Buyer does not pick up package
Summary: keine_ahnung78 reports that a buyer from the Czech Republic did not pick up the ordered package at a German post office branch. The buyer’s ratings are mixed, which raises concerns about possible complaints or negative feedback. keine_ahnung78 plans not to ship again without additional postage reimbursement and is considering canceling the purchase or issuing a partial refund. perfect-sally advises a refund without canceling the purchase, while roter_rauch recommends using eBay alien addresses for future shipments. Another participant, pewosch-20, shares a similar problem and talks about the contractual situation.
Hello,
I sold something privately for around 10 euros plus postage.
The buyer, from the Czech Republic, gave a German post office branch as the delivery address.
So far so good, since I stated in the listing that I don’t ship abroad.
The buyer’s feedback is very mixed. Supposedly he’ll happily try to make a complaint afterwards, or not pay at all and insult people, etc.
Well, the parcel has been at the post office branch since last Tuesday.
I already wrote to the buyer on Friday that the parcel is at a branch. No reply came.
I’m now afraid that the parcel will be sent back to me in the coming days.
How should I proceed in this case?
In any case, I won’t resend it without payment of the additional postage costs.
I’d prefer to cancel the purchase then.
Given the buyer’s feedback, there is a certain likelihood that he’ll open a case for non-delivery.
The tracking number is of course stored on eBay. However, I had to enter a made-up email address online with DHL because DHL wanted an email address of the recipient to create the label when shipping to a post office branch. In a friendly way, DHL pointed out that I would need the recipient’s permission to provide the email.
But since a post number was given, the recipient should definitely be informed about the shipment status. He also had the tracking number via eBay.
What would the suggestions be from the experienced sellers?
Thank you very much
pewosch-20
·3 weeks agoHello. I have the same problem now. DHL deposited the parcel in the Packstation after the delivery attempt and the buyer did not pick it up. Today the parcel came back. No response to my inquiry. What is one supposed to do about that? Legally, a contract has been concluded and I have fulfilled my obligations.
perfect-sally
·3 weeks agoThe legal stuff can of course be enforced outside of eBay! On eBay you’re now allowed to issue a refund and possibly deduct the shipping costs if you refund via the purchase details. If you cancel the purchase, only a full refund is possible.
Of course, you can also wait until the buyer remembers that he had paid and then reports an item not received.
roter_rauch
·Aug 16, 2026 at 7:48 PMAt least the shipment is currently considered "delivered" – or @keine_ahnung78 ?
Next time, call up "Purchase details" under Orders or when shipping. There you can at least see the buyer's eBay alias address to transfer into the label.
keine_ahnung78
OPAug 17, 2026 at 4:24 AMYes, the package has been reported as ready for pickup at the branch since Tuesday.
perfect-sally
·Aug 16, 2026 at 6:51 PM · EditedIn any case, I won’t resend without payment of the additional postage costs.
I’d rather cancel the purchase then.
There won’t be anything else left for you to do either, but then you’ll pay back the full amount!
Small loophole: issue a refund for the item details without canceling and deduct the shipping costs. But I don’t know whether the buyer can then leave you a bad rating or can rate you poorly.
keine_ahnung78
OPAug 16, 2026 at 7:03 PMWith over 1000 reviews, one negative probably wouldn’t make much difference either.
Partial refund would be an option.
I probably won’t be able to refuse accepting the return shipment.
In any case, the buyer is going on my block list.
perfect-sally
·Aug 16, 2026 at 7:06 PMRight, if you refuse the acceptance, you lose your seller protection and you’d still have to refund them.
A blocklist is of course the logical way; you don’t need buyers like that.