Buyer wins item, pays for the item, then messages he wants it shipped to a different address.

[reelworks]

I have several buyers this week on an account I handle at work who won auction items, paid, then sent messages saying that their address is old and gave a different address they want the items shipped to.

Two of them are worded identical, each buyer is from a different area but two emailed addresses are all very close to the registered address, the third one sounds like it may be a legit case of the buyer not keeping their address updated. All are low feedback buyers that don't appear to have had any recent activity on their accounts.
Either way I can't change the address on the USPS label.

I responded to to each one that they have to change their address at ebay, but haven't heard back from any of them yet. I'm not sure a buyer can change an address after paying either?

Seems funny that all of a sudden I have 3 of these all at once with the same issue though.

Each item was bid up by two bidders, the items didn't have any bidders in common.

What's the best course of action?

[kensgiftshop · Accepted solution]

@reelworks 

Are you sure it's the real buyers sending the messages?

Scammers will watch for items to sell, then send the seller a message claiming to be the buyer trying to get the seller to change the shipping address.

Do the ID's of the buyers and the one's sending the messages match?

[divwido]

Sounds like a good time to cancel because there is a problem with the buyers address.

This is way too suspicious.  Do you sell electronics?

[nobody*s_perfect]

"I responded to to each one that they have to change their address at ebay, but haven't heard back from any of them yet. I'm not sure a buyer can change an address after paying either?"

No, it's not possible for the buyer to change the address that's attached to their payment, after the payment is made.

To ship to a different address and still have seller protection against a fake "Item not received" claim, you'd have to (1) cancel the transaction (based on problem with address or on buyer's request), then (2) relist the item and (3) hope that the buyer coms back to re-purchase it and remembers to change the recipient name/address when they pay.

As noted in another post, there's  chance that the message is from a scammer who is trying to redirect the package; compare the ID on the message against the ID in your Sold listings.

[njfleamarket]

The ebay names in the emails match the buyers names.

None of the items are electronics, all are new and used parts.

One buyer emailed back saying they changed their address in their profile but

it didn't change anything as far as the shipping address for the label.

[kensgiftshop]

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@njfleamarket wrote:

One buyer emailed back saying they changed their address in their profile but

it didn't change anything as far as the shipping address for the label.

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No, changing their address after the sale, will not change the address on the order.

You would have to cancel the order as a problem with the buyers address and relist.

[reelworks]

One buyer left his message with the payment, the other two used contact seller through the original a the names all match.

[soh.maryl]

Just a reminder, because you probably know this:  When a buyer sees the invoice, he is shown the address to which the item will be shipped.  He is given the opportunity to change that address at that time.  

If the buyer, for some reason, doesn't change it then, but messages you later about changing the address, you will have to follow instructions given by kensgiftshop.  

[reelworks]

I do not sell electronics, why would that matter?

All three items were sporting goods.

I cancelled one item after the buyer said they can't fix their address.

I now have a neg. balance of $118 for some reason, the buyer only paid $105 with tax and shipping.

When I canceled it, it said I'd be refunded the final value fee and it will relist for free.

The cancellation is now showing as 'pending'.  Since ebay sent out a payout today, the account now shows a negative balance for more than the customer paid. The other two haven't replied, but eBay ended the one transaction on their end somehow.

[kensgiftshop]

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@reelworks wrote:

One buyer left his message with the payment, the other two used contact seller through the original a the names all match.

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It's good that the IDs match.

Even though it is the buyers, changing the address would void any seller protection if the buyer files an INR.

You would cancel the orders as a problem with the buyers address, then they could buy using the correct address.

[kensgiftshop]

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@reelworks wrote:

I do not sell electronics, why would that matter?

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Some are high scammed items and some sellers will loose the items and any payment made.