OMG help please | Selling | eBay Community

ðŸ˜² You're not the first to ponder the content. ðŸ˜„ While some sellers offer racy adult content coloring books on eBay, mine are more in the riding a tricycle arena.

toomuchstuffagain35

·2 years ago

176 View listings

All the ones I buy have Cats = )

b86fiero

OP2 years ago

Cat lover here. Catnip purchased from an eBay seller arrived yesterday. My rescue kitties were in kitty heaven.

b86fiero

OP2 years ago

OH NO!!!!

USPS tracking as of 5 minutes ago:

Arriving early - delivery on April 24

6:17 a.m. Arrived at post office, San Jose, CA.

6:28 a.m. Out for delivery

9:02 a.m. Available for Pick Up

Argghhhh!

a_c_green

·2 years ago

@b86fiero wrote:
OH NO!!!!

USPS tracking as of 5 minutes ago:

Arriving early - delivery on April 24

6:17 a.m. Arrived at post office, San Jose, CA.

6:28 a.m. Out for delivery

9:02 a.m. Available for Pick Up

Argghhhh!

Sorry, I'm not seeing a crisis here...?

b86fiero

OP2 years ago

Box was out for delivery.

2 1/2 hours later it is now showing as available for pick up.

Does that mean USPS attempted to deliver it and it was refused so a notice was left for the recipient to personally pick it up?

Sorry, never had usps tracking show that. I just want this box delivered to the addressee.

a_c_green

·2 years ago

@b86fiero wrote:
Box was out for delivery.

2 1/2 hours later it is now showing as available for pick up.

Does that mean USPS attempted to deliver it and it was refused so a notice was left for the recipient to personally pick it up?

It was not refused (which would result in a very definite tracking entry saying so), but for whatever reason they could not deliver it at that time, so they left a pickup notice instead.

Given that it was to the eBay offices, but updated to a pickup notice at just 9:02 a.m., I would guess that the carrier showed up while the doors were still closed, and didn't want to leave the package outside. (If their offices are like ours, there's a mail slot for envelopes, but nothing big enough to accept packages.)

eBay accepts a Notice Left status as a delivery attempt. Just sit tight; I don't see any need for you to do anything further at this point.

b86fiero

OP2 years ago

Thanks a_c_green.

You are always so helpful!

Question, do you happen to know how long the post office will hold the box before it gets returned? Will another delivery attempt be made or a second notice left?

If this box wasn't going where it's going I would not be so nervous. I'm older but not quite a nut case, yet ðŸ™‚

a_c_green

·2 years ago

Ref: https://faq.usps.com/s/article/What-are-the-Second-and-Final-Notice-and-Return-Dates-for-Redelivery

@b86fiero wrote:
Question, do you happen to know how long the post office will hold the box before it gets returned? Will another delivery attempt be made or a second notice left?

Per the USPS, a second notice is left 5 days after the first one, and the package will be returned to the sender after 15 days.

Given that the pickup notice was apparently left at an office and might or might not be successfully forwarded to the actual recipient (I mean, it should, but who knows how well a given office is run these days), it might be worth a short, polite heads-up message to the buyer to let them know that the package is awaiting pickup due to the inability to deliver at the office address.

Worst-case scenario is that the package will eventually be returned to you, but I doubt that's likely to happen as you're not selling big-ticket or high-scam items. I've had numerous cases where a buyer shipped his purchase from me to his office address (to avoid porch pirates, I assume), but the delivery attempt was on Saturday when the office was closed.

In that particular scenario, the tracking will state as much, and say that redelivery will be attempted on Monday. In your case it's a workday, but I think this might resolve itself sooner rather than later. The carrier might even double back later in the day. I've seen our own carriers sometimes do a second parcels-only delivery round.

Anyhow, the package is not lost or misdirected, so I wouldn't be too concerned.

b86fiero

OP2 years ago

a-c-green - bless you for taking the time to respond to my inquiries.

