A New Posting scam or am just missing something ?

[masterstroke.eng]

Received a query today regarding an undelivered item purchased on the 26 feb checked my records posted next day, to REMOVED .both pay pal and ebay address correct . So i google map the address and its a vacant bush block  ??  And the buyers asking  why its not delivered .....   Had my return address on the envelope and no i didnot sent it tracked as it is a $6 item that fits in an envelope havent had any issues with buyers so far

[clarry100]

Without tracking there is very little you can do.

If the buyer opens an item not received case then you will have no choice but to refund as you have no tracking and as such cannot prove anything.

I assume you would have mailed to the address given by PayPal if that is how they paid you.

[twyngwyn]

that image by google earth was 'captured' in 2010.....there could very well be a house there now

[twyngwyn]

the 'block' was sold in 2012

[clarry100]

Yes good thought.

[davewil1964]

It doesn't really matter whether the address is a vacant block or has had a house built on it (pretty easy to find out), or whether or not the buyer has received the item or not.

You posted untracked. If they escalate they will win and you will get a defect.

Just refund and block them.

Especially for $6. You need to pick your battles.

[lowanacrafts]

90% of my parcels go letter rate. I always take a photo before its posted, with stamps on. so I can confirm address. Some sellers take photos after its been stamped at the postoffice.

Now I am writting in the corner the date they are posted, any complaints I send the photo, and don't hear from them again.

And yes have my return address on as well.

[*tippy*toes*]

Just having stamps on an envelope doesn't prove that you actually posted it. Having the post office cancel the stamps does. If a buyer wanted to push the issue through a dispute, you'd lose by showing uncancelled stamps. For all they know, you add their address for the purpose of the photo, then not post it.

[phorum_junkie*]

I consider my time valuable (I am probably the only one lol) so for a cheap item worth under $10 including delivery I would rather refund or resend the very occasional one that goes missing instead of taking the time to photograph every unregistered letter that I send.

Sending the buyer a pic may discourage them from opening a dispute if they are not savvy about the ways of ebay but I think it would be a stretch getting Paypal or ebay to accept that as evidence of anything other than that you stuck some stamps on an addressed envelope.

[springyzone]

How on earth could it be a posting scam?

If the address truly was a vacant block, then the buyer would never get it, would he, and so could not work a scam with a freebie.

Google isn't always the best site for finding new estates. I've had more success locally with Whereis for finding some new streets etc

The buyer may or may not be telling the truth about receiving the item but I would be pretty sure there is a property at the address. If it's a scam (and it may not be), it's the ordinary scam of lying about an untracked item.