eBay

bcbg11 · ‎01-01-2025

Hi there. I've never had a package lost but the buyer is insisting it is and asked for a refund on the last day of the delivery window. The package was shipped ground advantage the day before Christmas. I asked for time to check with my local post office when they reopen after New Years Day and although they seemed impatient, they agreed. Now, the item is moving after this conversation. I'd asked if they would send it back when it arrives for the refund and got a response "I'll see if it arrives" and again requesting the refund saying they already went ahead and bought another item when this one didn't arrive the day it was supposed to. I'm getting the sense they're hoping for the refund and keeping the item for free. If it wasn't so pricey, I'd let this go but feel I'm being taken advantage of here and am nervous because I've sold sporadically since ebay opened and have never received negative feedback. From the tone of the emails, I sense that is what is going to happen if I don't refund tomorrow.

I told them I'm happy to refund if the item is truly lost and doesn't arrive but if they do receive it, I'm happy to pay shipping to get it back because at the end of the day there was some sentiment in it to a family member and would then take it back to gift if it wasn't going to sell.

What is my course here? Do I have to issue a refund without a return? The item is showing movement so although slow, it's definitely out there. I didn't read any patience in the responses when I did tell them a couple of my packages arrived late with the holiday.

Thanks in advance.

bcbg11 · ‎01-03-2025

Told them I used the intercept (was what USPS suggested earlier today). Now the person is saying they never said they didn't want it although they did.

bcbg11 · ‎01-03-2025

I did the intercept. They put in they refund request late tonight. It last moved toward them about noon this afternoon. Now they're saying they never said that and want the item after it was in the thread they ordered another item when theirs didn't arrive and wanted the refund.

bcbg11 · ‎01-03-2025

Update....I sent some replies but this leads to another question. I did the intercept and that was what USPS recommended I do when I talked to them earlier today. I told the buyer I would update them today. I told them USPS recommended this. Reminder: They said they ordered the item after mine didn't arrive and now no longer wanted mine. Told them this would help them expedite the return. Now they're coming back and saying they never said that and want the package. What to do now? In my opinion that shows they were hoping to push me to refund and get the item for free. Just worried now about feedback that they'll say item never received. I was honestly thinking this would help them and protect myself in the process. Item was not cheap (close to $100).

bcbg11 · ‎01-03-2025

So frustrating. I told that this happened with a package I'd received from Poshmark and that was sent priority to me from one state over. Was supposed to arrive the 26th and arrived finally on the 31st after not moving and didn't seem they wanted to consider that. They insisted it was lost. Insisted I refund. Said they ordered same item again already. Now they're doing a 180, saying they wanted the item, and opened the return case. It took me a few pleads on my side to not immediately refund. Also, I've sold since 1999. This has only happened to me one other time and when I refunded the item arrived to the person the following day and I was out the money. Thought I wouldn't be so hasty after that. This package also had to travel from the Midwest to the West so....

fbusoni · ‎01-03-2025

@bcbg11 wrote:
Update....I sent some replies but this leads to another question. I did the intercept and that was what USPS recommended I do when I talked to them earlier today. I told the buyer I would update them today. I told them USPS recommended this. Reminder: They said they ordered the item after mine didn't arrive and now no longer wanted mine. Told them this would help them expedite the return. Now they're coming back and saying they never said that and want the package. What to do now? In my opinion that shows they were hoping to push me to refund and get the item for free. Just worried now about feedback that they'll say item never received. I was honestly thinking this would help them and protect myself in the process. Item was not cheap (close to $100).

@bcbg11

As long as the message traffic that you exchanged with this person is on eBay's system -- and the communication shows clearly that this idiot / criminal posing as a buyer has gone back and forth as you describe -- you will be protected from bad feedback, if the idiot / criminal decides to leave it.

You may have to contact eBay's reps on Facebook or another social media platform to get the feedback removed.

I would not be concerned, quite frankly.

eBay seller since 1999. This is a posting ID.

fbusoni · ‎01-03-2025

@msha3839 wrote:
Well, I have a few items that was shipped over a month ago by sellers in US located a few hundred miles away..there is a tracking numbers but packages not moving.. should it be my fault as a buyer? No, sellers use USPS ground advantage at their discretion that is known to be a nightmare..they can use UPS and FedEx that deliver on time..as a buyer I understand that packages delayed but no by weeks or in some cases, by month and more..and there is a latest delivery day ..after this date buyers can open “ item not received “ case that gives additional few days for working things out between two parties and if nothing happens, eBay issues refund…seller can have his item back if it arrives at the later date, simply by paying return postage…

@msha3839

Why the need to attach blame and punish a seller for a late delivery if the item is shipped on time as the seller promised but is delayed because of circumstances outside the seller's control?

USPS moves 150 million pieces of mail a day.

None of us is special -- late delivery can happen to anyone.

FedEx and UPS are a lot more expensive (and among experienced sellers, they are also known to be far more irresponsible with the way they handle packages) and most buyers do NOT want to pay more than they need to for shipping. Do you?

And no, GA is not "known to be a nightmare." It works for tens of millions of people every day.

Making assertions with no basis in reality is not a way to build credibility.

eBay seller since 1999. This is a posting ID.

bcbg11 · ‎01-03-2025

Thanks! That makes me feel better. Was worried maybe intercept was the wrong thing to do. Saw they're asking to go back and stop the intercept now. I am guessing I can't. Spent 2 hours already on hold today with USPS and looks like once it's done, it's done and now I'm also out $17.50 that I paid for it I'm sure.

fbusoni · ‎01-03-2025

@bcbg11 wrote:
Thanks! That makes me feel better. Was worried maybe intercept was the wrong thing to do. Saw they're asking to go back and stop the intercept now. I am guessing I can't. Spent 2 hours already on hold today with USPS and looks like once it's done, it's done and now I'm also out $17.50 that I paid for it I'm sure.

@bcbg11

Perhaps you can recoup some of that $17.50 by re-listing the item at a slightly higher price.

I think you did the right thing. The imbecile you have had to deal with is, hopefully, a one-time experience for you. Make sure you block him once the item is back in your possession and you have refunded him. regards

eBay seller since 1999. This is a posting ID.

bcbg11 · ‎01-03-2025

God, I hope so. It escalated now where they wanted me to stop the intercept. I tried but usps says they can't although it still may arrive to them. Just sent her the updated tracking and now trying to say that it's promised to the kids....they can have this as an extra.

Why would that be done? Seriously because said you already ordered another and were so confident mine wouldn't arrive. Ugh. I'll block as soon as it's settled. See they're a frequent negative feedback leaver too.

ebeysince1998 · ‎01-03-2025

I have had many interactions with buyers that I've had to call customer support to fix. This sounds like a great example of that. I would not refund them, wait for them to receive the item, and try to get them to admit in messages that the item has arrived undamaged and it is in the condition they expected. Customer support will look at messages if you ask them to and deny a refund based on those messages. I would also block the buyer as soon as this is resolved to prevent them from buying from you in the future just to leave bad feedback.