eBay

le-5262 · ‎04-14-2021

Hello! I'm unsure on how to proceed with a return request.

I had a customer purchase an item over the weekend, so it didn't go out for shipping until the following Monday.

A few hours after the package left my post box, I received an angry return request saying he received his order and he received his order and it was a no-name fake.

I live in Illinois...he lives in Texas. There is no way possible his package arrived. Tracking supports this...it hadn't even made it to the sorting center.

My deadline to respond is tomorrow. I assume that if I don't respond or ask Ebay to step in, the buyer will automatically receive the refund.

I've already been in contact with the buyer to give them the benefit of the doubt that he made some sort of error. I've asked him to cancel the fraudulent claim until this can be sorted. After that, he stopped talking.

...and I immediately sent in a mail intercept request in hopes that I could get my merchandise back and simply cancel the transaction.

I'm still on the fence about whether I should report the buyer.

Does anybody have any input as to how I should proceed? I was going to accept the request with the return of the item...but I definitely don't want a rock sent back to me. Whatever he got, isn't mine...and I don't want that, either.

soh.maryl · ‎04-14-2021

Did you actually make contact with the buyer, explain that he could not possibly have received your item yet, and ask him if he meant that for some other seller?

reallynicestamps · ‎04-14-2021

Politely tell him that he seems to have mistaken your shipment for one he bought elsewhere.

Give him the tracking number.

Put the tracking number into the Dispute immediately, along with the estimated delivery dates.

Then shut up.

If he continues to demand "satisfaction", politely tell him that his purchase is in transit, but if he returns it to you, once he actually receives it, you will refund him.

Then wait.

If he continues this message. "I regret that you are unhappy with your purchase. Please return it for refund."

Rinse, repeat.

I find it difficult to believe that a formal eBay Dispute has been opened.

Normally this can't happen until the last estimated date for delivery has passed.

But get the tracking number on record ASAP.

calntom · ‎04-14-2021

Hopefully your intercept works. It should since it is early in the shipment process.

I would accept the return and provide a return label if eBay does not do that for you.

It could be a buyer mistake or could be a scammer getting a tad bit ahead of themselves. A lot of them are brazen and without shame.

Looks like at this point, you stand a good chance of not losing the money and the product.

le-5262 · ‎04-14-2021

Yes, I immediately contacted them with that thought. He said he did order something else and would check, but still has not canceled the request or even verified it was an error on his part.

He sent me a couple of messages telling me to just give him his money back.

calntom · ‎04-14-2021

@le-5262 wrote:
Yes, I immediately contacted them with that thought. He said he did order something else and would check, but still has not canceled the request or even verified it was an error on his part.

He sent me a couple of messages telling me to just give him his money back.

I forgot to mention in my previous response that I would be hesitant in getting ebay invloved.

le-5262 · ‎04-14-2021

Thank you! It IS really odd that someone could open an INAD case before it shows delivery, especially when I purchased the shipping through Ebay.

I'm definitely leaning towards your advice. One of the biggest irritants is that I'm probably now going to have a defect on my otherwise spotless record.

reallynicestamps · ‎04-14-2021

If the buyer wants his money back, he has to open a Dispute.

I am fairly certain that the seller would win the dispute, just by showing that the item has not yet arrived but is in transit.

It is useful for sellers to get scammy (and crackpot) buyers on eBay's radar.

donsdetour · ‎04-14-2021

do an intercept on the item (package) now: it does cost to do so.

Return for refund: is what you do on the claim.

Typical scam.

calntom · ‎04-14-2021

@reallynicestamps wrote:
If the buyer wants his money back, he has to open a Dispute.
I am fairly certain that the seller would win the dispute, just by showing that the item has not yet arrived but is in transit.

It is useful for sellers to get scammy (and crackpot) buyers on eBay's radar.

The OP has stated that there is a INAD case open. I would assume that one would respond to that case as appropriate by accepting the return and providing a return label.

Just adding tracking information won't keep eBay from closing out the INAD request and refunding tomorrow. This is not a INR case.

le-5262 · ‎04-14-2021

I have bought items off of Ebay and, with all of the notifications and messages, I do find it hard to swallow that it's a buyer mistake that wouldn't have been pretty easy for them to see fairly quickly.

...and I was pretty proud of my savvy to intercept the package. I just so happened to be sitting here when the request came in. I'm pretty sure the buyer wasn't expecting that LOL!

Thank you for your input

le-5262 · ‎04-14-2021

Thank you for your input!

HA! Yeah...I immediately intercepted. Two days and it hasn't come back or registered any movement on the tracking. It'll be nice if I actually get it back.

acrc3113 · ‎04-14-2021

Respond immediately to the return request with the tracking number (showing item is still in transit). Do not refund until USPS actually returns your item and you have it in your possession. Sometimes the post office delivers an item anyway, even though you have submitted the intercept request. I wouldn't send any more messages to the "buyer". Hopefully it is not a high value item. Good luck.