Buyer claims the item never arrived (after almost 3 weeks!) and is only just getting in touch now... | Sell

velvetcrowe88 · 2025-08-10T10:15:27.050000Z

Hello.With the number of topics, I’ve lost track a bit. So I’m starting a new topic now, sorry...It’s about the fact that a case was opened by the buyer and eBay is now withholding my payouts until the matter is clarified. I have to respond by August 12, but I only have 3 options to choose from. Message the buyer (which has already been done and we’re now arguing), issue a refund, or provide tracking information (which isn’t possible because it was uninsured standard shipping). I’ve already explained the case to eBay itself but haven’t received a reply yet. So, on July 21 I sent the buyer a message informing him about the shipment. My listings always explicitly state that it is standard shipping (unless otherwise specified), but that I also offer insured shipping on request if the costs are covered and that they should please let me know this in a message. I received no message, so the item was shipped as usual, completely normally. Since he also didn’t contact me, I assumed until recently that it had been delivered successfully! Only now, on August 7, did he write that he hadn’t received anything...When I asked him why he only got in touch now, he replied that he hadn’t been home at all over the last few weeks and could only now go through the mail.... I saw that in July he made over 50 purchases here and apparently received them without any problems... even though he supposedly wasn’t home and is only now going through the mail.... I am only responsible under Section 447 of the German Civil Code (BGB) for handing the shipment over properly to the shipping service provider, not for delivery itself. The shipping risk lies with the buyer. And he also has to ensure that successful acceptance takes place. For example, in case of absence, by leaving a note or something else for the courier, or by instructing neighbors, or similar...My first assumption, of course, is that he is trying to abuse buyer protection here. Right now I imagine it like this: either it really was lost in transit and we can no longer trace it, or he received the item and is now trying, as mentioned, to abuse buyer protection this way. Because why would I only get in touch almost 3 weeks later and not send any messages etc... ? Or it was delivered during his absence, as he says, and then something happened to it on site.... However you look at it, once I handed it over, it was no longer in my hands what happened to it in transit or on site.The problem I have is that I also no longer have any proof of posting, i.e. the receipt from the post office, because as I said I assumed after almost 3 weeks that it had been delivered successfully if nobody contacted me early on.Has anyone here had experience with something like this?

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Buyer claims the item never arrived (after almost 3 weeks!) and is only just getting in touch now... | Sell | eBay Germany