posted on August 31, 2000 09:25:08 PM
I have a Dilemma here.
About 6 weeks ago, I sent an Item to a customer. It was the usual transaction: PayPal Payment, insured USPS shipping, yadda yadda.
About 10 days after I shipped, the customer contacted me to tell me that the package wasn't there yet. To calm him down, I emailed him a scan of the insurance receipt and told him to wait a bit more.
Well, to make a long story short, the package was mailed back to me with an "Unclaimed: Return to sender" sticker.
I checked the address against the one I got from his response to my EOA, and it's the same.
Now, my question is: Do I mail him back the package, and eat up the shipping charge, or do I email to tell him what happened, and request for another shipping charge?
posted on August 31, 2000 09:38:17 PM
I have tried to stay out of all the S & H threads going on,but.......I do not see how YOU could be expected to pay to send an item BACK to a person who for whatever reason didn't "claim" his package first time around. I would contact the buyer and tell him the package was returned to you as "unclaimed". If he wants the package he needs to send more money and get in touch with his local PO and find out why it was returned as "unclaimed". If he won't send additional shipping fee, refund his purchase price (less the original mailing fee WHICH you have already paid to the PO). I know that is not going to be the popular answer, but right is right. You cannot control the PO. Why should you pay for their screw-ups. Then again maybe the buyer overlooked the little "sorry we missed you-come get your package" note in his box? Whose fault is it then. Yours? I think not.
[ edited by sulyn1950 on Aug 31, 2000 09:53 PM ]
posted on August 31, 2000 09:45:26 PM
Glitches--who knows why it was returned? Good old me would let the customer know I had the returned parcel and agree to split the difference of postage after they gave me a new address that would accept the package. But then again---nahhhh-it was sorta kinda their fault that the package was not received---let em eat the new postage costs.--Yea! A fiercer meaner jeanyu (Growl!)
posted on August 31, 2000 09:53:16 PM
preacherforyou - That is really a pickle there and we just went through that exact same problem with three ebay sellers, one yahoo seller and Microsoft. The problem is in my area there is special run for packages they do not come with the regular mail. Well in my building if the package person can't get through the security doors there is no place to leave the stupid slip to let us know he was there.
The post office somehow forgot to give the slip to the mail carrier and a second attempt was never made. Well all five packages got sent back. The post office apologized for the error but didn't bother to offer to let the sellers or MS resend them for the original postage. Well my wife wanted her three ebay packages, I needed my yahoo package, and Microsoft just resent the package using UPS. We wound up spliting the reship costs with the sellers on two of the three ebay packages, ate full cost on the other ebay p0ackage and the yahoo package.
So I suggest you first find out fro the seller were they away on business, if they have recently moved, or maybe this situation exists. I live on XYZ Street and XYZ Place is the very next block. In short it is possible for those boobs at the postal service to have actually taken the box to the wrong address all three times and they delivered the notice to the wrong address. You and your buyer should talk and if they weren't there they should eat the cost to reship. But be prepared for them to demand a refund leaving you stuck relisting. Then again if they are like me and the wife they want their item and will cheerfully pay for it to be sent back out.
posted on August 31, 2000 09:55:02 PM
My instinct would be to inform the buyer of the situation and ask them to advise. Chances are, the buyer will be able to shed some light on why this happened.
If you are unlucky enough to have a jerk on the other end, consider the fact that it's only one auction, and eat what you have to eat.
But the odds favor the probablility that the buyer is reasonable and will probably even offer to send you the dollars.
posted on August 31, 2000 10:01:37 PM
Networker67-I'm not trying to pick a fight here, but if the packages could not be delivered to you and then the 2nd notices didn't get delivered to you how was that the responsibility of the sellers? Did they just graciously offer to split the cost with you? You didn't feel bad allowing them cut into their profits to send a package to you a 2nd time, when technically it got "to your door" so to speak the 1st time? As you said the PO didn't offer a "free" 2nd time try did they?
posted on August 31, 2000 10:26:44 PM
That's not picking a fight IMHO. I sent all of the sellers from the auctions a short simple email explaining what happened. Since it wasn't my fault either, I asked could we split the reship postage. Some agreed we split the postage. Some refused I sent the full postage to reship. Does it bother me to ask that we mutually split an error that is neither of our faults? Sorry it doesn't, did it bother me that some refused absolutely not. It made me feel great that some accepted it though.
posted on September 1, 2000 12:13:48 AM
Preacher4u
We have had this happen several times. We email the person and say "Your package was returned unclaimed." We will need $X.XX shipping to resend. I always send a picture of the box with the email so the buyer doesn't think we are trying to run a scam on them.
So far, we have had all but one send the extra shipping, and have had no complaints. It wasn't your fault that the person didn't pick up their package. You shouldn't have to pay for it. I would not recommend charging an additional handling fee.
(Growl!)