How to recoup second-time shipping costs?

[tinadv]

Buyer's address was incomplete, resulting in their purchase being returned to me. They gave me a head's up to look for it, indicated would still like to have it and let me know if/when it returns.  Package was returned today, have messaged buyer to get their complete address confirmed, but what process do I use to charge them for repeat shipping since it was returned through no fault of mine?  Thanks for any help and direction! Tinadv

[magic*moonbeams]

I'm not sure how they can pay again, because they've already paid for the item, so the option to send you a payment is gone 😕  I mean, in the old days, you could just tell them to PayPal it to you, I guess you could again?  I don't know though, find out if that is allowed before you do it, I don't want to give any advice that would get anyone in trouble 🙂

Just a note, in case they do NOT pay you again, and in the event that any kind of "item not received" case is opened.... DEFINITELY call or do a live chat (I prefer calling, sometimes I don't think they live chat people do a very good job of reading what you are saying, and it's just easier to do it on a phone call if the other person isn't too quick on the uptake...)  but I had a package returned to me a few weeks ago, because the buyer gave me the wrong house number *eyeroll*, and they filed an INR.... since the tracking said "no such address", I basically let eBay know that I am NOT going to lose a nickel because this person doesn't know what house they live in, it's their job to provide a correct address, and all I can do is ship to the address provided by the buyer.... I nearly fell out of my chair when eBay closed the case in MY favor.  So... if you word it like that... what are they going to say back to you, when there is no "answer" that would make any kind of sense to argue back with? :).

So, just a tip in case it gets that far 🙂

[itscalledapostingid]

Technically you should not be shipping to a different address than what's on the ebay order so cancelling then relisting for the buyer to purchase with their correct address is the best way to do it.

[max-list]

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@tinadv wrote:

Buyer's address was incomplete, resulting in their purchase being returned to me. They gave me a head's up to look for it, indicated would still like to have it and let me know if/when it returns. 

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@tinadv  It could be a scam. Did they give you a reason why the address was incomplete? If you ship it to another address they give you, you won't be covered by seller protection. I would relist it with the extra shipping price tacked on and tell them ebay's policy says you can only ship to their registered address with ebay so you're not able to change that.

[tinadv]

Happy ending to this. The buyer's apartment number was the only information missing on the address, thus the return. I was able to contact him and get his email address, issue a payment request for the shipping through PayPal, which he paid and was shipped out again through eBay.  The apartment number was STILL missing from the address, but at least I knew to look for it and write in on the label and sent it on it's way.  Thanks for all your comments and help!

[albertabrightalberta]

I literally had this happen yesterday! Item was supposed to be delivered last Monday and it subsequently showed as being forwarded without any further updates. 

It turned out that the buyer had moved but either forgot to update with her new address or just chose the wrong address. 

Item was RTS yesterday and since buyer still wanted the item, I issued a refund for the purchase price only. (I retained the original shipping because it was paid for with my label and not my error.) She was fine with that. 

She updated her account with the correct address, I relisted the item and she rebought it from the new listing.