Buyer sent message wanting to cancel because of failure to read shipping exclusions

[cooprr]

As a new seller, I tried to cover my bases and because of my past experience as a buyer not being able to receive Paypal purchases at a PO Box, I set up my shipping exclusions to include PO Boxes, as I accept Paypal. Having no experience on how payment systems work related to shipping addresses, my settings for payment saying Paypal accepted means that I only accept Paypal. I need to be straightened out on this if I am incorrect.

A zero experience buyer (account opened one day prior to auction ending) sent a message stating she/he has attempted to pay but cannot because of my shipping exclusion to PO Boxes and cannot find it anywhere in my listing, and wants the transaction cancelled IF I will not ship to PO Box.

I replied with instructions to find See Exclusions and asked for a reply after she/he reviews the listing and ebay policies.

Should I:

Cancel the transaction per buyer request? -> contact second highest bidder for second chance?

Let the 3 day payment timeframe run out and report non-buyer?

Thank you to those who assist the newly-confused sellers!

[readabouthorses]

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@imakesugar wrote:
Your imagination is running away with You...I don't know how anyone could go behind the counter and pick up a parcel that asks for a signature confirmation...Isn't that a felony? As small as MY PO is I don't think I could usually find My package...delivery confirmation ONLY ITEMS are put in a large box and a key is put in My smaller box and I open it up and then the packages are there. They are confirmed when the PO master PUTS them in the larger box...

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At the little PO I had my PO Box at the door to that part where the clerks worked and packages were kept was locked and the door into the section with the counter was locked when they were not open. When they were closed you only had access to the lobby where the PO Boxes were. I guess you could jump across the counter, smack the PO clerk, grab your package and run ... LOL. Just kidding. 

All in all having a PO Box is pretty safe as far as keeping your packages safe until you pick them up.

[tellmemama]

Responding to no one in particular...

It looks like plenty of posters are dog piling on the OP because he mistakenly chose to block PO boxes (if I got your gender wrong I sincerely apologize).  While some of the intentions are good and may increase his sales, too many have a real snarky tone about them.

So what if  he doesn't ship to a PO box?  If that's how  he wants to run his business, well...that's his business.  And frankly the buyer is totally out of line now.  Remember, the buyer requested a cancel and the OP obliged.  Now it seems the buyer wants the item after all and wants to further dictate how the OP does business. 

How is this buyer's series of messages any different than those who try to force sellers to combine shipping when the listing clearly states they do not, or to ship immediately when the listing shows a several day handling time?  Easy.  There is no difference. 

The buyer's problem is not the OP's emergency.

[janet9988]

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@feefoo72 wrote:

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@cooprr wrote:

As a new seller, I tried to cover my bases and because of my past experience as a buyer not being able to receive Paypal purchases at a PO Box, I set up my shipping exclusions to include PO Boxes, as I accept Paypal. Having no experience on how payment systems work related to shipping addresses, my settings for payment saying Paypal accepted means that I only accept Paypal. I need to be straightened out on this if I am incorrect.

A zero experience buyer (account opened one day prior to auction ending) sent a message stating she/he has attempted to pay but cannot because of my shipping exclusion to PO Boxes and cannot find it anywhere in my listing, and wants the transaction cancelled IF I will not ship to PO Box.

I replied with instructions to find See Exclusions and asked for a reply after she/he reviews the listing and ebay policies.

Should I:

Cancel the transaction per buyer request? -> contact second highest bidder for second chance?

Let the 3 day payment timeframe run out and report non-buyer?

Thank you to those who assist the newly-confused sellers!

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I have read where others say that it may not be good to force a buyer to buy after they want to cancel. No matter what the reason. That makes sense to me. I think I would do as they requested and cancel, reason: buyer requested. Or maybe as problem with address, however it works so you are free of feedback retribution and fees, if that's possible. Otherwise, the buyer sounds like trouble already. Just my opinion.

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Buyers can still leave negative feedback on any cancelled purchase no matter who asked. Only Unpaid item claims block the feedback from being left.

[janet9988]

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@myboardid wrote:

IMO you have made a huge and ridiculous mistake.  This was a good experienced buyer who might have turned into a great long term customer.  You have made him very angry, while he has been attempting to work with you and get the problem solved.  Yes, his frustration showed, but so what?  It shouldn't have happened in the first place. 

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Your right it shouldn't have happened in the first place.. The EXPERIENCED buyer should have read the shipping tab and clearly noticed the seller did not ship to PO boxes. Buyers agree to honor the sellers listing if it does not violate ebay policy. The listing does not violate policy. Yes shipping to  a PO box when using USPS is very safe ands allowed BUT this seller did not know that and listed accordingly to their liking as a new seller.

[stuff4divas]

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@cooprr wrote:

As a new seller, I tried to cover my bases and because of my past experience as a buyer not being able to receive Paypal purchases at a PO Box ...

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I accept PP payments only and have sold to several buyers with PO boxes without incident.

[emerald40]

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@a_c_green wrote:

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@emerald40 wrote:

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@a_c_green wrote:

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@emerald40 wrote: 
I did find it odd because Post Office boxes are the safest way to go imo.

But I do have a question, when the item is over $750 who signs for it.  

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The recipient. He'll find a pickup notice in the PO Box, at which point he'll need to go to the counter, show ID and sign for the package.

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Not sure I am understanding as I never had a PO box.  Can you get into your own box or does the post office do it for you?

