eBay

0ysterb0y · ‎04-25-2025

I sold a pretty valuable LEGO set (at least by my standards), and it was delivered yesterday. I woke up to a message from the buyer saying that the box had arrived in a plastic bag when USPS delivered it because of a strong feces odor and that they tried to air it out overnight but the smell lingered and so they threw out the package (including the deconstructed LEGO set and its instructions). They said USPS wouldn't accept it to ship it back because the smell was so bad.

I have no idea what to do in this situation. I packaged and shipped it myself, and the box itself nor any of its contents had any kind of smell much less one so offensive that it would render the LEGOs unsalvageable. I have no reason to believe this person would be lying, and I feel terrible they had to deal with that, but I genuinely have no idea what they're talking about. I'm fairly new to eBay, but I've been selling old clothes on Depop for a few months and nothing like this has ever happened.

Obviously, I'll be giving the buyer a full refund, but I'm not sure what to do about the lost value of the set. I was going to pay for a return shipping label, but the package and its contents were thrown out. I was looking to raise a dispute with USPS, but I don't know if that's an option because it was thrown out and there is no indication on the Tracking website of this problem having been documented in transit or upon delivery.

Thank you so much; I really just want to get this worked out for everyone.

UPDATE: I spoke with USPS just now, and the kind employee said that the bag in the picture they sent me is not the bag they use, if the item had been damaged in-transit the tracking website would reflect that, and that this would be the only time in his 30+ years with the Postal Service that he'd seen this. I will be telling the buyer to return the item if they want a refund. Thank you all so much for your input.

rfmtm · ‎04-25-2025

Since the package has the post office notice on it, I'd still file a claim with clear pictures of the notice. Otherwise, if you want the item back, before you refund have buyer open a Return Request. Also consider offering just a partial refund, if the buyer wants to keep it.

vintage-camerastuff · ‎04-25-2025

"They said USPS wouldn't accept it to ship it back because the smell was so bad."

Did they take it to the post office and have them smell it? I doubt it.

Something smells but not the legos. Smells like a scam to me.

caldreamer · ‎04-25-2025

Sounds like this customer is trying to scam you to get free Legos. There are many scammers on EBAY who figured out ways to get items for free. I would add this person to your "block list".

EBAY 30-Day Money Back Guarantee requires customer to "return item" if they want a refund. I would not give them a refund unless they return the item.

USPS rarely, if ever, pays for damaged items and I seriously doubt they would pay because your customer doesn't like the smell of their item. USPS would just blame the Seller for offensive packaging.

fbusoni · ‎04-25-2025

USPS is under no obligation to compensate you for this loss, which, as others have said above, is very likely an effort to get the Legos for free.

I would contact eBay through one of its social media sites, and raise this with them. I would be very surprised if you were on the hook to issue a refund after the buyer unilaterally decided to throw something away.

Which they did not do anyway, presumably.

eBay seller since 1999. This is a posting ID.

dirk12955 · ‎04-25-2025

I'll chime in that IMO the OP is getting scammed.

pacificcoastpickerz · ‎04-25-2025

I believe you were scammed. I was just scammed myself and that will not happen again. Go to YouTube , there are a lot of videos on how scammers work and they give solutions and how to recognize them as well. Sorry for your loss, I totally understand

ifyouloveit · ‎04-25-2025

I think your buyer may be trying to scam you as this makes no sense. Perhaps contact USPS and see what you can find out.

I would not do a partial refund, that is one of the biggest scams on eBay. They return it, they get refunded. They are claiming there is nothing to return as they threw it out? I doubt they did. They are plastic Legos, they could be cleaned off if there actually was any smell. Doubt the mailman would have delivered it to anyone if it smelled so bad. Buyer didn't reach out until after they supposedly threw the stinky stuff away? And how would it smell like feces? Worst smell I've ever had on any package was smoke due to the delivery driver hot boxing their trunk smoking cigarettes.

Maybe the box failed in shipping and USPS put it in a bag (that is believable) but the rest of the story isn't.

hartungcards · ‎04-25-2025

" I have no reason to believe this person would be lying,..."

I can think of at least one reason.

toysaver · ‎04-25-2025

If the smell of feces deterred the USPS they would have been out of business decades ago.

cambriachick · ‎04-25-2025

Tell them you don't know what could have happened to the legos, but to go ahead and open a case on eBay.

Then don't communicate with them again! I assume you have 'accepts returns' as a policy. Ebay will required them to return the legos for a refund. Do not just refund them, that's foolish.

tarotfindsandmore · ‎04-25-2025

If you want to confirm whether they're scamming you, ask for pics of the packaging the USPS used. You can tell them you need them for the USPS claim (which they do normally request). If what they're telling you is legit, the bag will have a big bright red USPS label or the bag itself will have the official USPS stamp.

If you don't get the pic, tell them to open a return with eBay and let them know you'll refund them as soon as the set is returned. The USPS will not refuse a stinky package. They regularly process stool samples for labs so that's a load of rot.

a_c_green · ‎04-25-2025

@0ysterb0y wrote:
I sold a pretty valuable LEGO set (at least by my standards), and it was delivered yesterday. I woke up to a message from the buyer saying that the box had arrived in a plastic bag when USPS delivered it because of a strong feces odor and that they tried to air it out overnight but the smell lingered and so they threw out the package (including the deconstructed LEGO set and its instructions). They said USPS wouldn't accept it to ship it back because the smell was so bad.

@0ysterb0y : Oh, bologna. That "strong feces odor" is supposed to act as the excuse for why they can't simply return it. That story is complete and utter hogwash; the USPS mailstream doesn't come into contact with "feces" anywhere, and of course what a coincidence that the supposed smell only involved a high-value, popularly-scammed item.

Come to think of it, even hogwash would smell better...

So anyway, tell them simply this: "I'm sorry that you were not satisfied with your purchase. You can return it for a full refund." That's it; end of story. Do not engage them in debate over any other details (and no one believes that they really threw out the item). Repeat that reply if needed. Do not refund unless the item is returned.