question on free returns

[evry1nositswindy]

I am the seller.  The buyer purchased an item from me and the next day told me he had ordered it by mistake.  The item was already on its way to him.  He opened a return the day he got it.  I am a TRS and offer free returns and this is my first one.  The resolution center doesn't tell me much.  It shows that it was opened and the buyer has until Sept. 15 to ship back the item.  I see a tracking number but it says :   

Sep 01, 03:24

PRE-SHIPMENT INFO SENT USPS AWAITS ITEM

LOS ANGELES CA 90028

Sep 01, 12:00

Pre-Shipment Info Sent to USPS, USPS Awaiting Item

Does this mean he printed a label but hasn't mailed it yet?  Please advise.  Thanks.

[mspirit57]

Yes, buyer has printed the label. 

He has until September 15 to actually mail the item. 

You are not charged for the label until it is scanned by the USPS. 

[mtgraves7984]

I'd guess that a label has been generated (don't know about 'printed'), and it hasn't got a USPS scan yet.

[evry1nositswindy]

When he opened the case, was the number generated automatically or did he request a label?

[grasscarp]

It appears that since you did not initiate the return label, you must be on Managed Payments. If so, then eBay will automatically approve a buyer's return request (FOR ANY REASON) and supply them with a return label. The return label will be charged to your "pending funds" and the actual "sale funds" will also be put on "hold" until the return has been completed.

You are extremely lucky that this your first!!

Best of luck.

[southern*sweet*tea]

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@evry1nositswindy wrote:

Sep 01, 03:24

PRE-SHIPMENT INFO SENT USPS AWAITS ITEM

LOS ANGELES CA 90028

Sep 01, 12:00

Pre-Shipment Info Sent to USPS, USPS Awaiting Item

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This means the label has been generated, not necessarily that it has been printed. Once it gets scanned in, it will update to either accepted if they get an acceptance scan, or received by whatever distribution center it gets to first if there is no acceptance scan. It will then officially be in transit.

[evry1nositswindy]

@grasscarp NO I am not in managed payments just yet.  In a few weeks I will be.   I guess I am stuck on the word generated.  All I got was notice from eBay that the return was approved (free returns) and I can see a second tracking number.  The first is the one I sent the item, showing delivered.  The other one says what I showed in the first post.  I guess what I'm asking is does the buyer know to print and mail it?  There is not a place for me to communicate to the buyer through the return.  Would you message the buyer?   

[otow_18]

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@grasscarp wrote:

It appears that since you did not initiate the return label, you must be on Managed Payments. If so, then eBay will automatically approve a buyer's return request (FOR ANY REASON) and supply them with a return label.

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Nope. Regardless our misunderstanding of Managed Payments, eBay has issued immediate return labels for years (plural), too for buyer's remorse when the seller offered Free Returns.

And the automatic refund after 2 business days is also not a new thing.

[grasscarp]

I had several returns (before I was forced to MP last month) because the buyer ordered wrong color, changed their mind, etc.

Ebay has NEVER automatically issued a return label to my customer. Ebay has always messaged me and informed me that a customer wants to return an item. Ebay would then ask if I wanted to buy a return label on eBay or if I wished to supply my own. Ebay went on to say that they would issue a return label if I did not respond to the return request within a specific amount of time.

I offer free returns on all my items. So I guess eBay handles different sellers differently?? This is my experience. 

[kensgiftshop]

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@evry1nositswindy wrote:

Does this mean he printed a label but hasn't mailed it yet?  Please advise.  Thanks.

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That just means that a shipping label has been made.

[evry1nositswindy]

So much conflicting information!  I am just as lost as I was before.  The only thing I can click on says send refund and I don't want to refund until I get my item back.  It says requested 8/31.  Details: reason ordered by mistake.  Status: waiting for buyer to ship item.  Then it shows the tracking info in the first post.  I wasn't asked to ok it, it just said it was approved.  No way to communicate through the return.  So much for easy!

Anyone else??

[evry1nositswindy]

Here is what it says:  

The buyer started a return

The buyer has until Sep 15 to ship the item. You can either wait for the item to arrive or issue a refund. If you issue a refund now, this return will be closed and you shouldn't expect to receive the item back.  

This return has been approved automatically, per the eBay returns policy.  

[kensgiftshop]

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@evry1nositswindy wrote:

So much conflicting information!  I am just as lost as I was before.  The only thing I can click on says send refund and I don't want to refund until I get my item back.  It says requested 8/31.  Details: reason ordered by mistake.  Status: waiting for buyer to ship item.  Then it shows the tracking info in the first post.  I wasn't asked to ok it, it just said it was approved.  No way to communicate through the return.  So much for easy!

Anyone else??

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A shipping label has been provided to the buyer.

Now you just wait until you receive the item back or Ebay closes the return.

[evry1nositswindy]

I thought it was bad if eBay closed a return.  Isn't that considered a defect?  Closed without seller resolution, right?