Buyer sent return from different state than I shipped to

[recycle_pc]

Is it an acceptable practice for a buyer to ship a return from an entirely different State (other side of the US) than I shipped the item to?
It's a "not as described" return, so I'd be refunding item cost and shipping.
Been selling on ebay for decades, and this is a first for me.

[titipeo]

Be on the look out, check with carrier what is the weight of item, and if it is going to your address. The potential for a scam is there. Buyer might be sending something to a different address, but once it shows delivered, the refund is auto approve and they get the $$$ and keeps the item. 

Or, on the other hand, they may have moved from where you delivered. 

Both are possible, but my $ is on the first one. What is the item, was it valuable?

[coco9619]

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@recycle_pc wrote:

Is it an acceptable practice for a buyer to ship a return from an entirely different State (other side of the US) than I shipped the item to?

It's a "not as described" return, so I'd be refunding item cost and shipping.

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Say your buyer had you ship an item directly to Florida, where they'd be going on-site to fix that equipment.

When it turned out not as described, the buyer brought the item back to Oregon, then ships that return to you. USPS doesn't calculate the postage on an eBay return label until it is mailed, so it can be mailed from anywhere, regardless the addresses on the label.

[ittybitnot]

Is it an acceptable practice for a buyer to ship a return from an entirely different State (other side of the US) than I shipped the item to?

@recycle_pc 

It is only going to be "acceptable" if you get YOUR item returned.  If the carrier is UPS, FedEx, etc.  (anything but USPS), you can see exactly when the tracking was initiated, parcel specs,  and the street address for which it is destined. 

https://www.ship24.com/

For a long time it has been a practice of some less than honorable users of freight forwarder services to simply purchase a cheap trinket on the net and have it delivered to you (or a location in your zipcode) to satisfy the requirement for return tracking/delivery.  

[sextons-sweet-deals]

I'm with titipeo!

I smell a scam coming!

[downunder-61]

I was of the understanding that when a buyer claims INAD they receive a label from eBay/seller to return the goods - would that label not have the original buyer ship address ? How could a buyer change it ?

[titipeo]

Correct if they are using the pre-printed label, this has not been specified. However, the weight is the 2nd checkpoint. 

[48hrs-clothing]

Return label offered to buyer will show your address as you are the seller and item is being returned to you.

I understand that USPS charge according to zones and they have 9 of these zones.

I would suspect that eBay's system expects item to be scanned when posted in a particular zone based on buyer's address and would charge the seller accordingly after item is delivered back.

In the event that item is posted from a different zone and postage charge is greater than expected then eBay  would adjust the charge to seller's account and in that case you should contact eBay's customer services and they may at their discretion not charge or give back the increase in postage cost.

I note your comment about other side of USA than shipped and I would recommend that you contact eBay's CS and raise your concerns.

Hope all works out to your satisfaction.

[sextons-sweet-deals]

so here is the shock an all!

return label means nothing! eBay has done nothing to fix this issue that I'm aware of! labels can be manipulated. You really think USPS really looks at the label? It's all about scanning the bar code and nothing more.

I had a case from a buyer. Buyer claims damage. Refused to provide photos. eBay told them to return. No tracking# was given to me. About 5 days later, I received notice package was delivered and buyer refunded. Never received package and I let eBay know. They still did not provide tracking number so I can ask my local post office to investigate and so I can see where it went. 

Buyers need to pay for returns period! Buyers have the opportunity to ask questions before purchase. If they don't get the answers they want, move on! This is why big box stores charge a restock fee. 

Thank GOD eBay security is not part of U.S.A. national security system!

If a buyer opens a case, they need to provide proof! Not their word that means nothing!

If you go to court on anything, what do you have to do? Provide proof / evidence. 

[ittybitnot]

How could a buyer change it ?

@downunder-61 

The buyer is not required to use it.  They can "buy" their own. 

[ittybitnot]

 They still did not provide tracking number so I can ask my local post office to investigate and so I can see where it went. 

@sextons-sweet-deals 

That seems to be a new "trend"...CS won't give out the number used against you in the case if the buyer provided their own tracking number to eBay for the supposed return.  

In addition, for the "empty box" Snads where they make the buyer get a police report, they won't give that to the seller either.  I do feel they won't give the information used against the seller in the form of a police report or tracking number, because the one's we have seen so far were totally fake.  When you get the notice now  that you lost a dispute the term "police report" has been substituted for the phony empty box business:  "The buyer submitted a document"...

If it is any consolation, eBay seems to be an "equal opportunity" scammer assistant where buyers are concerned as well with this fake tracking number business.  So far this month alone there have been 21 threads started on the buyer board "my package said delivered...but I didn't get it"  they file INR and lose.  Doesn't matter if the tracking was initiated BEFORE the buyer even purchased the product and was delivered in Texas when the buyer lives in New Jersey.    I have not even looked at the shipping or returns board. 

At least now with carriers other than USPS we can see exactly when and where these tracking numbers originated,  the dimensions and weight of the package,  and to the exact street address where the parcels are actually delivered. 

[sextons-sweet-deals]

you just gave us all honest sellers the inside to buyer fraud correct? So buyers will buy their own return label and still get fully refunded and keep item by sending back to themselves, relative, or friend. 

HELLO eBay SECURITY! Is this true?

[ittybitnot]

 keep item by sending back to themselves, relative, or friend. 

@sextons-sweet-deals 

That part is not necessary ^^^^^.   They buy a $1k item, use a reshipper address,  claim snad, and buy a cheap trinket on the net and have it sent to you.  Use that D/confirmation number to satisfy the return requirement for a snad.   eBay tells the seller "too bad to be you". 

If you are a seller crook,  simply declare the item shipped.  When the buyer doesn't get the item, they file INR.  Voila!!!!!  The seller provides a tracking number that shows "delivered"  (from anywhere to anywhere) and it is never checked by a bot or CS so the buyer loses. 

you just gave us all honest sellers the inside to buyer fraud correct?

I am not providing instructions.  I am merely documenting what is actually happening, and reported just about daily on these boards.   I have always felt NOT to discuss it or describe it is doing a disservice to members.  To keep it secret and not mention it  Is like not allowing children to have sexeducation information that can actually save their lives, because they might just go out and do it.