accidentally swapped labels on two items - what next?
I shipped out some items back in late October. Two of the items had the labels swapped. One buyer notified me they received the wrong item. The other buyer hadn't received their package yet but did get it 3 days afterwards.
When I was notified of my mistake, I messaged both buyers. I said they can return the package to me if they like. I also purchased two new shipping labels and sent the correct to each buyer. The second option I offered was to attach the new label and simply drop the item off at the post office or any shipping service (like you might see in any plaza).
Both buyers agreed they would forward the package to the correct person instead of returning to me. One buyer followed through and the package was delivered to the correct person a week or so later. The second buyer who received their package later after I notified them hasn't. I get the run around each time of they will ship it out tomorrow, they were sick, they forgot about the package, etc etc. It's been over three weeks now.
Is there anything else I can do? I am sending the a full refund to the buyer who didn't get their package because they person appears to have decided to keep the package for themself. Disappointing since I notified them before it was delivered it was the wrong package, all they had to do was write "return to shipper" on the box, and they've also told me 5 times now they would ship the box out. It's been 22 days since I first messaged them.
jrchief30
OP8 months agoThanks,
Quick question? How do I offer a full refund? When I click on the item details, I can offer a refund. However, eBay adjusts the amount I want to send for taxes and fees. So if I want to send them $25, eBay will adjust it to $22. Would cancelling the order work instead? I think that's what I can do.
Also, I did offer they simply return the items to me and I would send out. I gave them the option on how they wanted to do it. Neither item was expensive, $15 for one and $20 for the other. I usually write the buyers first name after I package their order, then just match the label to the name on the box.
albertabrightalberta
·8 months agoYes, ebay gives you credit for the fees and tax but the buyer gets the full refund. It just doesn't all come directly from your funds.
broto_64
·8 months agoReturn for refund.
Always.
Lesson I learned the hard way.
inhawaii
·8 months agoThe only advice I can give is ... be more careful next time and figure out a system where this can't happen again.
rugerskick
·8 months agoChange how you pack items. Do each one completely. It prevents label swap problems.
lawnmowerpartsstore2
·8 months agoExactly ......
albertabrightalberta
·8 months agoAnd once packed, put the addressee name on the outside of the package. It'll be covered with the label but it helps prevent mixups.
albertabrightalberta
·8 months agoThere's nothing else you can do.
For the buyer who received the correct item plus kept the wrong one, add that buyer to your BBL (blocked bidder list) and be done with them.
For the buyer who was honorable enough to forward the package but never received their own purchase, issue a full refund, apologize and as a goodwill gesture, offer them another item from your listings as a gift.
My opinion is that in a case of your own error, although more expensive for you, it's better to have the buyers file NAD claims, return the items to you (at your expense) and YOU fix your mistake by shipping to the correct buyers.
tobaccocardyahoo
·8 months agoI would have authorized returns with prepaid labels for both buyers, and refunded both upon the successful return.
I would not attempt to do what you did by getting one buyer to ship to the other. The result is usually what you are experiencing.
redlinear
·8 months agoRefund them both if the value was low and move on to listing more items.
logical_collection
·8 months agoI did this recently, ask them if they would put in there mailbox to forward to other person. Just purchase labels online and send them pictures to use. Nothing you can do but wait at that point.