Why Does Ebay Allow This?

[ekmadonna]

I Had a buyer who happens to be another seller with active listings send me Unsolicited offer on an item with No Offers enabled. They were asking for 20 bucks off. I always try and work with customers so I told them I could knock 10 bucks off the price if they wanted and they said "I CAN DO THAT". I changed the price for them and they PURCHASED and thanked me on TUESDAY! I shipped the item out yesterday and it is still in transit. I Get a BUYER WANTS TO CANCEL AN ORDER Request a few hrs ago from this person stating the ORDERED BY MISTAKE! Why does Ebay allow this? Pretty close to 48 hrs AFTER PURCHASE and Item STILL IN TRANSIT! 

[ekmadonna]

Sorry it was not ASK TO CANCEL it was a RETURN REQUEST, while the item has been in transit for 36 hrs.

[caldreamer]

Surprised EBAY would allow a "return request" before the item is even delivered.   Since customer used reason "ordered by mistake" (that is buyer's remorse) and you are NOT obligated to accept this return.  However, customer could still leave you negative feedback or try to get "payment reversed" through their credit card company.

Sorry this happened to you...I know how frustrating that is (especially after you were a "good guy" and gave them a great deal).  

[mam98031]

The seller is just playing games with you.  It is likely they had something similar for sale and it sold.  When they checked the item, they likely found something wrong with it or couldn't find it at all.  Then they found your time and asked you for a reduction in price.

Now they buy the item from you, pay you and you ship.  A couple days later the buyer/seller likely had their buyer ask for a cancellation because they had not yet shipped so they were caught.  They had to agree and refund their buyer.  But now they have your item on its way to you.

So the asked for a cancellation.  They know perfectly well that you can't do that, or they should.

It is unfortunate, but you need to let them know you can't cancel an order that has shipped.  You will likely have to deal with a return from this buyer/seller.

Hopefully they won't make it difficult for you.

[ocean-state-mint]

After years of selling here, I've had this happen numerous times. I now approach it in the simplest method possible. Make them return it, then block them. Unfortunately unscrupulous individuals infiltrate every selling platform and they seem to be increasing daily. 

[chevymontecarlo88]

@ekmadonna 

Since you already had established dialogue with this buyer, did you reach out to them and ask why they were returning the item after THEY initiated the negotiations?

[luckythewinner]

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@caldreamer wrote:

Surprised EBAY would allow a "return request" before the item is even delivered. 

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eBay allows it because (a) not all packages have tracking, and (b) tracking is not always accurate.

[fbusoni]

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@ekmadonna wrote:

I Had a buyer who happens to be another seller with active listings send me Unsolicited offer on an item with No Offers enabled. They were asking for 20 bucks off.  

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@ekmadonna 

I see at least two red flags there that would make the buyer an immediate BBL hall of fame candidate.

I have found over many years here that people who don't respect boundaries and send unsolicited messages aimed at nickeling and diming or otherwise demanding special dispensations of some sort are usually unstable in some fashion.

[albertabrightalberta]

Since you don't have a return policy, my suggestion would be to accept the remorse return request, send the return shipping label, have the buyer pay return shipping and since you charged separately for shipping, you don't have to reimburse that either. 

Upon receipt of the remorse-returned item, issue a refund for the item price only. You'll get your FVF credited and you'll only be out a bit of your time.

Oh, and don't forget to add them to your BBL.

[iamthecrosseyedcow]

I would handle it like any other remorse return:  Simply respond, "as soon as we receive the item back, we'll process your refund".  Then do so - assuming you receive it back in original condition.  Then block them if you feel that's appropriate.  Should the buyer have been able to open a return request before the item was delivered?  Nope, but eBay apparently allows it.

Regarding unsolicited offers, eBay has made making offers part of the venues' culture. I don't mind receiving them at all- at least 50% of the time, I can turn 'em  into sales.

Finally, I try really hard not to look for a nefarious purpose whenever a transaction isn't "normal" for whatever reason.  Mostly, I just figure that lots of eBayers, including sellers  (and myself on occasion)  just aren't very bright...

[chevymontecarlo88]

Very well said. @iamthecrosseyedcow 

I think too many concentrate on punishing sellers/buyers because everything was not perfect. 

[ekmadonna]

If they do seek to return it, they will have to LIE and open an INAD case to do it. 

[ekmadonna]

I immediately BLOCKED him. And I agree. My experience in the past 12 years has been that 99.9% of the time I have an issue with a customer, it is one who has asked for a lower price. and not far behind is they are also another seller.  Always bogus, dishonest and lying cheats.

[ekmadonna]

No option to Accept a Return and Issue a Return Label. I was not obligated to accept, and I did not. Case closed instantly. Like I said they opened a return 2 days after the package was mailed. STILL in Transit. They can't possibly return it. My options were to DECLINE, Offer Partial Refund and let them Keep It or Give them A Full refund and let them Keep it. 

[mam98031]

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@ekmadonna wrote:

If they do seek to return it, they will have to LIE and open an INAD case to do it. 

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That would be nothing new.  Buyers do it all the time.