You're both sounding like you are decent seller / buyers, and are being considerate of each other
The situation with Royal Mail is that they do not consider it lost until it has been in the system for some time, the seller can then arrange compensation wih Royal Mail
The buyer need do no more then both the buyer and seller keeping up communication
If a damaged or empty package arrives then the buyer should highlight anything noticable to the delivery man, and hold onto the packaging
If agreed it hasn't arrived (either when compensated or at a mutually agreed time earlier) the seller refunds the buyer
That should be full costs eg item plus postage/insurance
If it then turns up later the buyer advises the seller and they agree on how to proceed
It would sound like good form to pay for it, but the buyer may have bought something else in the meantime.
If it has been compensated and turned up then Royal Mail should be informed - if its tracked etc then they ought to realise its turned up after compensation
The situation with Royal Mail is that they do not consider it lost until it has been in the system for some time, the seller can then arrange compensation wih Royal Mail
The buyer need do no more then both the buyer and seller keeping up communication
If a damaged or empty package arrives then the buyer should highlight anything noticable to the delivery man, and hold onto the packaging
If agreed it hasn't arrived (either when compensated or at a mutually agreed time earlier) the seller refunds the buyer
That should be full costs eg item plus postage/insurance
If it then turns up later the buyer advises the seller and they agree on how to proceed
It would sound like good form to pay for it, but the buyer may have bought something else in the meantime.
If it has been compensated and turned up then Royal Mail should be informed - if its tracked etc then they ought to realise its turned up after compensation