Ebay marked delivery as delivered, but USPS said that it was refused.

[nicholjo-53]

I recently ordered something on ebay that was pretty expensive so I was excited seeing the “delivered” notification earlier in the day. When I later checked on the tracking number it says that it was refused by the addressee which was odd. I contacted my local PO and they said that the tracking number wasn’t for my address. Ebay is telling me that it was “Delivered left with individual” at 10:46am, but the USPS website is telling me that it was refused at 11:26am. Pretty bummed out, with it being a big purchase and the fact that shipping was also $35 and wasn’t shipped until a week after the purchase. I tried contacting the seller and have received nothing so far.I’ve tried clicking “item hasn’t arrived” but I guess I have to wait until tomorrow to try again. Please advise me on what to do.

[gator08041971]

Get a copy of everything from the USPS regarding the delivery if possible.  A printout or similar.

Especially get if you can the package dimensions and weight.  See if they match what your purchase should have been.

You may want to read the post here for a better explanation of what to do next:

https://community.ebay.com/t5/Buying/Item-not-received/m-p/34273201#M476134

[r_lresale]

Did the tracking show that the item was going to back to the seller since it was refused?  Honestly this one doesn't sound like a scam to me as the deliveries don't usually get refused but just disappears somewhere in your zipcode.

IMO this sounds like possibly the postal worker delivered to wrong address and the honest resident refused it because they knew it wasn't theirs or possibly saw the label wasn't addressed to them. Do as @gator08041971 said and get that info from USPS and if was indeed not addressed to you (you will need this info for an appeal) and then come back here on what to do next. 

[nicholjo-53]

Hi, thanks for the reply.

The item does say that it is being returned to the seller on the USPS website, but shows up as delivered on ebay. I guess this is what I was worried about, ebay thinking that I received the item when I haven’t. I’m going to go tomorrow to ask if they can help me with some form of proof that was mentioned above (possible delivery address they tried, dimensions, weight, etc). I just hope they’re able to help me out.

Once again thank you for your response.

[ed8108]

Contact the local post office

Get a written signed,dated,statement with telephone number on USPS letterhead saying the address for the  tracking number is different from your  delivery address on record with ebay. 

[mudshark61369]

@nicholjo-53 

If you read what I posted in the link provided by @gator08041971 , about getting the information you need to win an Item Not Received (INR) dispute or appeal.  Because the item was being returned to the seller you will need the clerk to write out why that is happening, The sender requested return, or the package was undeliverable as addressed.  Most likely the initial  INR dispute will be closed in the seller's favor.  You will receive a message telling you that and in it there is an Appeal button, you can use to write out what happened and attach a scan or clear photo of the note to the appeal.

[nicholjo-53]

Hi, thanks for your response.

I got into contact with the seller, and I’m pretty sure it’s an attempt at a scam. I’ve put down my home address as my shipping address, upon going to the post office they said it wasn’t addressed to the one I gave. Then he responded “I stopped by the usps office, they said you picked up the package. I have proof of receipt” followed by “Maybe one of your neighbors picked up the package?” and “Who picked up my package then?”. Nothing was supposed to be picked up, and the package was marked as refused and it was going back to the sender, so no one currently has anything. I’m going in an hour to the post office for all the documentation.

[femmefan1946]

The bigger worry is that a Refused package is considered Undeliverable by eBay and the seller is not required to refund a single penny for an Undeliverable shipment.

Contact the seller and explain the problem.

Politely. (As if that were necessary your post here doesn't seem as paranoid as some we see.)

And of course, your local post office is your first stop for help.

[rseuqinh]

---

@nicholjo-53 wrote:

I recently ordered something on ebay that was pretty expensive so I was excited seeing the “delivered” notification earlier in the day.

When I later checked on the tracking number it says that it was refused by the addressee which was odd. 

---

Your seller had two things going for it: The fake package to the modified address would either be:

5. Undeliverable

17. Refused by the addressee because they didn't order that

2. Available for Pickup then:

2. Return to Sender 

All of those are considered Delivered by eBay, and you don't get a refund and feedback is blocked/removed if you foolishly try to file an item not received case.

What did your post office tell you?

[nicholjo-53]

Hi thanks for your reply.

I just called the post office and said that they weren’t able to give me anything in writing other than telling me over the phone or in person that it wasn’t to my address. But I was told that the package was too little to be the item I ordered, and had 3 different addresses on it. And I was also told by the operator that it was likely a scam and to file a claim with USPS, or try to dispute it on my credit card. I’m unsure of what to do next, but it says I’m covered by ebay’s money back guarantee? So would I have to go through that?

[nicholjo-53]

Hi thanks for your response,

I’ve contacted the post office and confirmed the suspicions that it was most likely a scam. But the post office is unable to give me any physical proof other than talking over the phone or in person. Please advise next steps to take. Thank you again.

[ittybitnot]

but it says I’m covered by ebay’s money back guarantee?