I sent a message yesterday afternoon through eBay to the buyer asking her to inform the recipient of the tracking so the recipient can either pick up the box or make arrangements for it to be re-delivered. No response from the buyer.

USPS tracking now shows: 9:31 am delivered to post office box. Strange since it was shipped to an actual street address.

So now, per eBay, I'm covered since it shows as delivered. That's a relief.

aeparts1

·2 years ago

307 View listings

I've had tracking like that when the address wasn't good. It then took a couple of weeks for the tracking to update & the package to make its way back to me.

b86fiero

OP2 years ago

I have sold several thousand of these books and have many repeat buyers, including senior centers, adult day care, and church groups. Over the years I have had a handful of returns, about 4 or 5 I believe.

Not that I anticipate this happening as the books were exactly as described, triple counted, carefully packaged and shipped in one business day as advertised but .....

I am curious how a return in this situation would be handled. I offer free returns for any reason so the buyer would have to request the return, I would automatically issue a return shipping label to the buyer, the buyer would then have to forward the return label to the recipient, and the recipient would have to pack them and ship them back, correct?

a_c_green

·2 years ago

@b86fiero wrote:
I am curious how a return in this situation would be handled. I offer free returns for any reason so the buyer would have to request the return, I would automatically issue a return shipping label to the buyer, the buyer would then have to forward the return label to the recipient, and the recipient would have to pack them and ship them back, correct?

Sure: whoever has the item(s) would have to return them. Of course, your Return label would be originating from wherever you shipped them in the first place, so I don't see a problem here. If it was in fact a Wisconsin buyer for a California delivery, he'd probably have to email the PDF label to his California recipient, but that's no big deal, and would be his problem rather than yours.

umoraski

·2 years ago

4521 View listings

I wouldn't worry about it - if this is the address given, I would send them to this address. You never know, he could be buying them for someone else or as a gift. If Ebay ok's the label that is printed, you have proof, especially with the tracking.

12345jamesstamps

·2 years ago

8861 View listings

It's could be a "Christmas" gift for special sellers end of this year....LOL

eBay does give out a gift to certain buyers every Christmas.

Wouldn't it be funny if you got one back as a Christmas gift this Christmas?

gabe101907

·2 years ago

883 View listings

That's the address of eBay I believe as I have had to have them served with legal papers. Something may have got mixed up as usual. Now ebay is probably going to send me cockroaches and spiders....

soh.maryl

·2 years ago

111 View listings

I think, "Congratulations on the sale!" If there is tracking showing they were delivered, not sure why you would give it a second thought. Am I being naive?

b86fiero

OP2 years ago

Thanks everyone for your comments.

Appreciate you taking the time.

Have a successful selling weekend!

toysaver

·2 years ago

7833 View listings

I am from Delavan WI. It was not me. This is a resort town with lots of second homes. The buyer may really be from Chicago.

b86fiero

OP2 years ago

Thanks for the info. I had no idea as I did not Google the town.

I didn't mean to involve anybody specifically. I reside in a small town and we have at least 30 eBay sellers here plus the hundred(s) from the greater Toledo area.

Sorry if I stepped on anyone's toes.

inhawaii

·2 years ago

Ebay's most handsome seller.4976 View listings

A very interesting story, but still a no-brainer.

Ship it.

b86fiero

OP2 years ago

As stated, this no-brainer immediately shipped the order on Friday within hours of payment received.

inhawaii

·2 years ago

Ebay's most handsome seller.4976 View listings

@b86fiero wrote:
As stated, this no-brainer immediately shipped the order on Friday within hours of payment received.

Sorry, I missed that.

Just saw everybody saying "ship it" "ship it".

Have a great weekend!

az93

·2 years ago

13013 View listings

I don't do any snooping, i just mail things. Much easier.

Unavailable member

·2 years ago

Their profile isn't available.

Buyers often buy gifts for friends and relatives to be shipped to their residence or place of business.
I never pay much attention to where an item I sell is going unless eBay says there's a problem with an address, if nothing is amiss I just ship.

b86fiero

OP2 years ago

I agree.

