Buyer sent item back to wrong addess

[davelatenight]

So I sold a knife ($200) to a buyer in New Jersey..first he said he was out of the country and would look at it when he returned ..About two week later he sent a message wanting his money back for a damaged knife..the knife was new the only time out of the box was when I first purchased it and the again to take pictures…I agreed to accept the return and sent a label through eBay ..it had the wrong address on it so I canceled the label and sent a new label through USPS..This was all discussed through eBay messages..he agreed not to send the knife with old label and to use the new label and said he received the new label… He said he spoke to eBay and that was OK…so today I get message that he sent the label..in checking it’s the wrong label not the one I sent him..so I messaged him and he said he was sorry he sent it to,the wrong address…so I don’t even know what he sent ….its all but impossible to talk to eBay ..

im not going to refund him until I actually receive the knife….

[soh.maryl]

How did the return label (the 1st one) have your address wrong?  

[mtgraves7984]

Was the address on the original label addressed using your 'Return to' address in your Account Settings?

[powell-collectibles]

The buyer can force a refund. The rule isn’t that the item gets back to you, it is that the buyer uses the label that you provided. If it ends up going to the wrong location, gets lost, you put on the wrong address, etc., you are supposed to send a refund.

[12345jamesstamps]

'not going to refund him until I actually receive the knife'....I would not let eBay step in to refund buyer.

That would mean you get a 'ding' for letting eBay refund the item.

Sounds like a mix up of addresses...I suggest checking tracking to see if anything is being shipped.

If there is tracking buyer will get a refund whether knife is returned or not.

If there is not tracking on either shipping label or if buyer didn't send it on his own with tracking you might get lucky and buyer won't get a refund.

This was a buyer in the USA and not 'freight forward' or to another country?

[bonjourami]

"im not going to refund him until I actually receive the knife…."

Sad to say Ebay will refund him for you, and give you a defect to boot.

[kensgiftshop]

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@davelatenight wrote:

im not going to refund him until I actually receive the knife….

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It's the sellers responsibility to keep their account information up to date.

It doesn't matter where the knife is delivered, the buyer will get a refund from your account when it's delivered

[supercharger-parts]

Are you able to redirect the package thru USPS?  I know that the package intercept is not always successful, but if you know when he mailed it and the tracking number you can see if it's still at the local post office or call the post office of the address it is being sent to and tell them your issue and see if the postmaster can help you stop it from being delivered but sent to you instead.  I have no idea if that will work with an eBay label.

If you look at post office locations for the appropriate zip code online, make sure to call the local number, not the 800 number.

[Anonymous]

Sorry, that happen to you 

[bonanza125]

"im not going to refund him until I actually receive the knife."

Ebay will force the refund then cause you sent a return label to the buyer already. You will then receive defect on your record if you don't give the buyer a refund upon the item being delivered to the address on the label. 

[davelatenight]

I sent him another label, he acknowledged he got te second label and said he would use that label .. I verified my addresss and he acknowledged that.. this is all documented in EBay emails between both of us.. he used the L Abel I told him was canceled and he said he shipped it to the wrong address he said “I feel like an idiot but I used the wrong label “

[christworks]

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@davelatenight wrote:

I sent him another label, he acknowledged he got te second label and said he would use that label .. I verified my addresss and he acknowledged that.. this is all documented in EBay emails between both of us.. he used the L Abel I told him was canceled and he said he shipped it to the wrong address he said “I feel like an idiot but I used the wrong label “

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None of that matters. You made the mistake here. Rather than complain about how you are not going to do this or that, get off your butt and try to find where that package is and get it routed to you. You know the address on the first label. Call the local post office that delivers mail to that address. The postmaster there can let the carrier know not to deliver the package to that address. This will buy you some time so you can get it routed to your new address instead. 

If you manage to get the package, I hope the knife is in it. My initial thought is that your buyer isn't an idiot, but rather clever and took advantage knowing he just needs to use a label you sent him. None of that stuff in the messages matters, since you are the one who created the label.