eBay/USPS Problem--Package delivered, then returned to me with no card
TonyC
Posts: 1,401 ✭✭✭
I sold a card a month ago (Montario Hardesty Auto worth a grand total of $15) and shipped it out using the address provided by Paypal. The customer asked me a week or so later what address I shipped it to, as he had moved but not updated his address in Paypal. I told him I shipped it to the address Paypal provided me, which turned out to be his old address. He said he went to his old address and the people who lived there told him they had not received a package.
A week later, he emailed me saying that USPS contacted him and told him the package had been returned to them, but they could not forward it to him because it had delivery confirmation on it. I received the package back yesterday. When I opened it, the cardboard I covered the card with was still in the package, but the card was missing.
USPS shows via delivery confirmation that the package was delivered in the zip code of the address Paypal provided me with for the customer--that is all I need to win the Paypal claim and keep the $15, yes? Is there anything else I can do, or is this the end of a sad story?
A week later, he emailed me saying that USPS contacted him and told him the package had been returned to them, but they could not forward it to him because it had delivery confirmation on it. I received the package back yesterday. When I opened it, the cardboard I covered the card with was still in the package, but the card was missing.
USPS shows via delivery confirmation that the package was delivered in the zip code of the address Paypal provided me with for the customer--that is all I need to win the Paypal claim and keep the $15, yes? Is there anything else I can do, or is this the end of a sad story?
Collecting Tony Conigliaro
0
Comments
If the DC shows it was delivered to the address they provided and you were told you were protected then you should be covered.
Raw: Tony Gonzalez (low #'d cards, and especially 1/1's) and Steve Young.
I had to when some a$$whole with an alt ebay account slammed me with 50+ negs for 50+ cards that were under .99 each. The buyer got the cards but only bought them to obviously attack my seller account to ruin my fb. I created a new account ditched the ruined account and started over. Within a month I had over 100 positive FB.
Either way I am really tired of reading about people just refunding people money for stuff that they're not responsible for. Reading about shady scams when the thief makes off with the item and money. All because of the fear of negative fb. It really comes down to the principle of what is right and what is not.
If the seller did everything correctly then how could it be the seller's responsibility?
It is harder to be a seller on ebay. I am planning to wind down my selling over the next six months and focus on my collection.
<< <i>Is 15.00 worth a negative and the possibility of losing your selling account on Ebay, the way Ebay is now anything is possible.? Thats the bad thing about just letting the system take over, granted the seller will most likely win the greater cost may not be worth it. >>
He can refund, send an extra card, and still get that negative and possibility of losing his account.
In the eBay/Pay Pal system, the thing that can save a seller the most, is that delivery confirmation shows it was delivered. Seller should be covered.
I am personally done bending over and taking it from eBay scammers. I bet I've given out over $10,000 in refunds and claims over the last 10 years on eBay, maybe half of that or more to overseas buyers. No longer will I give a single penny willingly. (Unless of course it was my fault).
It would nice if eBay had an unbias third party mediator.
Raw: Tony Gonzalez (low #'d cards, and especially 1/1's) and Steve Young.
opened up the package, took out the card and sent it back to the PO.
Just a thought.
Not sure what I'd do if it was me, it would depend on a few things.
I can say in my case it would be the first neg for me so I'd probably not refund in this case.
Slap has a great point, I guess one needs to choose his battles.
Steve
If he had moved and put in a change of address, the tracking information would show "forwarded" after it arrived at his destination office.
If it had been delivered by mistake to his old address (carrier missed the forward) then the new people would have either -
opened it, kept the card and shut up (or)
put it back in the box as misdelivered, maybe with a sticky note saying that he had moved.
If they opened it up you would hear nothing. They would never open it and put the empty envelope back in the box, since it would expose them to an investigation for no good reason.
If they had returned it, USPS would forward it if he had filed a change of address card. Any 1st class is forwarded free. No exceptions. You can't send a bubble mailer anything but 1st class at the weight a card would carry. No exceptions.
If he didn't file a change of address card, how in the world did USPS contact him? Change of address cards don't include a contact phone number.
