weird question dealing with a new buyer and post office is returning item

[stackz]

sent out a used chromebook to a 0 feedback buyer.  it was only $10 shipping and the total order was only $35.00 but still, I noticed when checking the tracking that a return order has been processed? I guess they couldnt deliver to the guy's address? I checked it on google maps and it IS a valid address in an apartment complex.  I am not sure if it has been fully shipped back yet or not.  I reached out to the buyer and have had no response at all.  considering the location and the name, they likely do not speak english is my thought.  what do I do about this? do I go back to my local post office with the tracking number and have them reroute it back to that post office with maybe a delivery pickup notice or something? I just dont want to be out almost a third of the value of this is all.  

might not seem like much to some but to me, it adds up especially at this time of year as I would have to refund them the full value upon return so then I'm out what I paid for shipping plus what I refunded to them...

[wastingtime101]

Was the address missing the apartment number, perhaps? If the unit number was included and you can't find an issue with the address, you can call the post office that rejected it to ask what the problem was.

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This is my standard advice for RTS (returned to sender) packages. Take the parts that are relevant to your situation.

You have a few options. You should decide which route you'll be taking and communicate with the buyer, but wait until the item is returned (and delivered) to you before you take any of the following actions.

• You can refund the buyer the item cost minus original shipping and minus a portion of your eBay fees (fee credits are prorated on a partial refund so you won't get back fees on the shipping amount you withhold). Go to your orders page, find the transaction and select "send refund." On the next page enter the amount. After that, relist the item and if you still want to work with this buyer you can tell them to repurchase it with the correct name/address.
• Have the buyer sort out their address issue then pay for re-shipping. Send them an invoice through PayPal or give them your PayPal e-mail. This is post-sale so it's OK to exchange e-mail addresses. It's also OK to ship to a different address because it's technically not tied to the original transaction. You would not purchase the shipping label through eBay or upload tracking to the transaction. You would purchase it from an alternate site like pirateship.com or paypal.com/shipnow and you can send the buyer the new tracking # through e-mail or eBay messages.
• A different way to accomplish buyer payment for re-shipping is to create an eBay listing for the shipping cost (bumping it up to factor in eBay fees) and having the buyer purchase it, entering their correct address at checkout. You could purchase a shipping label through eBay for that transaction.
• You can cancel the transaction "problem with address" which will trigger a full refund to the buyer and your FVF would be credited.
• You can do nothing. The buyer's MBG protection is voided when there's a package delivery attempt. I don't recommend this because even though you'll win an INR (item not received) claim on eBay, there's nothing stopping that buyer from going to their credit card to file a dispute and why deal with all that? I also think handling it before it gets to this stage with a partial refund is the "right" thing to do if you're not going to make reshipping arrangements.
• You might also want to direct the buyer to this page so their address is updated for future purchases: Account Settings: Addresses

[toysaver]

My last Return to Sender Processed took almost 2 months to get back.  Good Luck.

[stackz]

I already reached out to the buyer via email and text via the phone number on file.  I also contacted the main usps customer service line after the san antonio tx post office just simply never answers the phone.  they informed me that it does appear the address is valid and that once I get it back and its confirmed valid by my local post office as well, that it can be re-sent to that address free of charge.  I dont know, I feel like I'm getting the run around on this but I do try my best to please people.

I'm wondering if the guy got booted from his apartment after he made the purchase so the apartment is actually vacant or something...lol.

[a_c_green]

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@stackz wrote:

I'm wondering if the guy got booted from his apartment after he made the purchase so the apartment is actually vacant or something...lol.

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Anything's possible, but regardless of why he left, he can (and should) still file a free forwarding order with his post office.

[onefootflippers]

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@stackz wrote:

I already reached out to the buyer via email and text via the phone number on file.  I also contacted the main usps customer service line after the san antonio tx post office just simply never answers the phone.  they informed me that it does appear the address is valid and that once I get it back and its confirmed valid by my local post office as well, that it can be re-sent to that address free of charge.  I dont know, I feel like I'm getting the run around on this but I do try my best to please people.

I'm wondering if the guy got booted from his apartment after he made the purchase so the apartment is actually vacant or something...lol.

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Apartment is likely vacant, either the person moved or it was being used as a dump address for someone making purchases with stolen credit cards.

I have a shelf and a wall for people who don't know where they live. I tape the standard envelope items to the wall, and I put the other items on the shelf. I don't even open them. I just wait to see if I hear back from the  people, which is something I don't remember ever happening.  Then about once a year I clear off the shelf and open the envelopes and relist the items. 

I don't pre-emptively reach out to the people, I used to do that, end result always ended up either costing me money or getting me bad feedback. 

I do also want to note that I have never had this happen with anything that costs more than about $6.

[12345jamesstamps]

Have to wait until it is returned.

Do not email buyer...they will email you first.

'Valid address in an apartment complex'...but does anyone live there now.?..they could have moved...could be someone using a credit card not there's but to that address and live next door...watching tracking and forgot to pick it up at the vacant apartment...never know what it could be.

I get returns...buyers never contacted me...so items returned and re-posted for sale.