As I understand it, most Courier drivers are "self employed" and, paid by the parcel DELIVERED, so, there is no advantage to them, which I can see, in pretending the customer was not home, since they (the driver) do not then get paid.
However, having said all that, the mystery of this particular parcel deepens.
I had a further message (from Hermes), saying they had delivered my parcel, to a secure place, at approximately 16:20 this afternoon.
Well:
a) we were at home at that time, no delivery was attempted
b) I have searched the possible "secure places", no parcel.
I suspect the parcel has indeed been delivered to a secure place, but, not at my address!
I have lost patience with this now, messaged the Ebay seller, asking, politely, that they sort this out!
I will give them 24 hours before lodging a claim with Ebay and/or PayPal.
Ask Hermes for the photo if you speak to them again, all our couriers take a picture of where it was left.