how will a return lost by USPS play out?

[bashort]

Got a return coming back mailed 3/11 for a qty of 2 of a item that the buyer claims are defective that I very very seriously doubt are defective so I am not inclined to do anything more than ebay forces me to do but I just wondered how will this end?

I assume that ebay will force the refund if the buyer asks them for help.

It was a ebay label

I was just trying to figure out when I file a lost mail am I the shipper or recipient? 

[house*of*paws]

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@sextons-sweet-deals wrote:

Please clarify.

Did the buyer open a return case or is the buyer shipping back at their cost?

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@sextons-sweet-deals 

The OP said it was an ‘eBay label’.

A buyer wouldn’t have been able to purchase an eBay label themselves.  It would have to have been provided by eBay or the seller in response to a return request being filed.

[Buyers have to purchase shipping labels on PayPal or some other online site … OR buy one at the post office.]

[slippinjimmy]

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@kensgiftshop wrote:

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@the-hook-and-the-loop wrote:

It sounds like you shipped ground advantage(formerly first class) so that would be the same for return shipping which does have $100 insurance.

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They have it on out going packages, but do return shipping labels come with insurance?

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eBay return labels do not have insurance (USPS Policy), it's clearly stated in the Help Pages along with advice on how to handle return shipping if the seller want to have the return insured. The seller has to provide the label instead of using an eBay Return Label.

https://www.ebay.com/help/selling/managing-returns-refunds/return-shipping-sellers?id=4703

eBay Return Labels use the USPS PRS service not regular USPS labels, this service is only available to companies with a NSA (negotiated service agreement).

https://faq.usps.com/s/article/Parcel-Return-Service-PRS

[sextons-sweet-deals]

I read that too, but the other information was confusing. 

My guess it was an open case, seller approved a return label, and more than likely the buyer has manipulated the address on the label. SCAM buyer!

The seller will never know the tracking number, but once it shows delivered to whatever address the buyer manipulated, they will get their $$ back and basically keep the product. More than likely they shipped an empty box, junk, or just an envelope. 

eBay needs to stop the auto refund based on tracking number. If a seller issues a return label, they should be given the tracking number they paid for tracking purposes. Maybe even entertain signature required. 

[slippinjimmy]

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@sextons-sweet-deals wrote:

I read that too, but the other information was confusing. 

My guess it was an open case, seller approved a return label, and more than likely the buyer has manipulated the address on the label. SCAM buyer!

The seller will never know the tracking number, but once it shows delivered to whatever address the buyer manipulated, they will get their $$ back and basically keep the product. More than likely they shipped an empty box, junk, or just an envelope. 

eBay needs to stop the auto refund based on tracking number. If a seller issues a return label, they should be given the tracking number they paid for tracking purposes. Maybe even entertain signature required. 

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I know about the altered label scams but this it a delayed/lost shipment issue, it is not a return that shows as delivered (but not to the OP's location).

[house*of*paws]

@sextons-sweet-deals 

I wasn’t aware that a seller isn’t provided the tracking number of a return label they (or eBay) provide the buyer.  That makes no sense.  🤔

So sellers can’t track returned packages … or even know when they’ve been dropped in the mail?

[slippinjimmy]

I also find it hard to believe that the tracking for an eBay issued return label is not available to the seller.

[sextons-sweet-deals]

the O.P. also stated: I was just trying to figure out when I file a lost mail am I the shipper or recipient? ODD

The O.P. probably can't open a lost mail case because they don't have the tracking number. 

If they had the tracking number, they should be able to see the status and current location. 

[house*of*paws]

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@sextons-sweet-deals wrote:

the O.P. also stated: I was just trying to figure out when I file a lost mail am I the shipper or recipient? ODD

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I didn’t find that an odd question … at least it’s not one I could answer.

If a buyer ships a package using a shipping label paid for by the seller … WHO would be considered the ‘sender’ (assuming an insurance claim could be filed)?  [With some shipping companies, only the ‘sender’ can file a claim.]

[mam98031]

@bashort 

Well don't let it get to the point of Ebay forcing the refund because that causes a defect for you and you won't get your FVFs refunded.

Unfortunately this does fall to the seller.  Because you are technically the shipper on that return label, it makes you, as the seller responsible for the package.  So if it gets lost or damaged in transit, it falls to you as far as responsibility.

If you shared the tracking on this package, I missed it.  When is the last time that movement was recorded on the tracking?  You can contact Ebay and request more time on the INAD due to the item still being in transit.

Go to USPS website and review the detail tracking info.  On this tracking screen there is a place to file for email updates as there is movement on the tracking. Sign up for that so you get informed right away when something gets entered to the tracking.

Go and file for a TRACE, I don't recommend filing for Missing Mail just yet. The two are completely different actions. The Trace usually gets the job done quicker.

https://usps.my.site.com/emailus/s/package-inquiry

Doing these things will often times get the package moving.

[grand-and-glorious-purpose]

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@house*of*paws wrote:

So sellers can’t track returned packages … or even know when they’ve been dropped in the mail?

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You can you just have to do it from inside the return.

[buyselljack2016]

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@slippinjimmy wrote:

I also find it hard to believe that the tracking for an eBay issued return label is not available to the seller.

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On any of the last returns that I have had I have been provided with the tracking # 😁

[bashort]

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@sextons-sweet-deals wrote:

Please clarify.

Did the buyer open a return case or is the buyer shipping back at their cost?

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buyer opened a snad return, i provided a ebay label, they shipped, its stuck with the added twist of the last scan says "visibly damaged"

[bashort]

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@slippinjimmy wrote:

I also find it hard to believe that the tracking for an eBay issued return label is not available to the seller.

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it is available, its been stuck at the same place since 3/21, shipped on 3/11

[asset_liquidators]

You were told wrong (which is the norm for ebays CS reps). It doesn't matter what you get back, you really have no recourse (within the ebay system) anyway.

I had an item returned last year (different scenario but same premise) that ebay said I needed to issue the refund on. The item was on it's way to me but not yet delivered, not yet even the expected delivery date, and was still showing movement within the mail system. On 5-21-24 I got the ultimatum email that I must refund by 5-23-24 (expected delivery date was 5-25-24). 

I contacted ebay via FB and pointed out that they are telling me I have to refund not only before the item had arrived back but even before the expected delivery date that the tracking was showing. They put the case "on hold" to allow extra time for delivery.

Turns out the next day (5-22-24) tracking updated to out for delivery and it was delivered, albeit smashed to pieces. I went back to FB to show them what was returned, a large item in a way oversized box with literally one 12"x12" piece of bubble wrap tossed into the box (not the original box sent in or any of the packing material). They said it didn't matter so I went to refund the payment only to find that they already did and I got my one and only ever "case closed without seller resolution".

[wastingtime101]

Disclaimer: I only read the first 10 responses or so but I'm seeing some inaccurate info so here's some clarity to help.

1. Return labels on eBay can be either USPS or FedEx.

2. All USPS return labels on eBay are Ground Adv - no Priority - does not matter what the outbound service was.

3. eBay-generated USPS return labels are insured up to $100 (even if the help page says otherwise, it's just not updated, you can see insurance coverage when you expand product details at the bottom of tracking on USPS.com). This change went into effect with the launch of Ground Adv. To see how to handle the situation for a lost or damaged item shipped with an eBay-generated return label, read this:

https://community.ebay.com/t5/Shipping/eBay-return-labels-how-to-deal-with-insurance-claims/m-p/3474...