Item delivery issues.

[audistarelectronics]

Hi all, after paying a seller their requested postage fee for an item, being $53.95, I now learn that their courier doesn't deliver to our area and I must travel a 180kl round trip to their depot to collect it. I advised of my address and postcode when I requested the item total, which is normal practice. The item is only 10kg and a small carton, 40 x30,15cm.  From Vic to NSW central west area. Most couriers on forward parcels of this weight to Aust Post, who do deliver out here, no problems.  The seller claims that I should have done HIS homework for him and advised of delivery issues to my area. Why should I after coughing up what was an over the top postage fee in the first place, but I thought that the high charge was because of our remote location. He knew our location and he should have checked with his courier to confirm delivery to our area, or use someone else. Aust post would have saved him and me several dollars on the freight, either that, or he is pocketing big time with his courier fee.Large, heavy items we do have to collect them from a depot, I understand that, and I usually factor that in when buying, but after paying his requested postage fee, then being told tough luck, buyer fault, not happy. Told the seller if he cannot get the item to my area as charged and paid for, keep things simple and just recall the item from the courier and refund me. Still haven't heard back.

[digital*ghost]

---

@audistarelectronics wrote:

 By the way, what will be likely to happen if Paypal check the tracking and find that it has been sent, yes, but still in limbo out there somewhere. Would they say, sorry, the seller sent it, that's proof enough, even though I haven't taken delivery of it, would I be left without the item or my money? Or is the seller at fault because they were given the address details and quoted a delivery fee that was never honored?

---

This is going to be tricky for you, I believe. PayPal only look for proof of postage in an INR dispute.

eBay, on the other hand, while they look for proof of delivery, have a specific clause in the MBG policy re: collection of items, which in a nutshell states that the buyer is responsible for collection, and that if they do not collect, the purchase is not eligible for the MBG. If the ad guaranteed delivery to your door, no matter where you live, it may be different. 

[*tippy*toes*]

I've sent you a PM.

[audistarelectronics]

Just an update on this one. All's well that ends well. Favorable outcome for me. Courier company tried a last minute resolve by locating the item and telling me I could collect it myself.......80kl away for me. Needless to say, I rejected this offer and so did Paypal. If it had been given to Aust Post over 3 weeks ago it would have saved the sellers account being deducted. Item has been RTS so I hope the seller cops the freight charge for that also. Lesson learned for a careless seller. Didn't even bother to reply to the Paypal claim, not a wise move. Took less than 5 days to sort this out.

[letscleanupmycupboards]

I just had a similar thing happen but with a much smaller (under 2kg item).

Hadn't arrived by the last estimated delivery date so looked up the tracking number. Parcel had gone with toll priority rather than been posted. Toll priority do not deliver to my town. Came up in the tracking as a successful delivery several days earlier in the closest major town which is a 320km round trip away. I messaged the seller to ask them to check for me. They said not their issue and call the courier.

Called the courier they said it's at the depot and won't be delivered as they don't service my area. I needed the item urgently so I went to grab it the next day. Courier depot in town tells me it's not there any more as it was onforwarded with Australia post. Could've told me that before I came to get it..... We only get our mail twice weekly so had to wait another 3 days for it to come in the mail.

I'm annoyed the seller would courier such a small item rather than post it. The listing said they use post for small stuff and courier for other stuff. I know it's not really the sellers fault but it's hard to be happy with a purchase when the cost for fuel to collect it outweighed the item cost.

[audistarelectronics]

Very similar case yes.  IMO it is the sellers issue, as they should check with their method of delivery before dispatching the item. You are paying to have the item delivered to you, not some far flung transport depot. Even if it is ''free postage'' the cost has to be built into the item price, no such thing as a free lunch. After all, they know your address details before shipping the item, so it is their job to check where their chosen courier will be leaving your parcel, and at least advise you before sending it out, so that you may advise them of delivery issues to your area, once they send it out, it is too late to change. I notice a few Ebay sellers have in their listings that some items will not be sent all the way to the buyer, but will have to be collected from a freight depot, due to the particular company not covering the buyers area. That is fair enough, you then have the opportunity to either proceed with the purchase or try other sellers. At least you are forwarned before parting with your money. By the way, Paypal agreed with me, and I now have my funds back, and the seller has a blotted copy book for being so smug about it. It is not the buyers place to chase parcels, it is the senders.

[letscleanupmycupboards]

It's fair enough too when the depot is within the same town not a 320km round trip away. I sent the seller a strongly worded messsge. We are talking a $32 item with free ("free") postage and under 2kg. So either they get a very cheap courier deal or they feel they will have issues posting (it was a motorcycle battery but a sealed gel type, I've received these by mail in the past including by express post).

My beef is being told by the seller that I need to chase up the courier (that the seller contracted to do the delivery, not me) and being told by the couriers call centre that the item was at the depot and subsequently finding out it was onforwarded through the mail anyway. It's a case of it not being the sellers fault directly but indirectly. I'll wait and see what they say about it before I leave feedback.

[digital*ghost]

---

@audistarelectronics wrote:

By the way, Paypal agreed with me, and I now have my funds back, 

---

You mentioned in one of your earlier posts that the seller did not respond to the claim. That is why you were refunded - the seller didn't do anything to dispute the claim. They would have had proof of post, so they very well could have disputed it, if they were so inclined.

[audistarelectronics]

Regardless of the selling replying to the case or not, when a buyer pays the sellers requested fee for delivery, I would expect just that, to have the item delivered to my listed ebay address, no more, no less. think that could be classed as a contract to do just that, deliver the item to the buyer as paid for, not dump the parcel at some far away depot and expect the buyer to chase after it. If this is the new way of sellers doing business, I will certainly be choosing my sellers more carefully in future.

[digital*ghost]

---

@audistarelectronics wrote:

Regardless of the selling replying to the case or not, when a buyer pays the sellers requested fee for delivery, I would expect just that, to have the item delivered to my listed ebay address, no more, no less. think that could be classed as a contract to do just that, deliver the item to the buyer as paid for, not dump the parcel at some far away depot and expect the buyer to chase after it. If this is the new way of sellers doing business, I will certainly be choosing my sellers more carefully in future.

---

I'm not posting to discuss or debate the particulars of your case, I wanted to note certain facts if for no reason other than to have the information for anyone else in similar circumstances who may search for a topic and read it, that they may not acheive the same outcome that you did, which was due to the seller's lack of effort rather than PayPal determining certain expectations weren't met and as such believe they'd definitely be due (or receive) a refund. 

[lyndal1838]

I am getting very annoyed by the number of sellers who use a courier when the listing makes no mention of the fact.

Last week I was notified that my item was with e-Go and would be delivered on Monday.  There is no way I will be available so now I have to fool round arranging redelivery which is not easy.   The company has no way of making alternate arrangements on line before the day of delivery and I have to wait until delivery has been attempted.

I would never have bought from the seller if I had known he was using a courier.