Buyer needs to return item before I even sent it out

[bigdeals.etc]

So the PO here closes at 630, I still have about 2 hours.

A buyer bought some items over the weekend. I already packed them and made postage. The buyer just messaged me twice "I need to return these items to me today !!" and "Item need to be returned today !!"

I haven't dropped them off at PO yet. Kinda confused here. Is it just a grammatically incorrect sentence or language gap and the buyer actually wants it to "arrive" to him today?

If I hold the package another day, that's another day the package doesn't arrive to them (which might be an issue if the buyer is impatient). Not to mention the late shipping penalty. I messaged the buyer to clarify but received no answer.

Ship? Yay or nay?

[mam98031]

Have you tried contacting your buyer and asking?

If it were my sales.  I would contact my buyer via email as I prefer things in writing.  Ask for clarification.  Don't give them a bunch of options as that could really confuse things.  I'd let them know I received their message and just require a bit of clarification.  Are you asking me not to ship your items?  Are you asking me to cancel this sale / shipment?

Personally I'd hold the package until tomorrow seeking clarification.  It would be far easier to hold it a day rather than ship it out and then they file a return and you have to deal with that.  But it is completely your decision to make.  If in fact they do tell you they want to cancel the transaction you can simply tell them it was too late and the items have already shipped.  Then go drop them off.

[bigdeals.etc]

Already messaged asking them to clarify. No response yet.

[mam98031]

---

@bigdeals.etc wrote:

Already messaged asking them to clarify. No response yet.

---

Buyers aren't always at their computers as often as us sellers are.  Be patient.  

[ed8108]

I would guess it to be a cancellation, not an uncommon buyer request on ebay.  

[slippinjimmy]

Is it just a grammatically incorrect sentence or language gap and the buyer actually wants it to "arrive" to him today?

Good catch, it might also mean they wanted it SHIPPED today.

[bigdeals.etc]

---

@mam98031 wrote:

---

@bigdeals.etc wrote:

Already messaged asking them to clarify. No response yet.

---

Buyers aren't always at their computers as often as us sellers are.  Be patient.  

---

I am. I was answering your question in your post.

[bigdeals.etc]

---

@slippinjimmy wrote:

Is it just a grammatically incorrect sentence or language gap and the buyer actually wants it to "arrive" to him today?

Good catch, it might also mean they wanted it SHIPPED today.

---

So I got a response from the buyer. The first was the buyer saying yes, send it out immediately as they need it right away.

Hours later the same buyer messaged saying she is the buyer's aunt now. And she says that her nephew signed up for an eBay account and got to her credit card and is making "unauthorized purchases." So she's telling me that I need to cancel them.

My guess is it was the kid trying to type to me up until the last message.

[calntom]

---

@bigdeals.etc wrote:

So the PO here closes at 630, I still have about 2 hours.

A buyer bought some items over the weekend. I already packed them and made postage. The buyer just messaged me twice "I need to return these items to me today !!" and "Item need to be returned today !!"

I haven't dropped them off at PO yet. Kinda confused here. Is it just a grammatically incorrect sentence or language gap and the buyer actually wants it to "arrive" to him today?

If I hold the package another day, that's another day the package doesn't arrive to them (which might be an issue if the buyer is impatient). Not to mention the late shipping penalty. I messaged the buyer to clarify but received no answer.

Ship? Yay or nay?

---

 I would not ship until I had communication with the buyer.  In some cases, I send the buyer a eBay message and an email. If no response and it was critical that I needed a response, I just go to the order details and get their phone number and ring them up. Never had a problem doing that,  just results. 

I maybe have to call a buyer once every 200 transactions.

[buyselljack2016]

---

@calntom wrote:

---

@bigdeals.etc wrote:

So the PO here closes at 630, I still have about 2 hours.

A buyer bought some items over the weekend. I already packed them and made postage. The buyer just messaged me twice "I need to return these items to me today !!" and "Item need to be returned today !!"

I haven't dropped them off at PO yet. Kinda confused here. Is it just a grammatically incorrect sentence or language gap and the buyer actually wants it to "arrive" to him today?

