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

[bonjourami]

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

I think we all understand your question, but dont understand why you were not able to provide a return label, thats usually easy-pesey.

[amesrg]

No, not the $2700 Sony camera.  It was a Sigma lens for that camera.

The "no returns" option is pointless.  All someone has to do is claim the item was not as described, which is what he did, and eBay forces you to pay for the return.  There's no recourse there - it's an opinion, and eBay always sides with the buyer.  That's a well-known fact when selling on eBay.

What I did not know prior to this sale is that someone can manipulate the transaction so that it's not eligible for an eBay-provided return label.  Then they say your label is not valid and they keep the item *and* get refunded.

Which, again, leads to my question in this thread: how do I know when the transaction is not eligible for an eBay-provided label?

[amesrg]

Yes, I also don't understand why I couldn't purchase a label through eBay.  Nor did anyone I spoke to at eBay.

Nonetheless, they confirmed that I could not purchase the label through eBay.

So I was forced to purchase a label outside of eBay, which is perfectly valid as confirmed by UPS.  But all the buyer has to do is say it's invalid and eBay believes him.

[stainlessenginecovers]

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@amesrg wrote:

No, not the $2700 Sony camera.  It was a Sigma lens for that camera.

The "no returns" option is pointless.  All someone has to do is claim the item was not as described, which is what he did, and eBay forces you to pay for the return.  There's no recourse there - it's an opinion, and eBay always sides with the buyer.  That's a well-known fact when selling on eBay.

What I did not know prior to this sale is that someone can manipulate the transaction so that it's not eligible for an eBay-provided return label.  Then they say your label is not valid and they keep the item *and* get refunded.

Which, again, leads to my question in this thread: how do I know when the transaction is not eligible for an eBay-provided label?

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Yes; I know all the parameters of a return and all the various scenarios (with returns/without returns, type of return buyer is doing).. so anyway, if a buyer opens a SNAD then the label is automated and is NOT up to you to provide. 

Again, why were YOU providing a return label? They are automated. It is NOT something that you can or should 'purchase' separately. 

Was buyer in another country?

Did you ship internationally? 

Was buyer using a Freight Forwarder? 

[amesrg]

The answer to these questions are elsewhere in this thread.

How do I know when the transaction is not eligible for an eBay-provided label?

[albertabrightalberta]

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@r_lresale wrote:

@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. 

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I don't know if it's different for sellers with a return policy but I have a return policy and for a recent remorse return, the request was automatically accepted and the message was that the label was issued to the buyer and buyer was charged for it. 

I wonder if the buyer with a Florida shipping address used a freight forwarder, in which case, it's ineligible for MBG. However the seller does have the option of accepting the return anyway.

[amesrg]

It's not a freight forwarding issue.  I looked him up before he changed his name on the account and found corroborating evidence of a person with that name at that address.  It's a residential address.  The address is legit.

At no point in the conversation with eBay has the address been an issue.

The issue is he says the label is invalid.  His reasons keep changing but it doesn't matter.  All he has to do is say it's invalid and eBay refunds him and lets him keep the lens.

I've given him several options to address his claim that the label is invalid.  He ignored all of them because he knows all he has to do is say it's invalid.

At least I know who he is and where he lives so I can get law enforcement and the courts involved.

[r_lresale]

@amesrg Something isn't adding up here...I'm still not seeing the sale under your solds. In most cases ebay is quick to issue the return label and refund the buyer...can you post a pic of the return details (blacking out personal identification of course) so we can try to see what is going on. 

Questions:

1. Did the buyer ask you to change address at anytime? Item was paid for correct? Could be that the buyer account was hacked or something.

2. On the return label you did put the original ship to address as the ship from location correct? As well was the return label with same carrier as you used to originally ship to them? Maybe they really can't use UPS??

3. Did the buyer maybe dropship this to a client and can't get the item back to return

4. I'm assuming original tracking shows delivered? (just checking)

If all these answers balances and checks out then I can't possibly figure out what the problem would be.

[yuzuha]

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@bonjourami wrote:

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?

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And if it's an INAD return, the label should be automatically provided by eBay-- the seller shouldn't have to do anything.

[inhawaii]

I believe the answer to your question is....

If you purchased/printed the original shipping label through ebay, you are "eligible" to  print/purchase a return shipping label through ebay.

[femmefan1946]

Put the tracking number for the return label into the dispute.

(Is there an open dispute?)

If the buyer is overseas, and you shipped to a freight forwarder, the return label only has to go to the forwarder.

It's up to the buyer to get the item back to the forwarder and pay them to use the return shipping label.

An earlier discussion about this.

https://www.ebay.com/help/policies/ebay-money-back-guarantee-policy/ebay-money-back-guarantee-policy...

https://www.ebay.ca/help/policies/ebay-money-back-guarantee-policy/ebay-money-back-guarantee-policy?...
 
This is the part I'm referring to
 
Exclusions and special coverage when the buyer doesn't receive an item 
Items collected by a third party on behalf of the buyer

Not covered

The buyer arranged their own shipping method, such as a courier pickup

Not covered

The buyer provided an invalid or incorrect address at checkout

Not covered

I don't know how to do screenshots.  There is a LOT of information on that page.

 
An ethical seller would refund the payment, less shipping costs, eBay fees, and international payment processing fees.
But it's my belief that eBay will not require any refund.
 
Hi @femmefan1946! You're correct in that a refused package is on the buyer and not the sellers responsibility to refund. As long as tracking shows the package was refused, then we would side with a seller if the buyer opened an Item Not Received claim. 
 
I agree that I would not withhold all the money, but it is up to the seller if they would like to withhold shipping, refund the buyer entirely, or keep it all. If the seller is okay with refunding the buyer entirely and being out the shipping costs, then they can cancel the transaction using the buyer requested option since in essence, they did by refusing the package. If the seller wants to retain the shipping costs, then they can message the buyer a heads up (not a requirement but a nice thing to do) and then refund them partially through this flow here. 
Velvet,


[amesrg]

[bonjourami]

"I believe the answer to your question is....

If you purchased/printed the original shipping label through ebay, you are "eligible" to  print/purchase a return shipping label through ebay."

That may be the answer then.

[amesrg]

Alas.  That was not the case for this transaction.

[bonjourami]

Whoops no, the op says he purchased the original label thru Ebay..Im stumped.