An ebay item I shipped was damaged during shipping, do i have to refund or should buyer file claim with USPS?

Unfortunately YOU are responsible. Insurance is for the seller more than the buyer. If something is fragile and can be damaged during shipment, you should either require the insurance or pay it yourself. USPS will not grant a claim if no insurance is purchased.

As a seller it is your responsibility to get the item to the buyer as described. All your buyer needs to do is file with Paypal and you will be out your money in a heartbeat. It is not as it was in the auction and they will side with the buyer in that case.

The people who are saying the buyer is responsible are either not sellers on ebay or have never had any experience with Paypal SNAD claims (significantly not as described) broken and damaged fall under that catagory.

Your best bet is to refund and learn from this selling experience, it's not fun to be out an item and the money, but next time you will remember and have a smooth transaction because of it.

I'm an ebay seller with over 1900 transactions and 99.9% positive.

Ebay Item Damaged During Shipping

If you packaged it well and it was done so as to protect it from normal routing damage of any type...the client declined the insurance you offered...then you did your job and upheld your end of the deal. He should claim through USPS and/or Paypal...the burden of proof is on the client and once the pkg left your hands as long as you did everything you could to ensure it got to him safely under normal handling ... there is nothing you need to do other than apologize for the problem he's encountered and recommend he pursue this with the postal service. Likely they won't do much either so his next route will be Paypal but again...he could be disappointed.

That said...if you want to retain this person as a repeat client if such is the case...you might consider asking him to return the item with it's original packaging intact and then you will assess the best solution ...whether it is a refund or an exchange...he will still be responsible for the cost of shipping and if you refund, deduct the shipping/handling fee...you will be doing this as a courtesy, it isn't an obligation if you did everything possible to get it to him safely. You can't be held responsible for a neglectful postal worker/workers but if you hope to retain his business...this route may make him a happy client anyway.

Good luck whatever you decide.

You both must file a claim - and the buyer must present the item and it's packaging to USPS for inspection - the sooner the better. Here is the link for the complete process: http://www.usps.com/consumers/claimsfaq.htm . Don't worry this happened to me once and the USPS resolved the issue quickly. Good Luck!

The shipper declined insurance, and as long as you can back that up with emails and communications you should be ok.

He can certainly open a case with USPS, however they only pay out something silly like $1.50 per pound when an item is not insured.

You do not have to offer a refund. However be ready to verify that the item was shipped intact and that the receiver against your advice declined insurance.

That is what insurance is for and why a buyer should get it-most ebay sellers note on their auction pages that they are not responsible once it leaves their hands-how can they be? But by stating it, it further helps out. I had that happen once and as I wanted to keep my feedback and do the right thing-I gave the buyer half back. It was not my fault and she was so surprised that I got good feedback and she bought from me again. The mail is done by humans-it happens. Thats what insurance is for-

Its problem of the buyer, are on Ebay rules. this person can complain but has to understand you offer insurance and this person decline for cheap now has to pay the price.

The buyer can't complaint with UPS they have to say "you don't pay insurance its your problem" The same to you and its simple, no refunds: SOLD!

The buyer can complain with Ebay and Paypal, take it easy at the end they give you the reason. Just wait for bad reference in your profile but you can ad a note down the negative reference with a explanation why the guy are the only responsible; for cheap.

Next time in your auction page write in bold, YOU DON'T PAY INSURANCE YOU CRY ALONE.

The buyer refused insurance, so the buyer has assumed all risk. The buyer may file a claim with USPS, but the seller is not liable.

File a claim with UPS

Was it insured? If not, then it was the buyers fault for not adding the extra for insurance.

Go to the e-bay Q&A they will give you plenty of advice