Ordered by mistake - 3 in a row!

[b86fiero]

What is up with buyers these days?  (rhetorical question with no real answer).

1. Buyer purchased a 1000 piece new jigsaw puzzle. Shipped same day. Buyer received it back on May 9. She opened a return case a couple of days ago, May 27, claiming ordered by mistake.  Plenty of time to put the puzzle together then return it for a full refund. I have options if it was opened as it was factory sealed. Plus I get to count the pieces to see if they were all returned. And I lose the cost of shipping both ways as I offer free shipping on all items.

2. Buyer purchased a 2000 piece new puzzle. Shipped same day. Buyer received 2 days ago on Thursday and immediately opened a return claiming ordered by mistake. She also stated "I already have this one."   Well, duh, why did she order it if she already had it? (another rhetorical question). Again, brand new factory sealed. Hopefully this one comes back unopened. And again, I lose the cost of shipping both ways.

3. Buyer just purchased a set of dinner plates. Shortly after paying for them she requests a cancellation because .... she ordered by mistake.

I know people make mistakes. I know I can revert to buyer pays shipping and only pay for NAD claims but then buyers claim NAD to avoid paying return shipping and tend to leave neg feedback.

But 3 "mistakes" in a row within a few days?  Bah humbug, and welcome to my blocked list.  Do it to me once, shame on you. Do it to me twice, no.

[caldreamer]

Not a good idea to have "free shipping + free returns" on puzzles (that's like a lending library).   I have found when customers have to layout money for shipping they are less likely to cheat you (because they have some skin in the game).

[lakefor94]

If you have returns accepted and buyer pays for return shipping then if the buyer chooses a remorse reason for the return such as "Ordered by mistake", you can accept the return and the buyer will have to pay the return shipping.   

If they file a false INAD, yes we pay the return shipping. Do you think all 3 would have filed a false INAD?

[meme6253]

I have to agree, Your just leaving yourself wide open!, I do not offer free shipping & I like it that way, ebay doesn't but I do!

[b86fiero]

I believe most people are honest.  Call me naive or silly, but there have been thousands of decent, honest buyers that I have had the pleasure of transacting with over the years.

Free shipping or buyer pays shipping, in my experience it doesn't seem to matter, the thieves will find a way.  It just seems to me looking at my sales records the past 2 years and reading here on the boards that theft is increasing.

If they have to pay to return they tend to file NAD and ding your account to get out of paying and leave neg feedback as an extra insult because you expect them to be responsible for their mistake.  That's why I went with free shipping years ago when eBay began pressuring sellers to bite the bullet.

I don't think there are many products or merchandise varieties that don't experience some degree of returns. It's a cost of doing business. But it sure if frustrating. 

[b86fiero]

My apologies for ranting in this post.

Some times personal life tragedies, sudden losses of family members and the accompanying stresses build in a short period of time and then you sign on to eBay to take care of business and get your mind off those issues only to find you have three more issues to deal with where you are not at fault.

Sorry.