Ebay "Delivered to Agent" and Missing Package Question
Project Numismatics
Posts: 1,597 ✭✭✭✭✭
I sold a $749 coin on December 19th and shipped USPS Priority with insurance and signature confirmation on Dec 20th (I don't take chances during the holidays - insurance and signature every time!).
The coin showed good tracking progress the entire time with final status as "Delivered to Agent for Final Delivery" on Dec 24th in the recipient's zip code. The delivery address was a house in a very upscale residential neighborhood.
The buyer just reached out today, 6+ weeks later, claiming non-receipt and that the post office would not help him.
I responded telling the buyer that I am sorry to hear it and will file a missing mail report and, if not located, an insurance claim.
I plan to do everything I can to try chase down package and will call the local USPS on Monday to try to obtain the GPS of the final scan.
Am I protected with Seller Protection given that final status was "Delivered to Agent"? Any other recommended steps?
Edited to add: I requested USPS Proof of Delivery. It lists the address and recipient correctly and there is a photo of a signature - though the signature is not legible.
Comments
Shouldn't your tracking info show who signed for the package? Just curious.
My Original Song Written to my late wife-"Plus other original music by me"
https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL8A11CC8CC6093D80
https://n1m.com/bobbysmith1
Yes - I just figured out how to check that. It does show the correct address and recipient name. Signature is fairly illegible.
You may screenshot that and send it to the buyer and see what he responds with.
My Original Song Written to my late wife-"Plus other original music by me"
https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL8A11CC8CC6093D80
https://n1m.com/bobbysmith1
If it shows “delivered” in USPS system I think you’ll be fine either way. The question is if the buyer has any recourse IF theyre being truthful. I find it odd that they waited 6 weeks to contact you about non delivery for a $750 purchase.
Founder- Peak Rarities
Website
Instagram
Facebook
Sometimes what the tracking info says about who signed for something isn’t accurate. I had a delivery from Heritage that arrived at my house last week that was signature required but the driver just dropped it off at the front porch and I got a text saying that I had signed for it.
If delivery is in green as delivered PO considers it delivered as far as insurance is concerned and so should you. He should have picked a better agent.
Yes - that has happened to me. It's possible that my buyer did not receive the package, but would imply that it was either stolen by the route carrier or stolen out of the mailbox.
Regardless, it's best to jump on missing packages immediately - not wait 6 weeks after they show delivered. That's what arouses my suspicion.
The wrinkle here is that eBay doesn't show 'delivered' - this seems to be an issue when the final status is "Delivered to Agent."
Yes - status is green. What's odd is that 'Delivered to Agent' is typically for packages delivered to doormen or building managers at condo or apartment buildings where there is a package room. This was a house in a very upscale neighborhood.
This is an option also with usps, to leave packages on front porch or specified location without having to sign. . We live in a rural area and luckily haven't had any issues with porch pirates.
My Original Song Written to my late wife-"Plus other original music by me"
https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL8A11CC8CC6093D80
https://n1m.com/bobbysmith1
I fully agree that it wasn’t ideal for the buyer to wait 6 weeks. I could understand a couple of weeks for sure with the delivery occurring around the holidays but 6 feels a bit excessive (although I thought there was a @jmlanzaf thread several months back about a buyer not doing anything until after 6 months)
The delivery from last week was through FedEx so I thought the protocol was to bring it back to one of their locations if someone wasn’t available to sign but I could very well be wrong.
You need to tell the buyer to talk to the agent to find out where is the package. The agent might deliver to the wrong person. The buyer should be able to find it out from the agent. As far as file a claim with usps I think it will be denied.
you should probably ask eBay - many signature confirmations were not signed during the pandemic and what is an agent? is this a gated community or fancy apartment building?
Or - as was my case a couple months ago, the idiotic seller misaddressed the package, it was delivered and signed for at the printed address. I call them idiot because /a/ it was their mistake and /b/ they refused to work with me to check with USPS for the actual address and recipients' name.
I'm sure you are better than that, but as the buyer... I know there is more than your /a/ and /b/.
ANA 50 year/Life Member (now "Emeritus")
They issued a charge back after 6 months. They didn't claim non-receipt.
I have had people claim non receipt after as long as 2 months, however. I think there are people who just pile up packages and open them all at once.
That was an eBay scam long ago, send worthless package with tracking to business with same zip code - shows delivered at correct zip.
Now that most people print labels from eBay, lessened that scenario.
I print all labels through eBay.
For my own peace of mind, I take pictures of all contents that go into each package and the labeled box prior to dropping off at USPS. That allows me to confirm for myself whether I made a mistake during packing or labeling.
As a seller you want to automate and remove as many potential sources of error from your shipping process as possible. Selling online is a logistics business as much as a coin business.
I suppose the buyer could have supplied the wrong address but property records indicate it’s the correct address.
Please be aware that until the signature is ID'd, it could have been a visitor who signed, a neighbor hood kid at this home, a wife, child whomever. It would be nice if the receiving post master would contact their postman to see if they remember, kid, man, woman that signed for it. Probably not, but a chance. Best of luck.
Jim
When a man who is honestly mistaken hears the truth, he will either quit being mistaken or cease to be honest....Abraham Lincoln
Patriotism is supporting your country all the time, and your government when it deserves it.....Mark Twain
Unless you ship "Restricted Delivery", the post office will allow somebody other than the addressee to sign for a package if they choose.
The printed name of the signatory matches the buyer - the signed name is illegible.
I’ve asked the buyer if he recognizes the signature.
The signature pads at my post office suck. I wouldn't recognize my own signature on them even right after I've signed.
You will have to file a claim. Once a claim is filed, the package may re-appear. I had to do that once, and then the package was tracked to the neighbor's porch. I believe that USPS has tracking that can determine the location where the carrier was when the package was signed for.
I knew it would happen.
You solved a mystery for me! About 5 years ago I ordered a 2016 gold Standing Liberty quarter. The Ebay seller had about 50 positive comments a 100% rating and the quarter was priced correctly. The price was right around where others had sold. I got the tracking number and was at home the day it was to be delivered, I had two other Ebay items also being delivered the same day. I saw the mailman deliver the mail and got notification that two of the three items were delivered. Went to the mailbox and no gold quarter. About 25 mins later I got notification the quarter was delivered, but not to me.
I went to the post office and they were no help. Ebay told me the item was stolen out of my mailbox and I needed to get a PO box to stop the thefts. I showed them that I had two other items delivered and the time lag between the two deliverers was 25 mins and I was home the whole time. Why steal one item and not the others? I contacted the seller and total radio silence. Ebay also tried to contact the seller and no response. After I filled out like five forms Ebay refunded the money.
I Always assumed the package got misdelivered and the person who got it opened it and decided to keep it.
At least I don’t have to scrutinize the neighbors again at this years block party!
Seems like a lot of work to go though to establish a Ebay site and generate the positive rating. Now figure they fabricated most if not all the positive feedback to make them look legitimate.
The USPS proof of delivery shows the actual exact address and printed signatory name the package was delivered to. It can’t be faked by a seller.
I’m sorry this happened to you. I would guess from your story that it occurred before these additional protections were implemented.
"The buyer just reached out today, 6+ weeks later, claiming non-receipt and that the post office would not help him." That's very suspicious. Sounds like someone trying to scam you. Buyers usually wait with baited breath for their purchase to arrive if they have regular purchase histories. More than one week after a delivery would be highly unusual. I'd work through ebay, their system shows it was delivered so they will be on your side.
Wow... six weeks after 'delivery'? Something wrong there.... Cheers, RickO
Try get your money back via eBay or CC chargeback.