Buyer claims they made mistake when ordering and had me ship to wrong address.

[jiyuutenshi37]

Buyer contacted me saying they gave the wrong address from the previous place they were living and "they don't know how it happened". They say it's somewhere almost on the other side of the country of where they currently live. Buyer has feedback but not much (all positive) from over a year ago. They do seem friendly but I am concerned about this being a scam. They contacted me to let me know to expect it back by RTS and then to send it to the correct address, which they did not provide me. What do/can I do?

[american-photography]

If it was sent through USPS and hasn't been delivered yet, you can intercept and reroute it back to you.

https://www.usps.com/manage/package-intercept.htm

[inhawaii]

I would let it play out.

As long as you sent it to the address provided to you at the time of purchase, you're covered.

[jiyuutenshi37]

Sorry, forgot to mention the item was already delivered to address, as it says on the tracking. It was sent by USPS. 

[titipeo]

Why is this your problem? Buyer had 2 instances in which they verified and confirmed the shipping address. You are supposed to ship to the address being given. This is on buyer to solve, not you. 

[msmaggie060]

Then don’t worry, if you mailed to the address that eBay gave you which is what you must do, you  are covered. If they file an INR just enter in the tracking number.

[jiyuutenshi37]

What is INR? 

[mtgraves7984]

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@jiyuutenshi37 wrote:

Sorry, forgot to mention the item was already delivered to address, as it says on the tracking. It was sent by USPS. 

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@jiyuutenshi37 

If the resident at that address doesn't RTS the package with USPS, neither you nor the buyer can do anything about it.

But if they do and you get it back, you can refund the original order (less s&h cost), relist it and offer that the buyer re-purchase it, giving you the correct address. I'm with @inhawaii... cross your bridges when you come to them.

[rosszonebricks]

I've had that happen a few times.  My reply to the customer:

"I am sorry this happened, but I did ship the package, as required, to the address given at the time of the order.  If you've set up mail forwarding from your old address to your new address, it may be forwarded.  If not, it may be sent back to me, at which time I'll refund the purchase price of the item."

Fortunately, most have understood this and didn't really make too much of a fuss.

Totally no longer my responsibility.  It ends with 'Delivered' tracking.

[bonjourami]

Item not received.

[soh.maryl]

Item Not Received. 

[a_c_green]

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@jiyuutenshi37 wrote:

They contacted me to let me know to expect it back by RTS and then to send it to the correct address, which they did not provide me.

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That does seem consistent with their planning abilities. 😁

If or when the package comes back as Return To Sender (you can continue to follow your original tracking number to see where it's at), I would refund and then maybe let them purchase it again, once they get their address updated. 

[soh.maryl]

So they do not have a forwarding directive in place with the PO at their previous address?

Or is the person who messaged you not really the true buyer at all, but just a scammer who thinks you are naive enough to redirect the package to his address per his request?  

[slyders_finds]

There is a Fee for that. And unless the buyer would pay that fee upfront....nope! I'm sure not paying it. Plus the seller shipped to the address on File. They are covered. 

[soh.maryl]

So they contacted you to let you know it was being returned from whoever received it at the wrong address? Exactly how did they accomplish this? Are they friends or relatives of the people who did receive it? And they want you to resend it to the correct address, which they didn't think to provide to you?