Questionable buyer
What to do? Please help. Thank you.
Sold a small package of bird feed for 6.90. Profit with out taking into consideration all the traveling and gas money to go to the post office.
Anyway, I purchased the ebay USPS label with tracking information. Sent it using that label. Item was delivered, Buyer contacts me and says, Item shows delivered and I did not receive the package. I asked is this the correct address matching the USPS label to it, buyer responds and says yes, it is.
Then, buyer changes the story and says, I have the package, but the package came in empty. I asked he buyer politely maybe someone in your household opened the package in my response message. Buyer claims she lives alone and no one could have opened the package. So, buyer changes the story from I did not receive the package to the package came in, but it was empty. A couple of days later someone here suggested I asked for pictures of the package the buyer received, buyer stayed quiet and after 4-5 days buyer finally responds and says I do not have it, threw it away, then after 2 mins buyer sends another message. It's been 2 weeks!...
What to do?
While I would not mind crediting the buyer, I do not want to do that since that can open up other questionable buyers to make false claims on other items I am currently trying to sell.
It has been like 2 weeks, since this whole ordeal started.
Please help. Thank you
luckythewinner
·5 months agoWhat to do?
If the buyer files a dispute for 'Not as described", you will not win. So you can either accept it and refund, or deny it and eBay will step in and refund anyway - and get a defect and lose your fees.
While I would not mind crediting the buyer, I do not want to do that since that can open up other questionable buyers to make false claims on other items I am currently trying to sell.
First, how will "other buyers" know that you refunded this buyer? Second, that will not "open up" anything. That door is already wide open with a "help yourself to free stuff" sign over it.
It has been like 2 weeks, since this whole ordeal started.
If the buyer files a dispute, you have as very short window to accept the dispute before eBay steps in.
1786davycrockett
·6 months ago@red6804
As others have suggested, do NOTHING unless the buyer opens an "item not received" case.
If the buyer opens an INR case, all you need to do is enter the USPS Tracking Number on the case form, and eBay will close the case in your favor.
Do NOT refund the buyer, just because you feel sorry for them -- they are probably scamming you.
tobaccocardyahoo
·6 months agoHaving exchanged multiple messages with the buyer, and considering your gas to the PO, you have already lost money on this transaction.
This is not worth any more risk to your account. The buyer, if they are out to cheat you can easily determine they should be filing an INAD return, and win or lose, it will be on your metrics.
I have had, maybe one or two empty package claims in decades of online selling. I refunded all of them promptly. Not worth the trouble.
But I do not sell items which appeal to crooks or buyers who are anatomical pains. When I have sold such products, I stopped selling them as soon as I realized who bought them.
My best protection against these problems is what I choose to sell.
A postscript:
I looked at your past sales. Most of your sales are auction sales which have sold on 1 bid. This is a profile for bad business. You are getting a specific kind of buyer for these items, which is not the highly desirable collector. It is a recipe for bad after sale experiences, and is eliminating the majority of Ebay buyers from considering your merchandise.
Buy It Now is your friend.
krazzykats
·6 months agoSend them a copy of the post office receipt showing their address, postage purchased date, the mail class, and weight.
ᓚᘏᗢ
kensgiftshop
·6 months agoIf you hear from them again, tell them to file for a return and see what they do.
christworks
·6 months ago@red6804 Your buyer is trying to get over you. Stop engaging with them. If they want to open a case, they can, but I would not direct them to do that. No sense in inviting more stuff for you to deal with on this small sale.
Speak of small sales, you are the one who made the choice to list such a small dollar item. I'm not sure why you are complaining you had to take it to the post office. What did you expect you'd have to do once it sold?
jhtobias
·6 months agoFirst off he is not complaining he had to take it to the post office .. This is why so many people stop coming to the board for advice . People like you are not helpful, but just looking to put people down .
Your user name is the exact opposite of who you are .
inhawaii
·6 months agoAt least they had some advice to give, unlike you.
Why are you here, just to criticize?
That's why so many people stop coming to the board to give advice.
christworks
·6 months agoYou do not know me, nor do you know anything about me.
They are the ones who mentioned having to take the item to the post office and the time and gas involved. That's something to consider before you list an item, not after. Sometimes it isn't worth selling low dollar items. Better they realize this now, then to keep listing things like this and giving up because they are taking too many losses. I like to see people do well, and sometimes giving someone a reality check is what is needed, rather than placating them.
Now, get out of here with all that other stuff. You know better.
kibble-net
·6 months agoUSPS should have a record of the weight of the parcel. They can confirm that it wasn't empty. However, you probably won't need to even bother with that. The fact that the buyer keeps changing the story is proof enough.
Unless they open an INAD case (which would be them openly lying) you will be fine. And even if they do, you can probably show ebay the conflicting statements and get them to close the case in your favor.
You can refund and block if you want to resolve this quickly and painlessly, but that's up to you. The buyer here is not entitled to a refund IMO.
fm2000
·6 months agoTell them to open an INR claim and cease all further communication with them (no good can come of it). Since tracking shows delivered, you will win the claim. Then put them on your blocked buyer list. They are trying to scam you.
You might also want to consider a USPS pickup for similar packages, if available. A small pack of birdseed can probably fit in your mailbox. Given the per mile cost to drive a modern vehicle, going to the post office could eat up most of your profit on such a small value item.
inhawaii
·6 months agoTell the buyer to start a INR (item not received) case through ebay.
Respond to the case with the tracking number that shows it was delivered.
Ebay will close the case in your favor. No refund.
wastingtime101
·6 months agoDo nothing. The buyer is fishing.
Stop responding. If they file a claim, contact eBay customer service and have them read the message where the buyer said they threw it out.
Add them to your blocked buyer list.
soh.maryl
·6 months agoNot a vast amount of money. I'd refund and then block.