How do I determine if a sale is eligible for eBay-provided return labels?

[amesrg]

I got scammed by someone who purchased a camera lens and wanted to return it.  I tried to purchase the return label through eBay but was not able to do so.  I called eBay and they said they don't know why the sale was not eligible for an eBay-provided return label.    This was a US buyer in Florida and I had no issues purchasing the initial label through eBay.

So I purchased a return label directly from UPS but the buyer claims it does not work.  Of course, it does: you can enter the tracking number on the UPS website and it says "awaiting shipment".  The issue is that eBay says it's up to him to determine if the label works or not.  If he says the label doesn't work then he keeps the lens and gets a full refund.

Obviously, this is a scam.  Well, it's obvious now...

So, how do I know if a sale is eligible for purchasing a return label through eBay so I can prevent this from happening again?

Furthermore, how do I refuse those kinds of transactions?  I can't find anything that seems remotely close to that option.

Thanks

[southern*sweet*tea]

What was the reason for the return?

If it's the Sony camera you sold, that was listed as no returns.  If the buyer used a remorse reason for the return (I don't like it, it doesn't fit, found a better price) then THEY, the buyer, are responsible for buying the return label.

If the reason was broken, doesn't match description, missing pieces, etc.  then YOU, the seller, are responsible for sending the return label.  This is true regardless of your return policy.

No returns only applies to remorse returns.  Returns for not as described, broken, etc.  are paid for by the seller in all cases.

If you gave the buyer the return label on your own, they still have to return the camera to get a refund.

[dhbookds]

was it an international sale? 

[amesrg]

Thanks for the replies - my question is how to determine whether a sale is eligible for eBay-provided return labels and I'm not sure how the replies relate to that question.

As I noted above, it was a sale to a buyer in Florida.

Anybody know how to determine if a sale is eligible for eBay-provided return labels?

Thanks

[slippinjimmy]

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@amesrg wrote:

As I noted above, it was a sale to a buyer in Florida.

Anybody know how to determine if a sale is eligible for eBay-provided return labels?

Thanks

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The address you shipped to was Florida but that doesn't confirm that the buyer is located in Florida.

By any chance was the address in Doral FL? Was it a residential address or a commercial/warehouse address?

[amesrg]

It was a residential address in Florida.  I looked it up on Google maps and it's just a regular house in a subdivision with a bunch of other houses.

Are some US addresses eligible for eBay return labels and some not?  It seems like if I can ship to the address with an eBay label then I should be able to return from that address with an eBay label.  But that's not the case.

I'm trying to figure out how I know when that's the case.

[kensgiftshop]

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@amesrg wrote:

It was a residential address in Florida.  I looked it up on Google maps and it's just a regular house in a subdivision with a bunch of other houses.

Are some US addresses eligible for eBay return labels and some not?  It seems like if I can ship to the address with an eBay label then I should be able to return from that address with an eBay label.  But that's not the case.

I'm trying to figure out how I know when that's the case.

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Look at the buyers feedback page and see where they are located.

[pjcdn2005]

Someone will correct me if I'm wrong but I haven't heard of an item not being eligible for an ebay label unless the item was really large an couldn't be sent via usps.

Since the purchase was sent to Florida, you should have been able to purchase a label whether the buyer was in Florida or if they had used a freight forwarder from Florida.  However, if there is some sort of proof that the buyer had the item forwarded from the original location,  the buyer may not be covered by the mbg which is why I think some of the poster are questioning where the buyer is located.

[amesrg]

The item is a camera lens in a box about the size of a shoebox.  Neither I nor the people I have access to at eBay know why I could not purchase a label through ebay.  I assume the buyer is at the location I shipped it to but I don't know.  That has not arisen as an issue as I've dealt with the loss of the lens.

It's obviously a scam.  I'm sure the guy knows exactly why I can't purchase a return label through eBay.  That's the crux of his scam.  If you can figure out how to do that then you just keep buying stuff, requesting returns and claiming that the labels don't work.  Ebay refunds you and you keep the item.  What a life.

And, of course, nobody can leave a negative review to warn others.

I'm trying to determine how to protect myself from that scam.  That appears to require that I know beforehand whether a sale is eligible for a return label purchased through eBay.

That's what I'm asking here: how can I determine if a sale is eligible for a return label through eBay?

[bonjourami]

My understanding has always been when Ebay provides the return label, that label is always charged to the seller, its not free. Why could you not provide that label thru Ebay, what happened when you tried?

[amesrg]

When I selected the button for "get return label" or whatever it's called I got three options, none of which was an option to purchase a label.  One option was "upload an image of a label", which is what I did.  I don't recall what the other two options were but neither was an option to purchase a label.  I think one was "confirm label was sent outside of eBay" or something like that.

As I said above, I called eBay and they told me the transaction was not eligible for purchasing a return label through eBay.  They could not tell me why.  But they did confirm I could *not* purchase a return label through eBay.

So, indeed, there are transactions where eBay will *not* provide you with a return label regardless of who purchases it - seller or buyer.  And, again, this was a buyer in Florida.

What I'm trying to figure out in this thread - if we can shift the focus to my question - is how I know when that's the case so that I can protect myself in the future.

Again, how can I determine if a sale is eligible for a return label through eBay?

[inhawaii]

Since you seem to be a bit confused as to what options were available and what option you chose.

Is there any chance that maybe you're mistaken?

As far as I know that option should be there for any/all returns.

As long as you sipped it to the buyer via ebay, you should be able to create a return label via ebay as well. 

If you refuse to believe that you might be mistaken, then it has to be an ebay glitch.

In which case there is not way of preventing that from happening in the future.

Good luck to you.

I hope you get it worked out.

[r_lresale]

@amesrg Any sale should be eligible for a return label through ebay unless the buyer opened a remorse return in which they would be required to purchase a label at thier own cost or like others are saying they are using a freight forwarder address in the US but registered in another country. 

 "I think one was "confirm label was sent outside of eBay" or something like that."

To my knowledge if you purchased a label outside of ebay you should have chosen that option and submitted the return label tracking number to show you DID  respond to the return request. Otherwise, there is no proof you sent/provided a viable label or otherwise dealing with the return so ebay assumes you don't wan't your product back.

[gwens*4saleitems*]

From what I read in the linked article below.  You have to "accept the return" in the return request, then you will get the option to send an eBay created label.  It could be that you don't accept returns so there-in lies the problem (no returns does not mean no refund, so why not take a return?)

Return shipping for sellers | eBay

I have my returns set to automatically accept and eBay automatically sends the return label for me.

[stainlessenginecovers]

Is this the $2700 Sony? If so, was sold with 'no returns'; so as others have stated: You do NOT have to accept the return (and would NOT be providing a label so that is why it wasn't available). If you DID accept the return, you STILL would NOT be providing a label. 

So 2 questions:

1.) What 'reason' did the buyer use for the return

2.) Did you see an official return and respond that they COULD return it? 

Again, if so, you would NOT be providing a label. It's up to the buyer to get it back to you.