Is there a way to put tracking on shipments to an APO address? (Updated)

[YoshiFan1]

I just go an e-mail from a buyer saying they have not received their item yet (item was sent 1st class over 3 weeks ago). The item was sent to an APO address which I think is a military address. Anytime I ship to an APO address, I am told I cannot use delivery confirmation.

So when this buyer e-mailed me, I have no way to find out if the item really was lost in the mail or was delivered like I normally would be able to with delivery confirmation.

Since I had know way to prove delivery, I issued them a refund (game was only $10) since I knew I would lose any dispute and possibly get negative feedback as well.

Does anyone know if there is any way to put tracking on a shipment to an APO address or way to confirm delivery?

[Vicious]

I shipped many times to an APO address. I have to say that losing packages is not uncommon. It is mainly due to the custom slips. As far as I know there is no way to track them.

[zionoverfire]

I don't send items to APOs, someone asked me to and I told them to give me another address.

[Crusader]

You should ship to a APO address because they are the men and women of our military.

[bignick]

Should have told him you shipped it out, and there is nothing you can do. Keep a copy of the receipt, its not much, but shows you shipped it.

[spidey]

Should have told him you shipped it out, and there is nothing you can do. Keep a copy of the receipt, its not much, but shows you shipped it.

Receipt won't do anything. The receipt shows you shipped A package not THE package. If the buyer was to reverse charges or file a complaint via PayPal, the receipt wouldn't be valid evidence. I should know, I've been in the situation, except I was down the hole $60, not $10. That's the problem with fraud these days, it's way too easy.

[bignick]

Should have told him you shipped it out, and there is nothing you can do. Keep a copy of the receipt, its not much, but shows you shipped it.

Receipt won't do anything. The receipt shows you shipped A package not THE package. If the buyer was to reverse charges or file a complaint via PayPal, the receipt wouldn't be valid evidence. I should know, I've been in the situation, except I was down the hole $60, not $10. That's the problem with fraud these days, it's way too easy.

It does show the zip code you shipped to. Thats why I put as is, no returns. Thats also why I never leave feedback first. Go ahead and leave me a neg feedback, you will get one too! I also never leave any money in my paypal account. If they say I owe them money, I would open up a new account.

[spidey]

Should have told him you shipped it out, and there is nothing you can do. Keep a copy of the receipt, its not much, but shows you shipped it.

Receipt won't do anything. The receipt shows you shipped A package not THE package. If the buyer was to reverse charges or file a complaint via PayPal, the receipt wouldn't be valid evidence. I should know, I've been in the situation, except I was down the hole $60, not $10. That's the problem with fraud these days, it's way too easy.

It does show the zip code you shipped to. Thats why I put as is, no returns. Thats also why I never leave feedback first. Go ahead and leave me a neg feedback, you will get one too! I also never leave any money in my paypal account. If they say I owe them money, I would open up a new account.

In the OP's case, the buyer probably hasn't left feedback. Then he'd be in a sticky situation, possibly taking a neg on a well established account, and even leaving a neg on a relatively new account.

I'd just take this as a lesson and write in big bold red letters on future auctions that aince APO/FPO shipments cannot be tracked, I won't be held responsible for missing packages.

[YoshiFan1]

Later after I explained to the buyer about how there was no tracking he said that there is some type of return receipt you can use for APO to prove if the buyer got the package or not.

From all the e-mails communications I have had with them, they seem honest and have even said if the game shows up, they will contact me to pay again for the game. Granted, I have no idea if that will happen or not if they do get the game but they haven't been difficult with this transaction.

The buyer has not left feedback yet, a negativie would not hurt me much if at all (my positive feedback % is 99.9% so a negative would bring it down to 99.7%). However, I sort of want to have a 100% positive feedback rating again (once you have 99.95%, it changes to 100%) but I don't think that will happen because there's always the chance I'll get a negative for any reason.

[YoshiFan1]

Update,

Today I got an e-mail from the buyer saying he finally got the game today. Apparently customs held it up so that's why it took over a month for the buyer to get it.

He asked me to bill him for the game again so he can pay which I thought was really awesome since I bet the majority of people would not have done that.

I told him I would give him free shipping on the game as well since it took him so long to get the game (although it wasn't my fault) and just left him positive feedback.

[judyjudyjudy]

That was good of him to be honest and good of you to give him free shipping. :)

[YoshiFan1]

He asked if I was sure I wanted to give him free shipping since he knew it wasn't my fault but I told him regardless of who's fault it was, it still took him a month to get the game so I felt like it was the right thing to do. He just sent the payment, and left me some great feedback so I'm very happy with how the trasnaction went.