Buyer not following return instructions?

[contentunderpressure]

I sold an old camera part and mailed it out medium flat rate. It sat around and no one wanted it until the shipping was lowered. I packed it as well as I could and it took up the entire box. It was mostly metal and completely bubble wrapped so I thought good to go and sent it on its way. 

The day it arrived the buyer opened a return without contacting me at all. They have photos saying it wasn't packed good enough to prevent it breaking and they want a refund. 

This is my first return ever and I have it set that they get free returns. From what I understand I accept the return and ebay sends them a label? When I accepted the return it stated that the return shipping would be charged at the medium flat rate box rate. I then send them a mesage saying to pack in original box and use the label that ebay sent.

They send a message back saying they are going to pack my box in a bigger box and mail it off to prevent further damage. I know that if they do that using a medium flat rate label it more than likely will be returned to them. It will probably also void the new label.  I am sending a mesage explaining that it needs to be the original packaging. What do I do if this person refuses to follow instructions and wastes the return label?

Not sure how to handle this. Thanks in advance for any advice. 

[sam9876]

The buyer will get a Priority Mail Return Service label that can be used on any box.

[orangehound]

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@sam9876 wrote:

The buyer will get a Priority Mail Return Service label that can be used on any box.

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Adding to this, the amount you will be charged on your eBay bill for return shipping will be equal to or less than what you paid to ship the item out.

[disneyshopper]

That is good to know.

However, I shipped an item out using Priority for a 1 lb item.  Buyer filed a return request because the male figurine had one foot shorter than the other, so therefore cannot stand up.  I accepted the return, figuring a priority label would be supplied.  However, when looking at the return label tracking number, it appears a first class parcel label was supplied and that is what I was charged for.

[green-night]

However, when looking at the return label tracking number, it appears a first class parcel label was supplied and that is what I was charged for.

As they should.  There is no reason to charge Priority mail rates to a seller for a one pound return package.  

[annasunicorns]

End of the day, ou cannot control what a buyer does about returns. If it does not come back, comes back damaged, etc, tgen you can deal with it. But for now just let the buyer try to return it and hope for the best. Arguing with themabout packaging does nobody any good.

[missjen831]

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@disneyshopper wrote:

That is good to know.

However, I shipped an item out using Priority for a 1 lb item.  Buyer filed a return request because the male figurine had one foot shorter than the other, so therefore cannot stand up.  I accepted the return, figuring a priority label would be supplied.  However, when looking at the return label tracking number, it appears a first class parcel label was supplied and that is what I was charged for.

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eBay always issues first class return service labels. They don’t issue a label that matches the original shipping method on the listing. 

[sam9876]

"eBay always issues first class return service labels"

False.

[renoarcher]

They also don't use your current address either. They dig up an address from 4 years ago - not even on my seller's page anymore. I sell books using Media Mail shipping.  The buyer changed the label to Priority Mail  or eBay sent her one; I don't really know. I didn't pay the difference. Doesn't really matter I didn't get the package back and tried to explain it to eBay. Anyway they closed the whole case and paid my buyer.  I would have paid her back, I was just trying to figure out where the package went. Obviously I finally figured it out.  And no eBay doesn't care. 

WHAT really bugs me is the fact that when she opened up a return for 'arrived damaged' I had NO choice but to either pay her to return the books and then refund her money or just refund her money.  I sell used books - in the past when my buyer doesn't 'agree' with my description (only happens once in a while) I can negotiate with them by refunding half their money and they are usually happy. I hate the thought of my buyers having to go through the process of returning their books - Heck sometimes I  hate the mailing process 🙂 Anyway it just feels like our hands got tied.  

[missjen831]

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@renoarcher wrote:

They also don't use your current address either. They dig up an address from 4 years ago - not even on my seller's page anymore. I sell books using Media Mail shipping.  The buyer changed the label to Priority Mail  or eBay sent her one; I don't really know. I didn't pay the difference. Doesn't really matter I didn't get the package back and tried to explain it to eBay. Anyway they closed the whole case and paid my buyer.  I would have paid her back, I was just trying to figure out where the package went. Obviously I finally figured it out.  And no eBay doesn't care. 

WHAT really bugs me is the fact that when she opened up a return for 'arrived damaged' I had NO choice but to either pay her to return the books and then refund her money or just refund her money.  I sell used books - in the past when my buyer doesn't 'agree' with my description (only happens once in a while) I can negotiate with them by refunding half their money and they are usually happy. I hate the thought of my buyers having to go through the process of returning their books - Heck sometimes I  hate the mailing process 🙂 Anyway it just feels like our hands got tied.  

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eBay doesn’t dig up the address and the buyer can’t change the label. eBay uses the return address you have on file. You have to change your address in multiple places on eBay. If you moved, your return address was never updated by you.