Does using a mail forwarding service as a buyer void MBG/buyer protection

[davus-bntazm]

Hi, so I'm in a dispute between a buyer for this $24 Intel Core 2 Quad Q6700 and the buyer first admitted in the chat to using a forwarding service to ship the CPU to even though he's located in Quebec, Canada, But now he is claiming that they don't reship his items, but instead he comes to them and does local pickup. Sort of like he's using the forwarding service as his PO Box/middleman. Would doing this void his MBG and Buyer Protection for this case? I don't know because this is a very odd situation that I am in and this is also a pretty grey area in eBay's policies. 

[castlemagicmemories]

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@davus-bntazm wrote:

Hi, so I'm in a dispute between a buyer for this $24 Intel Core 2 Quad Q6700 and the buyer first admitted in the chat to using a forwarding service to ship the CPU to even though he's located in Quebec, Canada, But now he is claiming that they don't reship his items, but instead he comes to them and does local pickup. Sort of like he's using the forwarding service as his PO Box/middleman. Would doing this void his MBG and Buyer Protection for this case? I don't know because this is a very odd situation that I am in and this is also a pretty grey area in eBay's policies. 

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Using a re-shipper voids the MBG.  I have never heard of anyone picking up things from a re-shipper, but the technicality is it is not his address and it is a re-shipper; I doubt his claim of picking it up will change that.

I believe your buyer opened a dispute?  And he stated in the dispute he used a forwarding service?  I think you can call Customer Service, ask them to read that, and ask them to close the case in your favor.

Someone else will be along soon, hopefully, if I am wrong, but I do think you can call and get this closed.  Good Luck!

[davus-bntazm]

I hope so, I called CS yesterday morning and all they said is that they will have it noted but they didn't say anything about closing the case. I had to play eBay Customer Support Roulette and lost the first time, and did slightly better the second time around. Hopefully I'll find someone that will do the right thing and close this case because I am quite tired of dealing with eBay clowns...

I honestly never heard of anyone using a forwarding service as a PO box though. That sounds very stetchy and under the table because a PO box would be covered under the USPS while the forwarding service is like a 3rd party middleman that has no way of assuming liability. 

[siayan]

You can get a box at PakMail. 

[reallynicestamps]

 I have never heard of anyone picking up things from a re-shipper,

It would be a little strange, since the re-shipper is set up to... well, re-ship.

It is not unusual for my fellow Canadians to have a PO box (or other mail drop) in the USA if they live close to the border.

Slightly outside the box, DH uses a mail drop/mini-office  for mail that formerly went to his now-closed shop. The service, here in Victoria BC, also takes the occasional phone call from old customers as well as new ones who want to consign to our still active auction firm back East.

So the buyer, might possibly have misspoken and meant he had the same sort of mini-office arrangement with the NY state firm.

I mean, I doubt it, but it's possible.

Just for fun, Google the address you shipped to. Use Street View to see if it is a forwarding service or a Mailboxes R Us (pickup) or a mini-office serving several small businesses.

[ymeagainlord]

Yep. If they live close enough to the border to drive over and pick up stuff then the "reshipper/forwarder" may simply be a mailbox type centre and you wouldn't be covered.

The only thing would be that you can send a return label from the original delivery location only, not from their address in Canada.

[pjcdn2005]

Some Canadian buyers who live near the border have a post office box in the US that they use when a seller doesnt ship to Canada. They pick up the package there so it's no different than  if a US buyer picked up their package at a post office.  If that's the situation in this case, their mail  was not forwarded and will be covered by the MBG.

If it's a snad situation and you tell them to return for refund you are only responsible to provide them with a return label from the US address, not the Canadian address. 

[siayan]

Sounds to me like he uses some sort of Private PO box. If he received his item and it is SNAD then he wants to return it. It is best to just get the return and refund. Fighting it will give a defect and $24 worth of headaches. You may wake up one morning with a closed case in the buyer's favor.

[davus-bntazm]

So then if I were to provide him with a return label for my address which is in california and his middleman's address which is in New York, then may I ask how would he be able to send the item back to me? The only thing I can think of is that he crosses the border and then drops it off at a US post office. 

[siayan]

You would send the return address through eBay. I believe there should be a place to check if you want it done. Maybe others can jump in. The address and postage would be exactly the opposite of what you sent him.

[ymeagainlord]

Probably what they'd do.

[siayan]

On the open case there may be a box to check if you want a return postage label sent. If they don't use it you won't be charged.

[davus-bntazm]

I would like to call eBay to hear what they have to say about this situation first before making a final decision though. I am honestly spit between either contesting this case, or just giving the buyer a refund and letting him keep the item because its just one huge headache for me to deal with and honestly I have better things to do with my time rather than trying to defend myself from a keyboard warrior. 

[pjcdn2005]

Yes, he would have to cross the border to mail it with the usps label. 

[siayan]

Just be careful that CS doesn't give you the impression that you should win. Sometimes they may agree with the caller and another outcome happens. If it is a case where the item doesn't work you owe a refund. If you doubt the buyer get the item back. I wouldn't put my eggs in the PO Box bag.