eBay

bigbunchoftoys · ‎09-19-2021

I (seller) need some advice on what to do about an INR that is about to be filed against me by my buyer. $200 item sent on 9/8/21 via USPS Priority Mail (only $100 insurance on package) and had an Ebay estimated delivery of 9/11/21 (ND to PA). The last tacking scan was on 9/10/21 at my local distribution center. On 9/15/12 I opened a USPS Missing Mail search. Tracking has not updated since the 9/10/21 scan.

What is my best course of action? Buyer has been patient until now and is about to open an INR case against me (can't blame him since it is already 8 days past due).

1. Refund the buyer voluntarily before Ebay is asked to step in (and hope it gets delivered within 30 days and try to appeal via Facebook).

2. Refund the buyer and initiate a USPS Mail Intercept and hopefully it gets found and redirected back to me.

Sorry about the long post but I really need good advice here. Thank you in advance. Also, does anybody know if Ebay is still granting appeals for INR packages that get delivered within 30 days of case closure if the seller voluntarily refunds before Ebay is asked to step in?

this*old*attic · ‎09-19-2021

OMG, forget $200 - I’m old enough to remember “allow 6-8 weeks for delivery.”

Be VERY polite to your customer, tell him about and link him to the MBG info, remind him he has 30 days on EBay and 180 on PayPal, remind him it DOES show up on the USPS system, and help him watch tracking himself.

Then THANK him for his cooperation.

silverstatetreasureboxes · ‎09-19-2021

@buyselljack2016 wrote:
@silverstatetreasureboxes wrote:
@bigbunchoftoys
Your est delivery date shows Sept 23rd. There has been some bad weather in PA and the Midwest states that perhaps may have slowed this pkg. What is the tracking number on this puppy if you don't mind, let's see where it is right now.
Communication with buyer is key right now.
isn't that sept 23 date an estimate for someone buying it now?

I'm assuming this is the order OP is talking about and the buyer did BIN. It says estimate arrival Sept 23rd when this order was completed on the 8th.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Rampage-The-Movie-Lizzie-Action-Figure-Big-City-Brawl-2018-Lanard-NEW-SEALE...

chevy_327 · ‎09-19-2021

@this*old*attic wrote:
"remind him he has .... 180 on PayPal".

Why in the world would you tell him about that?? Most buyers don't know that.

dbfolks166mt · ‎09-19-2021

Some good advise already given. I agree with most and would NOT refund the buyer unless/until they have actually filed an INR case nor would I do an intercept. Make sure you are checking the tracking information directly from the USPS site and not the eBay link. Often the two are out of sync.

After the buyer opens the INR case you have 3 days to respond. Due to USPS problems and a lot of natural disasters happening uploading the tracking information from USPS showing the package still in transit provides short term relief but not sure this always works. If USPS is unable to locate the package then you will need to fully refund the buyer before eBay does it for you. You can file a claim with USPS if they are unable to locate the package but unfortunately since you did not purchase extra insurance when you go the label the USPS is only going to refund you $100 if they rule in your favor in the case.

I am unsure of what class of postage you used but following is the timeline for opening cases with USPS based on the postage class of the package.

dbfolks166mt · ‎09-19-2021

The timeline varies depending on the class of mail used. The OP did not indicate what class of postage they had used but for reference following is the USPS timeline.

buyselljack2016 · ‎09-19-2021

@silverstatetreasureboxes wrote:
@buyselljack2016 wrote:
@silverstatetreasureboxes wrote:
@bigbunchoftoys
Your est delivery date shows Sept 23rd. There has been some bad weather in PA and the Midwest states that perhaps may have slowed this pkg. What is the tracking number on this puppy if you don't mind, let's see where it is right now.
Communication with buyer is key right now.
isn't that sept 23 date an estimate for someone buying it now?
I'm assuming this is the order OP is talking about and the buyer did BIN. It says estimate arrival Sept 23rd when this order was completed on the 8th.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Rampage-The-Movie-Lizzie-Action-Figure-Big-City-Brawl-2018-Lanard-NEW-SEALE...

and once again that is the date that the item would arrive if purchased "now", not the date the buyer was shown when they purchase on the 8th.

If you were to look at that ended listing a week from now it would show estimated delivery about Sept 30.

Here is another one completed on Aug 20th. Shows an estimated date for me of 24 Sept. That is if I buy it now. Would not take 35 days to arrive.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/255094135409?hash=item3b64cb9a71%3Ag%3AtZ8AAOSwLeFhGU6Z&nma=true&si=rIZMwyH...

bbravo65 · ‎09-19-2021

...few things to share with you...

1- too late to file "Intercept package" with USPS...don't waste your time and money...

2- if you already filed "Missing Mail", perhaps USPS gave you a case number, fast forward that case number to your buyer in a message to inform him/her that the package might be arriving later than scheduled due to bad weather in the East Coast area and, you are keeping up in tracing the package...

