eBay

rufert123 · ‎05-31-2023

First a brief rundown: An item sold a couple days before planned vacation (posted to my ebay stuff 1 month prior) and didn't get it paid before I left. When paid I arranged for item to ship even though I had first said to buyer it may take a couple weeks. When item got to buyer P.O. reported item as refused and sent it back to me. Well my not being home the box sat out and got rain on several different times and everything was destroyed beyond being salvageable. I messaged the buyer that I didn't know what had happened on their end but the item was destroyed after sent back because they refused the package. They stated that this was an ongoing problem with the P.O. and since the item was destroyed could they get a refund.

My feelings are that no refund is warrented. I already went out of my way to get it shipped and such when I could have said they needed to wait for me to get back from vacation. Also this appears to be an ongoing problem for them with the P.O. and they should have been doing something to prevent the problem. Also if I refund them I am out the product and the money.

I should add also the address I shipped to was an export company to ship it over to china.

fab_finds4u · ‎05-31-2023

Packages where tracking says refused delivery are ineligible for eBay buyer protection. eBay should not force you to refund.

I'd like to point out it is your responsibility to have a safe place to leave packages or you need to be there when they're delivered.

ms.rodriguez* · ‎05-31-2023

Normally, when folks go on vacation , they put a hold on their mail. That is YOUR fault. You can refuse the refund but the buyer can always go to their credit card company and do a chargeback. You also admitted to them that the item got destroyed in the rain because you were not home for days. The buyer can tell ebay had you been home, you could have refunded everything but the shipping and then relisted the item. They may ask ebay to read your emails.

Finally, you should get a case of cheap plastic bags and put every item inside one of these bags and seal it to protect the item against rain. You can get 1000 t shirt garbage bags for around 20.oo at Costco or Sams club. You might find them cheaper here too. Goodluck.

rufert123 · ‎05-31-2023

There is plenty of places for the mail carrier to put a package so it doesn't get rained on at my place. The problem is our mail carriers will not get out of their viechles to get them to those spots. Most of the time if I get a package that doesnt fit in the mailbox I find it out by the road on the edge of the driveway. I'm not sure where this one was left as my son brought it in as he was still home but was working alot

rufert123 · ‎05-31-2023

i didn't do a hold because my son was home. He was working alot but here at least every other day. I was not expecting packages and my mailbox is plenty big to hold all my bills for 2 weeks as that is the only mail I get.

The way I understand them the PO marks the items as refused if someone is not there to accept the package so if anything they can go after the post office as there was insurance on the package.

I still feel I did my part and should not be the one out any money for other peoples short comings.

iamalwaysright · ‎05-31-2023

A few different smaller issues going on at the same time with one. Most important one is when a package comes back as Refused, all Money Back Guarantee policy and terms are nullified. Also, unless ebay recently changed this policy, any item shipped to a freight forwarder also surrenders any Money Back Guarantee policy from the start. So there's two reasons why you should be covered in ebay. Ebay cannot force you to issue any refund to the buyer, whether you still decide to issue any or all of the money back because of certain circumstances is at your discretion. Yes, the buyer ultimately has a payment dispute card (out of ebay's control) in their pocket if they choose to use it. You will 99% of the time lose along with a possible $20 processing fee.

I wouldn't agree that you "went out of your way" to get it shipped. That is your seller obligation to get it shipped out on time as stated in your listing. You did what you were supposed to do. By default, the buyer is allowed to delay payment up to 4 days after winning the listing. It was your mistake not to consider that when you listed the item. You could have also solved this issue by choosing "Immediate payment required" when you listed. Or if you absolutely had to have it as an auction (ineligible for IPR), then do better with time management. You basically followed through with the obligation of your time management mistake which is just fine.

I don't think it's really required for a seller to have a safe place for packages to be delivered as long as you're responsible for it. If you never get any returns (either by you having awesome items or just refunding buyers and letting them keep the item), there's no need for you to have a secure package drop off area for ebay. Or if a returned package gets soaked or stolen off your porch, you'll just replace it on your own dime. But you'll probably want a safe place anyway for deliveries from other parties possibly for your ebay business.

Now if you are an ebay buyer, you are required to have a secure package delivery area since you will be holding another party ultimately responsible for the success of the delivery.