How to handle an eBay buyer.
An eBay buyer ordered a package of t-shirts from me. She messaged me back asking for a refund stating they were too small. I told her I would refund her money but that she didn't have to send them back. Today she ordered the same t-shirts again and they're the exact same size, XS. (that's all I had was XS). I messaged her again asking about this and to message me back. I explained to her that I only have till tomorrow for her to get back with me because my policy is ship in 2 days. I also told her that I wouldn't be refunding her again because they are the exact same t-shirts. How do I handle this? If I don't send them to her I'll be in trouble for not mailing something off in my policy time frame.
13 comments
christworks
·8 months ago@dolcetreasures I wholeheartedly agree with you. Unless I'm 100% sure I messed up (e.g. I sent the wrong item), I always get the item back, even if I take a loss. Time and time again I've seen how people who complain either a) never open a return or b) open a return and never send the item. If you refund as soon as someone barks, you are hurting yourself.
Just as there are lists of buyers to avoid, I'm sure there are lists of sellers who are easy marks.
riecee
OP8 months agoI get what your saying, I'm probably in the wrong business.
onefootflipper
·8 months agoCancel, problem with address. Address is one that you had a problem with in the past if anyone answers.
In the future block anyone who costs you money the minute it is over with.
dolcetreasures
·8 months agoNever offer to refund, you will get destroyed by these people. How do you not know that? How can you run a business of any kind giving items away. I’d rather take a loss on shipping than give anything away.
inhawaii
·8 months agoI don't know what the "official" thing to do is, but this is what I would do.
Like @stainlessenginecovers said, I would try and contact the buyer by phone and straighten this out.
If she ordered the same thing that she wants to return, I would cancel that new order - for whatever reason.
I would NOT send the second order that contains the same items she wants to return from the first order.
As far as the first order...
I would treat it as a regular return. Return for a refund.
caldreamer
·8 months agoBecause you gave them a package of t-shirts for FREE, customer thought they would take advantage and get more FREE items.
Do you know when customer opens "does not fit" case, Seller is NOT responsible for any postage. Maybe if you made customer "return item" (at their expense) they wouldn't try to get more FREE stuff from you.
That being said, I would "cancel order" and add them to your "block list".
iamalwaysright
·8 months agoThis is one of the reasons why I have a posting ID here. I don't want potential buyers looking in here and finding out that I helped a buyer beyond my seller obligation with a free item, then trying it for themselves with me.
That way I'm able to disclose here the times I gave a handout to a buyer without fear of anyone exploiting that info by going to my listings.
stainlessenginecovers
·8 months agoOrders show a phone number and email; try both if they are not responding to messages. If all fails, I would ship those and then block buyer as they sound a bit..........
mamacassidy
·8 months agoAt this point, you're supposed send them to her.
However, in the future, I would not refund items without them being returned. And if someone was unhappy about that, I'd block them.
I don't know if this buyer is making an honest mistake or if they think you are an easy target since you gave her free t-shirts.
If you don't want to send them to her and risk her trying to return them again, you can cancel and take the defect. Then block her from buying them again.
colfaxstation
·8 months agoSimply load the shipping confirmation number from the previous shipment.
jonathanbrightlight
·8 months agoNot only would that likely not work if the orders are too far separated in time, it would be very unethical.
iamalwaysright
·8 months agoThe problem with this is currently on ebay you cannot block someone from buying (putting in your blocked list) and still continue to message the buyer. Once blocked, the buyer would still be able to send you messages "successfully" on their end, they wouldn't get any error. But the message will never be delivered to you, thus making the buyer think you are being non-responsive and likely leave you a negative. And you'd never know the buyer even sent you that message.
This is a broken down system that ebay refuses to correct, we have no idea why. Ebay claims this system is functioning correctly as they intend it to. @wastingtime101 @kyle@ebay we meet again gents. Add another to this pile.
grand-and-glorious-purpose
·8 months agoThe outcome is the same whether they are acting maliciously or are just dumb.