Ebay selling question

[Peppermint Truly]

So I've been selling on ebay for years and I've never had any problems.

However, I mailed a bunch of ponies on Dec 24th to Canada and they haven't made it there yet.

The buyer is being nice about it but she just opened an ebay dispute too. I wrote back with the customs form number. Now... what will happen from here? Has anyone had anything like this happen?

Also, the same buyer just bought a bunch of other ponies too but I'm feeling uneasy about sending to her again with the dispute open. What would you guys advise?

[buddafly]

you don't have any sort of tracking number to figure out exactly where the box is? usually the customs number can be plugged into the usps (if that's what you used) website to track it (used to do that when I sent stuff to england all the time)


there was a recent incident where a package was stuck in customs (not my story, someone elses) because there was some sort of customs fee that needed to be paid, and the buyer refused to pay it. that may not be the case here - but it may still be stuck in customs for whatever reason.

lol... I wouldn't sell more ponies to this user. it's funny that she would buy from you again, without her first package in hand.

[DialgaBritesMom]

The customs tracking # only gets you as far as the last stop in the US, though. It does't show the progress after that (at least, not on the one I just checked, one that I know arrived at the final destination) so all you would know is that it got as far as (I assume the last stop is...) customs. :( But is still shows you upheld your end. I also have had a package (coming to me) from Canada get held up in customs. Wound up being almost 8 weeks, if I recall correctly. I had nightmares that they were ripping apart each pony looking for hidden drugs.

Since she's being nice, can you get her to agree to a refund ("since your first package hasn't arrived, why should either of us take the chance on another one" would be my reasoning; maybe she has the same thoughts...?)

[KitKatVintage]

Did you send it by Priority or First Class? The customs number only works as tracking on Priority International packages. If it was sent via First Class, the customs number may or may not appear in a tracking search. The extra money you pay for Priority gets you tracking & insurance up to something like $60-70.

I hope everything works out for you!

[tulagirl]

Usually what happens if there is no way to track it ebay will require that you refund the buyer. Whenever I shipped out of the USA I paid for international shipping which is expensive . Now, I no longer ship international because of what has happened to me with two buyers. The idea it could be stuck in customs is worth looking into. If they have paid for the ponies you still have in your possession I would refund them for those as well. The problem I had once is I had a buyer in Germany that bought a doll from me. I had a bad feeling..instinct I guess..so I got international tracking, but she didn't know I had a tracking number on her package. I get an email from her like several weeks later that she never got her doll. What I did was track it and found it had been delivered. So to make a long story short she was trying to scam me and thought since it was international she could get away with it. She never bothered me again once I proved she got it. Not everyone out there is out to do this to sellers, but because I had it happen only one time..I know its possible every time. Then I had a buyer in Italy that refused to pay their customs fees on their item and tried to raise a huge problem for me because I wouldn't tell the customs agent on the phone it was a gift which is a federal offense. I am done with international even to Canada.

[babycrumpet]

I ship to Canada often and while the shipping time is on average 1-3 weeks, it can and does occasionally take up to 8 weeks. When this happens, I ask the buyer to please wait patiently for the full 8 weeks (according to the US Post Office, it is normal and even acceptable for First Class International shipping to take this long or even longer at times) and tell them that we can discuss a resolution at the end of the 8 weeks. Almost every time, the package shows up where it is supposed to be before the 8 weeks are up.

Unfortunately, Ebay will not back you as they do not offer Seller Protection when a seller ships using First Class International (even if this is at the buyer's request), so if your buyer chooses to escalate the case before the 8 weeks are up then Ebay will likely decide in her favor. I would definitely ask the buyer to hold off on purchasing more Ponies until the first group has been found.

[Peppermint Truly]

Thanks to all who replied!

Luckily the buyer received her ponies! It took almost 2 months but they made it there safely, which also made both of us more comfortable with me sending the new package.