topic Re: Return To Sender - Buyer MIA in Selling

Return To Sender - Buyer MIA

Anonymous — Fri, 19 Jul 2024 17:46:52 GMT

Hey,

I am not a normal ebay seller just had some expensive items I was looking to get rid of.

I sold a 1K item to a buyer almost a month ago, listed as no returns. It was literally shipped out same day and arrived within 2 days via UPS. I am an international seller so it cost me $100 to ship it, the buyer only paid like $70 to ship, so I ate the extra $30.

It was sent signature required due to the value of the item. Buyer missed 3X delivery attempts and didn't respond to messages for 2 weeks. I finally heard back a week ago and they said they were on vacation and missed the package.

Cool I said UPS still has your package you can go pick it up and never heard from them again. I reminded them again to pick up their package with all numbers and tracking infos. Another week passed.

Now I get an email from UPS they will do return to sender if buyer doesn't pickup or contact them in 4 days. I message them again with this info to no response.

I sold another similar item to another buyer and that buyer is willing to buy this item if it does go return to sender.

So what are my options?

1. Refund full - Cancel the transaction after i receive item back, but then I am out $100 (original shipping) + $100 (return to sender shipping due to international) = $200. Plus all the wasted time and effort going to UPS and messaging the buyer for weeks( I am an entrepreneur my time is valuable). Resell to the second buyer I have lined up.

2. Refund partial - Item cost less ebay fees ($220) + Shipping ($100). Sell to the other buyer when I get the item back. I think this option opens me up to credit card chargeback but MBG would have passed, and the UPS tracking link shows attempted delivery.

3. Keep all the money and resell to second buyer. Open me up to chargeback from credit card but ebay wont refund them as MBG voided due to attempted delivery.

I am not interested in the "moralist" perspective, as my time is worth more than dealing with this buyer, and more interested in the best way to resolve while getting all my money for both the item and my time. I also dont care about feedback as I dont even use ebay, just needed to get rid of these few items.

I am leaning towards #3, and I think it is worth the risk as I doubt a buyer like this would even do a chargeback. Seem to not really care about a 1K item. Plus I would have resold already to another buyer which would cover me in case there was a chargeback.

Am I understanding all 3 scenarios correctly according to ebay's policies? As in I can relist my return to sender item without refunding the buyer anything (UPS shows 5X attempted deliveries)?

Re: Return To Sender - Buyer MIA

Anonymous — Fri, 19 Jul 2024 18:08:26 GMT

Thanks in advance to all responses. Obviously my ideal scenario would be the buyer just picks up their package but does anyone know if UPS allow you to ship to another address vs going return to sender.

The package is already in the United states and I dont want it to have to come back to me across international borders and possibly have to pay customs duties for my own item! The second buyer I have lined up is also in the United states.

What a headache thank god I only deal with digital products in my normal business!

Re: Return To Sender - Buyer MIA

etb321 — Fri, 19 Jul 2024 18:22:31 GMT

Do nothing, wait... for the item to be returned and for the buyer to open an ebay case. Until then keep the money. Don't refund outside of an ebay case.

Re: Return To Sender - Buyer MIA

Anonymous — Fri, 19 Jul 2024 18:50:10 GMT

Ok thanks I accidently posted this in the australia forum lol. Tried posting in US after and marked as spam lmao.

Do you know if I can relist as soon as I get the item back. I have the second buyer lined up.

Thanks!

Re: Return To Sender - Buyer MIA

repentatleisure1952 — Fri, 19 Jul 2024 20:17:47 GMT

I would ask for advice on the eBay.ca forum.

Re: Return To Sender - Buyer MIA

Anonymous — Fri, 19 Jul 2024 21:03:54 GMT

The buyer is US based so according to ebay it goes by that sites terms. Unfortunately i posted there and it got flagged for spam.

I will try again.

Re: Return To Sender - Buyer MIA

etb321 — Sat, 20 Jul 2024 02:52:27 GMT

It's been a while since I was in LA, I do miss the traffic on the 405 (not), but I have an ebay.ca account so listen up.

Keep the money, it may be the easiest you ever make. If the buyer want's a refund there are multiple avenues he can take to obtain it. It's his problem, not yours. Don't cancel the sale.

As soon as you have the item and the second buyer has paid, send it.

Re: Return To Sender - Buyer MIA

springyzone — Sat, 20 Jul 2024 03:22:07 GMT

I highly doubt UPS will readdress the parcel for you to another person, the best you can hope for is that it is returned to you.

I personally would not be cancelling anything, you did everything right, you sent the parcel, it isn't your fault the buyer never picked up. (Surely they are home by now? If not, then they should have made arrangements for a friend to pick up the parcel)

Wait till you get the item back.

What the buyer does then is their worry. As you said, they will be out of time for an ebay claim and you have proof they failed to pick up the parcel.

I would then sell to the other buyer.

If the first buyer contacts you later, I would not offer a full refund. Explain that they were responsible for pick up and had an almost 3 week window in which to do it.

That you have been charged X amount in ebay fees for the sale and paid $100 for postage as you subsidised it.

Therefore you can only offer a refund of purchase price minus the $320 of your costs.

That's if the buyer contacts you. I would not do anything till then.

Let us know how you go with this. I'm having trouble understanding how some people can be so lax with their $1000 purchase.