topic Re: Item sent twice! in Buying

Item sent twice!

chickee-babe — Sun, 19 Jun 2016 07:31:35 GMT

I bought a $400 tv and after I had paid, I asked the seller to post it to a different address, which they did. It arrived safely and then a week later, I get delivered another tv to my original address.

Due to the size of the tv, postage back would be very expensive. Should I just keep it as it was their mistake. What would you do??

Re: Item sent twice!

Anonymous — Sun, 19 Jun 2016 07:41:29 GMT

I would be asking them to arrange collection of the second tv

Was it a 'private' (as in normal everyday person) who sould it, or a company? if it was a company maybe they have another depot or something?

Did you make it clear to them you wan't the one tv sent to the one address?

I think we both know the answer to 'should I just keep it'

Re: Item sent twice!

k1ooo-slr-sales — Sun, 19 Jun 2016 08:52:35 GMT

@chickee-babe wrote:
Hi

I bought a $400 tv and after I had paid, I asked the seller to post it to a different address, which they did. It arrived safely and then a week later, I get delivered another tv to my original address.

Due to the size of the tv, postage back would be very expensive. Should I just keep it as it was their mistake. What would you do??

Can't believe you feel the need to ask that question, but I suppose it is good that you are seeking other views on this. I wouldn't think of keeping the extra TV and would contact the seller to arrange for them to organise a courier to take it back. I am assuming it is too big to be sent by Australia Post.

Re: Item sent twice!

digital*ghost — Sun, 19 Jun 2016 09:12:33 GMT

@chickee-babe wrote:

Due to the size of the tv, postage back would be very expensive. Should I just keep it as it was their mistake. What would you do??

A mistake, certainly, but if you made a $400 mistake, wouldn't you appreciate the opportunity to make it a $100 mistake instead? ($100 being an arbitrary cost of return postage, it could be half that with the right courier).

You should be aware also, that eBay's post-sale system isn't perfect - it is a well known occurrence for items that have been fully processed (that is, purchased, paid and sent) to suddently reappear in a seller's "awaiting postage" list, and more than a few sellers have been caught out that way because their order processing systems don't pick up on it until it's too late. I know for certain even on items a fraction of that value, they are very grateful when it occurs with an honest person who alerts them to the error and is prepared to work with them to get the item back.

I'm not saying you have the responsibility of paying for return postage or even organising it, but I think you would be hard-pressed to find anyone who doesn't think you should at least notify the seller and ask them what they would like to do.

Re: Item sent twice!

chickee-babe — Sun, 19 Jun 2016 09:53:09 GMT

Sorry, I should have explained that I did contact the seller and they want me to pay for the return postage. I haven't even unpacked the box, but as I said, I can't afford to pay to send it back.

Enigmabear, it is a private seller and the tv is seller referbished - they had over 10 available. I had the address I wanted the tv delivered to correct on ebay, but I forgot to change the address on paypal, hence the need to contact the seller to change delivery address.

I guess I don't know where I stand given I am happy to send it back, but they wont pay for it.

Re: Item sent twice!

springyzone — Sun, 19 Jun 2016 10:04:48 GMT

It's not really a game of finders keepers.

Years back I had some new windows installed, then woke up next day to find a whole new set of windows in huge frames were outside, leaning against the fence.

I rang the company and a few days later they came out and picked up the extras, but till I rang, no one had realised there had been a double delivery. But of course they were keen to get their items back and grateful to be told.

I don't think for a second you should be responsible for return postage but contact the seller, let them know what has happened. They did the right thing by you, they even sent to a different address. Why not do the right thing by them, tell them, then the ball's in their court. It is then up to them to arrange pick up.

Imagine if the positions were reversed. Wouldn't you like to be told if you had made an expensive mistake and be given a chance to fix some of it.

Re: Item sent twice!

springyzone — Sun, 19 Jun 2016 10:07:40 GMT

I posted my first comments before I saw your post above.

If they are expecting you to pay return postage, I would be saying no, you bought one TV, you were delivered two, the mistake is theirs, if they want it, they can arrange collection.

Re: Item sent twice!

digital*ghost — Sun, 19 Jun 2016 10:09:17 GMT

Unless there are other factors involved than stated here, you would be in no way responsible for the cost of return. It's an unfortunate error for the seller, for sure, but if you didn't contribute to the error, you can't be held liable for it, or for the cost of rectifying it.

Re: the delivery address, for future reference, it doesn't matter what your address is with PayPal or eBay, you always have the option to change it manually during checkout (on the first page, before going through, logging into PayPal and actually confirming the payment). Personally, if any of my buyers had made an order of that value and then asked after payment to change the delivery address, I would have refused and only offered them the option of refund and repay using the correct address.

Re: Item sent twice!

k1ooo-slr-sales — Sun, 19 Jun 2016 10:29:50 GMT

@chickee-babe wrote:
Sorry, I should have explained that I did contact the seller and they want me to pay for the return postage. I haven't even unpacked the box, but as I said, I can't afford to pay to send it back.
Enigmabear, it is a private seller and the tv is seller referbished - they had over 10 available. I had the address I wanted the tv delivered to correct on ebay, but I forgot to change the address on paypal, hence the need to contact the seller to change delivery address.
I guess I don't know where I stand given I am happy to send it back, but they wont pay for it.

