topic Re: Return to Sender in Selling

Return to Sender

whoisbiggles — Thu, 27 Oct 2022 02:43:11 GMT

I sold and sent to address provided by eBay.

Item returned to me safely, marked RTS.

I reckon I have just received the most dodgy advice from the chat service

Seriously suggesting I could keep the item and the buyers cash.....

I doubt that would end well.

FWIW I was trying to get eBay to give some compensation for the postage cost (I failed with that)

Re: Return to Sender

papermoon.lady — Thu, 27 Oct 2022 00:24:13 GMT

Was the item returned because it was not picked up at the post office after a failed attempted delivery?

Re: Return to Sender

whoisbiggles — Thu, 27 Oct 2022 00:26:50 GMT

Attempted delivery at address.

Auspost tracking showed "Returned to Sender - Receiver not known at address"

Re: Return to Sender

papermoon.lady — Thu, 27 Oct 2022 00:28:01 GMT

Maybe the buyer moved and forgot to update their details.

Have you contacted the buyer?

Re: Return to Sender

whoisbiggles — Thu, 27 Oct 2022 00:34:51 GMT

I contacted the buyer via text and ebay messenger.

No response UNTIL the item was marked as collected / delivered back to me.

Then a request for money back was received.

Feels like a change of mind

Re: Return to Sender

gutterpunkz05 — Thu, 27 Oct 2022 01:54:12 GMT

As you have fulfilled your obligations, to both ebay and the buyer, any refund to the buyer should now be at the expense of ebay.

(You are required to ship to the address provided by ebay, You are required to ship within your stated handling time, And the shipment must show at least 1 valid tracking event (IE: lodgement).

Re: Return to Sender

whoisbiggles — Thu, 27 Oct 2022 02:31:03 GMT

Wow - I have learnt something today.

I really should have forced the buyer to open a dispute and let it play out.

Lesson learnt (thank you)

Re: Return to Sender

davewil1964 — Thu, 27 Oct 2022 07:49:19 GMT

As no case was opened, you are under no legal obligation to refund anything.

Personally, I refund less ALL costs - fees, postage, packaging materials. It often doesn't leave a lot left, but it is not the seller's fault if the buyer won't collect/accept an item.

Re: Return to Sender

oddsandendsoz — Mon, 31 Oct 2022 08:36:17 GMT

I have just had this issue happen to me twice in the last week, prior to that NEVER happening in 8 years. I now am starting to worry that a rival seller who bought from me, then left negative feedback when I cancelled the sale after previously blocking all their accounts (I noticed the contact details were the same number) is getting friends or family to buy.

I am wondering what angle they could be trying here if so? So far, they have not opened a claim, one of the parcels only arrived back this morning after 4 weeks waiting to be collected.

I am wondering if anyone has any advice on how to proceed both with the dealing with the returned to sender issue, and also what angle any rival seller could be trying to take here if that is what is happening?

Re: Return to Sender

twyngwyn — Mon, 31 Oct 2022 08:40:16 GMT

omg....trying to shut competition down?? Be careful

Re: Return to Sender

oddsandendsoz — Mon, 31 Oct 2022 09:51:07 GMT

This guy seems to really have a beef. A long time ago I was contacted by another seller who had also had issues with this seller. He seems to really have a vendetta now. He tried to buy on an old account and even though I had him blocked on all his accounts he bought again recently.

The background to this is in this thread;

What would you do? - The eBay Community

At the time I was tempted to send him a message through the sale that I cancelled to say somthing along the lines of "We cancelled the sale as we identified the contact details matched details from an account we had previously blocked and as this is a violation of eBay's policies we have cancelled this sale. We will not be reporting this to eBay at this stage, but any further attempts to damage our account will lead to action being taken". I thought this might send a warning as I am sure he does not want any eBay investigations. But I decided not to send this in the end. So, perhaps he does not know why I cancelled the sale, and as such is trying other ways to sabotage our account.

Does anyone have any advice on how to protect ourselves with this regarding the 2 returned sales? I am going to see if I can find any links between these two accounts and the 'rival seller'. Any help and advice gratefully received.

Re: Return to Sender

gutterpunkz05 — Mon, 31 Oct 2022 10:20:36 GMT

I send all my items on time and tracked, and then let ebay protect me, it is really that simple.

Re: Return to Sender

oddsandendsoz — Mon, 31 Oct 2022 10:29:15 GMT

Yes, so do I, always with full insurance and Signature on Delivery. I just feel that it is a little coincidental that I have two Returned to Sender items in a week from the same State as the 'rival seller'. And no communication at all from either to say anything. I have never had a return to sender parcel in 8 years before this. And one of the buyers seemed desperate to buy one of the products that he bought 3 of.

Re: Return to Sender

gutterpunkz05 — Mon, 31 Oct 2022 10:38:29 GMT

Not interested in the history. If the 2 returned items (IE. Unclaimed) were shipped to meet your obligations to ebay, then you do not have to do anything to protect yourself, as you are covered by ebay, who will be responsible for any refunds.

Out of curiosity, could floods have impacted the delivery/collection

Re: Return to Sender

oddsandendsoz — Tue, 01 Nov 2022 05:55:06 GMT

I never considered the floods, but on checking both parcels were going to Melbourne (neither area's affected by the floods). I suppose somehow it could have impacted them collecting the parcels but neither has sent a message at all.

It seems a strange coincidence given I have never had a RTS before. I am curious what you say above though regarding "you have fulfilled your obligations", do you have personal experience of this in regards to eBay being responsible for any refund?

Re: Return to Sender

gutterpunkz05 — Tue, 01 Nov 2022 06:15:49 GMT

Yes, definately have personal experience of ebay footing the bill, for lost/missing/overdue and unclaimed/RTS shipments.

Have even had ebay fully refund a buyer, at their expense (goodwill payment), after the buyer had

acknowledged receipt of a flood delayed item. No cost or penalties applied to my account.

Re: Return to Sender

oddsandendsoz — Mon, 21 Nov 2022 05:11:30 GMT

So my buyer has finally made contact with me regarding his order that was returned to me (RTS) after not been collected for 13 days at his PO Box. Customer had lodged an AP customer enquiry on the 19th October and on 20th it was sent back to me, so I presume the buyer advised to RTS.

Now I am wondering how best to proceed? Do I refund in total, refund minus the eBay fees, speak with eBay, or advise the buyer to contact eBay?

Re: Return to Sender

davewil1964 — Mon, 21 Nov 2022 06:35:18 GMT

I would refund the buyer less fees and postage, AFTER I receive the item back.

No need to contact eBay or the buyer. They are way out of time for a dispute and they can't claim INR as non-collection is not a valid reason.

Re: Return to Sender

oddsandendsoz — Wed, 23 Nov 2022 02:43:39 GMT

Thanks Dave.

The buyer has been in touch and said that he sent to wrong address (his old address which was a PO Box) and wants me to still receive his order. He has asked if we can send to the new address, but he is willing to pay for new postage. I am reluctant to do this as we will be effectively sending to an address other than the one he entered. Any thoughts on this?

My instinct is to cancel the order and if he wants to re-order then that is OK. Would anyone agree?

Re: Return to Sender

eol-products — Wed, 23 Nov 2022 03:03:03 GMT

Depends on the value of the item but this is how I usually go about it. Under a certain amount you can create a listing for postage for that item. Over a certain amount just send to the new address and wear the cost. If its high value then the buyer has to buy it again so seller protection is covered.

Just depends on how much time you have and if something goes wrong how much you are willing to lose.