Ebay Parcel Non-Collection

[quizman55]

I sold an item on 28th February, the buyer paid the same day (£122 including postage), I posted the item for Next Day delivery on 29th February, Royal Mail tried to deliver 1st March, nobody was home to receive the parcel so they left a "While you were out" card instructing the person to go to the local sorting office to collect the parcel.

Parcel remained at the sorting office until 22nd March when it was marked "Return to sender", according to the tracking information on Royal Mail site

So the item is being returned to me either tomorrow or on Tuesday, buyer has not been in contact to ask for whereabouts of the parcel.

What happens next? I will have the item back and the money she paid. If she contacts me about it do I re-send and who pays for the postage?

Do I keep it until the time expires for the listing on eBay?

Never had this happen before so unsure what the protocol is.

Seems strange to pay £122 for something then not collect it, or ask where it has got to.

TIA

[bhg481]

I've never dealt with Ebay but, to my mind, you've fulfilled your part of the contract so I se no reason why you should be out of pocket. If the buyer does get in touch I would suggest you offer a refund less the postage you paid OR you will resend it if they pay the postage.

[gingejbee]

In addition to the above, I would notify Ebay why you have been paid AND still have the goods - to cover yourself for future developments!

[pastafreak]

Could you use the eBay messaging facility and contact the buyer? Maybe the buyer has some sort of personal issues that prevented them from collecting or contacting you.

[bhg481]

That's a good suggestion from gingejbee - it could prevent you getting a bad review from the buyer.

[Tuvok]

Perhaps they've moved and not changed their address.

[EDDIE51]

Are you absolutely sure it was the correct address?
I ask because I recently sent an eBay 'signed for' item to 1b **** Street (one 'B')
It was recorded as delivered on the Royal Mail site but the buyer insisted he had not had it. Royal Mail,even had a signature for it! After a lot of hassle it turned out the address had been misread by the postman as
16 **** street. Even more of a co-incidence the person at 16 had the same surname as the correct buyer at 1b ( the post code for 1b and 16 was the same as well) I have also had items for no 77 delivered to 11 due to the way the sender wrote their figures.
When you get the item back just check that the address is correct.