Posts Tagged ‘accepting returns. People are a pain’

Dear eBay Queen:

A YEAR ago ( I know, I know, ) I opened my first eBay account and straight away ordered about 6/7 products. Unfortunately I was in a new neighborhood and confused the house numbers; therefore I did not receive any of the items that I ordered.  About 6 months ago, I asked eBay support for help, and they told me they couldn’t do anything.

I started messaging the sellers. Some of them said they never received the package back and some said they will re-send it if I pay for the shipping again. I called the post office, and they didn’t have any of the return packages.  I was broke at the time so I left it again till now. So my question is – what am I supposed to do now? Is there even ANYTHING I could do to get these things back?

I would really appreciate your help. I’m so confused and keep getting angry and frustrated for leaving it like this.

Kind Regards,

Stef

Dear Stef:

I am really sorry this happened to you.  I know you are not the first person that moved and confused their address!  As sellers, we’ve had this happen a few times a year with our own buyers.  Your sellers should have contacted you via email or phone about the returned packages or refunded your money for the item since it was returned and they couldn’t contact you.

If your sellers are willing to send you the items if you pay for the shipping, I would take them up on that offer.  If the other sellers are not willing to do it, I would ask for a refund.  I don’t think you’ll get it, but it never hurts to ask.

People mess up their addresses more often than you think. If this should happen again, contact the seller immediately to let them know about the mistake, then contact your post office. Sometimes they can intercept the package and get it to you.

Dear eBay Queen:

I’ve been selling for about 6 months.  I had a bricks and mortar store, lost my lease and started selling everything I had on Amazon and eBay.   I’ve been very successful!  So successful that I’ve decided to open up a smaller bricks and mortar store and still sell my goods on those venues.

I sold a new High Sierra Backpack in a hard to find color to a guy over 28 days ago.  He sent me an email, and wanted to return the backpack about 10 days after he received it.  I offered a refund after he returned the item.  I did some checking on this guy, and he sells the same product I sell. He even has a HUGE e-commerce store.  He sent me the tracking for the return on March 5^th ,  but the post office has not received or scanned it in.

I sent the buyer an email last week, to let him know I have not received the item back.  He sent a return email and called me every name under the sun, and threatened me with feedback.  I called eBay immediately and the customer service rep told me to not accept his return.  The eBay guy told me that he was on my side on this and I should refuse the item when and if it is returned.  I emailed the buyer back, and told him of my conversation with eBay and that I was not willing to accept the return after what he had called my mother.

His response to that email was: “I sent it Thursday it was 28.42 to ship it back, I want that money or else.”, and just a few hours later his tracking number was scanned in at his local post office.  I only charged him 8.95 for shipping, were does he get off charging me so much? What advice do you have for me on this one?

Liza

Dear Liza:

Congratulations on creating a successful business on eBay, and in the bricks and mortar world!

If eBay says they will back you up on this guy, I would write “refused!” on the package, but not before I took a photo of the label for proof of date sent, and the cost.   This guy should know better if he’s a seller.

Strange eBay item of the week: eBay item: 140688944359  What’s your favorite pop? Check out this Mountain Dew Red in a Rare Glass Bottle You can see it here:  SOLD $235.00

Suzie Eads is a nationally known eBay marketer and eBay trained Education Specialist. She lives in Rantoul, Kansas.