Question for EBAY sellers on here

[aletruk]

Hello everyone wondering how some of you sellers would handle this.
I've been selling on EBAY for a while, back on SEPT 24 had a buyer offer me 80 for a Skubal PSA 10 slab which I accepted and sent card out in bubble mailer USPS Ground Advantage through EBAY. I send anywhere from 5-10 items daily, a lot of EBAY mailers and about 5-10 slabs weekly in bubble mailers through USPS Ground Advantage. Yesterday, Nov 10, had the buyer reach out to me, 6 1/2 weeks later, to say that he never got the card and wanted me to procure him a new one as he was going to be most likely the CY young winner. I don't have another one and I always try my best to go above and beyond for my customers and I responded with my apologies that the card had never arrived and I would look into it. Come to find out, that the package states that USPS was still awaiting item, which is sooooo strange as I had a few packages go out that day, all successfully. So my thought is that it is lost or postal carrier had sticky fingers. Now I wish the buyer had reached out sooner, but luckily we are still within the 60 day window. My question to you who have gone through this, is this on the buyer to put in claim with USPS or me as it looks like I never put in box for pickup, but did? There have been more than one occasion where USPS says they are still waiting for package and buyer sends me positive feedback with "got package today. Thank you." Appreciate any insight.

[glen87]

there are a couple things going on here...

first - it is always on the seller to initiate any claim with the usps - you are their customer (the usps) not the buyer.

it is possible the buyer has the card, and is using the lack of a scan to claim otherwise which is why they waited so long to reach out

[aletruk]

Thank you for this.... My thoughts exactly.
Refund and move on?

[JeffG1954]

It's on you, the seller, to file the claim, but this will be a tough one since there is no acceptance scan. I thought a buyer only had 30 days to file an INR complaint, not 100% sure when that 30 days starts.

[ledgewerx]

Originally Posted by aletruk

Thank you for this.... My thoughts exactly.
Refund and move on?

That and make a claim with USPS.

[Bob Ross]

Originally Posted by JeffG1954

It's on you, the seller, to file the claim, but this will be a tough one since there is no acceptance scan. I thought a buyer only had 30 days to file an INR complaint, not 100% sure when that 30 days starts.

This is correct. The lack of an acceptance scan is going to hurt your case. Reagrdless, buyer should have reached way sooner.

[aletruk]

claim has been made, and for sure I wish buyer had reached out sooner. No idea why. I'm ok eating the 80 bucks, and because of the situation, totally expect USPS to not grant the claim, but if I knew a little earlier maybe could have picked the postman's brain if someone new was doing pick ups. Appreciate the response on here.

[towerymt]

I dropped one off that never got scanned in. ~30 days later (I kept checking the tracking periodically), it popped up! On its way to the buyer, who I already refunded!

I had opened a missing mail case...nothing. No status recognition of the package showing movement....just "we're still looking"

I went ahead and paid the ~$17 to initiate a package intercept to route it back to me.

It got all the way to the destination post office before being turned around. I was not confident in the "missing mail" claim doing the job of routing it back, so I paid for the intercept. Local Post Office mgr said its normal to get to the destination PO before getting sent back.

It came back to me and it was in perfect condition, NOT smashed and shredded. I expected the worst, thinking it got wedged in a sorting machine.

Good luck, and keep an eye on that tracking number

[Gidtheson]

Ground Advantage comes with up to $100 in coverage, I have made a successful claim on an item that was not delivered. Without a delivery scan all you need is a message from the buyer stating very specifically that they did not receive the card. Unsure of the claims window time. Not a lost cause, just extra steps to hopefully recoup.

[mfw13]

Originally Posted by Gidtheson

Ground Advantage comes with up to $100 in coverage, I have made a successful claim on an item that was not delivered. Without a delivery scan all you need is a message from the buyer stating very specifically that they did not receive the card. Unsure of the claims window time. Not a lost cause, just extra steps to hopefully recoup.

But in this case the seller has no proof that USPS even received the card from him in the first place.

[aletruk]

For any of you that care, this buyer, who I refunded and didn't need to, just wouldn't let this go. This screams scammer to me on his end. Here was his response when I told him I had refunded him. I will block him for sure. It's funny that he believes that a base PSA 10 Skubal paper RC he purchased for 75 dollars will tommorow go way up. Last couple of sales are actually 55. And there are 2 auctions up right now

I'll let you know when I get the money back. But I really don't want the money, I want that card of that grade. I respect your kindness, but scammers are kind. There is time to procure and turn around another one. Be happy to refund whatever i receive when i receive it... but if Tarik gets his 2nd cy young award in two years knowing i paid for it...I might as well start excepting prepaid wagers on future bets and tell folks a story.... I paid in good faith....accepted in good faith...he hasn't been awarded yet.... you know the routines..... I might not be able to get the same card at same price later... I paid on time...I don't do this as business.... Its my older bros xmas present... I see what goes on in MLB....
Perhaps you need a better way of tracking closed sales... I do that for a living and could help you with an excel workbook to do such. Im not the business that left an open order. I work hard for my clients not to have lost sales and stranded open orders.... Its really just a mindset.
Let me know

[Bosoxfan5990]