If I hold the package another day, that's another day the package doesn't arrive to them (which might be an issue if the buyer is impatient). Not to mention the late shipping penalty. I messaged the buyer to clarify but received no answer.

Ship? Yay or nay?

---

 I would not ship until I had communication with the buyer.  In some cases, I send the buyer a eBay message and an email. If no response and it was critical that I needed a response, I just go to the order details and get their phone number and ring them up. Never had a problem doing that,  just results. 

I maybe have to call a buyer once every 200 transactions.

---

See post 8

[calntom]

---

@buyselljack2016 wrote:

---

@calntom wrote:

---

@bigdeals.etc wrote:

So the PO here closes at 630, I still have about 2 hours.

A buyer bought some items over the weekend. I already packed them and made postage. The buyer just messaged me twice "I need to return these items to me today !!" and "Item need to be returned today !!"

I haven't dropped them off at PO yet. Kinda confused here. Is it just a grammatically incorrect sentence or language gap and the buyer actually wants it to "arrive" to him today?

If I hold the package another day, that's another day the package doesn't arrive to them (which might be an issue if the buyer is impatient). Not to mention the late shipping penalty. I messaged the buyer to clarify but received no answer.

Ship? Yay or nay?

---

 I would not ship until I had communication with the buyer.  In some cases, I send the buyer a eBay message and an email. If no response and it was critical that I needed a response, I just go to the order details and get their phone number and ring them up. Never had a problem doing that,  just results. 

I maybe have to call a buyer once every 200 transactions.

---

See post 8

---

Yea, I caught that after I posted......

[bigdeals.etc]

---

@calntom wrote:

I maybe have to call a buyer once every 200 transactions.

---

Wow. That's actually pretty often. I've only called a buyer probably less than 5 times in my entire eBay career.

But then again, I probably provide less service than you do. For instance I wouldn't have called this buyer. And if they didn't respond I would've eventually sent it and dealt with possible damage control afterwards.

[calntom]

---

@bigdeals.etc wrote:

---

@calntom wrote:

I maybe have to call a buyer once every 200 transactions.

---

Wow. That's actually pretty often. I've only called a buyer probably less than 5 times in my entire eBay career.

But then again, I probably provide less service than you do. For instance I wouldn't have called this buyer. And if they didn't respond I would've eventually sent it and dealt with possible damage control afterwards.

---

Roger that. I only do that as a last resort to stay up with same day shipping if ordered by noon CST.   I sell mostly parts so these folks need them shipped right away most of the time if they have a project going on. They have never minded hearing from me and mostly thankful for the call. 

[dippitydoo]

Holy Crepes, bigdeal....the mystery thickens!  So, yay, they cleared up the confusion on what "return to me!" means...whew....BUT THEN it all gets knocked over again with auntie saying please cancel!!  I'd use her Ebay message to go ahead and cancel saying buyer request, tho...I dunno!!  How is it she is using his (nephews) email? or is it HERS, and how is it that HE was able to answer you on HER email?????   Good luck, man!!

-Dippity

[mam98031]

---

@bigdeals.etc wrote:

---

@slippinjimmy wrote:

Is it just a grammatically incorrect sentence or language gap and the buyer actually wants it to "arrive" to him today?

Good catch, it might also mean they wanted it SHIPPED today.

---

So I got a response from the buyer. The first was the buyer saying yes, send it out immediately as they need it right away.

Hours later the same buyer messaged saying she is the buyer's aunt now. And she says that her nephew signed up for an eBay account and got to her credit card and is making "unauthorized purchases." So she's telling me that I need to cancel them.

My guess is it was the kid trying to type to me up until the last message.

---

Well armed with that information I would send them another email just so you have it clearly stated.  I'd ask the buyer do you want me to cancel the transaction?  Is that what you are asking me to do?

You may not need it, but it is always a good idea to be safe.  Then you can cancel it with the reason the buyer requested it and no defect will come your way.

I sure wouldn't ship the item out.  Whether the buyer is being truthful or not.  You have plenty of things being said to you by them to make you totally uncomfortable in completing the transaction.

Good Luck!