@nicholjo-53 

eBay's money back guarantee is going to be a FAIL for you unless you get written documentation from the Post Office (ask to see the Post Master regarding a fraud issue) for an eBay appeal.  You don't need to have the information as to where the parcel was delivered, only that it was not intended for you.   You might even fill out a fraud report while you are at the Post Office with the assistance of the Post Master (he/she may even sign it). At the very least get his/her name and phone number.


eBay KNOWS very well that it is often impossible to get written documentation, and likely why they require it.   As suggested by others, the parcel was sent to an address in your Zipcode to satisfy the eBay requirements for proof of delivery for the eBay bot.  Your issue is even more complicated now since the recipient of the package seemingly didn't want it either and it is now RTS (return to sender) which in eBay fashion will be seen as YOU returning the package even though you didn't receive it in the first place. 

You may wish to contact eBay via the blue message button on this page: 

https://www.facebook.com/eBayForBusiness

They are well versed in this scam, and do have the authority to help you.  Perhaps they even have a protocol to follow if the Post Master lets you down and insists he/she won't help you with written documentation.  Check to see if your seller is 'still a registered user'.   If they have been given the proverbial ax already, that will be important to note, as well as the name and phone number of the uncooperative Post Master in case you cannot get a written document to upload to them. 

If your Post Master will not help you, and eBay throws you under the bus for this mess, you may have to seek redress with your credit card company.   Do not do this until you are sure eBay is going to deny you permanently.   

If you end up calling your card company,  do not claim "item not received",  mention only that you have a fake tracking scam problem, and relate what has transpired so far.  If you go for INR again, eBay will just respond with the same phony tracking information and you will lose again. The card company may NOT be as stringent as eBay for evidence, and can advise you as to what you need.  Once you file with your c.card, eBay is done helping you so wait a bit more before you go this route. 

Know you are not alone with this issue.  In one form or another it is posted just about every day here.  It is no secret to eBay, to PayPal, the carriers (USPS, FedEx, UPS etc.) and the credit card industry.  Everyone would be happy if you just give up and go away...so don't.  Be calm and persistent. 

[femmefan1946]

But the post office is unable to give me any physical proof other than talking over the phone or in person.

Go with the in person option.

It's harder to say no when it's face to face.

And you may be able to charm them into bending the rules and giving you (eg) a picture of where it was actually delivered.

Or ask if they can recall the package and deliver it to the right address.

[mudshark61369]

@nicholjo-53,

You replied to my post writing:

 Then he responded “I stopped by the usps office, they said you picked up the package. I have proof of receipt” followed by “Maybe one of your neighbors picked up the package?” and “Who picked up my package then?”. Nothing was supposed to be picked up, and the package was marked as refused and it was going back to the sender, so no one currently has anything. I’m going in an hour to the post office for all the documentation".

Then you replied to @rseuqinh  Last evening:

I just called the post office and said that they weren’t able to give me anything in writing other than telling me over the phone or in person that it wasn’t to my address. But I was told that the package was too little to be the item I ordered, and had 3 different addresses on it. And I was also told by the operator that it was likely a scam and to file a claim with USPS, or try to dispute it on my credit card. I’m unsure of what to do next, but it says I’m covered by ebay’s money back guarantee? So would I have to go through that?

If you read the info I wrote in the link provided by gator in the first reply.  I tell you to GO to the P.O.  The phone reps will not help you, and they likely thought you wanted specific label information, which I specifically tell you a clerk cannot give out. 

By telling us You contacted the seller who responded “I stopped usps office, they said you picked up the package. I have proof of receipt”.  You confused the issue for a couple of people who replied after reading that.  You NEVER take the word of a seller in these instances!!!!!  They outright lied to you about going to the P.O.

Once again here is the link you were given.

https://community.ebay.com/t5/Buying/Item-not-received/m-p/34273201#M476134

Follow the instructions. 

Do be aware that what I say in the link and what @ittybitnot  wrote, last night, about an initial INR dispute failing is correct.  However, when you open a dispute It appears on your my ebay summary page. It will update as replies come in. When you are told the dispute was closed in the seller's favor, there will be an Appeal button in the message.  To win the appeal, you need to get the info in writing from the P.O. which you can get, if you do as I say in the link.

 Many people who have followed my instructions have successfully won appeals, or if they lost one before posting on these boards, they were able to get resolution by contacting ebay through their social media sites. 

[nicholjo-53]

Hi thanks again for your continued responses,

I went to the post office and tried to ask for something in writing and was told that “I couldn’t because it wasn’t addressed to me” and that I would have to wait for a manager. Upon waiting for the manager I asked for the same thing, something on a USPS label without specific information, just saying that the address I have currently doesn’t match the packages address. But again I was turned away saying that “They can’t write anything down on paper.” I was given the number to the USPIS and told that they might have information they could release to me, but that they couldn’t do anything for me there. Really bummed out now, after calling and visiting over the past 3 days and not getting something really simple.