Should I refund full amount if buyer didn't collect the item?

[liquidationhouseffi]

On 13th, I received a buyer's message saying she didn't receive the item. I checked the tracking which showed the item had been waiting for collection since 1st March. So I sent 2 messages asking her to go to collect asap, but she didn't reply me. Today I checked the tracking again, it shows the item has been returned due to nobody picking up. In this case, do I have to refund the full amount to the buyer (my item is free of postage)? It cost me $8 to post it, it seems it will be unfair if I refund the full amount for doing nothing wrong. Can any one give me suggestions? Thanks.

[davewil1964]

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@keythisin3 wrote:

so you have your item back and also have the buyers money, that seems honest.... mmmmm

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If you read the thread you will find (as the title states) that the issue is the amount that should be refunded.

There is no need for the OP to incur ANY costs for a buyer not collecting their item. I would refund, but less all costs - postage, eBay fees, Paypal fees, cost of packaging...

[keythisin3]

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@davewil1964 wrote:

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@keythisin3 wrote:

so you have your item back and also have the buyers money, that seems honest.... mmmmm

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If you read the thread you will find (as the title states) that the issue is the amount that should be refunded.

There is no need for the OP to incur ANY costs for a buyer not collecting their item. I would refund, but less all costs - postage, eBay fees, Paypal fees, cost of packaging...

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if you read the thread you will find that my issue is the item was returned and the member i replyed to stated that they did not refund.

NOT at any point did i say or write that the op should incur any cost because of there situation, infact my comment was not directed to them, and you imply i didnt read the thread....

[chameleon54]

Well hello again keysthisin3, you seem to take a great deal of interest in my particular posts. ...........I,m flattered...

Spoiler

I.ve never had a stalker before...........

I will indulge you in a few further facts. The item you commented on was a low cost item. As the buyer did not collect it and insead chose to open an item not recieved case in breach of ebay policy it took a considerable amount of time and phone calls to actually have ebay people ( as opposed to robots ) give consideration to the case.

I,m not sure what your personal position is. Maybe you are happy to work for free, but for me ebay is a real job. A genuine source of around 40% of my income. As such, time is money and phone calls are billed to my phone account the same as anyone elses. When this is considered I actually lost quite a bit of money on defending the case, but it was needed to ensure ebay is a safe place for everyone. Call it my little contribution to help keep the place safe from unscrupulous buyers.

As for the need to refund, ebay policy is very clear. If tracking shows an item is delivered to the buyers post office and they refuse to collect it, it is considered delivered. Ebay appreciate the inconvenience and stress false claims cause sellers, and that is why they dont require the seller to refund the buyer in this circumstance. Its ebays rules not mine. ( although in this instance I agree with them ) and one of the often forgotten protections they have in place to keep the platform safe for sellers.

[keythisin3]

hello again chameleon54, 

firstly im not stalking you dont flatter yourself, i picked up on your comment and it seems im the only one who has a problem with people having there item and the money as well...oh wait, ive read threads with members stating they have a problem with other people namely buyers having an item and then getting money back, im shure its called obtaining money by deception, but if you want to hide behind ebay policy because ebay say its ok...well you go right ahead, after all your time is money and everything makes it ok to not refund....

[chameleon54]

No deception here. You seem to be forgetting I mailed the item in good faith. It was the buyer who did not meet their obligations and complete the transaction by collecting it.

[davewil1964]

Of course there's no stalking involved. It is pure coincidence that he only posts to attack you. It could happen to anybody.

[imastawka]

[digital*ghost]

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@keythisin3 wrote:

hello again chameleon54, 

firstly im not stalking you dont flatter yourself, i picked up on your comment and it seems im the only one who has a problem with people having there item and the money as well...oh wait, ive read threads with members stating they have a problem with other people namely buyers having an item and then getting money back, im shure its called obtaining money by deception, but if you want to hide behind ebay policy because ebay say its ok...well you go right ahead, after all your time is money and everything makes it ok to not refund....

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Not in every instance.

There have been plenty of occasions where one of my buyers has kept the item, while I have provided a full refund, and had no problem with it at all.

I even had a buyer return items to me (at their own expense) and insist on not receiving a refund (that was an odd one, and I in fact ignored that instruction).

Context matters, individual circumstances matter, and only a sith math deals with absolutes. 

When an item is returned to the seller, it remains the buyer's property, therefore it is their responsibility to arrange a solution with the seller. If they don't, it can be treated as abandoned - there are laws surrounding this, timeframes etc, though they can vary from state to state. 

If you want to argue on moral or ethical grounds, you're free to do so, but that is pretty much in the "inarguable" camp (as in, what people hold as moral or ethical obligations generally aren't objective truths, therefore arguing about them, or engaging in a free exchange of ideas over them if you prefer, with someone who disagrees is generally just going to end up in a "no it isn't" / "yes it is" back and forth, which often is neither fruitful nor entertaining). 

[letscleanupmycupboards]

Plus don’t forget that when the item comes back to the sender/seller there will be a bill to pay to collect it from the post office. Nothing in Australia Post land is free and you pay the standard postage cost to have it returned to you. So if the buyer subsequently wants it there’s actually 3 times the postage to factor in, or 2 times postage if a refund is given.

[keythisin3]

i agree with you Digital, on the part that a buyer should arrange a solution with the seller, but sellers solution is "bugger them, it took me time to respond to case, it was low value item, my buyer is a numpty so they get nothing, ill keep the item and there money" 

of course im paraphrasing there but im shure anyone can see that, but the overall general theme remains, im glad you offerd a member a refund even though they kept the item ( for whatever reason but you gave permission if you will) 

context does matter, individual circumstances as well (thats to say i agree there to) but i disagree about only maths deals with absolutes (or should i put sith there with a line through it? i could do that if i was trying to imply evil or evil persona)

moral ethics aside, no one can have both item back and money as well (unless you give permission) it scamming plain and simple no matter how it is justified