eBay

peng039663 · ‎11-26-2019

today l received back a parcel l sent to california, with a stamp on the parcel saying ‘no mail receptacle, unable to forward, return to sender’. So, the package must have made it all the way to the buyers home, then it was sent back to me by USA postal services. l sent a message to the buyer, but no response yet, but what happens next? l paid 45 bucks to send this item 20x20x6 inches, value of item 10 bucks. so who pays?

reallynicestamps · ‎11-27-2019

You are off the hook on this one.

The buyer did not give you a usable address, so the item is yours again.

But that doesn't feel right, does it?

Google the address the buyer gave you.

Is it a house? Or perhaps a Mailboxes 'R' Us outlet?

It is possible he left off the apartment/mailbox/unit number?

He may have sent it to his job, and then got fired.

If the address actually exists, you can either contact him or wait until he contacts you.

I'm old and grouchy. I'd wait.

If he doesn't contact you, cancel the transaction as "problem with address". Do not refund. You are out $35 (shipping cost minus selling price). He owes you-- not that you can ever collect.

If he does, and still wants the item, you can demand a new shipping fee. Or again offer to cancel "Buyer Request".

Those reasons are important. Anything else will earn you a Defect which is a Bad Thing.

Now let's chat about shipping.

$40!!??

I ran your dimensions here:

https://www.canadapost.ca/cpotools/apps/far/business/findARate?execution=e1s3

Using an Ottawa postal code (the House of Commons) and a two kilo weight.

Were you using Expresspost USA? Because you could have sent the parcel I designed for $27.71 using Tracked Packet.

In fact you would probably pay less than that,because the website gives the counter rate, while we can get discounts from SnapShip(Canada Post), Paypal, and Shippo/eBay by printing labels at home and using our Small Business Solutions card - obtainable immediately and FREE from the Canada Post website (or at the counter of the PO).

The only problem with cancelling the sale is that the buyer can leave you feedback.
However, FB is not used by eBay to measure your selling account . Defects are, which is why you really don't want any.

If you have not already left FB for your customer on shipment (which is generally my practice) there is a better chance that he will not think to leave any for you.

reallynicestamps · ‎11-27-2019

By the way the value of the item is $55. because value is how much someone pays to get it. That includes shipping.

ypdc_dennis · ‎11-27-2019

@reallynicestamps wrote:
... Now let's chat about shipping. $40!!??
I ran your dimensions here:
https://www.canadapost.ca/cpotools/apps/far/business/findARate?execution=e1s3
Using an Ottawa postal code (the House of Commons) and a two kilo weight.
... you could have sent the parcel I designed for $27.71 using Tracked Packet.

Dimensions OP supplied are in inches (not centimetres), so his package is too big for Canada Post Tracked Packet USA.

Length + Width + Height can not exceed 90cm (36.4 inches) for Packet.

So OP's parcel is too big for Tracked Packet USA, okay for Expedited Parcel USA. But for expedited parcel, the box size means it will be treated as 7.8kg for the dimensional/volumetric surcharge (which tracked packet does not have).

-..-

reallynicestamps · ‎11-27-2019

Canada Post went metric in 1974-- when I was 28 years old.

How long does it take people to catch on?

recped · ‎11-27-2019

@reallynicestamps wrote:
You are off the hook on this one.
The buyer did not give you a usable address, so the item is yours again.

But that doesn't feel right, does it?
Google the address the buyer gave you.
Is it a house? Or perhaps a Mailboxes 'R' Us outlet?
It is possible he left off the apartment/mailbox/unit number?
He may have sent it to his job, and then got fired.

If the address actually exists, you can either contact him or wait until he contacts you.
I'm old and grouchy. I'd wait.

If he doesn't contact you, cancel the transaction as "problem with address". Do not refund. You are out $35 (shipping cost minus selling price). He owes you-- not that you can ever collect.

If he does, and still wants the item, you can demand a new shipping fee. Or again offer to cancel "Buyer Request".

Those reasons are important. Anything else will earn you a Defect which is a Bad Thing.

I take issue with the part in red.

If the buyer doesn't contact the seller or file a claim the OP/Seller still has the money the buyer paid, there is no reason to cancel a transaction that was paid for.

There are two avenues for the OP.

One

Inform the buyer (one message) to make them aware of the situation, offer to reship is the buyer is will to pay for it.

If the buyer says yes and pays for the reshipping then they reship.

If the buyer says no then send a refund for the item only.

If the buyer files an INR claim they would lose based on the tracking details (grab a screenshot from USPS before it goes away) showing the attempted delivery.

Two

Do nothing, wait to see if you ever hear anything then go back to step one.

There is no need at this time to involve eBay in any way. If the OP keeps the money and the item attempting to get a refund of eBay fees would be triple dipping!.

"What else could I do? I had no trade so I became a peddler" - Lazarus Greenberg 1915
- answering Trolls is voluntary, my policy is not to participate.

peng039663 · ‎11-27-2019

Hi Recped,

thanks for advice, if the buyer agrees to repay shipping/postage, how can that be done? is there a way os sending an invoice or something here? thanks

esclyons · ‎11-27-2019

No, you charged 45$ to ship the item, i can't believe you paid 45$ to ship the item. wait for the buyer to get back to you, then go from there, and if they agree to resend you need to send a request for payment from paypal. for the actual shipping fees. you can do that from Paypal with their email address.

recped · ‎11-27-2019

@peng039663 wrote:
Hi Recped,

thanks for advice, if the buyer agrees to repay shipping/postage, how can that be done? is there a way os sending an invoice or something here? thanks

You would send a PayPal invoice / money request.

"What else could I do? I had no trade so I became a peddler" - Lazarus Greenberg 1915
- answering Trolls is voluntary, my policy is not to participate.

peng039663 · ‎11-28-2019

thankyou-all for replies. Some question over postal costs; 45 bucks. If you go to Canada post web sire: https://www.canadapost.ca/cpotools/apps/far/business/findARate?execution=e2s1 you will see there are 3 options for the size and weight l mentioned earlier; $46 or $70 or $204. Obviously, $46 being the cheapest. There are no other cheaper options, I confirmed this when posting.

Just as a conclusion, the buyer wanted a refund. I may not be shipping parcels to the USA no more, seems to be a lot of hassle.

marnotom! · ‎11-28-2019

@peng039663 wrote:

I may not be shipping parcels to the USA no more, seems to be a lot of hassle.

Why is it a hassle? Does this sort of thing happen to you a lot?

peng039663 · ‎11-28-2019

why is it a hassle? 45 bucks for postage and ebay takes 10% from that (which l paid). Then, the item l’m selling is only 11 bucks, of which ebay takes 10% fee. So, in all l’m making about 5-6 bucks on the item l’m selling. now l’m having to refund the buyer - great deal? And not the first time something like this (twice this week from the US), what with buyers saying they never received the item l mailed.