What happens when buyer files INR & asks eBay to "step in".....

[grannyfrannys]

I have some outstanding INRs due to the USPS problems. None have yet filed asking eBay to "step in", but my question when this inevitably happens, is I guess eBay automatically pulls the refund money from my account & refunds the buyer (despite all my efforts of numerous e-mails & keeping in touch w/buyers to try to avoid this). Then say after they refund the buyer, the item delivers a week or two later. What happens to me then? I am out the item, out the shipping cost, & out the $$$ for the item the buyer originally paid. Someone please advise. Is there any recourse or since I can't provide proof of delivery at the time eBay refunds am I just scr**ed, even if the item ultimately does deliver??? Please share any help or advice. Thank you in advance.

[lac358232]

At the moment eBay is asked to step in by buyer or seller on an INR

- if the tracking shows a physical scan within the last 7 days (per brian@ebay)

eBay will give tracking more time to deliver

- previously unspecified,

- but now stated since Nov 15 as 10 more days.

But if it's been more than 7 days since the last update, the buyer is refunded immediately.

[grannyfrannys]

Thank you for your reply, however, I have ones that there hasn't been a new scan for 15+ days, & they have not delivered *sent USPS 1st Class*.  I feel like I'm on a firing range dodging bullets & don't have a  leg to stand on. So then if eBay refunds at this point, and then item delivers AFTER they refund, I am just completely left with nothing/no recourse, no $$$, no item, no nothing.

[remote_controls_and_more]

If buyer is refunded, wait for it to be delivered. Call ebay and they will credit you.

[purrcubed]

@grannyfrannys Did you try this search? I sent all 3 of the following packages via First Class with no insurance and after I filed a Missing Package Search since they stopped scanning/moving for 2-3 weeks, they began MOVING. 

For everyone whose packages are CURRENTLY in limbo (fell off the face of the Earth), please try this method: 

Go to Missing Mail and Lost Packages | USPS (you will need to create a USPS.com account if you do not have one) and scroll down to option 3. Submit a Missing Mail Search Request. Press the blue button that says: "Start your Missing Mail Search." 

While I cannot say this will work for my current package that is in limbo, it has worked the previous 2 times I used it. I don't know what it does but surely it alerts the USPS system somehow. Could it be a coincidence that my package decided to have no scans for 14 days after "arriving" at Jersey City, NJ on Dec. 11; I placed the missing package search in on Dec. 23rd late at night, and then suddenly I get an alert saying it has arrived and departed Edison, NJ on Dec. 25? SURE. (Buyer lives about 57 miles out from Edison, which is farther out than Jersey City, but I heard Jersey City was extremely swamped and they get NYC packages too). 

But, I truly think that the Missing packages claim really helps. Even if your package is NOT insured and First Class. I will repeat: it has worked the last 2 times I had packages floating in lala land. One was floating around for a month with no scans for a solid month. Buyer contacted me for a refund and said she will pay me upon receipt of item. Ok, honest buyer...awesome! I refund her, I file missing package request, and it shows up 1 week later. Same thing happened with another package.

You must include a description of items and photos if possible. I always take a picture of my packages now (after they are packed) with the postal label on it. Not sure how necessary this is, because if people can sign up for Informed Delivery (shows a preview of their incoming mail), then surely the USPS has access to this database too. 

Best of luck to you all. 2 packages as a seller currently on its way to its final destination (HOPEFULLY) and we will be DONE with this year's selling . I won't be relisting until the dust settles. This is too much. 

[pjcdn2005]

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@remote_controls_and_more wrote:

If buyer is refunded, wait for it to be delivered. Call ebay and they will credit you.

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What amount will they credit?  It’s unlikely that eBay would repay the seller out of their own pocket and they can’t take the refund back from the buyer.

[oldold-timer]

One thing to consider is that if eby is asked to step in, they will refund the buyer and keep all of your selling fees for that transaction.  

[fab_finds4u]

if the case is escalated and the buyer wins and eBay makes the refund you will get a defect for having a case unresolved by the seller.  If you refund before the case is escalated I don't believe you will be able to get a courteous refund.  You're between a rock and a hard place.

[pooh333piglet]

Hon it's pure coincidence. If it makes you feel better than some worker spent their day and dug your package out from the millions and ignored everyone's elses then so be it. 

It's about right for a package to move in 14 days which is how long many of mine have taken. So did yours. Guaranteed no one searched for it. USPS does not have enough employees at this time for that kind if nonsense right now. 

It does take about a month for delivery and so your other package got delivered too because it was about that time it did.

It's great to think positive and feel so good USPS did their job for just you but gives others false hope.

[pooh333piglet]

It comes from your seller protection fund. We all have a little secret amount that we gat back when problems with buyers arise. I dont know what it is. Maybe 5% of our sales or below. Truly a guess.  

[dolcetreasures]

The usps made no provisions to deal with the influx, they have no system in place for their own loss prevention. Every package has been treated the same way irrespective of value, date shipped or if signature confirmation had been purchased. This is surely a sign of poor oversight. 

They continued to sell higher tier services under the guise of short delivery windows. In most cases FedEx home would have been a better option. They continue to be unapologetic about the delays and financial loses to small business. They don’t even have a system in place to properly scan the packages as they are supposed to do to help prevent loss and discord. 

There needs to be serious consequences for the dire position they left us in. 

[purrcubed]

@pooh333piglet 

You can think what you want and I'll just continue to think that my taking action did help the situation.

Please do not call me "hon"-- it is so not classy. 🤮🤮🤮

I would agree with you if it didn't happen 3 times in a row.🤷‍

Do you personally know for sure that no worker actually pulled it out of the abyss? What percentage of certainty can you say that they weren't alerted by my missing package request? Do you have surveillance cameras installed and that you have access to at Jersey City, Edison and Teterboro distribution centers in New Jersey? 

Didn't think so. 

[pooh333piglet]

Hon 100% guaranteed. You aren't that special. 

As you said you keep thinking what you want! 

[pooh333piglet]

Agreed. No one really cares tho. They really dont. Who cares that sellers lose money. Some sellers will recover some $ and come on here and share and rub it out. Others will simply not sell again and bad mouth ebay forever. 

Its six of 1,  1/2 dozen of another. It was a rough Covidmas all around.

[purrcubed]

You conveniently avoided all my questions about surveillance cameras at all those distribution centers. You know this with 100% certainty? You said you do but I would like to see proof.