USPS attempts delivery then "available for pick up" Buyer wont pick up

[idianc]

I sold a $300 item with free shipping and I stated in details that it would be insured and a signature required.  Its too big for a standard mail box.  Shipped on a Friday and delivery attempted the following Monday.  Nobody there to sign for it -PO leaves a note to either reschedule delivery or come pick it up.

I emailed the buyer with a link to reschedule delivery and he tells me he gets all sorts of packages left at his door and he cant sign for it.  He asked me to get the PO to remove the signature requirement which they will not do.  He has to pick it up by the 15th day or it will be on its way back to me.

eBay says they will protect my feedback and that they consider "available for pick up" to have been delivered.  They also add that PayPal (the buyers funding for this) also sees it this way.  They add that if I wish the buyer can send me the postage and I can reship with no further responsibility or refund him minus fees & postage - or just keep it.  His PO is about 5 miles from his house.  eBay also added that I can just keep it and block the buyer and sell it again.

Any thoughts ?

[buyselljack2016]

signature may or may not prevent incorrect delivery.  

Restricted delivery would be a different situation.

[buyselljack2016]

I have had some returns, but as stated, never has eBay taken my "no returns accepted" to mean that I did not want the item back.

Apparently, I am too dense to understand/missing something here, about the process. Of course, if I do not follow the eBay return flow policy, I could very well lose the item, and the $$, but the "eBay will interpreted that to mean that I did not want the item back" because someone has a "no returns accepted" statement eludes me.

I do understand that if a seller does not provide a label, or have eBay provide a label, that yes, eBay may, or may not provide the buyer with a return label and may just refund the buyer with the seller's money, and not require a return, but the somewhat "blanket statement" that with a "no returns" policy    "ebay often interprets that as meaning you don't want the item back and will refund without requiring a return" , doesn't sink into my head 🙂

[femmefan1946]

I just looked up the cost of Signature Confirmation for USPS and now understand why sellers are reluctant to use it.

We pay Canada Post $1.75 as I recall. USPS charges $3.65-$3.80.

[rfmtm]

I think the reason many reported this ebay "interpretation" reason was there absolutely was no other reason for ebay to refund without a return and ebay was otherwise not keeping with their own stated policy.  Many still doubted this was happening or was even a reasonable assumption until it happen to them.

It doesn't seem to be as bad a problem as is was for awhile.  So maybe the many complaints and postings about this problem changed things.  However, the abuse of MBG by buyers and ebay siding with them without regard to the seller is still a growing concern.

[idianc]

I'm a bit hesitant to open a conversation with this buyer regarding re-shipping the item without a signature requirement since I'd be deviating from the original listing where I specifically stated the item would have one.  And if I open the conversation he's likely to just ask for a refund which according to eBay would be a positive sign of a change of mind / scam.

Essentially, I suspect in this case getting the item back and allowing the buyer to be the first to make any requests would be the safest route.

eBay told me they usually win change of mind cases and or rejected shipment cases FWIW.   

[wastingtime101]

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@rfmtm wrote:

I think the reason many reported this ebay "interpretation" reason was there absolutely was no other reason for ebay to refund without a return and ebay was otherwise not keeping with their own stated policy.  Many still doubted this was happening or was even a reasonable assumption until it happen to them.

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It's because eBay reps on this board told us that was the reason.

[vintagecraze50]

Tell the buyer if he cannot pick it up or be there for the signature that you will request the PO to send the package back to you. When you get the item back then do the refund. DO NOT refund the purchase until you get the item back from the PO. Call ebay and get an extension on the refund request if this buyer opens one. Then tell the buyer you will re ship with them paying for it without a signature. Personally, I would be done with this buyer after I get my item back. 

[vintagecraze50]

Has this buyer given you any sensible reason why they cannot go to the PO or be there to sign? You do not want to be in a position to loose a 300 dollar item and your money. Unless this person is in a wheel chair and comatose I cannot understand why they will not pick up their item.

[idianc]

Currently the eBay tracking says:

Latest Update
This is a reminder to arrange for redelivery of your item or your item will be returned to sender.

And the PO tracking says:

Latest Update
This is a reminder to arrange for redelivery of your item or your item will be returned to sender.

They do not agree.  And my Informed Delivery (PO) does not show  a package on its way to me and it seems appropriate that the PO keep the same tracking number.    On the off chance there was a scanning error or omission I don't plan on doing anything.   It is possible the package was picked up and not scanned and in discussing this with eBay all they need to know from their end was that it was available for pick up.

It is essentially out of my control.  The initial delivery attempt was April 24th and the buyer asked me to try to get the PO to waive my signature requirement.

[rfmtm]

Buyer can sign a wavier at his end for delivery without signature.  The notice that was left for his pickup or redelivery has this option.  All buyer needed to do was sign the wavier and leave it for the carrier.  Did buyer say why he won't do that?

[idianc]

Thanks and no.  He didn't say why he wouldn't sign for it.  He stated that he gets packages all the time just left on his doorstep.  He has 250+ positive feedback BTW.

[a_c_green]

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@idianc wrote:

I'm a bit hesitant to open a conversation with this buyer regarding re-shipping the item without a signature requirement since I'd be deviating from the original listing where I specifically stated the item would have one.

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That wouldn't matter. You're lifting your own restriction about requiring a signature; it's not a demand from the buyer for something not in the listing. The Signature Confirmation was not required by eBay in the first place as the sale was nowhere near $750, so your seller protection against an Item Not Received dispute remains entirely in force if you ship with only Delivery Confirmation at that price point.

You do not have to refund the buyer before the item is returned to you.

[xadexane]

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@vintagecraze50 wrote:

Has this buyer given you any sensible reason why they cannot go to the PO or be there to sign? You do not want to be in a position to loose a 300 dollar item and your money.

Unless this person is in a wheel chair and comatose I cannot understand why they will not pick up their item. 

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Their 5-miles-away post office may not be open when everyone leaves together for work, school, church.

And it may already be closed by the time they get back. Every day, every week.

It's why all packages are safely left on the porch.

[idianc]

Very recently I've has the USPS twice scan packages as delivered to our parcel locker and they weren't there.  One was at our front door and the other had the parcel locker key it was in left in our neighbors mail box.  And they were away for a few weeks.  It showed delivered.

My point is that USPS scanning and tracking is far from a fool proof system with packages not being where they were supposed to be.  Given this and even with the relative low value of this item ($300) I opted to pay for a signature.  This buyer has had almost three weeks to get to the PO or arrange for re-delivery.  My other option was FEDEX or UPS and those stations are even further away than his PO.

[rfmtm]

The point is the buyer does not have to go to the post office, he can call and have it redelivered and post a signed signature wavier on his door or in the mailbox so the carrier can just leave it and take the wavier as a substitute signature.  Sounds more like the buyer just no longer wants the item and is just using this as an excuse.