Although the eBay headquarters address was an attention getter. ðŸ˜

buyselljack2016

·2 years ago

107 View listings

Well, keep us updated here on the thread. Hope it goes well.

Let's hope that it is not some odd plan to cause problems for you.

b86fiero

OP2 years ago

I'll be watching the USPS tracking for delivery. Hopefully the recipient will notify the buyer who will then leave positive feedback for me.

The buyer automatically received feedback from me upon payment.

sextons-sweet-deals

·2 years ago

11053 View listings

You're an experienced / seasoned seller.

Did you review the buyer's profile?

Did you Google map the address?

You can always spend that $4.00 or less for signature required at delivery for safe / secure delivery.

b86fiero

OP2 years ago

I delivered the box to the post office Friday afternoon on my way to an appointment.

I thought the order was unusual but I've sold items to television production companies and well known people in the past, so why not an eBay employee.

Last evening I took another look at the order because I was curious as to what the eBay employee had listed for sale. Using the links in my sales receipt I looked at the buyers feedback and items for sale. That's when I discovered the buyer ID was located in WI and not in CA.

reallynicestamps

·2 years ago

2499 View listings

There are a bunch of houses in that area too.

If the books are returned as Undeliverable, you are not required to refund anything.

https://www.ebay.com/help/policies/ebay-money-back-guarantee-policy/ebay-money-back-guarantee-policy?id=4210#specialcoverage-inr

But it looks like another seller stole your listing, sold it as his own, to an eBay employee, and is using you as his supplier.

I hope you have more than the buyer's initials since the mail room at eBay isn't likely to know everyone even by sight.

albertabrightalberta

·2 years ago

PROFILE SIGNATURE! NOT DIRECTED TO YOU: I can explain it to you but I can't understand it for you.104 View listings

@reallynicestamps wrote:

But it looks like another seller stole your listing, sold it as his own, to an eBay employee, and is using you as his supplier.

That's quite a leap to assume that someone (in Wisconsin) is using the OP as a dropshipper to an ebay employee! That's a huge risk to the buyer's account!

I did have a buyer/reseller do that to me years ago but certainly NOT to an ebay employee! Although I was a bit suspicious of the note saying not to include a packing slip, thank you note or any reference to ebay, I just figured it was a gift and they didn't want the recipient to know where they bought it and how much they paid for it.

I'd never have known I was being used as a dropshipper if the package hadn't gotten "lost" in the Albuquerque, NM post office. Long story short but the intended recipient told me he didn't do business on ebay and didn't make any ebay purchases. (I did end up getting reimbursed for the loss by USPS because it was priority mail and there was no d.c.)

a_c_green

·2 years ago

@albertabrightalberta wrote:
@reallynicestamps wrote:
But it looks like another seller stole your listing, sold it as his own, to an eBay employee, and is using you as his supplier.
That's quite a leap to assume that someone (in Wisconsin) is using the OP as a dropshipper to an ebay employee! That's a huge risk to the buyer's account!

I did have a buyer/reseller do that to me years ago but certainly NOT to an ebay employee! Although I was a bit suspicious of the note saying not to include a packing slip, thank you note or any reference to ebay, I just figured it was a gift and they didn't want the recipient to know where they bought it and how much they paid for it.

I'd never have known I was being used as a dropshipper if the package hadn't gotten "lost" in the Albuquerque, NM post office. Long story short but the intended recipient told me he didn't do business on ebay and didn't make any ebay purchases. (I did end up getting reimbursed for the loss by USPS because it was priority mail and there was no d.c.)

Not addressing anyone in particular here, but I don't quite see how any of this is either scammy or even dropship-related. The buyer in this case is apparently based in Wisconsin but included a California address with their payment. So what?

When I receive payment for a sale, I pack it up, print the label with whatever address was received, and send it out.

