Parcel contractors are supposed to see the recipient too before signing for them, but things can go wrong, and I agree that local post offices are possibly running out of space... However, the rules are still that the recipient must be present, so AusPost is responsible if they safe-dropped the OP's parcel.

I have just found this article which is a bit old, but as nothing has changed it is still valid (in all states):

Aus Post Signature Policy Results In Missing Parcels, Queensland Lifts Truck Curfews – channelnews

[papermoon.lady]

Any update or reply from AusPost?

[janeababe]

---

@jellybirddesigns wrote:

@jane - if the OP opens a case for non-delivery it will close in the sellers favour as they sent it with tracking.

---

True true… 

…but I wonder if you could prove a difference in weight, would you win an appeal? 🤔

[janeababe]

Hmmm… I had a large delivery yesterday… and I SIGNED for it, not the delivery guy.

But on other occasions, the driver has signed it once he met me at the door. 

[papermoon.lady]

I am not sure, but I think it depends on whether you have to sign a paper (for example for a large delivery) or the screen everybody touches (this is the one to be avoided at the moment).

[kate399]

Sorry it's taken so long to get back to you. 

eBay item number:  175115597611.   

Auspost have not responded to my question as to why it was safe dropped without a signature which is opposite to how it should have been.

I have contacted the seller to provide me the proof that it was sent correctly but he has decided to not respond to me as well.

I have that feeling this is not going to end well for me.