I've passed the tracking number to my son at AP.

Let's see if he has any more info or can suggest anything we've not thought of here.

Will get back here if there is anything new to report.

************************************************

This could also be a bit of a scam attempt by the buyer to get a $1,000 item for the cost of postage each way.

I mean lodge a claim for change of mind (for which they have to pay return postage) but then actually send an empty satchel to a friend or relative who lives in the same locality as you solely to get the delivered scan event and hence their refund from ebay/you.

But in this case they might have overlooked the fact that they need to provide a signature on delivery that they have not requested. So they should not get their refund at all becaue of the lack of a signature.

Anyway just a thought.....

If at the end of the day you think the evidence points towards a scam attempt by the buyer I would open a case with The ACORN.

https://www.acorn.gov.au/

Present all your evidence gathered and let the Feds investigate.

If you go this way then pass the case number to your buyer to let them know they are under investigation.