eBay, etc. General Question/Answer Thread

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#7,066
AlJom said:
Hello! I really would appreciate some help with this ebay issue I have for the first time. I am a seller located in Europe and have sold 2 items to 2 different buyers: one in Canada and one in the US. Both buyers are not picking their items from the post office and the Canada Post shows "Final Notice; Item will be returned to sender if not collected within 10 days" statement when I track the package. I have messaged both buyers, but got no reply. What can I do in this case? I believe they will open a INR case soon. It is the first time this is happening to me and I have no idea what to do. Should I contact ebay in case they open a case against me? Any help is greatly appreciated. Thank you!
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If tracking shows that items were RTS as a result of buyers not retrieving them, the buyers will have lost buyer protection. While they can open INR, you would need to show tracking to show that delivery was attempted but buyers didn't claim items.

If I were in this situation, after sending the messages, I'd also call ebay to get it on record (by phone) that this is happening.

My suggestions are as follows:

Note to buyer in Canada - Tweak as necessary. Send note both to her email address directly as per the PP payment as well as through ebay messaging:
Dear buyer,

I'm sending this message both through ebay messaging and directly to your email address because I want it on record regarding my attempts at contact and I want to make sure you receive it.

You purchased (item number) from me on (date). It was shipped on (date) and as per tracking on Canada Post #(such-and-such), the item has not been picked up and will be returned to sender if not collected within 10 days.

I've contacted you on (dates) without response.

Items that are returned to sender by post offices can take quite a long time to get to the sender but when I receive it, I shall issue a refund of the purchase price. Since shipping was already paid to ship the item, that is not refundable.

Please contact me to let me know you will be picking it up. I'd hate to see you lose buyer protection by not picking up the item.

Sincerely,
Seller

A similar note can be sent to the US buyer.
 
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#7,067
Thank you soooo much, BeenBurned! I will immediately do what you advised. Just one more question : I know I will have to pay the shipping again : from the US/Canada to my location. Could I subtract these fees from the purchase price when I do the refund (after I receive the returned items)? Shipping will be around 25$ for just one package and this is really quite a lot for me now. Thank you again!
 
#7,068
AlJom said:
Thank you soooo much, BeenBurned! I will immediately do what you advised. Just one more question : I know I will have to pay the shipping again : from the US/Canada to my location. Could I subtract these fees from the purchase price when I do the refund (after I receive the returned items)? Shipping will be around 25$ for just one package and this is really quite a lot for me now. Thank you again!
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It might be different in your country but generally, when an item is returned to sender, (as long as the package wasn't opened and resealed) there's no charge for sending it back.

In cases where customs officials might have opened and inspected it, I don't know how that would work. You can ask when you call ebay (though the answer you get could be BS). It seems fair to me that you shouldn't be out any additional money for something where the reason for the return is buyer negligence.
 
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#7,069
As far as I understood from my post office, this would be the fee that I have to pay for shipping the item back to my country (as postal services). Thank you so much for your messages, I wish you a wonderful day :flowers::flowers::flowers:
 
#7,070
AlJom said:
As far as I understood from my post office, this would be the fee that I have to pay for shipping the item back to my country (as postal services). Thank you so much for your messages, I wish you a wonderful day :flowers::flowers::flowers:
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If that's what they told you, it's likely true. Different countries handle returned mail differently.
 
#7,072
AlJom said:
Thank you soooo much, BeenBurned! I will immediately do what you advised. Just one more question : I know I will have to pay the shipping again : from the US/Canada to my location. Could I subtract these fees from the purchase price when I do the refund (after I receive the returned items)? Shipping will be around 25$ for just one package and this is really quite a lot for me now. Thank you again!
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Something similar happened to me with a buyer in the US (I'm also in the US.) In the US, if you use USPS to ship and it gets returned to sender, there is no extra charge. However, in my case I used UPS and they charged to return the package to me. I spoke to ebay in my situation, and they told me I could refund as much as I felt was fair. So subtract all your costs. Since it isn't your fault, you shouldn't have to lose anything.
 
