Buyer returned item I sold them, but also sent me another item I did not sell them. What to do?
I had a buyer return an item I'd sold them. When I received the item back from them, I also received an item I had not sold nor ordered from them. I want to return this item and have the buyer pay postage along with postage on the item they sent me that I did not order. How do I proceed?
28 comments
aeparts1
·2 years agoI believe that the Post Office, at some point, will realize that two packages were shipped with the same tracking number. That is not allowed. The PO will back charge eBay for the second package shipped on one tracking number. eBay will back charge the seller.
Really, that is a clever way for a buyer to get revenge on a seller who they feel wronged them.
wastingtime101
·2 years agoThat's not accurate @aeparts1 . This is a return label generated through eBay, not an outbound label. See my above post #12 with more details.
inhawaii
·2 years agoThis is a easy one.
Let them know.
If they want to pay for return postage, ship it back.
If they don't want to pay for return postage, don't ship it back.
If they don't respond at all, keep it or throw it away.
turtles-trading-post
·2 years agoList and sell the extra item!
monster-deals
·2 years agoYou proceed however you like.
Why are you so intent on returning the other item?
sitonmycar
OP2 years agoI don't care about the item. I want the amount charged to my account to ship it to me without my permission.
It's a 8 or 10 pound item shipped Priority.
toomuchstuffagain35
·2 years agoHave you actually checked to see whether you were in fact charged for 2 return labels?
You said they were both the same tracking # so you should have only been charged for ONE of the parcels. Which one were you charged for?
soh.maryl
·2 years agoAgain, how were you charged for the return shipping of that package?
You were not the seller of it evidently. A buyer can't just decide randomly to have some seller charged for the return shipping unless that seller had some involvement in the package. You didn't.
stephenmorgan
·2 years agoHave you actually paid for the shipping yet? Using eBay returns I do not believe you pay for the label at time of creation but are billed for it use later. If you were billed for two labels I would call eBay and have them figure it out. I bet this is not something that happens often.
albertabrightalberta
·2 years agoHave you read the replies you're getting? You weren't charged for the second label. You were charged for 1 label that the buyer (mistakenly?) printed twice and attached to 2 different packages. (Usually USPS catches that type of error but apparently didn't catch it this time.)
I think you're making this into a larger deal than it is.
Let the buyer know of the mistake, tell buyer if they need the 8-lb item back, they need to purchase and send you a return shipping label and tell them you'll give 72 hours (or whatever) to get a reply, after which you'll dispose of or do what you want with the other item.
You're making the buyer's error your problem, which it is not.
wastingtime101
·2 years agoBuyer can probably just send them the label that was supposed to go on that package. If it's marked as a "return service" label OP can drop it with the PO, no problem.
albertabrightalberta
·2 years agoThat's absolutely right! I hadn't thought of that!
monster-deals
·2 years agoIf you didn't order it, you didn't pay for it
chapeau-noir
·2 years agoI'm curious as to what this second item is.
fern*wood
·2 years agoAll in the same package? If so, they sound confused. I would probably let they know, but leave solving the problem up to them.
sitonmycar
OP2 years agoI wish the two items were in the same package. But they were two separate Priority Mail shipments.
Solving the problem in my mind would be for the buyer to first compensate me for shipping the second item. And second deciding if they want the second item back. If so, they'd need to authorize to pay both shipping to me and shipping back to them.
kensgiftshop
·2 years agoDid both packages have the same tracking number?
sitonmycar
OP2 years agoyes same tracking number. but the seconf item weighted twice as much. so i paid a lot more postage than if he'd just sent the item i sold him.
wastingtime101
·2 years agoNo, you didn't. Not if you used a label generated through the eBay return. eBay shows a return ship cost upfront and that's a fixed cost. Doesn't matter if the buyer adds a literal brick to the package - you'll be billed only for the rate shown at the time you accepted the return.
You're in the clear here financially. I'd message the buyer and let them know about their mix up. If they want the item back they can send you $ for a label or they can send you a prepaid label.
soh.maryl
·2 years agoHow did YOU pay postage on this item?
You received an item from a buyer. The item was not one that you had sent the buyer.
The package came with postage on it, presumably paid by the buyer, not by you.
Again, how did you pay postage on the second package?
sitonmycar
OP2 years agoThat is what I'm trying to figure out. But I assume two packages sent from return labels will be billed to me - the seller.
wastingtime101
·2 years agoYour assumption is not correct. If you used a label generated through the eBay return, eBay shows a return ship cost upfront and that's a fixed cost. Doesn't matter if the buyer adds a literal brick to the package - you'll be billed only for the rate shown at the time you accepted the return and you will be billed for only 1 label no matter how many times the buyer sticks it on a package.
wastingtime101
·2 years agoI'm guessing the buyer printed the same label twice in error and affixed it to 2 different packages. Did both items have the same tracking number @sitonmycar ? If so, you won't be billed twice. You'll just be billed shipping for the item from your own return request.
If that's what happened then I'd let the buyer know and if they want the second item back they will let you know and can provide a label or funds for a label.
If the labels have different tracking numbers then there could be a system issue, but I'm hesitant to speculate without more info.
slippinjimmy
·2 years agoIf you really feel the need to proceed then contact the buyer and tell them what happened. If they want the item back and are willing to pay for the shipping then fine (they could send you money via PayPal or other method). If they don't want to pay then the (extra) item is yours.
sitonmycar
OP2 years agoI do not want the other item sent to my by the buyer and I did not sign on to pay for shipping an eight pound shipment across the country.
mtgraves7984
·2 years agoWhy in the world would you want to stir this pot? If your item came back, refund. If another item came back, toss it.
sitonmycar
OP2 years agoI refunded the buyer before I even received the item back because I admit I made a mistake in describing the item.
The label on the other item returned to me was ebay generated. I believe that means that I was charged for the shipment. I know I'm obligated to pay shipping of the item I sold and ebay authorized for return. But not the second item, which weighed about eight pounds.
mtgraves7984
·2 years agoI refunded the buyer before I even received the item back because I admit I made a mistake in describing the item.
@sitonmycar
Wow. You're lucky you got your item back after refunding without requiring a return. But now you say there are two separate packages, and one is not your sale?
If so... then, yes. Reach out to your buyer and ask them if they need the other item back for any reason. If they do, it's fine to ask them to send you the return shipping costs. If they don't, toss it.