eBay

tommy50607 · ‎01-29-2018

I sold something that after I shipped the buyer wanted to change the address, saying they had used their address they had not lived at in 3 years. I told them to set up forwarding with USPS and kept the current address. So today it says says "Your item was returned to the sender on January 29, 2018 at 12:08 pm in HARTFORD, CT 06114 because the addressee was not known at the delivery address noted on the package. " It also says ALERT on the tracking info. https://tools.usps.com/go/TrackConfirmAction?tLabels=9261299998825470157377 What does this mean? Did they refuse deleivery? Woulden't USPS have left the pakcage anyway even if the person no longer lived there? It was an apartment.

philsumm · ‎01-29-2018

Either the carrier knew they didn't live there any more or the new tenants refused the package. It's coming back to you and the buyer will need to pay to have it reshipped.

postingid2017 · ‎01-29-2018

wrote:
I sold something that after I shipped the buyer wanted to change the address, saying they had used their address they had not lived at in 3 years. I told them to set up forwarding with USPS and kept the current address. So today it says says "Your item was returned to the sender on January 29, 2018 at 12:08 pm in HARTFORD, CT 06114 because the addressee was not known at the delivery address noted on the package. " It also says ALERT on the tracking info. https://tools.usps.com/go/TrackConfirmAction?tLabels=9261299998825470157377 What does this mean? Did they refuse deleivery? Woulden't USPS have left the pakcage anyway even if the person no longer lived there? It was an apartment.

I am pretty sure that forwarding addresses are not kept for over three (3) years. If your buyer has not used/lived at that address for that period of time, the buyer did not refuse shipment, they simply were not/are not legal residents of the apartment. I would ask the buyer update their mailing address in eBay and PP and advise them if they still want the item, have them repay for shipping to the correct address, and if not, refund minus shipping cost.

*eponymous* · ‎01-29-2018

If it has been 30 days or less, you can cancel the transaction through eBay for problem with buyer's address. That will issue a full refund and get your fvf credit.

Life shrinks or expands in proportion to one’s courage. ~ Anais Nin

thallidguy · ‎01-29-2018

My money is on the current tenants refusing the package because they didn't recognize the addressee. I'm not 100% surprised that the change of address didn't work because there probably wasn't enough time for the change to migrate down to the local PO, but at that point it was probably worth a try, and your least bad option.

The package will come back to you, probably in a week or two. If the buyer wants it reshipped, he needs to pay you for shipping all over again. It was his responsibility to provide you with a viable shipping address.

muttlymob · ‎01-29-2018

I sold something that after I shipped the buyer wanted to change the address, saying they had used their address they had not lived at in 3 years. I told them to set up forwarding with USPS and kept the current address.

I am pretty sure they could not file a change of address for an address they had not lived at in 3 years. And even if they could, it would likely not have gotten through the system in time for the delivery of this package.

So today it says says "Your item was returned to the sender on January 29, 2018 at 12:08 pm in HARTFORD, CT 06114 because the addressee was not known at the delivery address noted on the package. " It also says ALERT on the tracking info. https://tools.usps.com/go/TrackConfirmAction?tLabels=9261299998825470157377 What does this mean?

This means that you knew before you even mailed it that the address was wrong, so it should be no surprise that it is was refused by the current resident who did not know the name on the package.

Woulden't USPS have left the pakcage anyway even if the person no longer lived there?

Not if the carrier knew the name on the package no longer lived there. Or if the current resident was home at the time of delivery and let the carrier know that no one by that name lived there. Or if no one was home at time of delivery but the current resident brought the package to the PO or left it for the carrier the next day saying that no one by that name lived there.

Why would you expect the carrier to just leave a package for someone who doesn't live there?

Next time a buyer tells you that the address is wrong, listen to them. Don't mail the package to a known wrong address.

yuzuha · ‎01-29-2018

wrote:

Why would you expect the carrier to just leave a package for someone who doesn't live there?

