posted on April 21, 2008 09:38:06 AM
Let me begin by saying I really don't care about getting a neg, but being threatened with an undeserved neg just trips my trigger.
The story:
I shipped buyers package via USPS Priority Mail, including DC, insurance and signature confirmation because the item was more than $250. When I checked the DC yesterday it said:
Your item was undeliverable as addressed at 11:06 AM on April 19, 2008 in METAIRIE, LA 70006. It is being returned if appropriate information is available.
So, I emailed buyer and copied and pasted that into the email, along with "If this address is incorrect, you must contact PayPal and confirm the correct address. Your package, if returned to us, will only be reshipped to a confirmed PayPal address after a re-payment of the original shipping cost."
His reply:
"Sir/Madam: A change of address form was issued to the USPS. The post office has said that if you have a "do not forward order"
on the parcel it will be returned to you. Let me know when you receive it back and I will pay for it to be re-shipped. Unfortunately, if you re-charge me for shipping, I will have to leave negative feedback for making me pay shipping twice. Sorry. We'll see what happens."
GRRRRR.....my reply:
"Dear Sir,
I have nothing to do with a change of address form or a "do not forward order", nor is it my responsibility. I simply follow PayPal requirements for shipping to a Confirmed Address and that is the address I shipped your package to.
Your Confirmed Address with PayPal will need to be changed before I can re-ship this package at your expense after it is returned to me.
Thank you"
As I'm typing this, I see that he has left a neg, stating "Poor communication. Don't know when item was shipped." Total BS! I always send a "payment received" email that includes a note that the buyer will receive a notice from the USPS when the item ships, which happened to be the very next day. Not only BS, but totally beside the point. His PayPal Confirmed Address was no longer correct and the PO would not forward the package. Not my problem! It has not even come back to me yet and this newbie (14 FB, 2 negs in less than a year and a half, not even including the one he'll surely get from me!)has negged me.
So what next? I could use some pointers from the knowledgeable folks on this board. As I said, it's not the neg that bothers me and now it's a moot point. The package is supposedly on it's way back to me. He will have to pay to have it re-shipped and I will not ship it to an unconfirmed address. Do I get PP involved immediately or wait? Do I report his eBay address as invalid? Sit back and wait for the package and do nothing? I'm thinking this doofus will wait until I get the package back and then want a refund. No go!
posted on April 21, 2008 09:59:00 AM
"Let me know when you receive it back and I will pay to have it re-shipped." If this is what he said, it sounds like he's agreeing to pay to ship it back to him at the new address.
posted on April 21, 2008 10:32:55 AM
Oh, I can still neg him but that's not what concerns me. Here's his latest email:
I have nothing to do with that either, you do. The postmaster said your envelope said "do not forward". So it's your language on your envelope, not mine. Besides, I already said that I do not mind paying the additional fees or changing to a confirmed address. All I said is that if you re-charge me, I jcannot leave you positive feedback. Sorry. FYI, I really don't care about feedback because I don't sell anything, just buy. Feedback doesn't effect me. Ciao
Cocky, ain't he? He's already left me a neg so why so sorry about not being able to leave me positive fb? And "feedback doesn't effect me" "because I don't sell anything, just buy."
posted on April 21, 2008 10:45:04 AMSo what next? I could use some pointers from the knowledgeable folks on this board.
First, do not re-send. He is going to file for his PayPal payment back and he will get it. At this point, I would tell him to "F" off and resell it to someone else. Also, block this jerk from bidding.
posted on April 21, 2008 11:00:15 AM
I'm assuming his PO neglected to tell him they will not forward an insured package with signature confirmation on it. I followed the rules on this 'cause it's a rather expensive piece of electronics.
He is going to file for his PayPal payment back and he will get it.
I'm think he's gonna do just that, Stonecold.
Can I head this off somehow, like report his invalid address to eBay and Paypal? I'd like to saty one step ahead of this jerk if possible.
___________________________________
posted on April 21, 2008 11:09:51 AM
Neither eBay or PayPal cares deeply if a buyer has an out of date shipping address. They won't even suspend someone for an invalid email address, not anymore.
The sad fact of life on eBay is that people can and do screw with you like this. He's going to get his money back. You'll get to eat the fees, the cost of shipping (which cannot have been small) and the neg. Fun, huh?
If you have some creative skills you could make this little episode into a YouTube video. Bet it would get lots of views.
fLufF
-- Now updated daily. Jewelry news, views and pretty baubles for those with low impulse control.
posted on April 21, 2008 11:15:45 AM
"I'm assuming his PO neglected to tell him they will not forward an insured package with signature confirmation on it."
This is not true. They can forward accountable mail if a COA is on file but the signature confirmation is voided if they do.
posted on April 21, 2008 11:18:08 AM
I can't post a link but if you go to the USPS FAQs and enter "how is change of address mail forwarded?" it will bring you to the right link.
posted on April 21, 2008 11:28:14 AMThe sad fact of life on eBay is that people can and do screw with you like this. He's going to get his money back. You'll get to eat the fees, the cost of shipping (which cannot have been small) and the neg. Fun, huh?
Screwed if ya do and screwed if ya don't =(
Why do sellers have to follow the rules and buyers don't? Never mind, strictly a rhetorical question.
Thanks everybody, I'll keep you posted. I'm off to my job in the "real" world. Ya know, there was a time years ago when I wanted to make eBay my fulltime job and work from home. With all the changes eBay has made I can understand why some fulltime sellers live in fear right now. I would be.
posted on April 21, 2008 01:15:56 PM
Well,what happens to the saying 'The customer is always right'??
Are you making a good pr0fit on this deal,if so,do you want to keep the profit?
It is up to you,I would find a way to reship the item to the new address and take out insurance which will pay me if needed.
Not everyone is looking to scam ,most bidders are honest,they are just addicted to bidding on Ebay.
You can also call and talk to him and see if something can be worked out?
You may be pleasantly surprised how agreeable a person can be if you talk to him nicely!
*
Lets all stop whining !
posted on April 21, 2008 04:54:56 PM
When the item is returned to you, I'd refund his payment so you can get your fees back. I'd then leave him a well deserved neg. I'd also see what address EBay has on file for him. If it's not the right one, can't you report him as having bad contact info? Chances are his phone number is different, too, if he moved. What a PITA!
Cheryl
posted on April 24, 2008 06:57:10 AM
Update: It's not coming back after all. I've been checking the DC everyday. Two days ago, it was processed and left LA...I thought, "OK, it's on its way back. Now the real fun begins."
Checked DC last night. It's been delivered and signed for by my jerk buyer. I can only guess it never left LA and he had the PO track it down and redeliver. He alluded to being on a first name basis with his local postmaster. I know I was ready to have a phone chat with my friendly local postmaster in due time.
I haven't heard another word from Mr. Ciao and I sincerely hope not to.
No, I haven't negged his fool a$$ yet.
I'm going to relish leaving this neg...it may be the last I'll ever get to bestow on a deserving buyer.
___________________________________
