Shipped the wrong item

[area51bulldog]

I had a buyer purchase a bottle on 10/27. Bottle shipped out on 10/28 and delivered on 10/30. About a week later I realized I sent her the wrong bottle. (I had another bottle sell the same day that never got paid for-that's the one I sent out by mistake). 

I have emailed the buyer twice, once through ebay and once to her personal email, about sending the correct bottle and returning the one she got. So far I have not gotten any response from her. 

The bottle I accidentally shipped was of a higher value and I am thinking maybe she wants to keep it instead. If that's the case I have no problem with it, my mistake in sending the wrong one. 

My question is since I still have the original bottle she bought at what point would it be safe to relist it? I would hate to resell it and then hear back from her about exchanging the bottles. 

[evry1nositswindy]

Send it with your most sincere apologies.  You can get a negative or a case opened against you for an item not as described.  You will have to take the hit on this one and learn from your mistake.   You might want to enclose a note saying you will pay return shipping, but that's up to you, but the buyer is under no obligation to return your error.

[pvcliff]

Here's what I'd do. I'd wait the 30 days past delivery that I believe the buyer has to complain about her purchase. Then I'd wait a couple weeks longer, just to be sure.  I only go to my buying ID email when I'm buying, so possible your buyer is not seeing your emails.

[tinlebarro-0]

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@pvcliff wrote:

Here's what I'd do. I'd wait the 30 days past delivery that I believe the buyer has to complain about her purchase. Then I'd wait a couple weeks longer, just to be sure.  I only go to my buying ID email when I'm buying, so possible your buyer is not seeing your emails.

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Wait 180 days so she cant file with paypal or a credit chargeback

[partial*eclipse]

You should at least wait until after the 30-day (post-delivery) deadline for filing a claim for item "Significantly not as described."    

It would be possible to make a case for waiting until after she has left feedback (60-day deadline) or even the deadline for filing a "Not as described" claim with PayPal which is 180 days.  But I think you're right: She decided to keep the more-valuable item.

[klassic*kids]

I can relate.  A couple years ago I sent someone something of higher value than what she had purchased.  I sent a couple messages after I released my mistake and she never responded.  I assumed she wanted to keep the higher value item as due to a major coincidence it was the same size as the one she had purchased.

I gave it 30 days then relisted the actual item she had purchased.  

Never heard a peep from her.  All went smooth and was able to sell the first item again.  Was out a few bucks from my mistake but that was all.

Good Luck.

[kds99]

If you do take the wait approach, then never try to contact her again.

[siberians_forever]

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@area51bulldog wrote:

I had a buyer purchase a bottle on 10/27. Bottle shipped out on 10/28 and delivered on 10/30. About a week later I realized I sent her the wrong bottle. (I had another bottle sell the same day that never got paid for-that's the one I sent out by mistake). 

I have emailed the buyer twice, once through ebay and once to her personal email, about sending the correct bottle and returning the one she got. So far I have not gotten any response from her. 

The bottle I accidentally shipped was of a higher value and I am thinking maybe she wants to keep it instead. If that's the case I have no problem with it, my mistake in sending the wrong one. 

My question is since I still have the original bottle she bought at what point would it be safe to relist it? I would hate to resell it and then hear back from her about exchanging the bottles. 

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@area51bulldog

Proactive is always best.  Buyer's personal email my auto kick your message to "Junk Folder"

Since you have the buyers contact info to include phone number, I would give it a few days to await a response and then call her directly.  Personal measures/steps taken by you will only confirm you are an honest seller as some folks dont check their email regularly ; )

Waiting for a 60-90-180 period is just asking for trouble and grounds for a case being opened, that you will lose.

Sib

[siberians_forever]

A similiar but even worse thing happened to me couple years back...

In my haste and excitement to pack up and ship five orders...one of the orders went out in a bubble wrap envelope (small money item) along with the batch...

All labels were printed and I personally made a trip to post office in the morning to get each one scanned : )

Delivered Notifications started coming in and was happy to see my shipping was fast : )

Next Day I saw a necklace on the table here that was supposed to be in that bubble wrap envelope???...What the???

I called the buyer immediately and apoligized profusely!!!  Told her I would reship ASAP!!!

She just laughed and said "No problem" and later left me a five star feedback.

@area51bulldog

Sib

[partial*eclipse]

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siberians_forever wrote: Proactive is always best....

Since you have the buyers contact info to include phone number, I would give it a few days to await a response and then call her directly. ...

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If the buyer has decided to keep the more valueable item that was sent in  error, that phone call could be very awkward.