Bit of ebay advice for me

[neorichieb1971]

I bought a Bombjack Twin PCB from Germany recently. It was shipped by the 5th of May I think. The seller used DHL which has a tracking system. Today he sent me the tracking number -

885008105498

www.dhl.de


It hasn't moved for over 2 weeks. I've written to DHL expressing my concern and i've written to the seller who has 1000's of positives at 100% feedback. I don't normally use ebay so I am not completely sure of my rights. I'm getting the feeling my gear isn't going to turn up.

If anyone can tell me I need to do i'd appreciate it.

[Ganelon]

Why the uncertainty? I waited 2 weeks for a package from Europe stuck at customs in NYC and it eventually came. Contact your seller; he should be inquiring about the package for you. If he doesn't respond in a few days, send another message. If he doesn't respond then, open up a PayPal dispute. If PayPal doesn't give you money back, file a chargeback with your CC. Buyers are very secure as long as they pay via credit card and don't wait over 60 days after the initial payment.

[neorichieb1971]

I've had items sent from Sweden, USA and Germany which were all sent AFTER this one. DHL is a fast service right? Unless DHL have a huge volcano pile up I don't think its going anywhere.. 19 days is a long time for something to be sitting pretty.

[cools]

I had something from Portugal do the same thing. Handed over to the international despatch people, and nothing for 6 six weeks - tracking stayed still. Seller was chasing it, in touch with me as well. Seller refunded me in full, then a few weeks later the item turned up.

It had gone air mail too. Sod knows what happened. Contacted the seller again and asked if he wanted anything back - agreed on half the original value

[ZOM]

AFAIK ebay has nothing more to do with it, the same goes for the seller; the tracking number exists and on the tracking page clearly states that
"Shipment was handed over at post office by sender", so that concerns just you and DHL now. I'd wait and hear how DHL sees the situation. According to tracking that package didn't left their sorting facility yet. It's there somewhere, there's a number on it, there's a recipient on it, I'm sure if they at DHL don't turn lazy it's not all too hard to find. Otherwise, you have to find out how DHL handles insurance on lost parcels.

EDIT: Oh, BTW, I'd print out that tracking result. You never know if someone decides to delete it just because they don't find that package anymore.

[jonny5]

DHL are pretty bad for 'misplacing' packages for weeks and then they find them and deliver them as per normal with no info on what happened and why the hold up

[StarCreator]

I'm pretty sure this is exactly what happened the last time I bought something from Germany. I'd sit tight a couple more weeks before considering any serious action.

[kernow]

I always find the DHL online tracking useless, I've sent something to germany before and its taken a good 4+ weeks, but that was in the middle of a royal mail strike I guess. Have patience, I'm sure it'll turn up in the end, and if he's a trustworthy bloke no doubt he'll refund you anyway. I know it sucks but you just have to wait longer.

[PC Engine Fan X!]

Many moons ago, I recall of winning an Canadian based eBay auction for an arcade PCB and said PCB didn't arrive until about two and half weeks later afterwards. Really wasn't sure if it was going to be delivered or not. I had to assume that it perhaps languished in Canadian customs for a bit despite the standard mailing fees paid upfront. Of course, no tracking number was ever placed on the outer packing box either because I wasn't sure how the seller was going to ship out the PCB anyways.

PC Engine Fan X! ^_~

[neorichieb1971]

So after 10 days of writing to DHL without reply I finally get one -

With the DHL PÄCKCHEN INTERNATIONAL you can send smaller items weighting up to 2 kg anywhere in the world at low cost. Unfortunately a track and trace service is not possible for the DHL PÄCKCHEN INTERNATIONAL.

We apologize for any inconvenience related to this fact.

Please don't hesitate to contact your customer service representative using the phone number given below.
In case you answer back via mail please refer to your first request.


Do you have any further questions? Please don't hesitate to contact your customer service representative using the phone number given below.
In case you answer back via mail please refer to your first request.

Kind regards,

Jane Amankwah

Kundenservice
DHL Vertriebs GmbH & Co. OHG
Eiffestr. 78
20537 Hamburg
Deutschland

Telefon (0 180 5) 3 45 22 55*

So is this saying that an item with tracking has no tracking capability?

[CIT]

This is a bit mysterious...

There's two types of packages you can send with DHL, a "small packet" which is up to 2kg, and cannot be tracked, and a "package" which is more expensive and trackable. If the seller sent your PCB via the first route, he should not have received a tracking number in the first place.

Incidentally, how much did you pay for the shipping?

[jonny5]

DHL are pretty bad for 'misplacing' packages for weeks and then they find them and deliver them as per normal with no info on what happened and why the hold up

could be them just playing dumb till it turns up or hoping you will just give up and fuck off

although if you go to the DHL english site, the FAQ points out that there tracking numbers are usually 10 digits..the one you were given was 12...seems a bit peculiar, no? but then, why didnt they point that out when you contacted them?

i have received trackable international shipments through DHL before(from the UK) so they do have international tracking(maybe just not from germany?)

they are annoying too...when it comes to customs and import taxes, they pay them, then they come to you with a bill for the charges+ a brokerage fee(a set fee that will often be more than the actual customs on cheaper items)which you have to pay before they will deliver your package....

[Magic Knight]

I receieved a package yesterday here in Japan, sent from Germany via DHL. It took ten days in total. The tracking number is 12 digits long. I didn't have to pay any extra customs money etc.

Mine was a big heavy box, so it was sent as a Packet rather than as a Päckchen.

I have had this problem when sending abroad from Japan also. Packets under 2kg when sent as a "small package" cannot be tracked. If you want tracking then you have to send it as a normal package, which is more expensive. It looks like a similar situation exists with DHL.