Thank you for coming back and clearing up some aspects of your situation. The seller should be responsible for the return costs and I doubt they can make you pay for return. Stick to your guns and keep reminding them of this. If they are selling the TVs for $400 they will pay for the return or else they will lose more than the return costs. They may try to propose an arrangement where you pay them a reduced price for the second TV and keep it, but let this be their suggestion . . . . . and do not feel obliged to accept such an offer if made.

How was the second TV delivered? If it was by courier, then I suppose if something like this ever happens again you could try not accepting delivery. Then the courier would probably deal with the seller directly.

Re: Item sent twice!

chickee-babe — Sun, 19 Jun 2016 10:38:41 GMT

I totally agree Ghost that a buyer changing delivery address after payment is annoying, so when I emailled the seller to request the change, I also said that if it was too much trouble, they could refuse my request and deliver to the original address. They were happy to send to the new address, so I don't feel I have contributed to the mistake.

Re: Item sent twice!

chickee-babe — Sun, 19 Jun 2016 10:42:15 GMT

Good idea about not accepting the second delivery, but as I live in a rural location, couriers wont deliver to my door and will only drop items off at the local post office!

Re: Item sent twice!

digital*ghost — Sun, 19 Jun 2016 10:50:35 GMT

Just so that you are fully informed about your rights and obligations, this is what the ACCC has to say about these kinds of circumstances - it may be worth sending the link (posted after the text) to the seller, because it clearly shows what their obligations are as well. and what they stand to lose if they don't meet them:

Unsolicited products or services

When you receive products or services that you have not requested, this is called an 'unsolicited supply'.

If you receive unsolicited products or services:

you are not required to pay for the products or services
you are not liable for any loss or damage resulting from a supply of unsolicited services
if you contact the business in writing, expressing that you do not want the products, then the business should recover the products within one month
if you don’t contact the business, then the business may recover the products within three months from the day after you received the products
you cannot unreasonably refuse to allow the supplier to recover the products
you may be liable to pay compensation if you wilfully damage the products during this period.

If the supplier does not collect the unsolicited products within the above timeframes, you can keep the products with no obligation to pay.

You are not entitled to keep the products if the products were not intended for you, for example, the packaging was clearly addressed to another person.

https://www.accc.gov.au/consumers/sales-delivery/receiving-things-you-didnt-ask-for

Re: Item sent twice!

davidc4430 — Sun, 19 Jun 2016 10:51:37 GMT

bottom line is, you bought 1 tv, you paid for 1 tv.

the seller accepted your change of address.

the seller screwed up and delivered 2 tv's.

110% his responsiblity to pay return costs.

Re: Item sent twice!

twyngwyn — Sun, 19 Jun 2016 11:46:17 GMT

http://www.fairtrading.nsw.gov.au/ftw/Businesses/Selling_goods_and_services/Sales_methods/Unsolicited_goods.page

Seller's problem

Re: Item sent twice!

chickee-babe — Sun, 19 Jun 2016 12:14:00 GMT

Thanks for the info Ghost and twyngwyn. That cleared it up magnificently!

I will send the seller the link and leave it up to them. I am certinly happy to return the tv as long as they pay the costs. Sorry I gave the wrong impression with my original post . . . I would never just keep an item I had not paid for and not say anything.

Re: Item sent twice!

4green2000 — Sun, 19 Jun 2016 19:51:46 GMT

could a "return to sender" help ?

Re: Item sent twice!

lyndal1838 — Sun, 19 Jun 2016 21:05:23 GMT

Couriers don't do Return to Sender unless the receiver refuses to accept the delivery.

Re: Item sent twice!

4green2000 — Sun, 19 Jun 2016 21:41:07 GMT

arrrr right...

another strike against couriers in my books then.

i get mail etc from the people who lived here before and i redirect their mail via AP "return to sender" so easy with AP .

Re: Item sent twice!

davidc4430 — Sun, 19 Jun 2016 22:54:22 GMT

i'm not a huge fan of couriers.

but theres a huge difference between AP and courier companys.

AP has post offices in just about every suburb/town so taking an item to be returned or redirected is simple.but even they wont return an item for free.

do you expect a courier who is only paid to deliver a parcel to an address to then go collect it and return it to the sender for free? a trip that may be a very long one from their depot.

if you think they should do it then try to get the fee from the original sender they have no agreement to cover this. adding that agreement would make the service no longer cost effective.

there is a system in place, if you recieve an item you didnt ask for, buy, pay for or want, its the senders responsibility to pay for return, simple.

in the case of a corier delivered item, the seller contacts the firm and organises collection and pays for it. or they forfeit the item.

its the sellers mistake that led to this particular screw up, expecting the recipient to be out of pocket is rediculous.

and as i said before, even if AP had delivered it the seller would still be up for return costs.

Re: Item sent twice!

masterchingaling420 — Mon, 26 Apr 2021 21:33:55 GMT

Keep it, it's their fault for sending you an extra package. But if you have a kind heart you would ask them for postage and packaging fees and some extra money for the time you spent if they want it back