topic Re: Unable to return item that arrived early in Buying

Unable to return item that arrived early

kathyrollo — Tue, 18 Jun 2024 04:25:34 GMT

Hi, item arrived Jun-18 that is earlier than ETA which is Jul-5. However, seller sent me the wrong item. I can't initiate the return process on eBay because it's telling me it's "too early" and the return request can only begin Jul-6.

I've contacted the seller and it seems they want me to wait for the other buyer (whom my item was swapped with) to return their item, then I wait again to receive it. Told seller I just want to initiate the return on my side to receive the refund.

What did you guys do in this situation? Do I just wait for the official return window to open on Jul-6?

Re: Unable to return item that arrived early

padi*0409 — Tue, 18 Jun 2024 04:29:16 GMT

@kathyrollo wrote:

What did you guys do in this situation? Do I just wait for the official return window to open on Jul-6?

That's all you can do realistically.

Re: Unable to return item that arrived early

sugar249 — Tue, 18 Jun 2024 04:37:07 GMT

You can open an Item not as described case not a return request. Its the wrong item. Than it is up to the seller to refund

Re: Unable to return item that arrived early

domino-710 — Tue, 18 Jun 2024 04:48:44 GMT

The item has arrived - it is the wrong item.

Open an item not as described IND - follow through no matter what the seller says.

And don't close it until you get your refund.

Re: Unable to return item that arrived early

kathyrollo — Tue, 18 Jun 2024 06:29:25 GMT

Hi, thanks for your advice. How do I open an "IND"? These are the options under More Actions. Is there another link?

Re: Unable to return item that arrived early

countessalmirena — Tue, 18 Jun 2024 07:04:49 GMT

You’re using the app.

I strongly suggest you hop onto your computer and access eBay on a web browser.

Re: Unable to return item that arrived early

kathyrollo — Tue, 18 Jun 2024 07:52:55 GMT

Hi, the website has the same options and tells me the same thing:

It looks like waiting for the return window to open is the doable solution.

Re: Unable to return item that arrived early

brickworksmarket — Tue, 18 Jun 2024 08:00:15 GMT

When you click the tracking link does it show as in transit still.

Re: Unable to return item that arrived early

kathyrollo — Tue, 18 Jun 2024 08:13:19 GMT

Hi, yes it does. It's saying "Ready for Pickup" when I've already picked it up from the post office. I know it's the right parcel because the order number on the label matches the one in Purchase History.

What's another cause of anxiety is if it doesn't mark itself delivered on eBay, but my post office already did. Therefore, I can't begin the return process on Jul-6? In this worst case scenario, what's the solution? It's a bit expensive. 🥲

Re: Unable to return item that arrived early

brickworksmarket — Tue, 18 Jun 2024 08:23:00 GMT

If you collected from the Post Office and it was sent DHL that may be the issue if they are not linked in some way as DHL uses newsagents or similar places as far as I know. Unless they where also an Agent for both services which may explain it.

My only suggestion is to go back to the PO and ask. If no luck would be to contact DHL and see if they can help.

Re: Unable to return item that arrived early

kathyrollo — Tue, 18 Jun 2024 08:40:48 GMT

Hi, you're right. It was sent via DHL. It's still marked as En Route and not Delivered:

Do you reckon I check with DHL and have them mark it Delivered from their side first?

Re: Unable to return item that arrived early

springyzone — Thu, 20 Jun 2024 00:45:22 GMT

@kathyrollo wrote:
Hi, you're right. It was sent via DHL. It's still marked as En Route and not Delivered:

Do you reckon I check with DHL and have them mark it Delivered from their side first?

Yes, for sure, give that a try, because as soon as it is marked as delivered I think you could open your return request without any further hassles.

But I just wanted to address this bit:

No. Just no to that whole scenario. Don't have a bar of it.

The seller's wishes are not your command.

Do exactly what Domino said earlier.

Open an ebay claim for item not as described.

Keep it open, follow it up, do not close it till you have a refund.

Whatever you do, do not accept the seller's offers of posting out the correct item once they get it back.

You only get 30 days from the delivery in which to open a claim & that can time out very quickly if you are waiting around for someone else to send it back to the seller to send it back to you.

Nope. Get your refund. The seller will need to provide you with a postage label if they want the item back. You just get your refund, then you can buy again later if you want to.

Re: Unable to return item that arrived early

kathyrollo — Thu, 20 Jun 2024 08:31:57 GMT

Hi, thank you so much for your suggestions. You're actually the correct solution in this specific scenario. The accepted solution isn't technically wrong either.

I sent an email to DHL via their contact form. Later that night, my purchase was marked Delivered in eBay. DHL didn't email me back, so not sure if it was the direct result of my request. Eitherway, I was able to immediately initiate the return process after that.

Seller provided his home address to return the item there instead in private message, but I politely declined and said to continue with the standard return process, as I've already packaged the item using eBay's generated return label.

I dropped the item at a DHL Service Point and eBay says item is now in transit back to seller.

Thanks again!

Re: Unable to return item that arrived early

kathyrollo — Thu, 20 Jun 2024 08:38:23 GMT

By the way, I was also able to change the accepted solution to yours. 🙂

Re: Unable to return item that arrived early

springyzone — Thu, 20 Jun 2024 19:42:31 GMT

I am so glad you are doing it via all the official ebay processes.

I don't necessarily get any vibe that the seller isn't genuine. I think they probably are sincere and trying to correct a mistake and not lose a sale.

But the thing is, you as buyer have no protection if you go off on a tangent, sending things off privately and not to the official address etc

If you are still keen to obtain the item, you can just tell the seller you are still interested & ask him if he would be willing to relist it once he has it back.

Re: Unable to return item that arrived early

kathyrollo — Fri, 21 Jun 2024 02:16:19 GMT

Same. Seller may simply want to fix the mixup. Just that, buyer has everything to lose in this scenario if anything goes awry. Keeping it within eBay's official processes grants protection to all parties involved.

Interesting addition to this story, an eBay rep appears to have come across this post and called me. However, I'm asleep until midday, because of graveyard shift and wasn't able to pick up. Hope they'd call again. 🫠

My item is still chugging along in transit, so I'll keep monitoring that.

Re: Unable to return item that arrived early

splatter_pattern — Fri, 05 Jul 2024 16:39:25 GMT

Same issue,item arrived 18 days early,can't open a return for another 18 days,it's ridiculous

Re: Unable to return item that arrived early

repentatleisure1952 — Fri, 05 Jul 2024 19:08:00 GMT

@splatter_pattern wrote:
Same issue,item arrived 18 days early,can't open a return for another 18 days,it's ridiculous

If the item has arrived you can open a return.

Read this...

https://www.ebay.com.au/help/policies/ebay-money-back-guarantee-policy/ebay-money-back-guarantee-policy?id=4210&st=3&pos=3&query=eBay%20Money%20Back%20Guarantee%20policy&intent=money&lucenceai=lucenceai&docId=HELP1238#section6

Re: Unable to return item that arrived early

kathyrollo — Sat, 06 Jul 2024 00:10:57 GMT

In general, you'll have to wait for it to be marked as DELIVERED before you can open a return.

I had to email DHL to mark it from their end, so eBay system picks it up because it was an international delivery. DHL didn't reply but it was marked delievered by evening, so not sure if my email was actually responsible for that. There's a disconnect between the courier and the post office when shipping overseas.