Dealing with buyers who ask for address changes after package was shipped

[iamalwaysright]

It happens alot more during the holidays than the rest of the year. Usually it's because it was supposed to be a gift to someone else, or someone has their account but isn't an avid buyer until the holidays and they recently moved.

But how do you handle these buyers? Sometimes when I map their addresses and see that it's not far from each other I tell them perhaps they can coordinate with the owner of the initial shipping address to retrieve their package. Is that an appropriate suggestion to these buyers? And no, I'm not going to file a package intercept when the fee to do that costs as much as the entire sale.

[kalyoth]

If they did not place a new address on file prior to payment, it goes to the address on file per ebay policy. End of discussion. To alter it in any fashion voids the seller protections you have.

[iamalwaysright]

Package was already sent to original address, so there's no discussion there. I'm talking about dealing with the buyer who asked for an address change after that fact.

[dhbookds]

I cancel the sale based on address and tell the buyer they need to rebuy and explain to enter the correct address.  "For your protection, ebay rules prohibit me from mailing other than to the stated shipping address in the sale".........

[inhawaii]

I always let the buyer know that I am obligated by ebay to ship only  to the address given at the time of checkout.  I am not allowed to change the address.

I cancel the sale (problem with buyers address) and instruct the buyer  to re-purchase the item, this time with the correct address.

[iamalwaysright]

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@dhbookds wrote:

I cancel the sale based on address and tell the buyer they need to rebuy and explain to enter the correct address.  "For your protection, ebay rules prohibit me from mailing other than to the stated shipping address in the sale".........

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Then you would lose the item and the payment for it. "...after package was shipped"

[iamalwaysright]

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@inhawaii wrote:

I always let the buyer know that I am obligated by ebay to ship only  to the address given at the time of checkout.  I am not allowed to change the address.

I cancel the sale (problem with buyers address) and instruct the buyer  to re-purchase the item, this time with the correct address.

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What if the buyer never re-buys? You just lost your original package that you already shipped out and the payment along with it.

[inhawaii]

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@iamalwaysright wrote:

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@inhawaii wrote:

I always let the buyer know that I am obligated by ebay to ship only  to the address given at the time of checkout.  I am not allowed to change the address.

I cancel the sale (problem with buyers address) and instruct the buyer  to re-purchase the item, this time with the correct address.

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What if the buyer never re-buys? You just lost your original package that you already shipped out and the payment along with it.

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You are correct.

I've found that about 50% of the time they don't re-purchase.

I was only referring to orders that have NOT shipped out yet.

[12345jamesstamps]

I mail the item to the buyer 's sale address from my inbox of emails. I will not mail somewhere else. And if it's a buyer asking before they purchase the item I usually block them before. It will be a "drama" sale...I am not hard up for money. And buyer has to cancel sale and not me if it isn't to their liking.

[dhbookds]

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@iamalwaysright wrote:

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@dhbookds wrote:

I cancel the sale based on address and tell the buyer they need to rebuy and explain to enter the correct address.  "For your protection, ebay rules prohibit me from mailing other than to the stated shipping address in the sale".........

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Then you would lose the item and the payment for it. "...after package was shipped"

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oops.........missed the "after it was shipped".........apologies......  In that case....I tell the buyer nothing I can do, it's been shipped......  IF it is returned, I refund the item price, not the original shipping and tell them they can repurchase if they want.   I should say that Ebay does not require you to refund at all.......

[kensgiftshop]

If it's already been shipped, just tell them sorry, it's already been shipped and there's nothing you can do.

[worldcoinauctions]

If they ask before I ship I have successfully asked them to change the shipping address and it does update after the sale. No need to cancel the sale and relist, just have them update their address. 

After I have shipped, well that is on them to have the right address in the first place!

Buyers in PR have to list that as their state, NOT their country (how I discovered they can edit the address prior to shipping!) 

[dhbookds]

@worldcoinauctions 

If they ask before I ship I have successfully asked them to change the shipping address and it does update after the sale. No need to cancel the sale and relist, just have them update their address. 

Not doubting you World.....but can anyone confirm that?  It's been discussed many times over the years, but have always thought an update would NOT change a previously paid sale. 

[pjcdn2005]

I can confirm that if a buyer has already paid, updating their address will only affect new purchases. A buyer can’t update their address once they have paid for something.  They have to update before they pay.

[iamalwaysright]

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@12345jamesstamps wrote:

I mail the item to the buyer 's sale address from my inbox of emails. I will not mail somewhere else. And if it's a buyer asking before they purchase the item I usually block them before. It will be a "drama" sale...I am not hard up for money. And buyer has to cancel sale and not me if it isn't to their liking.

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Yes but my post is not asking about what to do when a buyer asks to change before the package shipped. There’s plenty of other previous posts about that same topic, many of which I’ve replied and answered to. 
This post was clearly about when the buyer asks to change AFTER the package shipped. There is no decision to be made whether or not or where to ship it… it’s already been shipped.
So, veering back on topic, my original question is how do you handle those buyers, what do you tell them? Some mentioned they would simply tell the buyer there is nothing they can do. @dhbookds @kensgiftshop Those of you who say that to the buyer, what kind of replies do you usually get from them? Do they ever get snippy with you because of your “hard truth” statement?