Unreasonable Buyer Over a 7-dollar Item

[allionsgf]

Sold a anniversary card to a woman and she sent a message few days later starting with "I AM BEYOND SICK...". I initially thought it was about the quality of the card (which was nearly perfect IMHO lol) and then found that she was complaining about not getting the card in her mailbox. What a drama queen! I helped her to track down the package on eBay and showed her it was delivered to her zip code. She started questioning if the address was hand written and thus illegible, then accusing me of using international shipping for her tiny little paper card. She was so beyond reasoning that I started laughing at my computer screen. 

Well I had to spend a good couple of hours explaining to her how eBay shipping works plus quite some screenshots to prove my innocence. She didn't ask for a refund but I gave her money back anyway to stop wasting more time on this craziness and not senselessness - over a less than $7 item. Can't leave feedback on her profile because she will get 100% positive review anyway as a buyer and she may retaliate by giving me negative comments - which will really drag down my ratings as a seller. Yes as other folks said - eBay is always on the buyer side, despite the fact it takes away 20% of my earning every time when I sell something. 

[luckythewinner]

Well I had to spend a good couple of hours explaining to her how eBay shipping works plus quite some screenshots to prove my innocence.

You did not have to do this. You chose to.

eBay is always on the buyer side, despite the fact it takes away 20% of my earning every time when I sell something

The eBay user agreement spells out exactly what you get in exchange for your fees. Nowhere does it promise to remove feedback you might get from irrational people.

[chevymontecarlo88]

I found that some categories are better than others. Years ago i had items under $10 but quickly found that most issues that i had, were with the inexpensive listings. Go figure. Another funny fact (that applied to me) was that when customers on lower priced items would ask for favors (ship it out faster, reduce the price or whatever) and if you tried to help them, some would turn into problems as well. YMMV

Of course it is what it is and you just need to work through it.

[ed8108]

You may wish to consider adding

 this person into your blocked buyer list.

[fab_finds4u]

I don't agree  how you handled this and refunded when tracking showed it was delivered.

What you did encourages buyers to scam sellers.

When you showed it was delivered that should have been the end of it.  If anything you should have encouraged her to open a not received case to get a refund. Then it closes in your favor and neg feedback couldn't  be left or would be removable.

Sellers like you that allow buyers to get over or pull one on the seller is why there's  so much of that going on. Caving because you are afraid of negative feedback is wrong.

[wastingtime101]

Was this shipped with eBay Standard Envelope @allionsgf ? I generally offer buyers a quick explanation and ask them to wait a few days. Here's the info I provide on this discussion board when buyers say they did not get their ESE package:

eBay Standard Envelope (ESE) is a metered mail shipment so it does not receive traditional tracking scans like a package would, and the clerk at the PO counter cannot scan it or track it. The envelope is scanned by sorting machinery at distribution centers along the way.

With ESE, a 'delivered' scan generally occurs at the last USPS sort facility before it gets to the buyer, so typically the buyer will receive their order a few days after the delivered scan.

If you just saw a delivery scan today then I suggest giving a couple more days for the envelope to turn up.

You can sign up for USPS Informed Delivery. You get an email every morning with images of letter mail you'll be receiving that day (ESE should be pictured with the letter mail), and the email will also show a list of package tracking numbers arriving that day.

https://www.usps.com/manage/informed-delivery.htm

When an item is pictured on your informed delivery email, but that item isn't delivered, you can log in to your account at usps.com and report that you didn't receive it. That alerts the PO and they will alert your carrier that a mail piece was missing from your delivery.

[luckythewinner]

---

@fab_finds4u wrote:

What you did encourages buyers to scam sellers.

When you showed it was delivered that should have been the end of it.

---

A couple years ago, I had a non-delivery claim on a package that was scanned by the USPS as Delivered.

I won the case, but chose to refund the buyer anyway. Afterward the buyer sent a note of appreciation and actually bought a couple more things from me and everything went smoothly.

A couple months later, the package from the original transaction was returned to me by the USPS marked as undeliverable and had received no further scans.

I do not think I encouraged my buyer to scam sellers.

[sextons-sweet-deals]

curious what kind of feedback history your buyer has left for sellers?

Is the card still on its way or does it show delivered?

[onefootflipper1]

If it is standard envelope and showing delivered early there is two things you can do.

Either prepare a copy and paste response explaining how standard envelope orders often show delivered early. Something which some people instantly accept and others refuse to believe.

Or

"Oh my, unfortunately I am indisposed for the next few days but I will make sure it is the first thing I do when I get back to work (WHATEVER DAY) morning."

By the time that morning arrives the envelope will almost always have arrived as well. 

[caldreamer]

Problem is with USPS when ESE letters show delivered (before it reaches the customer mailbox).    EBAY shows "delivered" when item was not even in my city (package didn't arrive until 2 days later).   

[d.c.enterprises]

While there's myriad things about eBay designed to annoy us, eBay is not necessarily "always" on the buyer's side, there are protections for both buyer AND seller.  I've had eBay get involved in my (selling) favor on a couple of scammy transactions and claims by buyers.  And eBay does not take 20% as their commission on any sale in regular categories.  Why would you give the refund or even spend ten minutes on this matter?, you're only encouraging more of the same, failed delivery by the carrier is not your problem, the buyer should make a claim with the carrier.  It appears that despite having the number of positive feedbacks you have you may not fully understand.

[allionsgf]

Hey luckythewinner, 

I am beyond sick as I read your useless feedback. PLEASE DON'T POINT FINGERS TO AN HONEST SELLER WHO TRIED BEST TO SERVER CUSTOMERS! I am SO upset to see someone from this community who sounded jist like an eBay admin. 

Well I used the wording that buyer used in her message... Yes I chose to spend the time explaining to her and give her the refund that she didn't request because I wanted to give the best service as I can to keep my customers happy. I am a buyer myself so I can understand the frustration when I don't get my items. But I just don't wan to keep up with her disrespectful attitude. So if you were happy to see my response ... yeah you are a winner!

It's funny that eBay recommended this reply as the best answer. I know what eBay promised and didn't promise so I don't need you to remind me, thank you. I am not happy with it though and I wanted to share with people who think the same, and post it as feedback to eBay. So here - non of your business lol