eBay

sin-n-dex · ‎07-15-2022

I did post about this one when the return request happened, but I'm not sure what to make of what's happened since.

- Sold an item, delivered July 8

- Return request initiated July 11, only says does not match description/photos, no further info

- Inquired what was wrong with the set, no response, assumed it might have just been a remorse return

- Sent label July 11

- Nothing updating on return tracking, so I followed up today to see if there was any issue with the label (it has happened before there was, and the buyer didn't want to reach out, but I fixed their issue and they were able to complete the return)

Aside from the buyer saying in the case that he wants to return it because desc/photos don't match, I have zero information on what's wrong with this set, no communication from the buyer, no evidence of it being returned. Most of my unhappy buyers return stuff very quickly because they want a refund, this guy seems intent to wait for a while and getting the refund doesn't seem so important.

My issue is that once it shows delivered (or attempted delivery which it usually does since I have a PO Box, and I can't necessarily get there within eBay's time limit because the PO Box is near my work and I don't go into work every day due to COVID). So I want to get him his refund and move on with the rest of my selling activities without the possibility of a closed without resolution case looming because I didn't pick the item up quickly enough. (Plus I want to get it quickly so I can refund them quickly, I don't want to keep their money if they've returned something).

So I'm not really sure what's going on... I figured he wasn't telling me what was wrong with the set because it's really remorse and nothing's wrong, well let me have the set back, I can resell it. I don't think the buyer is scamming me either, but we'll see what I get back, if I get something back.

Oh, eBay tells me the buyer has until August 12 to return the coin set, but my label won't be any good then. eBay says he really only has until July 25 to return it, and on July 26 they can close the return request in my favour (if things go that far). Not sure why online it says something different than what I'm being told on the phone. July 25 makes more sense, the label won't be good after that.

eBay also says that buyers are supposed to use the return label they're provided to ensure things are being returned to the right place, and eBay can see the label, and verify with tracking that it got there. When buyers use their own labels, we don't know where stuff is really being sent, so CSR told me if a seller is to provide a label, the buyer is supposed to be using that label. Just an FYI because this has come up in the forum before.

C.

momdadsstash · ‎07-15-2022

In the life of the buyer, it may only be 2 whole days since you sent the label.

Maybe he's waiting until he has another reason to go somewhere around the post office.

sextons-sweet-deals · ‎07-15-2022

I have a bad vibe about this! You mention coin set. Currency, ball cards, sneakers, jewelry, laptops, and others are known for scams.

As a seller, when you send the return label, do you get a copy of it / tracking number? I ask because I need a better understanding myself. The last issue I had with a buyer; eBay told them to ship back. Buyer would not send photos of the claimed damaged package. I did not send a label. Withing 10 days I get a notice from eBay that item has been delivered and buyer refunded. I'm still waiting on it.

I say all this because you are an experienced seller and I'm sure you took good photos and gave details. For a buyer to claim that a coin set is not as described seems a little odd. They looked at the photos but didn't ask questions before purchase.

I currently have some currency listed with pick up only. I even added best offer on most of the listings and still no bites. I find it odd because there are coin collectors all over and nearby.

best wishes!

lakefor94 · ‎07-15-2022

As far as the buyer using yours or eBay's label, I am thinking they can use any label, including their own as long as they enter the tracking into the case and eBay will except that. (not that I am an authority on return labels)

You buyer is just dragging their feet. I never push them on a return. Ball is already in their court.

I would be interested to hear what others have to say. I thought buyer's had about 3 weeks to return though I think the timeframe has been a moving target over the last couple years.

Posting ID

ga-8370 · ‎07-15-2022

@sextons-sweet-deals wrote:
@sin-n-dex wrote:
- Return request initiated July 11, only says does not match description/photos, no further info
- Sent label July 11

So I want to get him his refund and move on with the rest of my selling activities without the possibility of a closed without resolution [defect] looming because I didn't pick the item up quickly enough. (Plus I want to get it quickly so I can refund them quickly, I don't want to keep their money if they've returned something).

I don't think the buyer is scamming me either, but we'll see what I get back, if I get something back.

eBay says he really only has until July 25 to return it, and on July 26 they can close the return request in my favour (if things go that far). Not sure why online it says something different than what I'm being told on the phone.

When buyers use their own labels, we don't know where stuff is really being sent, so CSR told me if a seller is to provide a label, the buyer is supposed to be using that label.
I did not send a label. Withing 10 days I get a notice from eBay that [return] has been delivered and buyer refunded. I'm still waiting on it.

Like sexyton, your buyer is returning something -- to your neighbourhood using their own label.

Then 2 business days after tracking shows delivered -- but you haven't refunded,

- your buyer will call eBay -- as eBay removed the option to upload their own return tracking number,

- reveal that tracking number -- which already delivered over 2 business days ago,

- then eBay will force a full refund -- and reward you with that defect.

You issued a return label on -- Jul 11.

