If I sold something on eBay, how do I send it to the buyer?

A buyer refused a package I sold to him through Ebay. Now the package is lost?

• My rating as a seller on Ebay is at 100%, and I have nearly 700 feedbacks, so as you can see I am an honest seller. I sold an older used laptop for $99. The person I sold it to has bad english. He has sent a few emails in all CAPS and it is hard to understand him. On the tracking it shows that USPS tried to deliver to him 3 times. The last time he "refused" the package. This was a while back, and now the package is in limbo. It shows the last place it rested was in his post office. I have called the post office and they were no help on locating the item. I called Ebay and their foreign phone help was useless. My main question is, If this package is forever lost, will I have to send him his money back and not recieve the laptop? He is the one that refused it and caused all the problems in the first place. I am a mother of 3 children and having to give someone $99 back for something I was never returned will hurt in more than one way! I know that Ebay and Paypal can be ruthless to sellers when a buyer wants money back.

• Answer:

  I guess I can offer two points: 1. You will have to refund the seller IF they ask for a refund. Since the tracking of the package shows as "refused", this means the buyer doesn't have it. Therefore, since they by default are returning it by refusing it, you will have to refund. 2. You will have to refund the seller IF they ask for a refund. I know, I just said that. BUT don't issue a refund automatically. The buyer will have to ask you for a refund or file with eBay for the refund. Wait until one of these occurs before refunding. 3. Did you get insurance? If you did, then you can file a claim with USPS since it seems that they lost the package. 4. If the buyer gives you any grief or threatens you in any way about getting their money back, calmy explain to them the following points: a. They refused the package, and you are waiting for USPS to return the laptop. b. As soon as you get it back, you will refund them. c. If the laptop isn't returned to you within the next 10-15 days, you will be filing a claim with the Post Office and it's possible that either a Postal Inspector or other postal authority may visit his home to determine if any form of theft or mail fraud was involved. I think you'd be REALLY surprised how well that last part works to calm down unruly buyers. Hope this helps.