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Buyer is asking for help redirecting a package sent to 'old address'. What is best response?
Pretty sure I'm being scammed. I recently sold an item, worth about $155 (for me, that's a lot). The buyer messaged me and asked me to send it quickly. I dropped it off at the post office the same day.
That night, they messaged me again saying they accidentally sent the package to their old address. They are asking for help filling out the redirection form and sent me a screenshot of it. I'm not sure why they are asking because the form is asking for the original destination address, which should be their own so why would they ask?
I know I must only send to the address on the invoice to keep my seller protections. Should I offer to redirect it back to me and refund their money minus shipping? What is my safest response?
Thank you!
gosimus
Mentor8 months ago@sdrothco-half
< saying they accidentally sent the package to their old address >
Accidentally. I'm so sure. This smells fishy to me. If they can get you to send the item to an address different from the address that came with the payment, you lose your seller protections, scant as they are in the first place. You knew that. They can claim Not Received and you'll be hung out to dry.
Your safest response is to do nothing. The item is on its way to the address the buyer gave you. It was the buyer's responsibility to give you the correct address. If they've moved, and neglected to update their address in eBay, or to update the address on the check out page just before they paid, their fallback is the forwarding address they filed with the post office. All this is assuming the buyer is on the level, which I doubt. I think he's trying to flim flam you.
fashionsandbeauty4u
Mentor8 months ago@sdrothco-half
I believe the current cost of the USPS Package Intercept is now $18.35.
I would let the Buyer know that eBay requires that you ship to the address in the Order Details. And because it has already been shipped, you cannot change the delivery address.
The Buyer had the option at checkout to correct their address.
sdrothco-half
OP8 months agoThank you for the response!
I could offer to return it to myself and refund their item minus both the shipping and intercept fee to come out even? I am worried they will file an item not received claim and I'll lose my item and my money.
Is there any con to offering that?
fashionsandbeauty4u
Mentor8 months ago@sdrothco-half
With the USPS Package Intercept program, the post office doesn't guarantee they can reroute the package. Also, there is no option on eBay to deduct the Intercept fee from the Buyer's refund.
As long as you shipped to the exact address in the Order Details, if tracking shows a successful delivery to that address, you should be good. If the Buyer opens an Item Not Received refund request on eBay it is critical that you enter the tracking number into that request for eBay to close it in your favor.
sdrothco-half
OP8 months agoThank you!
fashionsandbeauty4u
Mentor8 months ago@sdrothco-half
You are most welcome!