In the Original Post in its original form, the quoted address contained the full recipient's name and shipping address, everything needed to ship the package. I snipped it myself when quoting part of it in my original reply, though the name has now been reduced here to its initials only, and the street number has been removed. (The USPS doesn't care about the recipient's name anyway, unless the package is a Restricted Delivery Signature Confirmation item, which this isn't.)

Despite the incomplete address now showing here, there was nothing in the original post that suggested any kind of scam activity to me.

albertabrightalberta

·2 years ago

PROFILE SIGNATURE! NOT DIRECTED TO YOU: I can explain it to you but I can't understand it for you.104 View listings

@a_c_green wrote:
@albertabrightalberta wrote:
@reallynicestamps wrote:
But it looks like another seller stole your listing, sold it as his own, to an eBay employee, and is using you as his supplier.
That's quite a leap to assume that someone (in Wisconsin) is using the OP as a dropshipper to an ebay employee! That's a huge risk to the buyer's account!

I did have a buyer/reseller do that to me years ago but certainly NOT to an ebay employee! Although I was a bit suspicious of the note saying not to include a packing slip, thank you note or any reference to ebay, I just figured it was a gift and they didn't want the recipient to know where they bought it and how much they paid for it.

I'd never have known I was being used as a dropshipper if the package hadn't gotten "lost" in the Albuquerque, NM post office. Long story short but the intended recipient told me he didn't do business on ebay and didn't make any ebay purchases. (I did end up getting reimbursed for the loss by USPS because it was priority mail and there was no d.c.)
Not addressing anyone in particular here, but I don't quite see how any of this is either scammy or even dropship-related. The buyer in this case is apparently based in Wisconsin but included a California address with their payment. So what?

When I receive payment for a sale, I pack it up, print the label with whatever address was received, and send it out.

Maybe you quoted the wrong poster because I'm not sure why you're alleging that I'm implying that there's anything scammy going on.

In fact, my post was commenting on someone else's post, stating that another seller was using the OP as a dropshipper. I considered that a huge leap to make that assumption and in fact, in my post #8 , I stated that I thought everything was fine and that the OP should ship.

b86fiero

OP2 years ago

Yes, the shipping address was to: eBay - Attn: J ... M.... (full name spelled out with payment and appears on shipping label). If there is an employee with that name I would hope the eBay mail room would deliver that heavy box to them.

The whole thing just seems unusual to me. If an eBay employee wanted to purchase an item from me, or any seller, why not do it directly? I don't get the round about way it was done.

a_c_green

·2 years ago

@b86fiero wrote:
The whole thing just seems unusual to me. If an eBay employee wanted to purchase an item from me, or any seller, why not do it directly? I don't get the round about way it was done.

This is probably a bit of a stretch, but perhaps there's some company policy about not using your company account for purchasing, and thus the buyer had a family member do it for them.

As for unusual buyers, I've had a ton of them over the years:

An author who was buying back his own books after losing his own stock in a garage flood
Another author who was writing a book on a couple of items I had listed, lost the bidding for them in a fierce bidding war, but asked if he could at least have my photos as illustrations for the book. (Yes! ðŸ˜Ž)
A museum that bought some vintage items of mine because they were originally made in that city
A Hollywood prop house buying a number of related vintage items without regard to price or condition

Basically: they pay, I ship. No worries.

slati_2013

·2 years ago

@b86fiero wrote:
Yes, the shipping address was to: eBay - Attn: J ... M.... (full name spelled out with payment and appears on shipping label). If there is an employee with that name I would hope the eBay mail room would deliver that heavy box to them.

The whole thing just seems unusual to me. If an eBay employee wanted to purchase an item from me, or any seller, why not do it directly? I don't get the round about way it was done.

Because some sellers here have their own websites where they list eBay items they specialize in, and when someone purchases them, they order them here on eBay to be sent to the customer. I once had a huge lot of old school new flip phones, almost every single one was bought by a buyer who made me send them to different addresses.

