Buyer requested "signature upon delivery" on $90 item, didn't sign, being returned to sender

[capulet_and_co]

Last week, I had a buyer purchase a $90 item and left a note to not include an invoice and require a signature upon delivery. I thought it was an odd request to require a signature considering it wasn't a super valuable item but figured maybe they have an issue with porch pirates or something. The fact that they also didn't want an invoice included makes me think perhaps this was a gift and they were shipping it directly to the gift recipient. 

At any rate, since they'd already paid (and I'm fairly new to eBay with ~100 sales under my belt), I ate the $3.50 additional cost to require a signature and shipped it off with a note to the buyer that their package is en route with signature required. I didn't hear anything back (not that I necessarily expected to).

Flash forward to 2 days ago, and I could see the package was out for delivery and that a notice was left but no authorized recipient was available to sign. When I saw this, I messaged the buyer and told them I noticed this and kindly asked that they be available to sign when they attempt redelivery because I would hate for them to have to return the package. I didn't get a response and see that just 3 hours after USPS attempted delivery (the first and ONLY time they attempted delivery), they marked the package "return to sender processed." I'm baffled why USPS didn't attempt to redeliver. Maybe it's just where I live, but they attempt delivery 3 times where I am.

The buyer has 100% positive feedback (249 positive feedback, in fact), so I find this all a little strange. I'm not sure if this a USPS issue or buyer issue and they've gone silent on me.

I know I need to wait to get the package back, which I imagine will be in a few days, but in the meantime I'm wondering what next steps will be once I do. Message again? Refund? Attempt to resend and if so, how do I handle the shipping charge this time around and if they request to sign for it again?

Any and all feedback is appreciated.

[mam98031]

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@coolections wrote:

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@capulet_and_co wrote:

I agree that most buyers don’t want to mess with a signature, that’s why I found it odd that they specifically asked for one. Here’s what they said verbatim: “Please do not include an invoice and please make a delivery with a signature.”

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@capulet_and_co   I think you misunderstood your buyer. Once again my guess is the buyer did not want and invoice or delivery confirmation. There are hardly any buyers who would want delivery confirmation as it would not help them at all. Delivery confirmation is for sellers benefit, not buyers.

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If that is the way the buyer stated it to the OP, what's to misunderstand.  Now I would have clarified with the buyer that this is what they really wanted, but still, how did the OP misunderstand when the buyer said make a delivery with a signature???  

[coolections]

@mam98031   The buyer DID NOT say they wanted delivery confirmation. They said DO NOT include an invoice AND delivery confirmation. The OP should have asked but I am 99.999% sure the buyer DID NOT want delivery confirmation. why would they ?

[mam98031]

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@coolections wrote:

@mam98031   The buyer DID NOT say they wanted delivery confirmation. They said DO NOT include an invoice AND delivery confirmation. The OP should have asked but I am 99.999% sure the buyer DID NOT want delivery confirmation. why would they ?

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You are changing what the OP posted to service your opinion of what the buyer wanted.  The OP said the buyer told them "...and please make a delivery with a signature.”

I agree, as I stated in my last post I would have reached out to the buyer to verify what they needed.

[smilinjoefision]

Do you remember what came of this situation? I had the same thing just happen to me. Same strange request with same wording. Package was delivered today and then tracking shows Arrived at USPS Regional Destination Facility 5 minutes later. What’s weird is it said it was “delivered to agent, left with individual”.

Did this end up being some kind of scam attempt?

[mam98031]

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@smilinjoefision wrote:

Do you remember what came of this situation? I had the same thing just happen to me. Same strange request with same wording. Package was delivered today and then tracking shows Arrived at USPS Regional Destination Facility 5 minutes later. What’s weird is it said it was “delivered to agent, left with individual”.

Did this end up being some kind of scam attempt?

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Not sure why you find that tracking entry as "weird".  It usually means that it wasn't left with the person's name on your package.  But you should still have a signature.  You should be able to get that information too.  It is highly likely things are fine.  Just go and get the signature confirmation for the delivery.

[vintagecraze50]

Could be a USPS error, but most of the time the buyer has to refuse the package for it to be returned to sender, especially since this happened so fast. I could see it happening if there were delivery attempts more than one or two and the package is just not being signed for for an extended time. I would call the destination PO and find out from the postmaster what exactly happened especially since there is no response from the buyer on this. If tracking shows delivery coming back to you then just refund when it comes back and no further dealings with this person unless you get the right explanation for what exactly happened.

[kh-taylarie]

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