Ok, first of all I admit it's my own fault for not requesting tracking/insurance.  I won an auction just over 4 weeks ago from overseas (UK), and the seller noted the day after I won/paid that he had posted it, yet it still hasn't arrived.  Maybe I'm being premature here and just need to wait it out a while longer, I'm not sure.  I'm getting a little jumpy, though, it was a good win.



The seller has a 100% feedback rating, so I'm not suspecting any foul play on his part.  In fact the seller has several feedback suggesting he is swift with shipping.  It doesn't seem right to do a chargeback, or leave negative/neutral feedback, or request a refund if he's done nothing wrong on his end.



Of course, from my perspective, I have no way of knowing that he isn't an evil mastermind holding onto the lot and pretending to send it, or that wild dogs didn't rip the package apart on my front porch, for that matter.  All I know for sure is that I paid and it hasn't shown up.  I don't think it's a good idea to leave positive feedback for something that I didn't receive.



I've just contacted the seller asking him to confirm that it was shipped on the date he mentioned, which is of course the first step.  What further steps, if any, should I take?  Opinions please!

afoolandhis$ wrote:Did you have it sent surface mail? If so, it could take 6 weeks from the UK. I'm in the same boat, still waiting on this one:



http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi ... %3AIT&rd=1

Wow.  I knew surface could be slow, but I didn't know it was that slow.  Might literally be on the same boat.  :)

killjoy32 wrote:

deimos3428 wrote:
Wow. I knew surface could be slow, but I didn't know it was that slow. Might literally be on the same boat.

hey folks! deim yeah chummer, surface takes six weeks from here. its the only other option of shipping we have other than airmail. our postal service sucks for options. lots of high price ones to get things there in like 2 minutes, but for budget ones, we have just surface, which is pretty much our equivalent of almost m-bags i guess....



if its heavyish what youre waiting for, it would have no doubt been sent that way. if the shipping you paid was a LOT, it would have been airmail.



Al

Well, the seller didn't specify, and I didn't ask.  I didn't pay a fortune, and it was semi-heavy, so presumably it's surface.  I'll give it 3 more weeks.



Still leaves the theoretical question for discussion, though....should it never arrive, what would you do?

Information concerning Royal Mail suface mail delivery times, compensation, and customs declaration.



Royal Mail | Royal Mail Group Ltd



From experience to post a document or package to Canada, and the USA the items usually takes 4-6 weeks to arrive in Britain and vice versa with surface mail, if there are no complications from the customs or external circumstances such as air traffic controller/ baggage handlers strikes. Unfortunately the sender can only claim upto Thirty Pounds in compensation for surface mail, if the package gets lost or damaged.



It would be advisable to be patient and wait for another month or so, but keep into communication with the seller as you stated. Also check with your Post Office to see whether the postman hadn't previously tried to deliver the package, and never left a calling card.  



Shane.

deimos3428 wrote:Wow. I knew surface could be slow, but I didn't know it was that slow.

IIRC ~3 1/2 months is about the slowest I've received via transatlantic surface mail.

Quickest was about 3-4 days (re-routing via airmail, in error, is quite common from the U.S.).

Yes, you really need to set your expectations at totally unreasonable shipping times for surface mail.  That is why buyers don't want to believe it could still be in transit after 2 months have passed (and why I don't offer it unless a buyer shows are complete understanding of the possible time they will have to wait).  



The packages go to a "waiting" area where they are kept until more packages arrive.  When there are enough, then they are all put on a ship and transported overseas.  (The postal service is obviously purchasing a section of "hold" space that they want to fill so that their costs are minimized).  Thus, you might get lucky and your package is  one of the last to arrive (and so it gets shipped relatively quickly)  . . . or you might be very unlucky and have your package sit for months before enough other packages arrive to merit cargo space.

Received a response from the seller that he sent it by something called "Parcelforce" and that it would take 6-10 weeks to arrive.

Courier Services and Parcel Delivery - UK and International - Parcelforce Worldwide



Parcel force is part of/affiliated with the RM if I understand it correctly.

I have had stuff take up to 2 months to get to mainland Europe and South America. Buyers get real nasty - and they demanded the cheapest shipping possible.



That is why I only ship via global priority mail now to anything overseas or south of Texas. I have a several negs from non-US buyers who prematurally freaked. Even after they got their stuff - they actually took the time to email an apology - but never retracted their neg (no matter how many times I asked and even copied their email to Ebay).



Notable problem countries: Brazil, Spain, Italy and France.

Never a problem: UK, Australia, Germany and Canada.

Yep, I don't offer surface shipping to international folks either. It's just *not* worth the hassle. If someone asks, and I get a chance to point out very strongly that it's at least 4-6 weeks, somtimes 8, and they've got good FB, then I'll ship surface. Otherwise, it's too risky.