"Buyer opened a request" - Wants a refund for an item that was delivered.

[bamorris]

Buyer opened a confusing request. I suspect she wants a refund claiming she didn't receive the item. Tracking states that it was picked up at the the USPS office. So I have a hard time believing she's not trying to grift me on this transaction.

I've changed my personal policy to free returns within 30 days. You either get your stuff, or you get your money back. But you can't have both. And that it seems is what's happening here. I don't care if it's a 5 dollar item and it's 5 bucks to return it to me. I used to just refund on many of these "return fraud-ish" claims. But now I'll eat it. Stuff or money. Can't have both.

I don't know how someone else would pick up her package at the USPS office. It just doesn't make sense. I feel a negative feedback coming on. Am I protected in this case from negative feedback? What about a forced refund? I did my part. It was a really nice item she bought too. I'd be happy to refund her if she ships me the item back. But this is where I draw the line. I'm not going to just refund someone because it was porch pirated. At least not willingly.

Just curious what my risks are here and what my recourse is.

Thanks!

[inhawaii]

Did she file a INR (item not received) case?

If so, all you have to do is respond to the case,.

Say something like "tracking shows it was delivered on <date>".

Also, you MUST add the tracking number to the case.

Very important.  Without it you will lose.

Do these things and ebay will find in your favor.

You're right. You are not responsible for porch pirates.

It is the buyers responsibility to make sure she has safe place for delivery.

Good luck!

[bamorris]

@inhawaii 

Thanks for the response. She closed the case before I could paste the tracking info in.... I'm not sure what type of case it was. She just closed the request and will now be using the "Ebay Money Back Guarantee"

She only has one feedback. Her account was created the same day she bought my item. May 6, 2023.

Sounds like she knows what she's doing. I'll stand by and see how the MBG works.

[lakefor94]

Has the buyer opened a case with eBay or just sending messages?

[inhawaii]

I'm not sure if ebay will let her lose a INR case, then turn around start a INAD (item not as described) case?

So the INR case was closed, in your favor. 

Did she officially start a INAD case?

[44012]

Last month or so I sold an item in small padded envelope that was delivered to an apt building mailbox. The buyer filed a did not receive. (I shipped on Tuesday it arrived Friday - the buyer filed on Friday.) Ebay sent me the did not receive and asked me to update tracking. I entered the tracking again which showed as delivered. I believe that you should enter the tracking number and be done with it. It will then tell Ebay it was delivered (even though they should know I do not believe they do at this point when they are asking you to enter the tracking again perhaps different department.) A few days later I was leaving feedback for folks and I noticed this little RED NEGATIVE mark by this transaction. The buyer had tried to leave negative feedback. But it did not appear anywhere on my profile. It was deleted by Ebay because of the 30 day free return policy and the fact that I entered the tracking number when I originally shipped and again when they asked. It finally just got closed this week as it was in the buyers court but what could they do. It was their problem with USPS not me as I did my part.  But remember, you can still get a credit card chargeback which would not go through ebay.  So they could technically still keep it and still get their money back too. 

[thelongball]

Hello- I just had a similar thing happen this week on a $3.00 item. Shows delivered and the customer was real demanding about a refund. I had a tracking number also. I made the customer file for the refund thru eBay and didn't just give the refund. I thought the guy came off real demanding and felt entitled. I thought about just letting eBay back me and tell him no. But I did refund it anyways. I also blocked him as if he wants to buy again, maybe its a more expensive item next time and I'm not making this a habit. I hope he tries to buy from me again and sees he is blocked as I know he wants what I have. Tough luck next time though. The real reason I refunded him is that I have figured out that those who don't get issues that eBay has to step in and fix, get better position's on all your listings, you get to have negative feedback, that is left unjustly, removed. And other little perks that others don't get when they don't take care of their business on their own. Think about it before you don't refund the pity amounts sometimes. Yes, you win the battle, but you're going to lose the war. And the other thing is never let jerks blow your day. Noone has the right to do that other than you. Its alright to get mad about it for a minute but just move on and be thankful that guy isn't the person living next door to you. They will get theirs back some day. It's called Karma.

[bamorris]

@inhawaii it must have been an INR request. Because there was a spot to update the tracking number. And my computer brain said "why would I want to update it when it's already correct?" So I just sent a message back and then she closed it inbetween the time I responded and the time I posted here.

@44012 yes. Lesson learned. Even though she closed the case, next time I'll do better and add the tracking to the case.

@thelongball yeah, my policy is stuff or money. Not both. I refuse to be outright scammed on here when the tracking shows delivered. If it never arrived, was lost, or if she wanted to return it... I'll pay for that, but refunding people just because you think you'll get shadow banned seems a little conspiratorial. I don't think they're going to deboost you, especially with your feedback rating and track record on one or two outlier cases. Especially when you're in the right. But then again you might just be doing so well that it's easier to think less about it and refund them and move on... I get what you're saying and I was doing that for a while. Maybe console video games ruined me but I just got tired of being return-fraud scammed. Stuff or money from now on. Not both.