Originally Posted by aletruk

For any of you that care, this buyer, who I refunded and didn't need to, just wouldn't let this go. This screams scammer to me on his end. Here was his response when I told him I had refunded him. I will block him for sure. It's funny that he believes that a base PSA 10 Skubal paper RC he purchased for 75 dollars will tommorow go way up. Last couple of sales are actually 55. And there are 2 auctions up right now

I'll let you know when I get the money back. But I really don't want the money, I want that card of that grade. I respect your kindness, but scammers are kind. There is time to procure and turn around another one. Be happy to refund whatever i receive when i receive it... but if Tarik gets his 2nd cy young award in two years knowing i paid for it...I might as well start excepting prepaid wagers on future bets and tell folks a story.... I paid in good faith....accepted in good faith...he hasn't been awarded yet.... you know the routines..... I might not be able to get the same card at same price later... I paid on time...I don't do this as business.... Its my older bros xmas present... I see what goes on in MLB....
Perhaps you need a better way of tracking closed sales... I do that for a living and could help you with an excel workbook to do such. Im not the business that left an open order. I work hard for my clients not to have lost sales and stranded open orders.... Its really just a mindset.
Let me know

Buyer's story is all over the place.

[aletruk]

Originally Posted by Bosoxfan5990

Buyer's story is all over the place.

Right????? I really like how this person was buying the card as a Christmas gift in Early Sept, when he first send me offers for it.

I had to write three different responses so that I didn't come across like I had lost it.

[rwperu34]

I'm pretty sure since it is outside the 30 day window if you had just let the case run its course you would have been fine. The only thing that gives me hesitation is the lack of acceptance scan.

Given the response of the buyer, I wish you had tested that ^^^ theory. This person is if not a scammer, a douche.

[aletruk]

Originally Posted by rwperu34

I'm pretty sure since it is outside the 30 day window if you had just let the case run its course you would have been fine. The only thing that gives me hesitation is the lack of acceptance scan.

Given the response of the buyer, I wish you had tested that ^^^ theory. This person is if not a scammer, a douche.

I totally wanted to, but I just can't handle people like this. I just count it as a loss and move on. Luckily most of the buyers I deal with are normal people.

[dantheman514]

Originally Posted by aletruk

I totally wanted to, but I just can't handle people like this. I just count it as a loss and move on. Luckily most of the buyers I deal with are normal people.

I never refund money to a buyer unless eBay says I have to do so. I always advise buyers to open the issue with eBay and allow eBay to handle the process. This allows me to avoid responses like the one you received.

[aletruk]

Originally Posted by dantheman514

I never refund money to a buyer unless eBay says I have to do so. I always advise buyers to open the issue with eBay and allow eBay to handle the process. This allows me to avoid responses like the one you received.

Great advice. Thank you!!!!!

[esoxwaters]

Originally Posted by dantheman514

I never refund money to a buyer unless eBay says I have to do so. I always advise buyers to open the issue with eBay and allow eBay to handle the process. This allows me to avoid responses like the one you received.

It also allows you to recoup the funds from eBay if the item later shows as delivered. If you refund on your own accord, eBay usually can’t/won’t step in later if it shows up and then you’re left hoping you’re dealing with a moral buyer.

[Americards]

Originally Posted by aletruk

Great advice. Thank you!!!!!

Just don't let ebay refund him, If they refund him, You will get a ding on your record and you won't get your ebay fees back.
So ebay can know about it, but don't wait for ebay to initiate the refund

[Picklepete]

Give us his eBay ID, so we can block him.

[aletruk]

Originally Posted by Picklepete

Give us his eBay ID, so we can block him.

Here you go

jarryw_0

[ReggieBush22]

Most likely, he received the card and the USPS just didn't update their system. The fact that he didn't contact you for 6+ weeks is incredibly fishy. Ebay probably has some statute of limitation on how long a buyer can wait before reporting on items not received.

Your issue is USPS never acknowledged acceptance of item in their system, so you can't file a claim to get your $$ back. That's why I always get a receipt when I can so in situations like this, I am covered.

[ReggieBush22]

Originally Posted by aletruk

For any of you that care, this buyer, who I refunded and didn't need to, just wouldn't let this go. This screams scammer to me on his end. Here was his response when I told him I had refunded him. I will block him for sure. It's funny that he believes that a base PSA 10 Skubal paper RC he purchased for 75 dollars will tommorow go way up. Last couple of sales are actually 55. And there are 2 auctions up right now

I'll let you know when I get the money back. But I really don't want the money, I want that card of that grade. I respect your kindness, but scammers are kind. There is time to procure and turn around another one. Be happy to refund whatever i receive when i receive it... but if Tarik gets his 2nd cy young award in two years knowing i paid for it...I might as well start excepting prepaid wagers on future bets and tell folks a story.... I paid in good faith....accepted in good faith...he hasn't been awarded yet.... you know the routines..... I might not be able to get the same card at same price later... I paid on time...I don't do this as business.... Its my older bros xmas present... I see what goes on in MLB....
Perhaps you need a better way of tracking closed sales... I do that for a living and could help you with an excel workbook to do such. Im not the business that left an open order. I work hard for my clients not to have lost sales and stranded open orders.... Its really just a mindset.
Let me know