Return to sender - Is this advisable?
Summary: ozi321 is trying to return an incorrect iPhone case purchased on eBay. The seller instructed them to write "return to sender" without providing a return postage barcode, claiming the order was for an SE1 case which matches the SE model sent. ozi321 is concerned about potential losses due to a lack of tracking if the item is returned this way. twyngwyn and sandypebbles advised filing a Not As Described (INAD) claim, warning against following the seller's instructions. e_purchasing argued the seller's position is reasonable since the buyer ordered the wrong case, while springyzone emphasized the seller should have clearly specified the case version in the ad. There's debate over the fairness and correctness of the seller's actions and the buyer's recourse options.
Its been many years since I've interacted with sellers on ebay so I'm not familiar with the process.
I'm trying to get a refund but the seller is telling me to write "return to sender" on the original envelope and send it back. Shouldn't he send me the ebay return postage barcode?
I bought an iphone case for iphone SE.
It took 2 and a half weeks to arrive but is for 5SE
Told them it was wrong case and they said
Order was for iPhone SE1 which is same as iPhone 5s size so the case you received is correct as per your order, You may have iPhone SE 2 or 3, which is different size.
I said purchase details simply say SE (this is what I chose) and didn't say SE with any number.
Seller:
You have order case for SE 1 which you have received as per the image you have sent us.iPhone SE 1st generation released in 2016.iPhone SE 2nd generation released in 2020.iPhone SE 3rd generation released in 2022. As you have mention that the case you have received small for you phone. we guess you have SE 2nd or 3rd generation phone.More details to check which phone you have you can go to your phone setting then go to GENERAL and then go into ABOUT there you can see your phone details.If you want you can take screen shot and send it to us.For return you can send it back to us in same envelope and write Return to sender and we will resend correct case or refund your money as per choice as soon as we receive it back to us.Let us know id you have any other query.
I said I'd like to exchange and asked if it was going to take that amount of time to arrive again as it usually takes 3 to 4 days for letter sized envelope from Melbourne to Sydney. I questioned if items were even coming from Australia.
Was told delivery is 5 to 10 business days and to send it back for exchange "return to sender".
I told them
Your dispatch time is too slow so I will buy somewhere else. Please give me a refund and send the ebay return postage label.
Seller:
We send all our item from Melbourne Only. As we have sent correct case as your order details so we are not responsible to pay for return charges. you can use same envelope and write "return to sender" and post it in red street box.We will do a refund as soon as we receive it back to us.Let us know if you have any other query.Thanks
Me:
I’ve gone into settings of my phone and taken a screenshot as you requested. As you can see it says iPhone SE. In the photo of the order details it says I have ordered a clear case, iPhone SE. The third photo shows the item you have sent me which clearly says 5SE. I did not order a case for iPhone 5 SE.
I've just sent this and waiting to hear back from them.
If I send it "return to sender" it will have no tracking so does this mean I will have no recourse if it is lost or seller says "it didnt arrive"?
springyzone
·1 week agoI have not seen the actual ad.
But if the case was advertised SE with no other information, then I would be opening a claim of not as described.
There may well be 3 different versions but if so, it was up to the seller to be very clear which version this was.
If the case is SE 1, then that information should have clearly been in the ad.
I absolutely would not be sending it back in the same envelope. For starters, you opened that envelope and 'return to sender' is not intended as a free service to send things back and forth forever. It is for mail that may have gone to the wrong address or can't be delivered.
But more to the point, you would have no proof of delivery or that you even returned it.
Nope, if the ad simply said SE and nowhere did it mention SE1, then open a proper ebay claim.
e_purchasing
·1 week ago · EditedJust to clarify and strictly speaking, there is only one Iphone "SE" , that was the special edition released with the Iphone 5 body (between the 6 & 7 release). It is referred to as the SE . The subsequent ones using the 8 body were known as "SE (2nd Gen)" and SE "(3rd Gen)" . the original SE was never referred to as SE1 and some phone sellers refer to it as that to differentiate from more recent which were designated with "Gen" but that is the only "SE"
So you have iPhone
SE
SE (2nd Gen)
SE (3rd Gen)
e_purchasing
·2 weeks ago · EditedSO firstly the seller is right, there are 3 versions of the SE 2016,2020,2022 , the earliest using the iPhone 5 body and the others using the iPhone 8 body. SE means "special edition".
You not knowing this is not the seller's responsibility and it sounds like they have sent what YOU ordered so it hardly seems fair that you expect the seller to take blame for the situation and provide a return label when it is your mistake.
As for the postage time, something like this would be sent letter post and it is not unusual for it to take 1-2 weeks. 3-4 days is unusual unless it goes parcel post. The difference in cost is $2 compared to $10 for parcel post. Did you want to pay $20 or $10 for your case?
As it is your mistake, you would need to pay to return the item. DId you want to pay $10 so it has tracking or $2?
I think the best thing for you to do is to keep the item or donate it to the Salvos and order the right one.
I agree that this seller does not look to be a good seller in reputation but fair is fair if you made the mistake.
I am sure you are creating a hassle over a $10 item to start
sandypebbles
·2 weeks agoOP, I wrote you a detailed response but it is 'pending approval'
Do not allow yourself to be scammed by this seller
You will have zero recourse if you do as they say
sandypebbles
·2 weeks ago · EditedExactly
The seller is trying to scam you
If you require a refund, you need to follow the correct eBay procedure to be covered
Is this from the seller who has many negs, with the comments being the seller lies?
The have 326 revised feedback, 326
Meaning they have lied 326 times in order to get negs changed to positives
I would have run a mile the second I saw what scammers they are
twyngwyn
·2 weeks agoyes, no recourse….do an INAD claim