eBay

collectorscatalogue3663 · ‎07-05-2024

Ok so I’m in a bit of a problem here.

I won an auction and paid for it, only to realize I put the wrong address. I contacted the seller within 2 minutes of me purchasing it requesting to cancel the order and relist it to me so that I could repurchase it with the right address. This all took place at around 8:00pm EST so the post office was already closed and the package should still be in his house. Next morning and the seller still hasn’t responded to me, so I bump him again; still no response.
Later that afternoon I get a notification from eBay stating that a tracking number has been created and that my package is being shipped (mind you, to the wrong address). So in the hopes of catching the package in pre-shipment I start spamming the seller until he responds to me, which he did — at night.
After a while we finally sort it out; order cancelled, relisted, repurchased. I contacted him 24+ hours later, just for him to tell me that apparently it’s too late and that the post office shipped out my package. I try to use my old tracking number to see if I can do an intercept but USPS cutoff updates on that tracking number and left it at a “no info available” status.
So without tracking number, knowledge of where the package is, inability to intercept, and en route to the wrong address, what can I do?

I don’t like blaming but I’m inclined to believe that (aside from mistake of me putting the wrong address) this is also the seller’s fault for not moving quickly. I have unfortunately had this exact scenario before, but the seller was quick to act and went to the post office the next morning at opening, and I got my package’s address changed correctly.

Please help me out here

kensgiftshop · ‎07-05-2024

The seller isn't required to answer messages or cancel the order.

Not much you can do but wait to se if it gets returned.

Have a great day.

collectorscatalogue3663 · ‎07-05-2024

I understand the seller isn’t required to reply to messages or cancel orders, but in this case I was attempting an address correction. I did this with a previous seller before without any headache and an extremely smooth process, almost identical situation. The difference is that now this seller has an extremely long turnaround time (which is reflected in his negative reviews).

albertabrightalberta · ‎07-05-2024

@collectorscatalogue3663 wrote:

I don’t like blaming but I’m inclined to believe that (aside from mistake of me putting the wrong address) this is also the seller’s fault for not moving quickly. I have unfortunately had this exact scenario before, but the seller was quick to act and went to the post office the next morning at opening, and I got my package’s address changed correctly.

ONLY you were "at fault" for not verifying the shipping address before hitting the "pay" button.

It wasn't the seller's "fault" for not moving quickly. The seller DID move quickly and DID follow ebay's instructions to "ship now" after your payment was made.

The best you can hope for is that the person living at the address to which you had it shipped with refuse and have it RTS. (That can take a while.) And although the seller isn't obligated to issue a refund in cases such as this, most honorable sellers will issue a refund for the item price. (You may not get a refund of the shipping cost since that was paid to the post office when the seller purchased the shipping label.)

albertabrightalberta | Volunteer Community Mentor
"I can explain it to you, but I can't understand it for you."

albertabrightalberta · ‎07-05-2024

@collectorscatalogue3663 wrote:
I understand the seller isn’t required to reply to messages or cancel orders, but in this case I was attempting an address correction. I did this with a previous seller before without any headache and an extremely smooth process, almost identical situation. The difference is that now this seller has an extremely long turnaround time (which is reflected in his negative reviews).

This makes your predicament MORE your fault!

So you're saying you were aware and went through the same situation before and still didn't fix the address issue? Sheesh!

albertabrightalberta | Volunteer Community Mentor
"I can explain it to you, but I can't understand it for you."

collectorscatalogue3663 · ‎07-05-2024

Yes it was my fault for not correcting the address issue I understand, but the fix is not all that difficult. If the fix happened once before without issue how come it’s so difficult now with a different seller?

collectorscatalogue3663 · ‎07-05-2024

I understand the whole thing yes the original part was my fault but I don’t understand why the seller and I can’t work like a team to correct the issue without any losses. The turnaround time combined with just overall vagueness in responses didn’t help the correction process. I’m honestly more confused with the USPS end of it, my old cancelled order has been flagged as “Info Not Available” since the minute the tracking number was created, but my new relisted purchased order has no tracking number made at all. Does this mean that the eBay provided shipping labels were not used at all?

janet9988 · ‎07-05-2024

@collectorscatalogue3663 wrote:
Ok so I’m in a bit of a problem here.

I won an auction and paid for it, only to realize I put the wrong address. I contacted the seller within 2 minutes of me purchasing it requesting to cancel the order and relist it to me so that I could repurchase it with the right address. This all took place at around 8:00pm EST so the post office was already closed and the package should still be in his house. Next morning and the seller still hasn’t responded to me, so I bump him again; still no response.
Later that afternoon I get a notification from eBay stating that a tracking number has been created and that my package is being shipped (mind you, to the wrong address). So in the hopes of catching the package in pre-shipment I start spamming the seller until he responds to me, which he did — at night.
After a while we finally sort it out; order cancelled, relisted, repurchased. I contacted him 24+ hours later, just for him to tell me that apparently it’s too late and that the post office shipped out my package. I try to use my old tracking number to see if I can do an intercept but USPS cutoff updates on that tracking number and left it at a “no info available” status.
So without tracking number, knowledge of where the package is, inability to intercept, and en route to the wrong address, what can I do?
I don’t like blaming but I’m inclined to believe that (aside from mistake of me putting the wrong address) this is also the seller’s fault for not moving quickly. I have unfortunately had this exact scenario before, but the seller was quick to act and went to the post office the next morning at opening, and I got my package’s address changed correctly.

Please help me out here

Quickly to YOU may be something different to someone else.

The seller may be busy with life and not have all day to sit around and read your spam.

The seller does not have to cancel a thing.

kensgiftshop · ‎07-05-2024

@collectorscatalogue3663 wrote:
Yes it was my fault for not correcting the address issue I understand, but the fix is not all that difficult. If the fix happened once before without issue how come it’s so difficult now with a different seller?

That's because every seller is different.

Some will cancel an order, some wont.

Some will change the address, some won't.

Just because it worked with one seller, doesn't mean it'll work on the next one.

No, the fix isn't difficult, make sure the address is correct before paying.

Have a great day.