Open a dispute for a transaction

I need to open a dispute for a $180 transaction from April 2 with buyer Miguel Alvarez who says the item never arrived. Create the dispute citing 'item not received,' attach tracking showing no delivery scan, include the order invoice, and add a short note that I attempted to contact Miguel twice on April 5 and April 9. File the dispute now and set a calendar reminder to escalate to a claim if there is no response in seven days.

Before I open a dispute for Miguel Alvarez, make the case reviewer-friendly: summarize the purchase amount $180 and April 2 order at top, show the tracking history clearly with the missing delivery scan, note failed buyer contact attempts, and point out any seller-side delays that might be misread. Flag whether the tracking provider supports delivery confirmations so I know if I need photos or alternative proof.

Miguel Alvarez says he didn’t get the package; tracking shows no delivery scan and it's been two weeks since shipment. I can open a dispute but worry the platform will favor the buyer if tracking is ambiguous. What is the likely decision path here, and what immediate supporting evidence or next step will maximize my chance to recover the $180?

I keep opening disputes for 'item not received' where carriers show only partial scans and I spend days chasing supplemental proof. This stretches my cash flow and frustrates repeat buyers. What operational habit should I change—packaging proof at sale, using a different carrier, or a new communication cadence—to reduce the number of weak disputes by at least half?