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#7,073
AlJom said:
I have tried to send the messages on both email addresses and I get failure notice on both :amazed: It seems both buyers are not serious people (can't believe how lucky I am with this :smile: ). Too bad I can't leave negative feedback for them. :hrmm:
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That's why I always recommend sending messages to both email and through ebay. That way, they can't claim not to have received them!

I'm sorry you have PITA buyers.
 
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#7,075
Quick question and I don't need to start a thread... I think I know the answer but am looking for reassurance and your opinions, I suppose.

I purchased a pair of earrings on eBay and they weren't as described ("worn once, like new"). Of course, they arrived completely scratched up and missing a backing! I mean, it was a good deal compared to "retail price" but when I asked to return them because of the damage/missing parts the seller acted like I was being ungrateful for wanting earrings as described!
Anyway, the seller refunded me right away and then wrote a note saying "ship back to [my address] asap" but didn't provide a shipping label. I wrote back and said, sure, as soon as I get a label I'll pop them in the mail. A few days went by and I called eBay and they said to just wait for her to send a label, and definitely NOT to send them back at my own expense.
Finally, a few days ago she followed up to ask about her earrings, and I told her what eBay said and asked her to send me a label... I suggested she call ebay if she has questions.

Today I get this note (paraphrased in case she's on here): "I have tried repeatedly to send a return shipping label and am unable to complete since I do not have information how to do that. Please return this lightweight earrings to me at: XXX"

I'm so over calling eBay about this person... what do I do now? I don't see why I should be out $3 to ship these earrings back to a dishonest seller. HELP!
 
#7,076
kells1983 said:
Quick question and I don't need to start a thread... I think I know the answer but am looking for reassurance and your opinions, I suppose.

I purchased a pair of earrings on eBay and they weren't as described ("worn once, like new"). Of course, they arrived completely scratched up and missing a backing! I mean, it was a good deal compared to "retail price" but when I complained and asked to return the seller acted like I was being ungrateful for wanting "like new, worn once" earrings!
Anyway, the seller refunded me right away and then wrote a note saying "ship back to [my address] asap" but didn't provide a shipping label. I wrote back and said, sure, as soon as I get a label I'll pop them in the mail. A few days went by and I called eBay and they said to just wait for her to send a label, and definitely NOT to send them back at my own expense.
Finally, a few days ago she followed up to ask about her earrings, and I told her what eBay said and asked her to send me a label... I suggested she call ebay if she has questions.

Today I get this note (paraphrased in case she's on here): "I have tried repeatedly to send a return shipping label and am unable to complete since I do not have information how to do that. Please return this lightweight earrings to me at: XXX"

I'm so over calling eBay about this person... what do I do now? I don't see why I should be out $3 to ship these earrings back to a dishonest seller. HELP!
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Don't return them using your money.
Tell her eBay has wonderful customer service and to reach out. This is in her interests.
 
#7,078
kells1983 said:
Quick question and I don't need to start a thread... I think I know the answer but am looking for reassurance and your opinions, I suppose.

I purchased a pair of earrings on eBay and they weren't as described ("worn once, like new"). Of course, they arrived completely scratched up and missing a backing! I mean, it was a good deal compared to "retail price" but when I asked to return them because of the damage/missing parts the seller acted like I was being ungrateful for wanting earrings as described!
Anyway, the seller refunded me right away and then wrote a note saying "ship back to [my address] asap" but didn't provide a shipping label. I wrote back and said, sure, as soon as I get a label I'll pop them in the mail. A few days went by and I called eBay and they said to just wait for her to send a label, and definitely NOT to send them back at my own expense.
Finally, a few days ago she followed up to ask about her earrings, and I told her what eBay said and asked her to send me a label... I suggested she call ebay if she has questions.

