First time In 24 years on eBay- I mixed up two shipments. What's the best way to resolve it?

cmerlo1 · May 30, 2023 12:04PM

It finally happened after 24 years. I got the labels on two packages switched and have heard from both recipients that they received the wrong coins. any advice on the best way to handle this? Thanks as always!

--Christian

TomB · May 30, 2023 12:07PM

Have them ship the items directly back to you and then repackage them and send them to the appropriate buyers. Of course, pay them for the return shipping to you, as well. If you want to give them an extra rebate due to the added time, effort and angst on their part then do that, as well.

As stated, have them ship directly to you.

Project Numismatics · May 30, 2023 12:26PM

Low value item, ship a replacement if common item or provide refund and tell them to keep the item. If higher value item or a unique item, follow advice of @TomB above.

I’ve done it before. Fortunately only once - it was a $25 item and I just gave a refund and told them to keep it the incorrect coin.

seanq · May 30, 2023 12:35PM

Just had this happen to me as a buyer last week. Seller is sending prepaid labels to me and the other buyer, so we can ship the coins to each other. These are both low cost items (< $20), if they were higher value I would expect the seller would have had us both return the items to him for reshipment.

Sean Reynolds

logger7 · May 30, 2023 12:39PM

I agree with the others, when the items are relatively inexpensive, even $50 or so, if they are willing to forward them to the corresponding customer. Years ago I made the mistake with a higher value coin, an MS65 Walker, 44-s PCGS, and all my requests to get it back were ignored.

tokenpro · May 30, 2023 12:55PM

Been there, done that several times during 50,000+ eBay sales.

TomB has it exactly correct. The only time I made an exception was mixing up two similar shipments to Great Britain. I arranged the in-country shipment between the two and refunded both the original shipping cost + their in-country shipping cost to each party (+ a bit extra for their supplies, time & trouble). Shipping mistakes should cost you a bit of money and angst to help keep you attentive & frosty.

cmerlo1 · May 30, 2023 1:18PM

Thanks, everyone! Fortunately, I'm dealing with two good people. The recipient of the expensive package is going to send those coins back to me- he is unable to print labels so he will ship from the PO. In return, he gets his coins and a full refund. The recipient of the inexpensive package will return those coins to me when he receives his and I will send to the correct buyer. He will get return shipping plus money back as well.

Dave99B · May 30, 2023 1:30PM

I did the same thing, about 15 years go. I switched a couple ~$100 coins. To make matters even worse, one of the recipients was a sailor, who was at sea! Anyway, I contacted both folks immediately, once I realized what I have done. Both were very understanding, and I of course repaid them for their shipping costs (I took a chance and had each guy ship the items directly to each other). The world is full of nice people.

Dave

BryceM · May 30, 2023 1:31PM

Be grateful both of them were good about it. Most people are, but you never know…

Glen2022 · May 30, 2023 6:18PM

about 15 years ago I received a package from an eBay seller which I had not bought. It was a set of ASEs in a dansco album. I think there were probably about 20 or 25 coins at that time. I contacted the seller, he indicated he would reimburse me for the postage, I sent them back, and never received reimbursement. Cost about $20 or $25 as I recall. At least I could sleep well at night. I doubt he could say the same.

conrad99 · May 30, 2023 7:02PM

At least I could sleep well at night. I doubt he could say the same.

You have a conscience. He probably doesn't and sleeps like a baby.

NewEnglandNotes · May 30, 2023 7:27PM

Happened to me as a buyer about a month ago. Seller printed two labels with the same tracking number for my package. Tracking only showed one package coming to me, but when I opened my box, there were two from him. The other package was meant for someone else. I contacted the seller, and he asked me to forward the package directly to the other customer, in return, seller paid me for the shipping with Paypal.

After I shipped it, I regretted not shipping it back to the seller, as I was afraid the other customer would claim he got an empty package or something. Luckily, he wasn't a dirtbag and all worked out.

JBK · May 30, 2023 7:37PM

I've been on the receiving end of the wrong or extra items on a couple occassions. I've sent back as requested. No hard feelings.

ricko · May 31, 2023 6:01AM

Seems like such a thing could easily happen when involved with volume sales requiring shipping. I like @TomB's solution... but seems other methods have also worked. Cheers, RickO

Cougar1978 · May 31, 2023 6:20AM

It happened to me as a buyer once. Everything resolved. But stressful.

Recently had 2 auc of same item a slabbed bullion coin sell. Made sure correct slab no in right package, double checking doing one at a time. Be very careful.

TwoSides2aCoin · May 31, 2023 9:02AM

What TomB says. The rest is inert ingredients. Welcome to the club.

logger7 · May 31, 2023 9:11AM

Usps has a package retrieval option where you can have them U-turn packages back to you if they have not been delivered, there is a charge for that. I had it happen to me once when I was at a show in New Hampshire and when I realized my mistake a couple hours later went to the processing facility and they were able to fetch them for me.

rec78 · June 1, 2023 12:32AM

Things happen. No matter how careful you are, you will make mistakes once in a while. Back in the days before label printers, I somehow put the wrong address on a package. Eventually the PO returned it to me and I corrected the label. The label printer puts the correct address on every time for eBay sales but yes, you can still put the label on the wrong package. I put the last for digits of the item # on the mailer and try to make sure that the correct item # is in the right package. Check then re-check. I print only one label and do only one package at a time.
One time a seller sent me an extra item that I did not buy and he asked if I would forward it to the actual buyer if he would pay the postage, I said ok and I sent it to the person who should have gotten it in the first place.

JWP · June 1, 2023 4:04PM

Ask the buyer what they feel would correct the situation, and if it is reasonable, do what they suggest.

First time In 24 years on eBay- I mixed up two shipments. What's the best way to resolve it?

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