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USPS returns item, buyer blames me

What happened when this inexpensive pendant arrived in her PO box, I have no way of knowing.  But after sitting there for 6 days, USPS decided to return it to me.  Again, a mystery.  Now buyer is mad at me, because she thinks I should refund her, even though I don't have the item back.  What is my obligation here?

Message 1 of 13
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USPS returns item, buyer blames me

If tracking showed the item was delivered, your job is done.  If the item does get back to you, you can invoice the buyer for reshipping, or just cancel the transaction and refund, and at you option subtract the original shipping cost you paid, although doing so will not get your fees back.

Message 2 of 13
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USPS returns item, buyer blames me

Makes sense.  Thanks!!

Message 3 of 13
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USPS returns item, buyer blames me

USPS decided to return it to you, but you've not received it back yet.

What's your plan when you do receive it, knowing that it would  not be right for you to have both the pendant and the buyer's payment?  

Message 4 of 13
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USPS returns item, buyer blames me

...the package was sitting at your buyer's local PO for 6 days  and now have to return to sender because your buyer didn't bother to check her PO box and claim the package...it's her fault, not USPS, not even you...

 

...only Express Mail can be held up to 10 calendar days, the others (depends on each particular local PO) could be returned to sender as soon as only 5 days holding...an average is 7 days...

 

...message the buyer that as soon as the package was successfully return to you, the refund will be initial minus your original shipping cost...if eBay had charged her for sales tax, she needs to contact eBay regarding that issue because you didn't profit that tax money...

 

...a "returned to sender" package can take up to 2 weeks to reach the sender's destination...include this information in your message to the buyer...obviously she can trace the return in USPS system with that original tracking number of the package...suggest her about that as well...

 

...no one should be blamed for the cause of someone else...l...a...z...i...n...e...s...s...period...!!!

 

 

Message 5 of 13
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USPS returns item, buyer blames me

When the item is back and refund is issued, block the buyer. They will still be able to contact you, but not buy.

Message 6 of 13
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USPS returns item, buyer blames me

Obviously, I would refund the buyer!

Message 7 of 13
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USPS returns item, buyer blames me

Here is what finally happened.  Because she paid with a credit card and lied and told them she never got it, they not only backed her up and refunded her but had the nerve to take another $20 out of my account.  Tracking showed the date and time it arrived at the PO, but she failed to share that information. Supposedly, eBay will reimburse me for all this -  the cost of the item plus the $20.  Interesting that people can't leave their mail in a PO box for that many days.  I did not know that but now I do.  I reported her.

Message 8 of 13
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USPS returns item, buyer blames me

The credit card company only cares about their customer, which is the buyer not the seller, so yes you will always lose a chargeback. Technically it's not really a lie because the buyer didn't get her item, just wasn't entirely upfront as to the circumstances which caused her not getting the item. 

 

The $20 charge is what eBay charges the seller when there is a chargeback. This is from their policies:

If you are found responsible for a disputed amount as per eBay policies (e.g., chargeback), we charge a $20.00 dispute fee, excluding sales tax, for each dispute.

 

So I hope you can get that $20 chargeback fee refunded but eBay says they will charge it to the seller when a buyer opens a chargeback through their credit card. There are many threads on this forum about this. Hopefully you will prevail. Best of luck to you....

Message 9 of 13
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USPS returns item, buyer blames me

Here is my suggestion. Diffuse the situation. Just accept the return and focus on your business. "Customer is always right" is only a polite way to say "sure sure now please go away". 

 

Message 10 of 13
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USPS returns item, buyer blames me


@joliefran wrote:

What happened when this inexpensive pendant arrived in her PO box, I have no way of knowing.  But after sitting there for 6 days, USPS decided to return it to me.  Again, a mystery.  Now buyer is mad at me, because she thinks I should refund her, even though I don't have the item back.  What is my obligation here?


I wonder if they actually put it in her PO Box or if they were holding it for her to pick it up at the counter and just left a notice in her PO Box? I have a PO Box (actually a PO Drawer) and I leave mail and small packages in there for sometimes several weeks before I go clean it out. I've never had anything taken back out of my PO Box and returned to sender. If the package is too big to fit in the drawer then they put it in a locker and leave the key in the PO Box (I don't know if all post offices have those lockers).

 

 

Message 11 of 13
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USPS returns item, buyer blames me

I DID accept the returrn.  I just wanted to have the item back first, which I don't think is unreasonable.

Message 12 of 13
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USPS returns item, buyer blames me

I don't know if PO Box policies are the same everywhere, in terms of leaving stuff in them.  It was a small padded envelope so size was not an issue.

Message 13 of 13
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