eBay

haunteddollsandbaubles · ‎09-27-2020

Has anyone ever accidentally given a partial refund to the wrong buyer... asking for a friend... Okay, fine. I'm asking for me. Because I did that. In my defense, I've never had more than 7 or 8 packages to ship out at the same time, and typically it's more like 4 or 5, so I've never confused labels I printed on the same day before. The day of the debacle, I think I shipped four. Fast forward a few days and one of the buyers contacted me because one of the s&p shakers I sent had arrived damaged. (USPS is really getting heavy handed) Anyway, we agreed on a fair refund amount, so I quickly logged into Paypal and looked through those 4 labels I'd mentioned earlier, found the one I thought I was looking for and issued the partial refund. I even included the message, "So Sorry!"

Fast forward again because I had to have oral surgery on my jaw bone and then dealt with an infection so was out of commission a few days. Finally logged back in and noticed the same buyer had now opened a case against me for the damaged item and were requesting a full refund. I seen I'd missed a couple messages asking when I was going to send the refund so I quickly explained that I'd issued it already and why I hadn't been in contact. Then I got to thinking... then I panicked... So I hurredly logged into PayPal... and sure enough... I'd refunded the wrong buyer. I hadn't noticed that two of the labels I'd printed were addressed to someone with similar first names- and similarly priced purchases. I just correlated the name on the label with whom I'd been talking to, so... I just refunded it. And then I forgot about it. Once I realized my error, I quickly explained what had happened to the buyer and then promptly refunded them. I've also contacted the other buyer to explain why I'd sent them a partial refund with the hopes that they'd possibly offer to refund it back to me. Then we'd both laugh at the ridiculousness of my mistake and everyone probably would live happily ever after. But it's been radio silence from them. I fear that they have just decided to laugh AT me instead of WITH me. Which is impeding my chance for a happily ever after. Do I have any other options to retrieve that money back or am I just SOL?

Thanks for any advice!

KJ

wastingtime101 · ‎09-27-2020

@haunteddollsandbaubles wrote:
Do I have any other options to retrieve that money back or am I just SOL?

SOL. You voluntarily sent them a refund. If they ignore your request to re-pay there's nothing to do but learn the lesson and move on.

GLORIOUS!

esclyons · ‎09-27-2020

hopefully your buyer refunds, your refund.. otherwise there is no other way to get your funds back..

silverstatetreasureboxes · ‎09-27-2020

SOL never be in a hurry when it pertains to money!!! Are you feeling better? I'm sure our " resident grandma" will post some love for you! Take care of yourself!

1grandmashope_1 · ‎09-27-2020

It is a mistake and lesson that I am hopeful you won't repeat. We all make them, with some being more expensive than others. If I was the buyer, not knowing of your mistake (like yourself), I too would of asked for a full refund since it did not appear that you were following through with your agreement to the partial refund. I think most of us would.

As far as the person that you gave the refund to, it is up to who they are and if they are choosing to be a good human. I hope that they do the latter. I don't know if you have ever heard of Murphy's Law:

"things will go wrong in any given situation, if you give them a chance," or more commonly, "whatever can go wrong, will go wrong."

Lessons are particularly difficult when they keep coming...but just take care of yourself and be thankful that you ship 4 or 5 items at a time, some sellers are having no sales. This will pass, just breathe.

With kindness,

Grandma

PS. silverstatetreasureboxes is absolutely correct....be in the moment in all we do. Thanks silver!

silverstatetreasureboxes · ‎09-27-2020

See I told you OP grandma was sensing your pain and is spreading love your way!

haunteddollsandbaubles · ‎09-28-2020

@wastingtime101 wrote:
@haunteddollsandbaubles wrote:
Do I have any other options to retrieve that money back or am I just SOL?
SOL. You voluntarily sent them a refund. If they ignore your request to re-pay there's nothing to do but learn the lesson and move on.

Thank you. I figured as much, but I still had to ask. I didn't want to find out later that there WAS a magical way to get my funds returned- if only I had pursued it. That would have made me feel even dumber than I already do- which seems impossible at this point, but I'm always surprising myself.

Sigh.