Buyers supplied delivery address incorrect...buyer won't confirm...

[bicyclewhisperer]

Happy new year everyone!  I recently (4 days ago) sold some bicycle parts.  The buyer has paid via Paypal, but his delivery address in Paypal is "xxxxx parade heidelberg melbourne, Victoria 3081".  When attempting to pay for the postage with Click and Send, I got an error message that the postcode is incorrect.  So I checked with the good old Australia Post postcode booklet, Google maps and also whereis.com. They all tell me that Heidelberg is 3084, and that Heidelberg West and Heidelberg Heights is 3081, and more specifically, that his address is in Heidelberg West.

I sent the buyer two messages asking him to confirm.  He only replied to one of them.  All he replied with was "3081".  That's it. I followed up with a third message similar to the info I've given above.  I'm still waiting a reply from this one.

Should I modify his postal address in Click and Send to Heidelberg West?  In the event of the buyer not receiving the parts, would I have a leg to stand on with a INR/Paypal dispute if I have modified his address without his consent?  Can I/should I force his given (incorrect) address into the click and send system?  How long do I wait to hear back from him?

Thanks! seller_of_stuff_qld

[boomct]

Sorry, the 'question' referred to post 7, not the previous post. 

[boomct]

I google the street and number. If they don't match Paypal, stiff bickies. I use the real address and postcode, rather than the one the buyer thinks they live at. I have not had an issue with this yet and don't expect to.

Given that the address I send to is where they actually live, I don't expect non-receipt. I also expect that if the item goes missing and Paypal object to me sending to the real address, the FOS will side with me.

What does FOS stand for?

[davewil1964]

Financial Ombudsman Service.

The big stick that keeps Paypal in line.

[boomct]

Oh 😄

But that would be a pretty lengthy procedure I'd imagine?  Far easier to pop the Paypal address in surely?  

[bicyclewhisperer]

davewil - I tend to agree.  I used to be more of a 'she'll be right mate' kind of guy.  But I just feel that I've an (what should be a simple) opportunity here to avert a possible future problem that's all.

[putney32]

just DROP the word Melbourne from the address and see what comes up

you should never put in the SUBURB and MELBOURNE

melbourne should only be used if the address is in the cbd.

[bicyclewhisperer]

putney - I tried that.  No luck. It still won't take Heidelberg and 3081 together.

[davewil1964]

Oh 😄

But that would be a pretty lengthy procedure I'd imagine?  Far easier to pop the Paypal address in surely?  

No idea, as I've never had a transaction go awry.

Anecdotally, the threat of the FOS (if you're in the right) is like a magic wand.

The problem with just popping the PP address in is when the buyer doesn't know where they live and C&S won't accept a rough guess.

As I've said, I use their real address. Given that nobody has claimed non-receipt I assume their real address, as opposed to the one they think they live at, is acceptable to Australia Post. The carrier.

[bicyclewhisperer]

If I haven't heard back from the buyer by tomorrow, I think I'll just end up addressing it to Heidelberg West.  I've racked my wee brain as much as I can tonight!   It seems like one of those times you have to put yourself out on a limb a fraction when someone else falls a little short.  Thanks for all your input and suggestions! 

[davewil1964]

No worries.

And don't.