Fed Ex: no delivery estimate; buyer wants me to call to release item

[lu12-deals]

I got a message from a customer whose delivery is held up by Fed Ex due to the supply line problems. He'd like to pick the item up but Fed Ex won't allow that unless I call them to release it.

Not sure if this is even do-able. Isn't eBay considered the shipper, and not me? And if I can have this item released for pick-up versus delivery, I'm not exactly sure this is a good idea. Thoughts/opinions?

[house*of*paws]

Hi @lu12-deals 

eBay ships nothing.  Only sellers ship.  It is the seller's name on the shipping label ... and only the seller can tell FedEx what to do with the seller's package.

I don't see anything wrong in helping the buyer get the item they paid for ... as long as tracking shows 'Delivered' when the buyer picks up the package.

[kensgiftshop]

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@house*of*paws wrote:

Hi @lu12-deals 

eBay ships nothing.  Only sellers ship.  It is the seller's name on the shipping label ... and only the seller can tell FedEx what to do with the seller's package.

I don't see anything wrong in helping the buyer get the item they paid for ... as long as tracking shows 'Delivered' when the buyer picks up the package.

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Can you do that when the FedEx account is under Ebays name?

[lu12-deals]

That makes sense ... yes, I get that we're the shippers, but the reason I thought eBay would be considered the shipper is because we're bulk buying labels on eBay's platform.  Thanks for confirming that's not the case!

[eleanor*rigby]

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@lu12-deals wrote:

That makes sense ... yes, I get that we're the shippers, but the reason I thought eBay would be considered the shipper is because we're bulk buying labels on eBay's platform.  Thanks for confirming that's not the case!

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I'm not sure that's correct . . . I've always read complaints on the discussion boards from sellers who cannot get any information from FedEx because eBay is considered the shipper. I cannot, however, speak from personal experience.

I think FedEx customer service (such as it is) would be your best resource for the correct answer on this one. 

Post again if you learn anything more definitive from FedEx.

[a_c_green]

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@lu12-deals wrote:

Not sure if this is even do-able. Isn't eBay considered the shipper, and not me? And if I can have this item released for pick-up versus delivery, I'm not exactly sure this is a good idea. Thoughts/opinions?

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eBay does indeed own the FedEx account, and it's a "special" account that does not allow the buyer/recipient to redirect the delivery to another location (as a scammer could do that and then file an Item Not Received dispute for the original location).

That's not to say that it hasn't happened anyway in past years, mainly with smooth-talking scammers managing to shmooze FedEx customer service into redirecting the package anyway, but officially eBay is considered to be the shipper, regardless of whose name is on the Return address.

I would definitely check with FedEx first (what does the current tracking say?), because I don't entirely buy the buyer's story. "Supply chain" problems generally don't mean the local delivery trucks, and if the item is close enough for the buyer to supposedly pick it up, then I would expect it to reach his house soon enough anyway.

[house*of*paws]

@kensgiftshop  / @lu12-deals 

My bad.  I totally forgot the difference in FedEx' relationship to eBay.  [I'm still zonked from my booster shot and probably shouldn't be posting.]   😵

I think that calling FedEx ... and asking whether you can do what the buyer is requesting ... is probably the best idea.  

[lu12-deals]

The tracking shows the item is stuck outside Portland. Just talked to Fed Ex; there's nothing they can do. The item's not sitting in the buyer's local Fed Ex office. It's stuck in a trailer somewhere waiting to get processed with all the other port traffic. 

So, to paraphrase Fawlty Towers, he might get it before I die. 

[a_c_green]

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@lu12-deals wrote:

The tracking shows the item is stuck outside Portland. Just talked to Fed Ex; there's nothing they can do. The item's not sitting in the buyer's local Fed Ex office. It's stuck in a trailer somewhere waiting to get processed with all the other port traffic.  

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Okay, yeah, his chances of "picking it up" instead are zero point zero.

What was the last Estimated Date of Delivery for the shipment? (Look on the Order Details page to find the date that was shown to the buyer. It is not the date visible when browsing the Sold listing itself.)

He can file an Item Not Received dispute once that EDD date has passed. If so, you may need to request an extension from eBay, or they might force a refund before the package starts moving again.

[lu12-deals]

The Order Details shows as estimated delivery of 10/26. Fed Ex has stopped providing a delivery date estimate for this tracking #. 

[downunder-61]

Just remember if the buyer does open INR 

If you voluntarily refund the buyer within 3 days of the case being opened, you are eligible for reimbursement from eBay on appeal if the item is delivered to the customer within 30 days of the case being closed. More details on the process here.