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Buyer has not yet picked up their parcel
Hi all,
I posted an item to a buyer interstate (I paid for shipping via AusPost), and they have not yet picked it up after several days. If this item is returned to me, do I, as the seller, get a refund on shipping? Otherwise I’m out of pocket paying for the shipping costs.
29 comments
jellybirddesigns
·3 years agoVery confused as to why you would say you're out of pocket on postage when the buyer paid for it?
If buyer does not pick up, then it will be returned to you after a certain number of days. Once you have it back you should refund ONLY the price of the item/s (you cannot keep the item/s as well as the buyers money). However, you do not refund any postage as this was used up in getting the item to the buyer.
You can then put the buyer on your blocked list, and relist the item for sale again.
Another scenario here is that the buyer has changed their mind about the purchase (which happens quite often), and no amount of contact will help. Again, in this case the parcel will ultimately go back to you and you follow the protocol mentioned above.
I hope you put a return address on the parcel though.
twyngwyn
·3 years agoIf the item is RTS, the buyer is liable to pay postage AGAIN if they want it.....if not, refund them the cost of the item only, less any charges that eBay do not refund (I think they're not refunding partial returns fvfs until April - so we are currently in a 'grey area')
Of course, if they haven't been 'carded' by A.P......it is up to them to dispute that with their P.O.....nothing to do with you....you have done all you can at this stage.
Life happens - they may not be well, or worse
cam-2793
·3 years agoSometimes the delivery attempted card is not left or put somewhere stupid. Contact the seller and let them know just in case. If the item is returned, some sellers are able to charge a restocking fee and if the buyer did not follow correct returns procedure ebay can decide they get refunded cost of item but not cost of postage. I cant remember if this info is under seller protection or mbg.
cam-2793
·3 years agoIn MBG exclusions: https://www.ebay.com.au/help/policies/ebay-money-back-guarantee-policy/ebay-money-back-guarantee-policy?id=4210#specialcoverage-inr
The buyer is not covered if they refuse delivery or fail to collect, but would be good idea to refund item cost anyway.
siobhan*028
OP3 years agoIf it ends up being sent back to me I'm happy for them to get a refund for the item, but yeah, it's kind of annoying that I paid for postage and if it ends up coming back to me that's $16 I won't see again! Small price I guess but still...
twyngwyn
·3 years ago??
Why didn't the BUYER pay for postage?
sandypebbles
·3 years agoThere is a postage charge in every listing which the buyer paid
Not sure why the OP keeps on saying they paid for postage either
None of the completed listings show 'free postage'
Buyers are charged postage and the buyers pay postage
siobhan*028
OP3 years agoI sent it via AusPost and had to pay $16 to send the item in store.
domino-710
·3 years agoYou sent it via Aust Post - with the money the buyer paid for postage.
siobhan*028
OP3 years agoThe buyer did pay for postage, but I sent it via AusPost so I had to pay postage when I sent it. I didn't want to send it via Sendle.
twyngwyn
·3 years agoYou do understand that buyer paid you for postage, which you then used those funds for posting?
So.....you are not out of pocket??? The buyer is atm
imastawka
·3 years ago@siobhan*028 wrote:
The buyer did pay for postage, but I sent it via AusPost so I had to pay postage when I sent it. I didn't want to send it via Sendle.
I give up.
If the OP doesn't even understand who actually paid for postage, I fear this is not the last time we will see them here asking for help.
OP, yes you physically paid the PO $16 - but the buyer paid you $16.65 for postage when they bought the item and paid you for the item cost plus postage.
Do you think that Sendle is free postage by any chance?
siobhan*028
OP3 years agoYeah, fair enough. I was just a bit confused about what would happen if it’s sent back to me. But I guess that eBay would just refund the item to the buyer and not the shipping?
papermoon.lady
·3 years agoIf a buyer does not pick up a parcel awaiting collection, the transaction is not covered by MBG, so I guess you could explain your point to the buyer and say you won't refund postage because you don't want to pay for it (if this is what you mean)? If the buyer leaves negative fb, I think you could have it removed.
imastawka
·3 years agoeol-products
·3 years agoIf they have not picked up after contacting them via ebay which is normal as many buyers don't check regularly you can message them via their mobile if it is listed. Also you can contact the Post Office that has the parcel and let them know you are waiting to here from the recipient.
siobhan*028
OP3 years agoThanks! Yeah, I contacted them two days ago but they still haven't picked it up or replied, so it's particularly odd, though perhaps not unusual. In any case it's the first time this has happened to me as a seller, where someone isn't picking up their parcel. I thought if they're working often and can't get it during the week that they might pick it up today as it's Saturday, but nothing yet.
imastawka
·3 years agodomino-710
·3 years agoI gave the ' out of pocket ' bit a miss finding it just a tad naive - with a charge on all 24 items $16.65 postage. LOL
siobhan*028
OP3 years agoI guess I thought that eBay would need to pay for shipping if the item is returned to me because they didn't pick it up, since the buyer would get a refund for the item, and so I spent $16 to send it to them which I won't get back.
papermoon.lady
·3 years agoIf an item is not picked up from the post office or even if a buyer returns the parcel unopened/ does not accept delivery, the parcel is returned to the sender for free.
davewil1964
·3 years agoNothing to do with eBay. They are an advertising platform. The transaction is between you and the buyer.
In the unlikely event the item is returned to you, refund less postage and eBay fees. Simple. The buyer won't be entitled to a refund through eBay, as inability to collect is not a valid reason for a refund.
siobhan*028
OP3 years agoThanks! That’s good to know in case that happens.
domino-710
·3 years agoMy only experience with this is the time the PO omitted mark it as collected.
It was weeks - so rang the PO concerned and was told it had been collected but not marked as such.
Patience - perhaps they only go when in town or passing - and you know where it is.
paper-jack
·3 years agoSorry I don't know the answer to your question but I can relate my experiences in this situation.
Your buyer may not be aware that the item is available - I once found a "unable to deliver" card under a door mat. I was lucky as the RTS date was in 2 days.
When APO lets me know one of my sent parcels is waiting at the PO for collection they give a due date for the recipient to collect. I wait a week then either ring the buyer or send them an email to let them know, just in case they hadn't been carded.
So far all but one of my sent parcels have been collected. The one that was returned ended up being resent to the buyer's mother's address - and that buyer paid postage again, but they did a dd to my bank account as trying to organise via ebay would've been a nightmare.
I'd recommend waiting a week, then an "in case you didn't receive a card from Aus Post, just letting you know..." email or ring them.
siobhan*028
OP3 years agoThanks so much! Yeah, I contacted the buyer to let them know that the item had arrived and is awaiting collection, but so far nothing.