Can I open a special delivery item before signing?

[vonsworld]

Hello

May I ask, is it acceptable to open a special delivery item before deciding whether to sign and take delivery?

The reason I ask is because I am concerned about eBay fraud.

I'd like to sell an expensive piece of jewellery on Ebay. However after the sale if the buyer decides to return the item for a refund, I need to make sure that the package I receive contains the original item before signing to accept it.

This is because Ebay will issue a refund from my account as soon as delivery is confirmed by the Royal Mail, even if the buyer sends me back an empty box or a box with a brick in it. This has happened to other unfortunate sellers, and it's very difficult to prove what you did or did not receieve.

So back to my original question, can I open the box and then refuse delivery if it doesn't contain the original item?

Thanks for your advice

[wannabeek]

No, it's only handed over after signing for and we can't accept opened items to be returned - they need to be repackaged and new postage be paid for.

Occasionally somebody tries to make me stand and watch while they open their parcel in case it is wrong - somebody once asked me to stand and watch him count out a large quantity of banknotes on his doorstep!

I would personally be extremely wary of selling a high value item like that online because of the risk. You might get a lower price at a local store but it comes with no risk of being ripped off like that.

[scoobymunster]

Can you not opt for "no returns" as part of the sale?

[TrueBlueTerrier]

Hello

May I ask, is it acceptable to open a special delivery item before deciding whether to sign and take delivery?

The reason I ask is because I am concerned about eBay fraud.

I'd like to sell an expensive piece of jewellery on Ebay. However after the sale if the buyer decides to return the item for a refund, I need to make sure that the package I receive contains the original item before signing to accept it.

This is because Ebay will issue a refund from my account as soon as delivery is confirmed by the Royal Mail, even if the buyer sends me back an empty box or a box with a brick in it. This has happened to other unfortunate sellers, and it's very difficult to prove what you did or did not receieve.

So back to my original question, can I open the box and then refuse delivery if it doesn't contain the original item?

Thanks for your advice

Sadly No.

The reason is Royal Mail does not know what is inside the item, all they are delivering in effect is an envelope. When you are signing you are signing as having the package delivered. If you open it, then the item has been delivered and the Postie cannot accept it as a refused delivery.

This is why I never use eBay, it's too open to scams from the people sending and the receiving.

[Snaggletooth]

Can you not opt for "no returns" as part of the sale?

I have previously made this a condition on my eBay sales, but I have never sold anything worth more than £50. Also, there are some statutory rights connected with distance selling so you might still have to accept returns in some circumstances (check with eBay).

If somebody keeps pulling the empty box scam and sellers keep reporting them to Royal Mail then the scammer will get caught eventually and prosecuted for fraud.