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The post office fills your PO Box from in back (they're literally boxes mounted in the wall), and you can retrieve your mail from the front, on the lobby side, once you open the individual door via the relevant combination or key. For items that either won't physically fit in the box or will require a signature, you will find a pickup notice, which you will have to take to the counter during business hours.

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And if it is the former what is to stop someone from going around the counter, not signing for it, and then trying to pull a scam using it as an excuse to get their money back?

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Um, that won't happen, unless we're talking burglary here.  The bottom line is that for Signature Confirmation, you still have to sign for the package, whether it's on your doorstep or inside the post office.

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No, what I am trying to figure out is for people who have Post Office boxes. 

I almost got one when I found out where my mailbox was but decided I rather walk down to the box rather han ride to the post office daily.

My question is when you have a box, you open it yourself and take out the box.  Does a postal worker stand by you when you do this like when they deliver the item?

[emerald40]

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@a_c_green wrote:

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@emerald40 wrote:

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@a_c_green wrote:

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@emerald40 wrote: 
I did find it odd because Post Office boxes are the safest way to go imo.

But I do have a question, when the item is over $750 who signs for it.  

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The recipient. He'll find a pickup notice in the PO Box, at which point he'll need to go to the counter, show ID and sign for the package.

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Not sure I am understanding as I never had a PO box.  Can you get into your own box or does the post office do it for you?

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The post office fills your PO Box from in back (they're literally boxes mounted in the wall), and you can retrieve your mail from the front, on the lobby side, once you open the individual door via the relevant combination or key. For items that either won't physically fit in the box or will require a signature, you will find a pickup notice, which you will have to take to the counter during business hours.

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And if it is the former what is to stop someone from going around the counter, not signing for it, and then trying to pull a scam using it as an excuse to get their money back?

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Um, that won't happen, unless we're talking burglary here.  The bottom line is that for Signature Confirmation, you still have to sign for the package, whether it's on your doorstep or inside the post office.

________________________________________

That answers my question.

Items that need a signature are not placed in the box.  You have to go to the counter to get and sign for it.

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[emerald40]

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@imakesugar wrote:
Your imagination is running away with You...I don't know how anyone could go behind the counter and pick up a parcel that asks for a signature confirmation...Isn't that a felony? As small as MY PO is I don't think I could usually find My package...delivery confirmation ONLY ITEMS are put in a large box and a key is put in My smaller box and I open it up and then the packages are there. They are confirmed when the PO master PUTS them in the larger box...


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You are not understanding my post.

I was trying to determine where the item is when you have a PO box.

I did not know only the card was in the box and you had to go to the counter to retrieve it.

I was thinking it was some kind of on your honor thing where the card and the item was in the box so it was up to you to take the signed card to the counter.

When I said go around the counter I meant in that scenario what would prevent a buyer in that case from bypassing the counter - going around it.  I never said behind it.

Bypassing the counter and just leaving without it being signed. 

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[dangre_1]

At my post office they put a slip in the box and I have to take it to the counter and sign it and then they go and get my package for me.

[lacemaker3]

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@emerald40 wrote:

..

But I am again asking this question -

Who signs for an item over $750?

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I think someone has already answered this, but, if a package needs signature confirmation, then they put a card into the box that says so. Just like if there's nobody at a house to sign for the package. The recipient has to bring the card to the counter and sign for it before they get the package.

Another thing people wonder about ... what if the package doesn't fit in the box?

My post office had package lockers, of various sizes, so they would put an oversized package into a package locker, and put the key to the locker into my PO box. That way I could pick up the package any time day or night, without having to go to the counter. The lobby with access to the PO boxes was open 24-7.

Apparently some post offices don't have package lockers, but the two where I have had PO Boxes both did.

[lacemaker3]

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@emerald40 wrote:

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... 

My question is when you have a box, you open it yourself and take out the box.  Does a postal worker stand by you when you do this like when they deliver the item?

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The owner of the PO Box has a key to open it. They don't need a postal worker to be there to get their mail out of the box. Nobody else can open the box and get the mail. The box is open on the other side of the wall, where the postal workers put the mail into it, but only post office employees have access there.

One of the post offices I used was a few miles away, at one point I used to ride my bike there to pick up the mail and ship packages. They were inconvenient though because they closed at 5:00 pm (or usually a few minutes early) and they locked the lobby so I couldn't get to my box if I got there right at closing.

So I switched to a post office a few miles further away (on my daily commute) where the lobby was open 24-7 so I could get my mail any time.

[dougsue123b]

Aint nobody dog piling on him/her. we are simply pointing out sales he is losing because of the no P.O. box policy.  

[cooprr]

After cancelling the transaction, receiving fee credit and ebay confirmation of cancellation, the buyer sent payment to me using a physical address, via Paypal.

In the meantime, I processed a Second Chance Offer - now waiting for response.

If the second chance offer says "no thanks" and I mail this item to the first buyer - this transaction is now happening OUTSIDE of Ebay - Yes?No?

[tev4all]

Yes, IT sounds like ebay could believe IT is. 

 How did the scam er buyer pay for the item? 

Through an invoice you sent?

Through friends and family?

[missjen831]

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@tev4all wrote:

Yes, IT sounds like ebay could believe IT is. 

 How did the scam er buyer pay for the item? 

Through an invoice you sent?

Through friends and family?

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The buyer is hardly a scammer.