I would have no more contact, answer his INR or SNAD complaint, and then tell ebay what he told you happened if he gives you a negative. Responding to the neg with an explanation about his scam would be ok if ebay doesn't remove it.
He should be on every BBL, he's a thief.
Based on the OP's report, no refund is due.
The OP would do well to leave out the "empty envelope
returned" part of the story when dealing with EBAY/PP.
Just say, "Here is my Delivery Confirmation number."
Great info, but just for the sake of it, could the new owners open it, take out the card, reseal the envelope and place it at
a USPS mail box across town? My money is on the buyer being a liar too. I was just wondering if it is possible that
he may be telling the truth? I know this is a lot of nonsense on those ends for a 15.00 item.
By the way who is Montario Hardesty?
Also, nice seeing you around these parts Jim.
Steve
Storm can comment, but I don't think ebay will remove a neg even if the seller won the case.
"...I don't think ebay will remove a neg even if the seller won the case...."
////////////////////////////////////
That outcome is rare, but not unheard of.
<< <i>I know the buyer is probably scamming him, for $15 I don't know why it is even worth it to scam. However under the new ebay rules, the seller is the only one that is going to suffer when the buyer negs him.
Storm can comment, but I don't think ebay will remove a neg even if the seller won the case. >>
If you do not paypal me $15 now I am gonna neg you!
j/k
<< <i>The guy is absolutely lying to you.
He should be on every BBL, he's a thief. >>
I agree with Jim on this one. TonyC, it would be helpful if you could let us know his user id so that we can block him.
- John Wooden
A neg is just a mark which virtually noone in the long run cares about. I can honestly say that the majority of people I have ever bought from had at least one neg and many times several. Customer service and sales is NEVER a 100% satisfaction rating and if you have a buyer that requires you to have 100%, then they would probably find something wrong with you anyway.
My advice is to do what you feel is right, there is no wrong way. In the end, it was the buyers fault for paying via paypal and not changing his address. From a different standpoint, would you pay $15 to have a neg removed from your ebay account? If not, then dont sweat it. If you would, then you may as well refund, but be prepared, because it probably will happen again.
<< <i>Honestly, the $15 isnt worth it, but in general, if you get caught up playing the ebay feedback game, you are eventually going to become either a target for scammers or you will lose enough money that it will deter you from selling anyway.
A neg is just a mark which virtually noone in the long run cares about. I can honestly say that the majority of people I have ever bought from had at least one neg and many times several. Customer service and sales is NEVER a 100% satisfaction rating and if you have a buyer that requires you to have 100%, then they would probably find something wrong with you anyway.
My advice is to do what you feel is right, there is no wrong way. In the end, it was the buyers fault for paying via paypal and not changing his address. From a different standpoint, would you pay $15 to have a neg removed from your ebay account? If not, then dont sweat it. If you would, then you may as well refund, but be prepared, because it probably will happen again. >>
The situation you just described is why I am debating about how much longer selling on ebay is worth it. For stuff less than $100, even $200, it doesn't really matter. If I get scammed, I will be PO'd but the money is not going to make me miss any meals.
However on the high dollar cards $400+, I wish ebay gave me more power to screen out the bidders. I've been lucky that decent buyers have purchased my high $$$ stuff but I fear the day a buyer with less than 10 feedback wins a $500 auction from me.
I say tell us the ebay name so people can block him/her.
What I don't understand is this:
<< <i> he emailed me saying that USPS contacted him and told him the package had been returned to them, but they could not forward it to him because it had delivery confirmation on it. >>
I find that hard to believe. If he had used a change off address with them why wouldn't they re deliver it?
Steve
<< <i>Forgetting all the other nonsense about if the buyer is telling the truth and all that.
What I don't understand is this:
<< <i> he emailed me saying that USPS contacted him and told him the package had been returned to them, but they could not forward it to him because it had delivery confirmation on it. >>
I find that hard to believe. If he had used a change off address with them why wouldn't they re deliver it?
Steve >>
Which Jim has already said was not how USPS works.
Too many what if's the first time around.
Steve