Item returned- deceased buyer? What to do?

[headvasegal]

I sold a new video set last month.  After auction closed buyer took a week at least to pay.  So I sent it off media mail to the West Coast address registered with eBay by the buyer.  I always check tracking info on my sales, and after about five days saw that it showed up as "undeliverable" to the address.  USPS apparently tried to redeliver.  I wrote to the buyer and informed her of this, told her to check with her carrier.  No answer.  The next USPS notation said that the item was being taken back to PO to process for return to me.  I wrote her again and told her this and said "Get to your PO because they apparently still have it."  No answer.  In another week, it showed as "available for pickup" at my PO, and I went there but they couldn't find it.  Another five days pass and then it shows back in my mailbox, with a $2.66 postage due receipt.  So now I am into this item for outgoing and return postage that are about half of the total received from the buyer.  (The flipping USPS tracking info says "returned to original sender" but then they have the town as her town, although it should be my town. ) So what happens next?  I have never received any email asking where the item is nor has anything been filed with eBay.   If I refunded to her, I would be deducting the postage amount.  Several years ago, I had a person die after I had mistakenly sent the item before he paid.  I'm beginning to wonder if the same thing happened here and the original late pay was because the buyer was ill.    My inclination is not to refund "into the void" but await any further contact from her.  What would you all do?

[orangehound]

First, you need to verify that the address is incorrect.  Just because an item is returned does not mean that the USPS didn't make a mistake.  I had a package about a month ago that was returned, but it was properly addressed ... the mail carrier made a mistake.  I discovered this by going to the USPS counter and working with them.  They put on a new postage label with tracking (zero charge) and re-addressed to ensure it was clear.

Second, the USPS charged for return postage?  Must be a Media Mail thing -  I've never encountered that since my returns have always been Priority Mail returns.

With respect to the buyer, here is what I do:

1. I send a message to the buyer informing them that the item was not deliverable to the address that they provided, and that the item has been returned to me.
2. In this message, I also tell them that I can re-ship for an additional charge of XXXX (invoice generated via PayPal), or that I can cancel the order.
3. If they want to cancel the order, I cancel it with "problem with buyer address", put them on my BBL, and absorb the loss.
4. If they do not repond in 30 days, I send another message telling them that I'm refunding their purchase price less shipping ... and then I do that.

[m60driver]

I would do absolutely nothing until contacted by the buyer.  

[krazzykats]

Refund buyer and move on. Done...

[fluffywhip78]

That seems odd that you would have to pay postage.  In my experience the post office will return it for free.  I agree that you just wait.  You already warned the buyer before it was returned and sent another after the fact.  They could be on vacation or had some other emergency that kept them away.

[berserkerplanet]

$2.66 is the amount for 1 pound Media Mail. Media Mail service does NOT include return postage.

[ed8108]

Remember you can always contact ebay customer support where every return is of immense importance and

highly valued, to learn their position.

[missjen831]

The title of your post says the buyer is deceased? Was that an error? If she’s deceased, you may not be able to refund her if she paid with a bank account. My MIL just passed away and her bank account is now in deceased status and all incoming payments are automatically returned by the bank. Nothing can come out of the account either.

[monster-deals]

---

@m60driver wrote:

I would do absolutely nothing until contacted by the buyer.  

---

I would also refuse the item if/when it comes back postage due.

[luvmystorm]

If your wondering if the buyer has passed away just look up the persons name and see if you find something like an obituary. google it.

[irinahat]

I don't know why you jumped to the conclusion that your buyer passed away. People go on vacation. People forget about Ebay stuff. I've had buyers NEVER respond to messages because they were elderly and didn't use the messaging system or check their e-mails. I once sold a local pickup only item and spent two weeks trying to get in touch with someone, then Ebay informed me I can request contact info, so I requested contact info via the form Ebay has for requesting info, and I called them on the phone and they immediately picked up and said that they never checked messages or their emails and assumed the item would be shipped because they didn't notice it was local only. Request contact info and call. Jumping to such an extreme conclusion is extremely bizarre to do.

[dirk12955]

Wait

[luckythewinner]

---

@headvasegal wrote:

Another five days pass and then it shows back in my mailbox, with a $2.66 postage due receipt.  So now I am into this item for outgoing and return postage that are about half of the total received from the buyer. 

---

For a transaction that that totals $10, I would have already refunded as "problem with address" and moved on. 

[sam9876]

I wouldn't do anything.