PO BOX no good as a return address ???

[fixnwear]

Just wondering when the rule changed.

There is no way I will give a complete stranger ( sending hostile messages

about an honest mistake I made ) my residential address.

I have agreed to the return for 'full' refund but ebay has said, essentially,

provide a non PO Box address or we will close the case in the buyers favour,

provide a full refund and they can keep the item.

[enigmabear]

Can you perhaps explain to the PO what has happened here and have it sent in your name to the street address of the post office?

[kopenhagen5]

That would be my suggestion too.

Or a friends work place address.

[davewil1964]

Or remind eBay that Australian PO boxes (unlike US ones) require the same level of proof of identity as opening a bank account, and are far more secure than a residential address.

[digital*ghost]

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@fixnwear wrote:

Just wondering when the rule changed.

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It hasn't, as far as I know, so it's a bit strange eBay are insisting on you providing a street address.

In case it makes a difference, my PO box address is on file with eBay as my primary address for returns, so it is pre-filled when I accept a return, be it for a change of mind reason, like one that came through this morning - no issues whatsoever accepting that return and confirming my PO box address - or for INAD. 

[fixnwear]

I might go the post office address route if I don't have any

luck pointing out to ebay why my home address should

not be divulged for personal security reasons.

[fixnwear]

My PO Box is already registered as the return address.

Maybe it's a quirk of the MBG system ?

We would now ask that you update your return address in the Resolution Centre as the address currently provided appears to be invalid. It's important that this is done in a timely manner (within the next 72 hours) or, unfortunately, we'll be obliged to close the case in your buyer's favour and the item will not be returned to you.

Here's how to update your return address:

1. Go to My eBay. You may need to sign in.

2. Hover over the Account tab select Addresses.

3. Click Change next to the Primary return address.

Please note, we do not consider  PO Box a valid returns address.

[digital*ghost]

Is the buyer located in Australia? Just wondering if maybe they may have opened the request via a different site where the rules may be different.

I tried to find if it was written anywhere that a PO box wouldn't be accepted and maybe mine being accepted was a glitch, but after a quick search the only reference I found (in relation to returns) was talking about if you have a PO box as a return address and use ParcelPoint (eBay's associated return service), because ParcelPoint won't deliver to PO boxes, however that directly implies PO box return addresses are otherwise acceptable. 

http://pages.ebay.com.au/help/sell/return-process.html

(The refernce is all the way down the page under 'return postage charges'. 

[fixnwear]

The funniest aspect is the time between a message stating ebay would quiz the buyer to provide further details

and the message stating ebay had ruled in the buyer's favour.

2 minutes...lol

[fixnwear]

All sorted.

Ghost...it may well have resulted from a mix up with another protocol but

by the time I grabbed the phone from the wife the matter had been sorted.

What is it with some people and PO Boxes ?

Safer than leaving an item 1/2 sticking out of a mail box or 'safe dropped'.