Handling a strange return

[canguitarguy]

Confused on what to do here. Sold an item in early November. It sits at the post office for a month, buyer never picks it up. He emails me while it's still there wanting a refund. I point to the tracking info and tell him to go pick it up. He ignores my directions and waits another week and it's been sent back to me. Still waiting for it to arrive.

Wondering the proper way to handle any potential refund he'd be entitled to. I presume I can deduct any return shipping charge from his refund. Can I also remove something for my time and efforts? This has been a big waste of time that just didn't need to happen. 

[terrycanarsky]

Call eBay.  Much will depend on whether the package will be considered delivered.

We're dealing with a similar situation only internationally.  A buyer's item has been sitting at his post office for pick up since the end of Nov.  The buyer says the post office told him it wasn't personally delivered because there's no phone number on the paperwork (even though it's on the label plus on the attached Customs invoice/packing slips). He knows the package is there and apparently refuses to go and claim the item.  This morning he messaged to ask if we had his 'refund items' yet.  Tracking shows the package is finally being prepared to return to us because no one has come to fetch the package.

~M

[ed8108]

I believe the proper way would be limited to deducting all actual expenses that you incur with respect to this transaction. 

I suspect that ebay may differ.

[sam9876]

I wouldn't do anything. 

[mountainmommie]

I don't know the answer to this but would love to learn it. I was told the other night refusing, avoiding, not signing .... eating Fritos while laying on the couch letting the postman knock endlessly instead of taking receipt of a package ... results in giving up your MBG rights. 

Why would this buyer be entitled to anything?

And this is in the least snark ^mM^^ can muster ...

[green-night]

I wouldn't do anything for the time being. 

In the event the buyer opens an INR, eBay should close in your favor.   In my experience, they consider a package waiting for pickup to be as good as delivered. 

The buyer has recourse beyond that which probably wouldn't work in your favor, but I would gamble that the buyer doesn't have the brains to figure that out.  

[canguitarguy]

That is my presumption too. I'll probably just ignore future communication from the buyer in this case as I'd be happy to provide eBay/PayPal with all the info they need. It's not an expensive item but he had multiple changes to pick it up. I even read the tracking info for him lol. I've sold a ton of stuff on eBay over the years and this is by far the strangest.