These sellers make their money by offering what you are selling at higher prices on their websites. You could increase your prices, but if you are happy with the price you have set there is no need to worry about the seller using you for inventory. I did not care because I was getting the price I wanted and the phones sold out within a couple of weeks thanks to the reseller.

albertabrightalberta

·2 years ago

PROFILE SIGNATURE! NOT DIRECTED TO YOU: I can explain it to you but I can't understand it for you.104 View listings

@b86fiero wrote:

The whole thing just seems unusual to me. If an eBay employee wanted to purchase an item from me, or any seller, why not do it directly? I don't get the round about way it was done.

ebay employees have to identify themselves as such before bidding or buying. Maybe the employee didn't want to identify himself until after the fact. Perhaps it would make a seller nervous? Who knows?

toomuchstuffagain35

·2 years ago

176 View listings

@albertabrightalberta wrote:
@b86fiero wrote:

The whole thing just seems unusual to me. If an eBay employee wanted to purchase an item from me, or any seller, why not do it directly? I don't get the round about way it was done.
ebay employees have to identify themselves as such before bidding or buying. Maybe the employee didn't want to identify himself until after the fact. Perhaps it would make a seller nervous? Who knows?

I'm not sure that's true anymore. I know they dropped the requirement they ID themselves as an ebay employee on their listings years ago now.

wastingtime101

·2 years ago

@albertabrightalberta wrote:
@b86fiero wrote:

The whole thing just seems unusual to me. If an eBay employee wanted to purchase an item from me, or any seller, why not do it directly? I don't get the round about way it was done.
ebay employees have to identify themselves as such before bidding or buying. Maybe the employee didn't want to identify himself until after the fact. Perhaps it would make a seller nervous? Who knows?

Do they really? I've had eBay employees purchase from me on their personal accounts and ship to their office at eBay. None ever identified themself as an eBay employee. ðŸ¤·

albertabrightalberta

·2 years ago

PROFILE SIGNATURE! NOT DIRECTED TO YOU: I can explain it to you but I can't understand it for you.104 View listings

@wastingtime101 wrote:
@albertabrightalberta wrote:
@b86fiero wrote:

The whole thing just seems unusual to me. If an eBay employee wanted to purchase an item from me, or any seller, why not do it directly? I don't get the round about way it was done.
ebay employees have to identify themselves as such before bidding or buying. Maybe the employee didn't want to identify himself until after the fact. Perhaps it would make a seller nervous? Who knows?
Do they really? I've had eBay employees purchase from me on their personal accounts and ship to their office at eBay. None ever identified themself as an eBay employee. ðŸ¤·

Perhaps that requirement was changed.

Many years ago, I received a message from someone letting me know that as an ebay employee, she was required to let me know before bidding or buying my item.

I've looked at the current policy and can't find anything saying they need to ID themselves. It looks like the policy changed.

wastingtime101

·2 years ago

https://www.ebay.com/help/policies/member-behavior-policies/ebay-employee-trading-community-content-policy?id=4263

@albertabrightalberta wrote:
@wastingtime101 wrote:
@albertabrightalberta wrote:
@b86fiero wrote:

The whole thing just seems unusual to me. If an eBay employee wanted to purchase an item from me, or any seller, why not do it directly? I don't get the round about way it was done.
ebay employees have to identify themselves as such before bidding or buying. Maybe the employee didn't want to identify himself until after the fact. Perhaps it would make a seller nervous? Who knows?
Do they really? I've had eBay employees purchase from me on their personal accounts and ship to their office at eBay. None ever identified themself as an eBay employee. ðŸ¤·
Perhaps that requirement was changed.

Many years ago, I received a message from someone letting me know that as an ebay employee, she was required to let me know before bidding or buying my item.

I've looked at the current policy and can't find anything saying they need to ID themselves. It looks like the policy changed.

Here's the current policy @albertabrightalberta :

albertabrightalberta

·2 years ago

PROFILE SIGNATURE! NOT DIRECTED TO YOU: I can explain it to you but I can't understand it for you.104 View listings

If the order tells you to "ship now," do so to the address on the shipping info. As long as there's tracking showing delivery, you'll be fine.

