eBay

pillarboxred · ‎10-01-2025

1st parcel sent to correct buyer in morning, 2nd parcel accidentally labelled using the already used QR code. Did you know this was possible? Now, I can't get Help from eBay as the item is marked as Delivered. I don't know whether my buyer will be able to raise the INR case I've asked him to do because I can't edit the Tracking because the item is delivered. The Help chat bot just shuts me down.

pillarboxred · ‎10-01-2025

My buyer cannot instigate an Item Not Received case because the Tracking shows Delivered although to the wrong address. This is so weird. He said that eBay Customer Service told him that they can do nothing and that the seller, me, has to sort it out. I promptly refunded him in full. He sounds quite sick about it because he really wanted the item for sentimental reasons and now can't get it unless the recipient returns it to me. I thought that eBay could contact the recipient and let him know that the return is desired but as they are uncontactable I can't ask that. Most people don't know that a QR code can be paid for once and used twice although both consignments will go to the one addressee. WHAT A MESS.

vintique*violet · ‎10-01-2025

I am struggling to understand this - Do you mean that the buyer received a parcel which they did not order because it was sent to the incorrect address?

jckl1957 · ‎10-01-2025

You have refunded the buyer who didn't get their item so they are sorted.

You will need to message the buyer who has been sent the wrong parcel and apologise for your error.

Then, you will have to arrange for the item to be returned.

You can send them the payment for postage or send a suitable padded envelope/posting bag with your address and stamps on for the return.

Then you can relist the item and let the original buyer know it is for sale again.

"There are two ways to be fooled. One is to believe what isn't true; the other is to refuse to believe what is true.”
Søren Kierkegaard, Danish philosopher (1813 - 1855)

pillarboxred · ‎10-01-2025

All the recipient of the wrongly addressed parcel had to do was decline the package and it would have come back to me. I sent him a description and the weight (which is on the label) yet he chose to accept it so I really do not know what will happen. It is mad that neither me nor the buyer can contact eBay about it as it is Delivered. I wonder whether I am the first person to use the wrong and already used QR code to mislabel a parcel.

pillarboxred · ‎10-01-2025

Buyer 1 received his purchase and also another purchase by buyer 2.

Buyer 2 is very unhappy and is unable to open a case with eBay because the item is Delivered although to the wrong address.

I used a QR code twice. How it happened was I was on a tram carrying the parcel and I noticed the listing had just ended and was paid for instantly. I thought that if I jumped off the tram and posted the parcel, I could then visit the nearby Apple shop which I was planning to visit to get technical help with my laptop. I went to the Post Office and opened my phone and forgot that I had not purchased postage for the second parcel. On my phone, I saw the QR code but it was not a new one for the new payment but the one I had already used. It is astounding that a used electronic ticket can be used twice without paying a second time. I've not been charged for the wrongful posting. If the used ticket had alerted me, I would have bought a new label immediately. It seems you can send two items to the one person with one label purchase which is a good deal if you need it.

papso22 · ‎11-01-2025

@pillarboxred wrote:

All the recipient of the wrongly addressed parcel had to do was decline the package and it would have come back to me. I sent him a description and the weight (which is on the label) yet he chose to accept it so I really do not know what will happen. It is mad that neither me nor the buyer can contact eBay about it as it is Delivered. I wonder whether I am the first person to use the wrong and already used QR code to mislabel a parcel.

We would have told that recipient not to do that as it voids buyer protection.

pillarboxred · ‎11-01-2025

The recipient was not the buyer and has paid nothing for the item nor shipping.

pillarboxred · ‎11-01-2025

The item does not need paid postage. It will be returned to me if he takes it to the Post Office or hands it to the postman.

papso22 · ‎11-01-2025

@pillarboxred wrote:

The recipient was not the buyer and has paid nothing for the item nor shipping.

Sorry I really don't understand what you did then.

sml192 · ‎11-01-2025

@pillarboxred wrote:
The item does not need paid postage. It will be returned to me if he takes it to the Post Office or hands it to the postman.

They can't do that once delivery has been accepted. You will need to provide the recipient with a prepaid return label.

papso22 · ‎12-01-2025

@pillarboxred wrote:

The item does not need paid postage. It will be returned to me if he takes it to the Post Office or hands it to the postman.

Why should Royal Mail deliver it back to you for free?

jckl1957 · ‎12-01-2025

To use the current jargon, 'you need to own this' and sort it out.

It isn't up to the recipient to hand it back to the postman and it is not Ebay's muddle to sort out.

Keep in touch with the buyer who received two parcels, enable them to return the wrong parcel and offer it to the correct buyer again.

All sellers make errors of this kind from time to time - deal with it and move on.

"There are two ways to be fooled. One is to believe what isn't true; the other is to refuse to believe what is true.”
Søren Kierkegaard, Danish philosopher (1813 - 1855)

pillarboxred · ‎12-01-2025

I've already reimbursed the buyer. The recipient wants me to send him a postal order for the postage "if I want it back". I think it could be returned free as an mis-delivery but I'll check tomorrow. He was advised shortly after I posted the parcel not to accept it but he did. I said I could send the money as a partial refund for the item he did buy.

Two takeaways for sellers who might not have made this particular mistake:

A. QR Code labels can be used twice for one payment. The postal clerk explained that it can happen if reused the next day. That puzzled me because I had reused it the same day. I was very harassed and wasn't interested in clarifying that as I have no interest in trying it again.

B. EBAY HELP CANNOT ASSIST EITHER THE BUYER OR SELLER AS THE ITEM IS MARKED AS DELIVERED even though delivered to the wrong address.

pillarboxred · ‎12-01-2025

Because they issued a label which had already been used. It is a fault in their system, quite a bad one.

It turns out the QR code labels we buy on eBay are not eBay products they are Royal Mail labels, not eBay labels for Royal Mail but Royal Mail labels for eBay users: eBay simply handles the money, any responsibility is with Royal Mail and eBay members.

pillarboxred · ‎12-01-2025

I sent a refund equal to the postage to the recipient but didn't realise eBay needs a large slice of it. I sent £4.65 then £1 for a £4.65 refund as I couldn't work out the amount to send to cover the 63p shortfall due to eBay's fee on the £4.65. The QR code label is not an eBay product but they need their gouge.