If the buyer prints your label within 10 business days, i.e. before -- Jul 25,

they get 5 more business days to use their own label, to call eBay for a full refund before -- Aug 1.

sin-n-dex · ‎07-15-2022

@momdadsstash wrote:
In the life of the buyer, it may only be 2 whole days since you sent the label.
Maybe he's waiting until he has another reason to go somewhere around the post office.

This is possible, but since there's been no communication I can only speculate on what's happening.

My partner thinks this was a remorse return and that he's changed his mind about returning (and doing what most people do when they change their mind... they just stay silent and let the process time out).

C.

sin-n-dex · ‎07-15-2022

@sextons-sweet-deals wrote:
I have a bad vibe about this! You mention coin set. Currency, ball cards, sneakers, jewelry, laptops, and others are known for scams.

As a seller, when you send the return label, do you get a copy of it / tracking number? I ask because I need a better understanding myself. The last issue I had with a buyer; eBay told them to ship back. Buyer would not send photos of the claimed damaged package. I did not send a label. Withing 10 days I get a notice from eBay that item has been delivered and buyer refunded. I'm still waiting on it.

I say all this because you are an experienced seller and I'm sure you took good photos and gave details. For a buyer to claim that a coin set is not as described seems a little odd. They looked at the photos but didn't ask questions before purchase.

I currently have some currency listed with pick up only. I even added best offer on most of the listings and still no bites. I find it odd because there are coin collectors all over and nearby.

best wishes!

It's a good set, but not the type of set a scammer would know about. It's uncommon, so people wouldn't ordinarily be looking for such a thing, although some people might have searches set up to catch one when it shows up. Generally when I've run into coin scammers it's a much more common well known item that non-collectors know exists and are valuable.

I don't think this is a scam, but I'm uncomfortable with how it's playing out. I like to resolve problems quickly and move on, and eBay's decision to allow buyers 15 business days to return items just permits people to drag their feet and delay on resolving the problem.

C.

sin-n-dex · ‎07-15-2022

@lakefor94 wrote:
As far as the buyer using yours or eBay's label, I am thinking they can use any label, including their own as long as they enter the tracking into the case and eBay will except that. (not that I am an authority on return labels)

You buyer is just dragging their feet. I never push them on a return. Ball is already in their court.

I would be interested to hear what others have to say. I thought buyer's had about 3 weeks to return though I think the timeframe has been a moving target over the last couple years.

I've never been on the buying side of a return, so I'm not sure what they get to do. That's too bad, I like to know what buyers see when things happen. It enables me to help them if they have problems (which is the case sometimes with new buyers and their first return).

It's three weeks, according to eBay CSR, but the online screens in the return request say Aug 12, which makes it 5 weeks from when the return was started. My complaint is how are we supposed to know what's going on if we're not correctly informed through the process.

C.

sin-n-dex · ‎07-15-2022

@ga-8370 wrote:
@sextons-sweet-deals wrote:
@sin-n-dex wrote:
- Return request initiated July 11, only says does not match description/photos, no further info
- Sent label July 11

So I want to get him his refund and move on with the rest of my selling activities without the possibility of a closed without resolution [defect] looming because I didn't pick the item up quickly enough. (Plus I want to get it quickly so I can refund them quickly, I don't want to keep their money if they've returned something).

I don't think the buyer is scamming me either, but we'll see what I get back, if I get something back.

eBay says he really only has until July 25 to return it, and on July 26 they can close the return request in my favour (if things go that far). Not sure why online it says something different than what I'm being told on the phone.

When buyers use their own labels, we don't know where stuff is really being sent, so CSR told me if a seller is to provide a label, the buyer is supposed to be using that label.
I did not send a label. Withing 10 days I get a notice from eBay that [return] has been delivered and buyer refunded. I'm still waiting on it.
Like sexyton, your buyer is returning something -- to your neighbourhood using their own label.

Then 2 business days after tracking shows delivered -- but you haven't refunded,
- your buyer will call eBay -- as eBay removed the option to upload their own return tracking number,
- reveal that tracking number -- which already delivered over 2 business days ago,
- then eBay will force a full refund -- and reward you with that defect.

You issued a return label on -- Jul 11.
If the buyer prints your label within 10 business days, i.e. before -- Jul 25,
they get 5 more business days to use their own label, to call eBay for a full refund before -- Aug 1.

What you say for timeline makes sense... but I found flaws in this process.

1. I'm in Canada, there is nothing in my zipcode, it's unique to my mailbox. (And it's a PO Box, we don't have four numbers after, it's a unique 6 digit code, you will not find any business online using it)

2. By the time this item gets delivered, I will have been able to close this case because mail will take at least 2 or 3 weeks to get here. It's expensive enough that it will spend time in customs before it makes it to my post office. I'm used to waiting no less than 2 weeks for an item, which is why I refund on small things when I see they are enroute (like at the international centre), seeing as how I have to refund anyway when tracking shows delivered.

3. If he sends it to the freight forwarder instead (which is not on my return label, or in my profile for where returns should go, although some people use it), they will notify me right away. I will have the option of letting them check the package out to see what it is, as it will take another 7-10 days to go from New York to my city where I can collect it from their local office. I'll be notified the day they get it, so I'll know something's up before he has a chance to close out the case.

C.