Ebay refund item not received (Royal Mail at their finest)

[GMac11]

I'm a long time ebayer but this is the first time I've had to deal with a missing delivery.
I sent the item via RM SD which is now 7 days overdue (calendar days, I don't want to get into the ambiguity of strike days and/or weekends just yet).
The tracking hasn't updated since Sat 26th Nov and quite rightly the buyer has submitted a Not Received claim. I have been messaging him throughout and we're on the same page.

My question is, if/when I refund the buyer, what happens if the item then arrives? Would RM dismiss my claim for lost post or is the fact that it's this late irrelevant i.e. I will be able to claim regardless?
I have asked eBay for their input and they have said should the item subsequently arrive I can manually invoice the buyer - I am totally unaware of such a procedure.
The one thing I could do is ask the buyer if he could reject the delivery (should it ever arrive) but this comes down to good will at the end of the day.

 

[GMac11]

Technically the item then belongs to Royal mail I think. If it arrives the user should let RM know but if they have lost it then that's then between the receiver and RM.

Thanks. I guess the issue is the period between me refunding the buyer and RM confirming they have indeed lost it. I understand that such claims can take up to 30 days and with all the shenanigans currently going on goodness only knows how long it would take them to rule in this scenario.
Or is it the case (as you elude to) that the item is RM property from the time I submit the claim, rather than RM admitting it's lost?

 

[GMac11]

Basically, in your position I wouldn't refund until RM compensate you.

In ideal world that's exactly what I'd do. However, I imagine the refund is pretty much inevitable at this stage as the case is now opened and we know how ebay usually deal with such matters.
I have already said to the guy that I will let his request sit another couple of days - at least that way I'll have definitely waited the requisite 5 days (even accounting for the 2 strike days) and I suppose all I can do is cross my fingers that it magically appears by then.

 

[GMac11]

eBay wont let you wait that long - they would just take the money and refund the buyer

Herein lies the issue.
I'm currently on hold with RM (65 minutes and counting) to see if I can garner anything of use from their end. On the work phone so hopefully they answer before 5pm

 

[GMac11]

How long do you have before the refund is forced? As soon as that goes through then you're basically reliant on either the item actually being lost (and RM refunding you), or the honesty of the buyer in either refusing delivery or paying you again.

Yep, pretty much this.
I did get through to RM who confirmed (as far they are concerned) the parcel is lost and to proceed with my claim.
I still didn't get a firm answer to my what happens if it arrives query - they seemed fairly confident it was lost

 

[GMac11]

If you haven't already, get on the blower to Royal Fail and find out what their deadline is for delivery given the recent strikes. From past experience, it can take about a month to get your money back off Royal Mail. So spinning out your case the maximum of what I believe is 10 days will only aggravate the buyer.

Refund the buyer and suck it up while you wait to hear from Royal Fail.

I just posted the outcome of my call with RM above - our posts may have crossed paths along the way.
TL;DR the call handler said item now considered lost and proceed with claim , so that’s what I’ve done.

 

[GMac11]

You're right, our posts must have crossed paths as I didn't see that post.

I remember filling in the PDF form which wasn't too bad. It was the wait I hated.

I really don’t mind the wait - I always ring-fence funds from sales until I know the buyer has received and is happy with said item.
So long as I don’t get screwed over down the line due to a combination of RM’s incompetence and eBay’s weak seller protection.

 

[GMac11]

I'd wager an agency employee took a shine to it. Does the supposed delivery day align with a strike day? I think drivers, warehouse staff and posties were striking on different separate days at one point.

Hard to say. Was posted on Saturday 26th (first strike ended on the Friday). So, knock-on delays aside, it should have been delivered on the Monday and at a push Tuesday. Then the second strike hit on the Wednesday which is likely where something has gone awry.