Package address was changed during transit, now buyer is claiming they didn't receive
I shipped and package to CA and it was delivered, now the buyer filed I item not received.
Looking at the tracking it looks like the address was changed to a different address.
Has anyone experienced this, been selling her for 27 years and that has never happened to me before.
I'm not sure what to do, and guidance would be appreciated.
15 comments
haddiebeesknees
·8 months agoHello, this is my first time experiencing something like your situation. Long story short...Item sold on 12/1, I mailed 12/2, never heard anything from customer but I got a pop up from ebay that my package was scanned in California (I'm in New Jersey) around 1/1 - a month later! Few days later it was delivered but of course they never received it. Their post office said it was a scam because they had a photo of label and while it was delivered to the right town and state the buyer's info wasn't the same and my return address did not match. It all does seem like a scam but my post office researched and said all the info still matches in their system. What I think is happening is the tracking numbers are being repeated too quickly or the scan bar is not giving the matching information as above it. When I went back and reviewed my receipt, the day this item was scanned the right city and state info was NOT on there. Of course at the time I did not take that close of a look. I have a a second incident where the scan receipt town and state do not match the item's label. I'm very nervous going forward because I just had to refund both of those buyers and cannot afford mistakes that are completely out of my hands.
deltilogical
·8 months agoYou used USPS, not Fed Ex. Did you use Ebay shipping or go to the actual post office?
cozycornertreasures01
OP8 months agoI'm sorry that has happened to you. I've started to keep an eye on my items more now. If I see something is stuck in the "upside down" of shipping I contact the delivery service and ask them to check on it for any issues. It usually gets the package out of the upside down.
For the most part the mail services are pretty good with delivering my items I sold, I don't have anything really critical to say about their services. Other than the USPS losing its mind with their rate increases. I'm pretty happy with USPS and FedEx.
Even my electrician was telling me about a similar problem he had with an item he sold. There is a YouTuber who was just talking about the same thing too. Tampering with mail is a federal offense. I hope you called Ebay or contacted them thru FB and explained your situation for advice and guidance. And if you do suspect any fraudulent activity with your packages I would contact your post master and file a complaint.
You can also require a signature on delivery but that's a added expense and a lot of buyers don't like that but if it's between refunding for something that's not your fault I'd seriously consider it. Ebay does require it for sales over $700 (I might have that wrong) but it's something to consider. I was just reading a thread on FB and a seller put an apple AirTag in his shipping box to make sure it went to the right address. If someone is going to that extent and seeing people talking about addresses being changed etc is enough for me to have my "mom stranger danger" horns come out.
I hope you have a very successful 2026 selling!
deltilogical
·8 months agoSo this is Fed Ex not USPS, that was not really clear. I'm confused where the address got changed - inside the Ebay system or at Fed Ex after you dropped it at the fedex store. If the latter, then who (employee) did the change? The FEd Ex store knows. Did they enter it wrong in their system? Did you google both addresses? Do you pay Fed Ex shipping through Ebay or do you have another account?
Just for thought, if I was the buyer, and my address on Ebay was correct, and then you told me to go "2 minutes" away to some strangers door to get my item, I wouldn't be impressed. If I couldn't get it, or wouldn't (bad area, infirmity, illness etc), and if Ebay wouldn't make me whole I would then go through paypal armed with your email telling me to go "2 minutes" away to some strangers door to get my item.
cozycornertreasures01
OP8 months agoI bought the label thru Ebay, like I'm supposed to.
Why yes, I did google it, I'm a mom and have acquired certain investigative skills as a domestic engineer 😎
Well then it was a very good thing you weren't the buyer 🤣
I'm on the opposite end of the US so I couldn't really retrieve it for him could I? What would you have done if you were the seller? No, wait don't answer that lol. We all have to work together to resolve issues. "Team work makes the dream work."
Good talk!
kibble-net
·8 months agoThis doesn't sound like a changed address at all. It's a delivery error.
If you have tracking that shows it's been delivered, you can have the buyer contact the shipper and figure it out themselves. This is NOT your problem.
cozycornertreasures01
OP8 months agoThe tracking says it was changed, and confirmed with Fedex. I agree it's not a me problem for sure. thanks I needed to hear that reassurance.
ryry-jj
·8 months agoHow do you know the actual street address was changed? It sounds more like a mis-delivered package going to the wrong address
cozycornertreasures01
OP8 months agolol I press print on my computer and that's the address Ebay gives me to send it to. Pretty simple.
I told the buyer to check the address it was sent to, it's a 2 min walk from them.
I already showed the tracking in the INR.
Been selling on Ebay for 28 years and I have never had that happen. It's seems very irregular.
How does a shipping address get changed?
stainlessenginecovers
·8 months ago@cozycornertreasures01 How could you know that? The info on tracking only shows the 'zip code' and not the address.
fullers_uk
·8 months agoCA as in California?
CA as in Canada?
I recently had this problem with an item I sent to Canada, seems they can set up redirection when an item is in transit using the tracking number which ebay force you to give the buyer, when the parcel reaches the original delivery location office its redirected but canada post dont get proof of delivery on redirect items.
Its a thieves charter.
cozycornertreasures01
OP8 months agoIt was California, sorry I wasn't clear. When you say "they" can set up redirection when an item is in transit using the tracking number. Who are you referring to? Ebay or the buyer? I was asked at the Fedex store if I changed it which the answer is no. I was under the impression that addresses can't be changed.
Sorry about your situation, hoped it worked out.
tinsoldierunderground
·8 months agoIt sounds like it may be more a case of mis-delivery. Was it delivered in the buyer's zip code?
cozycornertreasures01
OP8 months agoYes, it was delivered around the corner. I understand mis-delivery, it's happened to me more times than I care to talk about until I actually stopped the driver and asked him if he knows how to read a map. Then it stopped. But the address was changed, that's what has me concerned.
dirk12955
·8 months agoThe important thing is that you sent the item to the address
provided by ebay on the sales order.
Assuming you did that, Add the tracking info that shows
delivered to the INR claim. It's already there, But add it just the same.
Then, I'd sit back and see what happens. That's what I'd do.