3- if you purchased an insurance through USPS for the package, knowing that both, sender and receiver, can file a claim...

4- if buyer has not contacted eBay about INR then better be...quiet...don't jump the gun...

5- and if an INR opened, promptly submitting the tracking history plus the missing mail case number in responding to eBay and buyer...do not delay...

6- rest assured that your package is Priority Mail, USPS doesn't like to pay out for an insurance claim...once a missing mail claim was filed, all the supervisors and managers in the effective locations have to take responsive actions or sacrifice their bonuses...

...good luck...

silverstatetreasureboxes · ‎09-19-2021

@buyselljack2016

You know that's a good question so I peeked at one of my own purchases. When I bought and paid it stated " est delivery date Sept 20th which is tomorrow. I already have this item but seller didn't use tracking so it doesn't show it's been delivered and still has the same date of Sept 20th.

So with Ops outstanding shipment that arrival date of Sept 23rd will continue to show until it's delivered, right?

Oh geez now I'm confused buyselljack and did the OP ever come back?

popblox · ‎09-19-2021

Thanks @katzrul15!

@bigbunchoftoys, the last appeal I made for a voluntary refund on an INR was approved and I was reimbursed. I've been reimbursed every time this has happened since my original post.

Oddly enough, in my most recent cases the buyer has contacted me immediately upon receipt of the item and asked how to pay me back (this never happened previously, but I'm great with it), so I haven't had to go this route in a month or so.

Also, I've always used eBay's Twitter for INR reimbursements. It just worked out that way, as I got some resistance from them on Facebook in the beginning, so I would suggest contacting them on Twitter first. Feel free to include a link to my post with all the documentation if needed - sometimes there's a rando manning the Twitter customer service who has to be brought up to speed.

auctionairecorp · ‎09-19-2021

eBay loves INR's, it gives them an "excuse " to charge 50% higher FVFs. Search for "additional final value fees" in ebay's Help & Contact section.

popblox · ‎09-20-2021

@auctionairecorp wrote:
eBay loves INR's, it gives them an "excuse " to charge 50% higher FVFs. Search for "additional final value fees" in ebay's Help & Contact section.

I've had 160+ INR's in the last 18 months, and I can assure you eBay does not charge additional final value fees for INR's. They extend your estimated delivery dates.

eBay charges additional FVF's if a seller has a "very high" rate of INAD returns, to the tune of 5%, not 50%.

https://www.ebay.com/help/selling/fees-credits-invoices/selling-fees?id=4822#section6

Not cheering, just stating facts.

chevy_327 · ‎09-20-2021

@popblox wrote:
@auctionairecorp wrote:
eBay loves INR's, it gives them an "excuse " to charge 50% higher FVFs. Search for "additional final value fees" in ebay's Help & Contact section.
I've had 160+ INR's in the last 18 months, and I can assure you eBay does not charge additional final value fees for INR's. They extend your estimated delivery dates.

With over 160 INR's for 1 seller, there is clearly something wrong with ebay's "estimated delivery" system. There has to be something in it for them or they would fix it.

Ebay does want to make the buyers happy. If the buyer get a refund and the item for free, they are very happy.

popblox · ‎09-20-2021

@chevy_327 wrote:
@popblox wrote:
@auctionairecorp wrote:
eBay loves INR's, it gives them an "excuse " to charge 50% higher FVFs. Search for "additional final value fees" in ebay's Help & Contact section.
I've had 160+ INR's in the last 18 months, and I can assure you eBay does not charge additional final value fees for INR's. They extend your estimated delivery dates.

With over 160 INR's for 1 seller, there is clearly something wrong with ebay's "estimated delivery" system. There has to be something in it for them or they would fix it.

I've had 160 INR's, but that's out of 12,351 transactions in the last 18 months, so that's only about 1% of all all my shipments. Everything else got there on time or early, so the estimated delivery date was/is actually pretty accurate.

The problem was/is where all my shipments go first - the USPS sorting facility in Memphis, TN. At any rate, eBay does "fix it" to some degree by increasing the estimated delivery dates for sellers with a very high rate of INR's.

eBay has also developed a better way to handle INR's. I don't give anything away anymore - I have another post with considerably more details.

I'd like to reiterate that I'm not cheering, just facts.

auctionairecorp · ‎09-20-2021

An additional 5% on top of a 10% final value fee is a 50% increase nice try Ra ra for the eBay cheerleaders but more lies

popblox · ‎09-20-2021

@auctionairecorp wrote:
An additional 5% on top of a 10% final value fee is a 50% increase nice try Ra ra for the eBay cheerleaders but more lies

Again, that's for SNAD returns and has nothing to do with INR's. I included a link to the policy that you quoted, where this policy is very clearly stated. Also, there is no 10% FVF, so your math still doesn't add up.

Resorting to name calling and insulting others doesn't bring any kind of validity to your misinformation, but bullying strangers online seems to make you feel better, so I hope you're getting what you need from it. I'm sorry that you feel this is what you need to do.