Another stellar experience with returns, no money and no item back

[hubsnyc]

So, I sold a small tablet and buyer received it with no issues. 

I shipped it Priority Flat Rate

Few days later they opened a returned, said they didn't want it any more. 

Return was approved automatically, and eBay provided a return label. 

I thought nothing of it, and was just going to relist it when it was returned. 

Return never made it back to me, USPS sent it back to sender as the weight was over the 1st class label Ebay provided. I told the buyer to ship it to me at their expense.

They did not, escalated to costumer service, and got a quick refund before I could even call Ebay

I'm out the money,  the item and shipping fees for 2 shipments.

The so called 'seller protections' are imaginary.

[bonjourami]

have you called Ebay about this? Or page one of the blues here.

[dare-2046]

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@hubsnyc wrote:

Return was approved automatically, and eBay provided a return label. 

Return never made it back to me, USPS sent it back to sender as the weight was over the 1st class label Ebay provided.

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Hi @ship_like_a_pro Nate, without a way to identify the errant postal employee, is there a way to educate USPS to stop this from happening?

Perhaps add a reference to the DMM in the comment box on the return label, just under the eBay Return ID that's already in that comment box.

[hubsnyc]

I did call, they denied an appeal saying I didn't put the weight of the item in the listing.
I asked if that was required, they said no but it was suggested. I said if its only suggested that why I am not covered, they said I should have put they weight in the listing....taking in circles.
Weight makes no difference to me as I ship everything for free.

[hubsnyc]

Adding insult to injury, now I'm getting a strike for an unresolved return...this place is great...

[tunicaslot]

I would come to chat tomorrow at 1pm PST or 4pm EST and address the blues with the situation. If ebay now wants weight added to a listing then they better make an announcement - add to that a seller has no idea what the weight of the package will be coming back for certain if the buyer doesn't use the same box and packing supplies it was sent in.

[dare-2046]

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@dare-2046 wrote:

Perhaps add a reference to the DMM in the comment box on the return label, just under the eBay Return ID that's already in that comment box.

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dare-2046

Can you post a link to that DMM reference.

[trustedbasset]

Just another reason not to use free shipping. You can lose your item and money.

I would like to know where they got the weight to issue a label in the first place. Did they pick it out of the air?

[innovatilife]

Just had the same exact thing happened to me. Buyer opened a return, I accepted it and purchased an eBay label for her. eBay spit out a first class return label for an item that was shipped in a priority mail flat rate box.

The package was delivered back to her today. No reason or information supplied on why it was returned back to her, but I'm assuming USPS did not like the first class label on a priority mail box weighing more than 1lb.

I called eBay before she could escalate it. Thankfully got a representative that resolved it in under five minutes. She didn't know what was going on, just indicated that it was an error on the label. She closed out the case in neither's favor. The buyer got a full refund (courtesy of eBay), I didn't have to refund anything and I didn't get a defect.

I learned that if you choose any kind of economy or standard shipping in your shipping service for your item, eBay will always generate a USPS First Class return label for returns, regardless of what actual service was used.

I found that they seriously should fix that, and that the return label should reflect the service that was actually used when the item shipped. Otherwise, we will keep running into this problem until USPS is properly addressed of it!

[toyshnip]

" I told the buyer to ship it to me at their expense."
That is where I think the issue is. Since a buyer doesn't have the tools/knowledge to create labels as easy as sellers, they won't agree to pay for shipping in hopes in arrives and they get the refund. When you put the responsibility on them, you also put the risk on them.

[nc-daydreamer]

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@innovatilife wrote:

Just had the same exact thing happened to me. Buyer opened a return, I accepted it and purchased an eBay label for her. eBay spit out a first class return label for an item that was shipped in a priority mail flat rate box.

The package was delivered back to her today. No reason or information supplied on why it was returned back to her, but I'm assuming USPS did not like the first class label on a priority mail box weighing more than 1lb.

I called eBay before she could escalate it. Thankfully got a representative that resolved it in under five minutes. She didn't know what was going on, just indicated that it was an error on the label. She closed out the case in neither's favor. The buyer got a full refund (courtesy of eBay), I didn't have to refund anything and I didn't get a defect.

I learned that if you choose any kind of economy or standard shipping in your shipping service for your item, eBay will always generate a USPS First Class return label for returns, regardless of what actual service was used.

I found that they seriously should fix that, and that the return label should reflect the service that was actually used when the item shipped. Otherwise, we will keep running into this problem until USPS is properly addressed of it!

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I wish I had my old computer back. I recall when this shipping mess first reared it's ugly head (and saved it) - we were promised that all return labels would be just  like the send-to label was - weight, class and all --- media would be returned media at 1 pound - a vase might have shipped Priority 3 pounds - the label would be issued (and paid by seller) for a 3 pound Priority label -- as examples. 

I had no clue this had ever changed - but I guess it has. {sigh}

[equid0x]

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@toyshnip wrote:
" I told the buyer to ship it to me at their expense."
That is where I think the issue is. Since a buyer doesn't have the tools/knowledge to create labels as easy as sellers, they won't agree to pay for shipping in hopes in arrives and they get the refund. When you put the responsibility on them, you also put the risk on them.

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Its not exactly rocket science to walk into the post office, have the clerk put the package on the scale, and buy a label. 

If it was a remorse return as the OP indicated then the buyer was always on the hook to pay for return shipping unless the seller was offering free returns. 

It *IS* buyer's responsibility to ensure that the item is returned to the seller, in the same condition as it was received. 

[planfarti_0]

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@hubsnyc wrote:

So, I sold a small tablet and buyer received it with no issues. 

I shipped it Priority Flat Rate

Few days later they opened a returned, said they didn't want it any more. 

Return was approved automatically, and eBay provided a return label. 

I thought nothing of it, and was just going to relist it when it was returned. 

Return never made it back to me, USPS sent it back to sender as the weight was over the 1st class label Ebay provided. I told the buyer to ship it to me at their expense.

They did not, escalated to costumer service, and got a quick refund before I could even call Ebay

I'm out the money,  the item and shipping fees for 2 shipments.

The so called 'seller protections' are imaginary.

---

Priority Flat Rate covers you up to 70 lbs...

The Return label is supposed to be basically a duplicate of your original.

How in the world would ebay issue a First Class label instead of a PriFlatRate one?

Something doesn't sound right here...

[southern*sweet*tea]

If the label is a First Class RETURN SERVICE label, it is good for up to the USPS weight limit of 70 pounds. The only difference in a First Class and a Priority RETURN SERVICE label is that PRS is faster than FCRS - Priority is 1-3 days, FC is 2-4 (USPS figures, not mine).