It's possible that an ebay employee (in San Jose) has a friend or relative (in Wisconsin) who's buying your items and having them shipped to the employee at ebay.

robbie31415

·2 years ago

Or an employee is only temporary at the HQ, lives in WI and also runs a side hustle eBay store.

If it says ship, you should ship.

Too many people overthinking things.

reallynicestamps

·2 years ago

2499 View listings

Phone him.

chapeau-noir

·2 years ago

Klaatu barada nikto6593 View listings

I would just ship to the address given in the order.

robbie31415

·2 years ago

I think you shouldn't publish private details that is a violation of privacy policy.

b86fiero

OP2 years ago

I did not identify the buyer by name nor ID.

The shipping address was to eBay headquarters. That's a pretty public location.

robbie31415

·2 years ago

The shipping address included a FULL NAME. That is a violation of eBay policy, and privacy policy.

The mods already removed it though?

b86fiero

OP2 years ago

FWIT many eBay employee's names appear on various locations on this site and in government filings.

robbie31415

·2 years ago

I get it.

It's eBay's address and and employee so I would say it's not as impactful.

The Problem I have is that so many amateur sellers don't understand the difference and share private information publicly in numerous ways.

I've seen sellers leak buyers full name and address in feedback and on the forums.

This information is supposed to be private. Privacy policies on the site give buyers information on how the information they provide may be used.

I'd be surprised leaking names and addresses on public forums is covered.

buyselljack2016

·2 years ago

107 View listings

strange stuff. XXXX Hamilton Ave....................... eBay's address ?

a_c_green

·2 years ago

@b86fiero wrote:
Here is the unusual part:
The shipping address provided with the payment was to: eBay [snipped]

BUT - The Buyer ID is an active seller with 90 current listings who is shown as being located in Delavan, WI.

So ..... what do you think?

I think it's time to ship.

Seriously: buyers can choose any delivery address at Shipping time... and eBay has a bazillion employees, so eventually you're going to come across one in the Real World. (Every now and then, one of them escapes from the compound under cover of darkness. ðŸ˜‰)

So, no red flags here, IMHO. Ship as usual.

b86fiero

OP2 years ago

I shipped the box Friday.

I got to thinking about the Buyer being located in WI and having the box shipped directly to eBay headquarters.

chapeau-noir

·2 years ago

Klaatu barada nikto6593 View listings

@b86fiero wrote:
I shipped the box Friday.

I got to thinking about the Buyer being located in WI and having the box shipped directly to eBay headquarters.

Could be anything, including having a relation of the Wisconsin buyer who happens to work at eBay. I once shipping something to someone from Hong Kong who was registered in the UK but I shipped to where they were staying on Bangkok - same person, though.

b86fiero

OP2 years ago

I also have had buyers change the shipping address at payment. Bought as gifts or on vacation and wanted the item shipped to where they were staying.

I guess it is the size of the order and the fact that is was shipped to eBay headquarters and paid for by somebody else.

Now I'll be wondering what eBay's plans are for those 84 adult coloring books. ðŸ˜„

albertabrightalberta

·2 years ago

PROFILE SIGNATURE! NOT DIRECTED TO YOU: I can explain it to you but I can't understand it for you.104 View listings

@b86fiero wrote:

Now I'll be wondering what eBay's plans are for those 84 adult coloring books. ðŸ˜„

Add ebay branding and send out swag?

buyselljack2016

·2 years ago

107 View listings

Now I'll be wondering what eBay's plans are for those 84 adult coloring books.

-------------------------------------------------------------------

Watch for posts from a seller about a huge "lot" of crayons purchased and shipping to XXXX Hamilton Ave.

Stocking the employee break room with entertainment ðŸ¤£ðŸ˜Ž

ETA: perhaps to check the coloring books for "off color" coloring. (too adult)ðŸ˜

b86fiero

OP2 years ago