Is there any way to avoid getting a defect when you refund a buyer because you can't find the item

[pigeonpicker]

I don't see the problem with an immediate refund and why it should count as a defect because you couldn't find what you sold. It happens when you have a 1,000 items for sale. 

[fab_finds4u]

No, you get a defect unless the buyer requests to cancel the transaction or there's a problem with their address.

[mtgraves7984]

It happened to me once, too. The 'Out of Stock' defect is eBay's way of saying, "Time to get a hand on your inventory."

[simba6]

No.   And, don't let it happen anymore. More than a few of those and you can be suspended from selling for life.    eBay has had to get very tough with that. Far too many sellers were saying that if they did not like the price it sold for.  

[pigeonpicker]

Then don't allow out of stock for auctions but do allow it for buy it now prices. 

[lacemaker3]

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@pigeonpicker wrote:

I don't see the problem with an immediate refund and why it should count as a defect because you couldn't find what you sold. It happens when you have a 1,000 items for sale. 

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Do you think the customer should be happy because you cancelled their order? The only time that would make a customer happy is if the buyer asked for it.

You get a defect because cancelling an order is a major customer dissatisfier. 

[eye_of_the_tiger]

On top of the defect, probably negative feedback as well. 

[miffydogtwo]

In my experience it is all about the communication & how you explain to a customer.  I have never had a problem with the customer just Ebay who create the drama!  Also 4 cancelled orders isn’t excessive over the time period,  It works out minimal.  They stop you using global shipping toooooo.  Crazy I totally agree with the first post on this.

[glasser]

I understand what you are saying. There are plenty of occasional mishaps in business: food arrived ill prepared, something gets installed incorrectly, even though Amazon says your item will arrive in certain timeframe it does not.

In all cases the customer is probably unhappy. The defect is one way of eBay telling people not to make it habit. From CS point of view refunding the sale ASAP and sending as a nice a note as you can as apology are all the right things to do. 

In the end, it was your error and you have to own it.

[mtgraves7984]

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@pigeonpicker wrote:

Then don't allow out of stock for auctions but do allow it for buy it now prices. 

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@pigeonpicker 

If you don't have an item in stock... what would it matter if you can't send it to the Auction OR the BIN buyer?

Simply don't list an item that you don't have in stock.

[foxx_resell]

It is bound to time from time-to-time.  It happens with major retailers too.  I order groceries from Wal-Mart and sometimes get multiple items canceled because they found they didn't have what they said they have.  It is about how you handle it and how quickly you do.  If you provide proper customer service and it isn'ta constant theme, it shouldnt be a defect.

[spark-chaser1]

A defect is like a traffic ticket. You get a few, you start paying attention. If people are given a n endless free  pass, they will get complacent and keep on doing the wrong thing.

it’s not just an eBay thing, it’s a life experience thing.

[kh-cathy]

Hi everyone,

Due to the age of this thread, it has been closed to further replies. Please feel free to start a new thread if you wish to continue to discuss this topic.

Thank you for understanding.