Courier lost my package, seller / eBay has denied my request for a refund

[lavida_locomotive]

I ordered two items in late November 2024 from a seller in the USA. The package was sent promptly and arrived in Australia on 14 December 2024. Unfortunately, the Australian courier company used was CouriersPlease - a cheap, yet unreliable company. 

According to DAI Global tracking, delivery was attempted on 18 December 2024, but was unsuccessful, due to "package unsafe to leave at address". (This was despite the fact that 3 people were home that day, none of whom saw or heard any attempt at delivery. The package was also small enough to fit inside the very visible letterbox on the premises, but was not left there either). 

I've just spent the past few weeks corresponding back and forth with CouriersPlease, who - on 22 January 2025 - informed me that they've lost my package, and advised me to seek recourse from the seller. I requested a refund from the seller, but was refused on the basis that eBay's tracking information shows that my package was delivered on 18 December 2024.

I appealed this decision, attaching evidence which included my emails with the couriers (including the one where they admitted being unable to locate my package and advising me to contact the seller), plus the DAI Global tracking info, which clearly states the package was not delivered. Within seconds, I received a response from eBay stating they were upholding the original decision, and I would not be receiving a refund (clearly, this was an automated decision). 

While I submitted my request for a refund outside eBay's 30 day period, the only reason I delayed was because CouriersPlease were assuring me they were looking into my case, and would attempt redelivery asap. It was only on 22 January 2025 they finally admitted my package was lost (and I explained all of this in my original request for a refund to the seller). 

Does anyone have any suggestions for what (if anything) I can do next? Or am I s*** out of luck? I have no package, and am out of pocket.

[padi*0409]

If you paid by Paypal do a claim through them, if that fails and you paid by credit card go through your bank for a refund.

[springyzone]

Apart from paypal, I don't have a real answer for you, except I think I would approach couriers please again.

They admit they had the parcel, you have it in writing that they admit they lost it, surely there must be some compensation?  As the parcel came from USA and had tracking, it may have had some cover as well.

It doesn't seem reasonable that they can say they lost it but tell you to go to the seller for compensation. Maybe the seller as sender  can claim from them? Check.

I can understand ebay not compensating you as if they did so, the money has to come from somewhere and it would come from the seller. He did everything right too, he paid for postage and sent it off with tracking, plus he is paying ebay fees on the sale, so it wouldn't be fair on him to lose it all either.

[lavida_locomotive]

Thanks for your reply. CouriersPlease have basically washed their hands of the matter, and directed me to approach the seller for assistance with getting compensation. 

You are correct in saying that CouriersPlease do have a process where the seller can claim from them (there is a form on their website) - which is why they are telling me to talk to the seller in the first instance. Unfortunately, this process is wholly dependent on the seller being willing to go through the process of reimbursing the buyer (ie, me), and then making a claim of CouriersPlease. And in this case, the seller / eBay have refused my request for compensation, so I'm stuck between a rock and a hard place. 

I will attempt to get my money back via PayPal, but I wish there were another solution! This whole episode has been quite frustrating.