buyer never recieved item?

[arrrggghhh]

I sold a copy of the special edition of Resident Evil 4 for the gamecube well over about a month an a half ago to a gentleman in Mexico (I live in the US), and shipped it out as soon as I recieved payment. I got an email saying that the game never arrived, and today I found a paypal dispute claiming that he never recieved the game. I have really good feedback (300+) and I don't think he is accusing me of cheating him. He has low feedback, but everything he purchased was other video games, and it seems like there was no problem with those.

What should I do with this issue? I mailed it right away but didn't purchase insurance. Is there anyway to find out the status on it? I really don't want to refund the money and lose out on something I shipped right away, but it sounds like he never recieved it. Thanks in advance.

[loporjai2003]

I sold a copy of the special edition of Resident Evil 4 for the gamecube well over about a month an a half ago to a gentleman in Mexico (I live in the US), and shipped it out as soon as I recieved payment. I got an email saying that the game never arrived, and today I found a paypal dispute claiming that he never recieved the game. I have really good feedback (300+) and I don't think he is accusing me of cheating him. He has low feedback, but everything he purchased was other video games, and it seems like there was no problem with those.

What should I do with this issue? I mailed it right away but didn't purchase insurance. Is there anyway to find out the status on it? I really don't want to refund the money and lose out on something I shipped right away, but it sounds like he never recieved it. Thanks in advance.

Not much you can do, Paypal will take the $$ from your account and you are out the item and the $$.

Even if you bought insurance, Paypal doesn't care, they still take the $$ from your account. Only thing they care about is Delivery Confirmation online.

If you already emptied your PP account, then you gotnegative and any payments into it will be applied to that negative.

In other words, you are screwed :(

[GM80]

It sounds like you shipped with no tracking means whatsoever ... ? Even if it was to a USA address, then, the most you could do would be call the destination post office and have them look for it.

But to Mexico? Somejuan else is probably enjoying your game, or the proceeds from it, at this very moment. I quit shipping internationally altogether about 2 years ago after a series of events like this from Belgium, The Netherlands and Mexico. The guy's probably telling the truth, but I don't think you have any recourse (and PayPal's not going to side with you, either).

[scooby105]

yet another one of the many reasons you ONLY ship to other countries via EMS.

[evil_genius]

Empty your paypal account and take off direct payment under your eBay options, or else when they take their selling fees they will charge you for the refund too. I learned that the hard way, it cost me $200. The lesson: don't ship internationally.

[unbroken]

Rule number 1 - Never ship anywhere outside the US.

Rule number 2 - Always ship with a tracking number.

Follow these rules and you'll never get scammed out of money.

[jajaja]

Rule number 1 - Never ship anywhere outside the US.

Rule number 2 - Always ship with a tracking number.

Follow these rules and you'll never get scammed out of money.

You can send outeside US with trackingnumber too :p
I bought 1000 of items from all over the world and there are about 4-5 things that i havnt recived. So not sending outside US will limit your bids.

Some countries might be worse than others tho. Like i would never send a package without tracking number to Africa or Asia and some countries within Europe.

[ryborg]

You can send outeside US with trackingnumber too :p
I bought 1000 of items from all over the world and there are about 4-5 things that i havnt recived. So not sending outside US will limit your bids.

Some countries might be worse than others tho. Like i would never send a package without tracking number to Africa or Asia and some countries within Europe.

I agree. I sell to 99% of all countries that accept USPS. For many items, you lose too much profit to NOT sell internationally. In 8 years of selling and about 10k transactions, I've only had 3 items not arrive overseas, and I'm fairly certain one of those was a scam attempt.

The extra profit you make selling internationally more than covers the rare chargeback attempt because the item never arrived (in reality or not).

However, some countries just, well, suck. For example, I've never heard a first-person account of a package that has ever been successfully delivered in Bulgaria.
________
Coach purses (http://icoachhandbags.com/)

[unbroken]

Rule number 1 - Never ship anywhere outside the US.

Rule number 2 - Always ship with a tracking number.

Follow these rules and you'll never get scammed out of money.

You can send outeside US with trackingnumber too :p
I bought 1000 of items from all over the world and there are about 4-5 things that i havnt recived. So not sending outside US will limit your bids.

Some countries might be worse than others tho. Like i would never send a package without tracking number to Africa or Asia and some countries within Europe.

usps wont ship with a tracking number outside the US, anything else is too expensive.

[jajaja]

usps wont ship with a tracking number outside the US, anything else is too expensive.

Sure they do :) Its called Global Express Mail (GEM/EMS). I used it like 1 week ago from USA, got it delivered on the door, worldwide tracking and full insurance too. It cost some money, but its worth it for expencive items. And its the buyer whos paying for it so you dont have to worry about any expences. Otherwise i always use Airmail or Global Priority Mail, always works fine.

If you had the same experience i have about buying/sending to other countries you would be amazed over how well the postal system works. As mentioned, some countries might be worse than others, but talk to someone who have alot of experience sending worldwide. They can probly give you some good tips :)

[jonjandran]

Mexico is the absolute WORST country to ship to.

I've had 4 items "not arrive" that I sent there. Looks like people in the customs or postal service there like their video games. :/

I won't ship to Mexico EVER again.

[Griking]

usps wont ship with a tracking number outside the US, anything else is too expensive.

Sure they do :) Its called Global Express Mail (GEM/EMS). I used it like 1 week ago from USA, got it delivered on the door, worldwide tracking and full insurance too. It cost some money, but its worth it for expencive items. And its the buyer whos paying for it so you dont have to worry about any expences. Otherwise i always use Airmail or Global Priority Mail, always works fine.

If you had the same experience i have about buying/sending to other countries you would be amazed over how well the postal system works. As mentioned, some countries might be worse than others, but talk to someone who have alot of experience sending worldwide. They can probly give you some good tips :)

The problem with GEM is that most buyers aren't too keen about paying more for shipping than the item that they're purchasing is worth. Does that mean that as a seller I just need to accept the fact that I'll most likely take a loss on $20-$30 items that I ship to Mexico because most buyers only want to pay for standard Airmail letter post? On your overseas auctions for $10-$20 items do you make GEM mandatory?

[jajaja]

Im not quite sure what you mean. Unbroken said that USPS doesnt have tracking outside US, which isnt true. Sure, it cost, but it is possible. If the buyer dont want to pay for it its up to you as a seller if you want to send it without tracking and take the chance that it arrives safe.
Things like this should be stated in the auction.

I hardly sell outside my country, but when i've done it its usualy been high valuable items (complete Mr. Gimmick, Sealed Action 52 NES etc.). I give the buyers option to get with or without insurance and tracking. Its $20 with insurance and $10 without. Everyone have chosen insurance. I also make it clear that its on their own risk if insurance isnt used. I also keep all e-mails as proof in case something should happend.

[Griking]

If the buyer dont want to pay for it its up to you as a seller if you want to send it without tracking and take the chance that it arrives safe.
Things like this should be stated in the auction.

I agree with you here. The problem is that most buyer's DON'T want to pay the cost for international tracking and insurance. And sellers don't want to take the risk of shipping items without it. This is why you see so many people here on these forums who refuse to ship internationally.

[jajaja]

Ye, thats true. Most people wont pay $25 in shipping for a $10 item. But it is the safest way and it doesnt hurt to have it as an option :)