Overseas Package Lost! Any advice?

[Lochlan]

Recently, I sold a few Neo Geo games to a British member here.

I shipped them just over a month ago, and they never arrived arrived. I VERY STUPIDLY did not get tracking (in an effort to save the buyer some money on shipping). Lesson learned, because it looks like I'm going to be out the games and money (to a refund) pretty soon.

The member I sold the games to is not particularly well-established, but I believe his claims. He seems like a nice guy and I have no reason to doubt him.

The buyer checked with customs (I gave him a number off the customs form I filled out), who said it was in the country, but that, because it didn't have tracking, there wasn't anything else they could say. (They then proceeded to reccommend getting tracking in the future. *Sigh*) Initially, I assumed that some sort of customs duty was probably unpaid, but now that the buyer has contacted customs, I have to assume that it was misdelivered.

1) Does anyone have any advice on how the buyer could potentially recover his package? He has already checked with his neighbors.

2) Assuming nothing turns up, the appropriate refund would be the full cost of the games AND shipping, correct? I think there may have also been some fees involved with sending the payment, do I refund those as well?

Anyway, this thread is a longshot (to say the least), I really doubt anyone will be able to offer any useful advice...but I thought I might as well ask.

 

[fmdof]

tracking aside, did you have insurance?

he'll probably still get it. may just take longer. it's taken me 6 weeks to get crap from canada, and I live an hour away from the damn country, 12 hours from montreal, where it was shipped from. but yeah, check to see if you were insured and start the claim.

 

[Lochlan]

Only "Express" shipping offers insurance and it was sent "Priority International" or something. That's what the guy at the PO told me.

This experience was just a terrible series of missteps I made.

 

[SonGohan]

I just sent a guitar to Australia, and I couldn't track it. The guy told me once it's in customs hands that's the extent of the tracking, so it doesn't sound like it would matter even if you did get tracking. If customs has verified that it's in his country, there's not much more you can do. If you still have the customs form just hang on to it. I wouldn't issue a refund. Give it a bit more time. By the way, you can still insure on Priority International. I did it with the guitar.

 

[IsamuBlue]

This is exactly why I don't buy or sell internationally. It's nothing but a big, fucking hassle.

I agree with Wes though. I've also been told by different shipping agencies that tracking only goes as far as customs. I'd give it more time before issuing a full refund.

 

[Opethian]

Yea customs can be a nightmare. I've had packages from germany held in customs for 2 months before showing up. It's all a big gamble in my experience to ship overseas.

 

[NeoSneth]

yeah. i get a ton of people questing my auctions be sent overseas, and I always tell them "no".

I traded with a few people internationally on this forum and it went well, but there are just too many things that can go wrong. Spend the extra dollars and just buy it locally.

 

[skateonwalls]

Shipping to england is pretty safe,most packages do get there,it normally takes about 7-10 days,it should show up eventually. Their not really tracking or it's not worth the cost,you really just got trust the buyer. Has anyone every filed an insurance claim with an international package b.c it was lost? How was the result? Ups and fedex have true tracking but it cost a lot and the extra fee are crazy.

 

[SNKorSWM]

I almost always send international (or request packages sent from out of country) with EMS, which offers tracking, insurance, and delivery confirmation all in one. Too many countries have unscrupulous and/or clumsy custom officers that may derail or destroy the package, be it intentional or not.

If the cost of postage is a problem, use combined shipping to save on light weight items.

 

[fmdof]

I almost always send international (or request packages sent from out of country) with EMS, which offers tracking, insurance, and delivery confirmation all in one. Too many countries have unscrupulous and/or clumsy custom officers that may derail or destroy the package, be it intentional or not.

If the cost of postage is a problem, use combined shipping to save on light weight items.

don't forget that ems is fast a f**K! holy crap. worth the higher price for sure.

 

[GregN]

This is exactly why I don't buy or sell internationally. It's nothing but a big, fucking hassle.

I agree with Wes though. I've also been told by different shipping agencies that tracking only goes as far as customs. I'd give it more time before issuing a full refund.

This. Way too much hassle, and nobody ever wants to pay for higher shipping so you get tracking and all the good stuff.

 

[skateonwalls]

For some low value 10-30 game,if you ship to a reliable country in Europe or Japan for example,you should be in good shape.

 

[zapatistab]

If your buyer can be patient...wait it out for a month. Customs will never release information about a package unless you are a shipping broker...one day it may wind up at the buyers door without any notice. Shipping internationally on a personal level requires a lot of patience...because there is no one to babysit and monitor your package through customs.