Refund Confusion

[brosbricks]

I have an interesting predicament. Basically what happened was at the end of August, 25th to be exact, a buyer purchased an item from me. I then purchased the shipping label for it (it wasn’t free shipping). However right after I done so the buyer changed their mind about buying. I wasn’t upset and I refunded their order with the cost of the shipping label. Fast forward to this evening I got a message from eBay that my buyers “package” had been revived by the post office, clear across the country. 
What do you guys make of this? Any info would help. Thanks

[mam98031]

@brosbricks 

"I then purchased the shipping label for it (it wasn’t free shipping). "

Free shipping does not mean that a seller won't have to purchase a shipping label to ship an item to a buyer.  All it means is that the seller has rolled the shipping costs into the price of the item being sold so there is just one amount for the buyer to pay.

" However right after I done so the buyer changed their mind about buying. I wasn’t upset and I refunded their order with the cost of the shipping label."

Did you file a Cancellation for the transaction and then refunded the buyer?  Did you void the shipping label so you could get that money back?

"Fast forward to this evening I got a message from eBay that my buyers “package” had been revived by the post office, clear across the country. "

Are you saying that even though your buyer was refunded, you went ahead and shipped the item out?  What do you mean by the label getting "revived"?

[participatrophy]

Somebody who shares your buyer's same zip code is in the process of getting ripped off. The label you purchased but didn't end up using created what I've come to refer to as an "orphaned tracking number".  Scammers make use of them and you get to foot the bill for whatever nonsense they ship, be it an empty envelope or a brick. Report it to USPS Inspector General. Include all the details you have available - dates, zip codes, reference numbers, your name & address, and if you still have it, that of your buyer & the pdf of the label itself.

https://hotlineform.uspsoig.gov/en-US/ 

[relicpeddler]

Did you cancel and destroy that label after the sale canceled?  If not could you have mistakenly used that label on a different package? 

[brosbricks]

I just cancelled the label and I cut up the shipping label.

[brosbricks]

To answer your questions, I did void the shipping label to get my money back, and I refunded the buyer the amount of money the item costed. 

And no I didn’t send out the item. Also I meant received not “revised” but I accidentally made a typeo.

[mantle1951]

You stated " revived " not revised, confusing to me.

[brosbricks]

I’m sorry to confuse you. It was a misspelling 

[gloryglorygifts]

I'm just wondering, what shows up if you enter the tracking into the USPS site?

[brosbricks]

On eBay tracking it comes up as in Philadelphia.

[brosbricks]

 this is what the USPS website shows

[gone.c-33]

USPS does recycle tracking numbers although, in my experience, not that quickly. 

You say you cancelled the shipping label, did you check to see if you were refunded (usually 2-4 weeks following the cancellation)?

[gloryglorygifts]

Well your part of it, as far as the buyer is concerned, ended once you refunded him. I would do as @participatrophy suggested and report it. This way, possibly the p.o. will bill the recipient of the package for postage due instead of you.

It's just awful the way scammers find something new every day. I'm sorry it happened to you.

[brosbricks]

I was refunded in full. Also thanks for sharing the info about USPS recycling numbers. 

[brosbricks]

Thanks for your kind a thoughtful replies. It does suck and I’ll will indeed do what  @participatrophy recommend. 
If I get any updates I’ll let you guys know. 🙂