I'm in uncharted territory here and wonder how others have handled this kind of predicament. I've bought and sold lots of audio and video equipment privately (personal use) over the past few years, have great feedback and never had a claim that something was not received until this past week. Via Audiomart, I sold a pair of good quality power cords, shipping included, for roughly $860 after PP fees, and sent them USPS Priority Mail in a Regional Box B (not insured beyond the default). The postal tracking site shows the package delivered on the buyer's front porch this past Monday, the date expected, but he immediately claimed that package and another priority mail one also showing as delivered that day actually weren't. The carrier that day was a substitute. The area is low crime and the buyer claims neither he or his neighbors know of any thefts, and looking at Google Maps his front porch seems to be shaded from the street. I opened a USPS case immediately and told the buyer to do the same, giving him instructions. I also asked him to check with his regular carrier and with his neighbors (go door to door), and send an email if there's a homeowners or neighborhood association.
After an initial exchange of emails, in which I noted that the only documentary evidence I had thus far was that the package had been delivered, I haven't heard back directly from him (three days). A Google name search indicates that the buyer, apparently now retired, is well known and celebrated in his field, entertainment production, so on the face of it wouldn't expect him to be a scam artist (beyond an occasional dubious inquiry, I haven't run into any in all of my audio/video sales and purchases). In addition, in the past three weeks I've had two other priority mail sends and receives that have also shown as delivered when they weren't, one six days before it arrived on my doorstep, the other three days before the receiving mailroom says it actually got there. This is something I'd never seen before, and I opened cases on both of those too.
So far, I've heard back from the buyer's post office twice, once by email and once by phone message, both saying that the carrier claims he delivered the package to the guy's front porch, as the USPS site indicates. This afternoon, the buyer initiated a dispute/claim with PayPal, and the amount after fees is being held. I filed a response with the tracking number and a short summary of what I asked of him (including detailed info about the other package he says was not delivered).
What I'm wondering is how others have handled a situation like this. Thanks,
After an initial exchange of emails, in which I noted that the only documentary evidence I had thus far was that the package had been delivered, I haven't heard back directly from him (three days). A Google name search indicates that the buyer, apparently now retired, is well known and celebrated in his field, entertainment production, so on the face of it wouldn't expect him to be a scam artist (beyond an occasional dubious inquiry, I haven't run into any in all of my audio/video sales and purchases). In addition, in the past three weeks I've had two other priority mail sends and receives that have also shown as delivered when they weren't, one six days before it arrived on my doorstep, the other three days before the receiving mailroom says it actually got there. This is something I'd never seen before, and I opened cases on both of those too.
So far, I've heard back from the buyer's post office twice, once by email and once by phone message, both saying that the carrier claims he delivered the package to the guy's front porch, as the USPS site indicates. This afternoon, the buyer initiated a dispute/claim with PayPal, and the amount after fees is being held. I filed a response with the tracking number and a short summary of what I asked of him (including detailed info about the other package he says was not delivered).
What I'm wondering is how others have handled a situation like this. Thanks,
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