Because how are they to know that the person might not be a guest there or might not be having their mail delivered to a friend/relative's address for a reason? My sister no longer lives at this address but she generally comes home for most of the month of December for the holidays, so she instructs her friends to direct their Christmas cards to her here rather than her house in CA. She's never had a problem with the mailman refusing to deliver them because she technically doesn't live here anymore.

muttlymob · ‎01-29-2018

wrote:
wrote:

Why would you expect the carrier to just leave a package for someone who doesn't live there?
Because how are they to know that the person might not be a guest there or might not be having their mail delivered to a friend/relative's address for a reason? My sister no longer lives at this address but she generally comes home for most of the month of December for the holidays, so she instructs her friends to direct their Christmas cards to her here rather than her house in CA. She's never had a problem with the mailman refusing to deliver them because she technically doesn't live here anymore.

Good points, but I was thinking specifically in the OP's case, who had been told by the buyer himself that he hasn't lived there for 3 years.

Change of address orders don't last for 3 years. If the carrier has been on that route for at least that long he may remember who used to live there, and have reason to believe the package doesn't belong there. Or the current residents refused it.

yuzuha · ‎01-29-2018

wrote:
Or the current residents refused it.

That would be my guess as to what happened. I can't see how a carrier would be allowed to choose not to deliver a piece of mail that was addressed to a specific address.

o2908c · ‎01-29-2018

I had a problem a few months back where the buyer did not put an apartment number in the address, so the package was returned to me. I contacted the buyer and they responded that the address was correct I requested buyer to pay shipping charge again.
Instead, the buyer opened a claim - apparently a PayPal claim closes an eBay claim. I responded with my explanation and offered to refund the item cost but it was not fair for the original shipping cost to be refunded. I guess no one looks at these, because PayPal fully refunded the buyer.

Hope your buyer is more understanding - at least mine didn't leave a Negative.

thallidguy · ‎01-30-2018

wrote:
I had a problem a few months back where the buyer did not put an apartment number in the address, so the package was returned to me. I contacted the buyer and they responded that the address was correct I requested buyer to pay shipping charge again.
Instead, the buyer opened a claim - apparently a PayPal claim closes an eBay claim. I responded with my explanation and offered to refund the item cost but it was not fair for the original shipping cost to be refunded. I guess no one looks at these, because PayPal fully refunded the buyer.
Hope your buyer is more understanding - at least mine didn't leave a Negative.

That's a tough break, because experienced carriers who know their routes don't necessarily need an apartment number. They can match the addressees name with the unit number.

Unfortunately, your situation differed from the OPs in that your package was returned for insufficient address, which does not void buyer protection. When the package is refused by someone at the address, that voids buyer protection because it is assumed that it was delivered to the buyer, but the buyer refused to accept it.

muttlymob · ‎01-30-2018

wrote:
wrote:
Or the current residents refused it.
That would be my guess as to what happened. I can't see how a carrier would be allowed to choose not to deliver a piece of mail that was addressed to a specific address.

In theory, residents are supposed to supply the list of names at a residence who will be receiving mail there. And keep it updated. If other names get mail there also (gifts, visiting family/friends, eg) can be addressed in the C/O (care of) format.

If a carrier sees a name that they know moved out years ago and the forwarding order is no longer valid, the package might get returned instead of delivered. It is a valid action by USPS/carrier.

edit: also by your reckoning forwarding orders would not exist if all mail to an address were to be delivered, no matter what the name it is addressed to.

pvcliff · ‎01-30-2018

I snail mail postcards to my window treatment customers 2-3 times per year. In this area of suburban Los Angeles the forwarding seems to last about 6 months. After that the card comes back to me with a yellow sticker with a new address. If too much time has past between mailings, bad addresses come back with FOE (forwarding order expired) or UTF(unable to forward) hand written on them. So three years is way too long to expect mail to be forwarded.

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