Why doesn't Ebay issue the same shipping tier label for return as when the item originally shipped?

[gurlcat]

I am in one heck of a stupid mess with a buyer, the ebay agent I contacted, and the 'concierge' one the buyer contacted simultaneously (because she's an impatient FREAK who got on the phone to her concierge right after sending me an email) ..... all because of a stupid flaw in ebay's return procedure, that is, auto-generating a First Class return label despite it being a Priority package, for both weight and item value reasons.  
The reason I do Free Shipping isn't even for Top Rated Seller status, but to make returns as little of a hassle as possible, for both the buyer and myself.  When I indicate an item will ship Priority when I create the listing AND I buy that Priority label THROUGH EBAY, what on earth would make the return bot choose a First Class tier label to send to the buyer?  

[farmalljr]

Simple. It's because of the weight and dimensions you plugged into the listing. You did not do the listing right.

Your return label is based upon the specs you entered into the listing. It has nothing to do with the label you ended up buying. This is why it's important to be accurate when developing a listing. It's not just a case of a possible INAD. THIS situation happens too. 

[farmalljr]

To add, a simple solution:

Get a pirate ship account.

You can create a reverse label to email the buyer. You will pay the label plus 50 cents through them. This is the fastest and least complicated way to get the return. 

In the future, be accurate about weights and dimensions of your listings/packages. 

[gurlcat]

Sorry but you're incorrect; I entered the specs correctly.  And this isn't the first time this has happened.  I've heard of Pirate Ship, not interested. 

[farmalljr]

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@gurlcat wrote:

Sorry but you're incorrect; I entered the specs correctly.  And this isn't the first time this has happened.  I've heard of Pirate Ship, not interested. 

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Good luck. Looks like you need to work it out with eBay CS. Because if you don't, you'll end up refunding the buyer and not getting your product back. You will probably get your first negative to boot as well. 

[downunder-61]

I have never used eBay labels or shipping, I have a reciprocal contract with my carrier - what it costs to send it costs to return and the discounts apply to the volume being shipped so hard to beat.

Not sure how contacted shippers work over your way.

[gurlcat]

Yes, I just got off the phone with a supervisor and she said this absolutely was Ebay's fault, they are going to cover the buyer's refund and release my funds.  She said even if I had not entered the item's weight and dimensions the fact that I bought a Flat Rate Priority label and bought it through Ebay should have caused the exact same return label to auto-generate for the buyer's return.  So she's starting a tech ticket for that issue as well.  Apparently it just glitches sometimes. 
I kinda wish I would get a negative because a 100% pos seller is something scammers watch for, thinking they will do anything to avoid a neg.  I actually had one but Ebay removed it without me asking them to.  

[evry1nositswindy]

This isn't necessarily the OP's fault.  I shipped a paperback media mail.  The buyer requested a return and eBay approved the return automatically and issued a label at my expense.  It came back first class which was considerably higher priced.

[theteamsetguy]

I believe it is postage cost plus .25 for returns.

[gurlcat]

The funny thing is, even this BUYER (who is also a seller) said they always send First Class regardless of what she used initially.  I don't know why she got passive aggressive despite knowing exactly what was wrong and me assuring her I would handle it, but I guess she got a free item and I'm not losing the sale revenue either, so whatever.  

[jahood1984]

Had a return recently that's changed my always free shipping policy, never again on remotely heavier or larger items.  Cost me $15 to send it to buyer via fed ex and USPS return cost me over $40, more than it sold for.  Worst of all the buyer just couldn't be bothered to spend 2 minutes pushing 2 buttons (which I sent instructions) to reset the device, he returned it as faulty but it worked fine.  Ruined that free shipping I now used to offer, only on small items now.  If your using FedEx or UPS to save, you will spend a fortune having it shipped back when your buyer has no clue what they are doing. 

[gurlcat]

That person knew good and well it would work if they reset it like you instructed; they just had buyer's remorse.  Your story is certainly a compelling one for not using Free Shipping, but I've got a doozy of a story FOR using it. -A buyer bought a pair of designer boots from me, wore them to show off at her high school reunion or friend's wedding or whatever, and then several days later, to make sure she got truly FREE RENTAL on the boots, purposely destroyed one to claim it arrived that way, so as to avoid paying for return shipping (I had 'Buyer pays' at that time).  She knew an INAD would either force me to pay or just give her the refund.  Seeing the obviously hand-mutilated boot photo made that decision for me of course, since what can you do with only one good boot?  
--But very heavy objects, I'mma keep your story in mind, because I might just end up with an item where I'd have to consider its' return policy very carefully.  Luckily we can make those decisions on a per-item basis.  

[southern*sweet*tea]

Ebay return labels  are (or are supposed to be) First Class RETURN SERVICE labels. They are good for up to 70 lbs, the USPS weight limit.  The only difference between them and Priority RETURN service labels is the speed.

[babclassics]

I think the creation of 1st class return labels has changed in the last year.  They are starting to generate Priority labels for some returns based on dims and weight and value. There are some advantages to priority over 1st class return from what i have read.  It is hard to find the exact details though as the help is pretty sparse. Not wishing for a return to find out!  But do recommend exact weight and size in the initial listing.

For my outgoing heavier FedEx they pass on generating a return label and let me do it. We really need a fully updated help page that lays this all out clearly by carrier, outgoing shipping class, dims and weight at a minimum. Tired of guessing.

[gurlcat]

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We really need a fully updated help page that lays this all out clearly by carrier, outgoing shipping class, dims and weight at a minimum. Tired of guessing.

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AAAAAA-men!   The help pages are like some Walking Dead landscape, lacking truths you need and teeming with zombie no-longer-truths.  I wish I had backed up some of the hilarious screenshots I was taking a few years ago, inquiry tree dead-end pages that almost seemed like Easter egg finds, like just a single sentence that had nothing to do with the topic, and vaguely eerie, LOL.