Today I get this note (paraphrased in case she's on here): "I have tried repeatedly to send a return shipping label and am unable to complete since I do not have information how to do that. Please return this lightweight earrings to me at: XXX"

I'm so over calling eBay about this person... what do I do now? I don't see why I should be out $3 to ship these earrings back to a dishonest seller. HELP!
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It's possible that she can't print a return label after the refund has been issued.

She can purchase a shipping label through paypal.com/shipnow and put in her own address as the shipping address.

Then she can forward the PDF label through email and you can print and send it off.

The fact that she issued the refund up front tells me she's not trying to rip you off and my guess (without seeing the listing) is that she's not an experienced seller. No experienced seller is going to refund your money before getting the item back!

Another option is to print your own shipping label (also through shipnow through paypal) and just ship them back. You can ship up to 4 oz. by first class mail for $2.61, a small price to pay to get them back. (The earrings, padded and wrapped in tissue and placed in an envelope won't weigh more than 4 oz. and is probably closer to 2 oz. But since the price is the same to ship, put the heavier weight on the label.)
 
#7,079
BeenBurned said:
It's possible that she can't print a return label after the refund has been issued.
She can purchase a shipping label through paypal.com/shipnow and put in her own address as the shipping address.
Then she can forward the PDF label through email and you can print and send it off.
The fact that she issued the refund up front tells me she's not trying to rip you off and my guess (without seeing the listing) is that she's not an experienced seller. No experienced seller is going to refund your money before getting the item back!
Another option is to print your own shipping label (also through shipnow through paypal) and just ship them back. You can ship up to 4 oz. by first class mail for $2.61, a small price to pay to get them back. (The earrings, padded and wrapped in tissue and placed in an envelope won't weigh more than 4 oz. and is probably closer to 2 oz. But since the price is the same to ship, put the heavier weight on the label.)
Click to expand...

Thanks for your input. I may mention this to her, but I may also just refer her to ebay's customer service number again. I agree that she must be inexperienced, since one of the options when accepting a return is to accept and provide a return label, and then issue refund upon arrival of the item. She must not have read her options clearly, as I am an occasional seller and have accepted a return recently, so I know what the seller's side looks like

I didn't think she was trying to rip me off, but I prefer not to ship them back at my own expense because her listing description was dishonest, and the pictures were placed strategically to hide the missing backing (the other earring was shown on its side, etc.). I would never have purchased them if she had described them honestly, and even if $2.60 isn't much, that's a little under 10% of my purchase price and am not interested in this cost being placed on me as the wronged party. I understand have to deal with the hassle of packing/shipping them back as a cost of buying on eBay (not to mention the disappointment since I really wanted to wear these earrings for an event that was over the weekend and had to find a replacement), but that's about all I'm willing to do in this case :)
 
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#7,080
I had a buyer initiate a return on Monday night and was supposed to ship it on Tuesday. Unfortunately, the "Return Detail" page on eBay never updated past "return started." I had to call eBay to give me the step-by-step instructions on sending my buyer the return label. But I am worried this moron (the buyer) never sent the camera back to me. I need it back in case it really is defected (he claims the lens/battery is broken), and I need to take it back to the retailer to have it looked over. I'm so upset because the camera was working fine before I sent it to him. I suspect he is either...

1) lying and is pushing for a free item/refund
2) he broke it purposely

He emailed me over the weekend that the SD card wasn't working, too. I used this camera from November to February and it worked perfectly. I should've held onto the camera. If I realize this idiot is lying to me I'm going to have a field day with him. BTW, I already tried emailing this a-hole but he never responded. I contacted eBay and they assured me that if he doesn't ship it by 5 days (business days?) I would have the case closed in my favor (I called them yesterday). But I would still like to have the camera back anyway.

I know you girls have your fair share of eBay returns, so can anyone tell me when eBay updates their return tracking? I tried to call eBay for the return tracking number but they can't seem to find it. I'm so confused and upset right now.
 

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