The item delivered to the buyer after I refunded him.

[ezgsere_0]

Hello,

I am here to share my one and only experience on eBay and to ask for strategic and emotional advice. Because of this experience.,I paid close $100 for shipping and services, lost hours on the phone and writing e-mails, and finallylost my SurfacePro 4 for which I saved money for months.  Here is what happened:

I put out my SurfacePro 4 for sale. A buyer with good feedback rate has purchased the item. He paid via PayPal, I shipped the item. But the USPS took more than two weeks to deliver the item. I went to the local USPS office and learned that the item is coming back. I contacted the buyer and asked if he wanted me to send the package via different carrier services. He wanted to be refunded. I told him to wait until the package arrives. He filed a refund request via eBay and I received an e-mail from eBay asking me to refund him with again an emphasis on how important it is to answer requests for positive feedback. eBay loves to include these "recommendations" that freaks new people like me. So, I refunded the buyer.

I have spent days trying to reach the people at USPS or learn where my computer is. Finally, last week I learned that the buyer received the item a week ago. I contacted the buyer and asked him to make a payment. The buyer did not respond. I sent him a second e-mail. Still waiting for the response.

When I tried to ask for support from eBay they told me that since the case closed they cannot do anything and that I should contact the buyer. The only leverage I got was giving a negative feedback as eBay is mentioning in all e-mails they sent as a scare tactic. I also learned from the help center that the negative reviews are not being shown. That leaves me with nothing.

I trusted eBay mainly because of the feedback this buyer has -- 106 stars %100 positive feedback rate.  If I knew that the negative comments are not shown I would have acted differently. Another issue with eBay's protection policy is how they consider a case is closed or an unpaid item. eBay refuses to reopen the case based on that I refunded the buyer voluntarily. However, eBay pressured me by sending an automatic e-mail to do the payment without mentioning I am not obligated to do so. If eBay has not intervened on the buyer's behalf, I would still have the money. Or if they did not close the case immediately after the refund I would have a better chance of getting paid. Also, I would have a better  chance of learning about the buyer, if they kept the negative feedback besides the positive feedback, which can be easily fabricated.

I am a student, not a businessman. I acted in good faith, here is what happened to me: Lost money, lost my computer, lost time and energy, lost my trust in doing e-business. I would appreciate any advice.

Thank you in advance,

[emerald40]

What you should have done is call the Post Office and try to determine where it was in the delivery process.

Then you should have contacted ebay and asked for an extension of time.

This would give you the extra time to determine whether you might try to recall the item if it is still close to you or wait a bit to give it a few extra days to reach him.

I am so sorry for this but ebay is right once the case closes they are out of it.

All you can do is prevail on the honesty of the buyer, but as you can see from this one you are not getting far.

You cannot leave a buyer negative feedback.

[bubbleman2010]

What country was your buyer located in?

[sam9876]

"I trusted eBay mainly because of the feedback this buyer has -- 106 stars %100 positive feedback rate.  If I knew that the negative comments are not shown I would have acted differently."

All buyers have 100% positive feedback.  It isn't possible to give them a neg.

[luxe_beauty_4_less]

Never, never refund until you have an expensive item back in hand if it's being returned due to an address issue.  The not received case that was opened gives you time to add the tracking information and then wait to see what the post office is doing.  Open a missing mail search in the interim.  Call the post off where the item was last scanned.  Tell the buyer what you're doing to research the item location.  You have TIME to find the package.  Now though, you're between a rock and a hard place.  All you can do is hope the buyer will work with you on payment.  Best of luck.  Next time, ask folks on this board what to do, BEFORE taking your next step.

[southernfriedbelle]

While I am sorry this happened, you had a responsibility as a new seller to thoroughly educate yourself regarding  seller guidelines, returns and refunds, and feedback, just to highlight the areas impacting you now. Forewarned is forearmed. It sounds to me like you feel you are being unfairly treated due to your inexperience as a seller, and that somehow you should get a break because you're new and uninformed. 

I hate to break it to you, but you just paid $100 for an accelerated course in How Real Life Works. You don't get a break or a do over  because you're new or didn't know better. It's up to you to know what you're getting into before you take the plunge.

It's an expensive lesson,  but  a valuable one, from which you can learn and prepare yourself for future business dealings. Best of luck in your future transactions. 

[missjen831]

What do you mean by "If I knew the negative feedbacks were not shown"? The buyer has NO negative feedback to show. Buyers can only receive positive feedback. You also say leaving negative feedback was your only leverage---what do you mean by that? You weren't able to leave the buyer negative feedback. I am also crious why you had to contact the PO? Were you not tracking the item on the USPS website? Ebay did not intervene here. The buyer opened a item not received case. Ebay is required to notify you of that. Thats why they did. They in no way intervened. You voluntarily chose to refund the buyer at that time. You were told you had until a certain date to respond, you didn't have to issue a refund right away.

[green-night]

I would appreciate any advice.

If you hadn't refunded voluntarily you could have appealed the INR case (in the event you lost) and probably gotten a courtesy refund once the package delivered.   You would have gotten a 'defect' if ebay forced the refund, but if I was a casual seller, I wouldn't care.   I'd have kept the option of an appeal open in this case. 

[garmentvarmint2004]

EZG..

I am sorry  that you  did not  realize  that  SELLING items  on  Ebay--can  be pretty complicated.   There are   all   sorts of rules  and  processes that you need to  be aware of----before you   even set up  your first Listing. 

You may have used   one of  the slower shipping  methods  to  ship your  item.   Which is  why  the  buyer may have  become worried.   Or you  not have  sent  any Estimated Delivery updates  to  your  buyer---while he was  waiting for your  package to  arrive.    So that he would   at least  know it  was in transit. 

I am sorry this happened to you.  But you   probably  need to learn a lot more  before trying  to sell  here again. 

[go-bad-chicken]

What USPS shipping service did you use? i.e. Ground, Priority, EXPRESS Priority, etc....

Did you insure the package, and if so for how much?

Did you purchase Signature Confirmation (ad on service) when you shipped this compluter?

[gotta-get-stuff]

Your first and biggest mistake. If the buyer doesn't contact YOU,  don't contact THEM.

" I went to the local USPS office and learned that the item is coming back. I contacted the buyer and asked if he wanted me to send the package via different carrier services. "

[ezgsere_0]

They told me to pay until Jan 24. I made the payment on Jan 25. The item was delivered on Jan 30.

[the*dog*ate*my*tablecloth]

Looks tome like they paid far more than $100 given that they also lost their surface.

[lewisburggold]

In the future of course always wait to do the refund they usually give you some time to see if the item is going to arive.  Always keep your tracking numbers so if you need to know were that package might be you can go see.   Most people are honest but if you give them the oppritunity to not be the will take it.  If you are a new seller start with small item till you can get a good feel for what your doing.  Dont let these guys get ya down most are just rude anyway.  Best regards

[heawi-57]

This reply is so condesending. You could've found a way to say this without completely crapping on this person who's obviously dealing with a terrible situation