Buyer wants to return item in person

[sylauk3]

Sold a camera and he initiated a return beacuse “he just doesn’t like it”. I rejected the return and he found an address on the box I packaged the camera in and messaged that he will be there today to return it. The address is not mine, it’s a friends from when he sent something to me. I warned my friend but this feel insane so no sure what to do. Reported him to eBay 

[*vyolla*]

If the return has now closed because you declined it there's no further action that he can take via eBay to get a refund.

I would just send the buyer a simple message stating that the address he's found on the packaging is not your address, and leave it at that. Perhaps tell your friend to just state that they don't know you if he turns up on their doorstep (though if they avoid him by not opening the door that would be even better).

Out of curiosity, is that address close to him?

[sylauk3]

Yeah I already let me friend know just in case. He’s a 2h drive away. The fact that he’s going through all this makes me just want to refund and I can just sell it again. I had a look but can’t find a way to change to accept the return 

[*vyolla* · Accepted solution]

I doubt if anyone is really going to make a 4 hour round trip hoping that somebody is home, but there are some strange folk about. 

There isn't a way to accept the return now, if you really do want to then you'll have to contact the buyer and let them know that they need to return it to your address by a trackable postage method, and give it to them, and then refund them once you receive it back.

[lucy_farmer]

'...let them know that they need to return it to your address by a trackable postage method,....'

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If I were the op, I'd rather get them to send it back to a P.O.box or something similar,  if at all possible!...... not sure I'd want to give my address to somebody who sounds a little un-balanced 😕

[arkwebus]

As you have discovered there is no way now to deal with a return.  

You are not required - as a private seller - to accept returns [apart from faulty items etc].  In my view it is prudent to set your preferences so that you can do so. 

There have been posts of buyers "who cause damage" so as to get a refund.  Accepting returns for "change of mind" etc means that the buyer pays for return post

@sylauk3 

[plpmr]

adding to the advice already given -

Remember that with 'home made' return, if you refund make sure you are covered in case a chargeback is made later on.

[akemp1]

Another excellent example of why SD labels should not have the sender's return address on as it's ebay's problem if their courier cannot deliver an item to an address they collected from the buyer so they should take ownership of it and stop unnecessarily giving out personal data and putting private sellers at risk of being visited by buyers trying to force unjustified refunds.

As ebay own delivery obligations under SD buyers should only get the sellers address if the seller accepts a return under the process.

[*vyolla*]

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@akemp1 wrote:

Another excellent example of why SD labels should not have the sender's return address on as it's ebay's problem if their courier cannot deliver an item to an address they collected from the buyer so they should take ownership of it and stop unnecessarily giving out personal data and putting private sellers at risk of being visited by buyers trying to force unjustified refunds.

As ebay own delivery obligations under SD buyers should only get the sellers address if the seller accepts a return under the process.

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I see where you're coming from, but I've never sent out a package without putting a return address on the back, just in case it goes missing or can't be delivered. 

[akemp1]

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@*vyolla* wrote:

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I see where you're coming from, but I've never sent out a package without putting a return address on the back, just in case it goes missing or can't be delivered. 

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But when items are sent SD surely that should be ebay's responsibility now as they collected the address from the buyer, had the opportunity to validate it, and have cut the seller out of delivery responsibilities.

Once the seller has handed the parcel over to ebay's carrier it should no longer be their problem as they are no longer getting paid or contracted for delivery.

Ebay should have sorted out a location for undelivered items to get returned to for processing as part of their handling of any delivery problems.

Maybe they could outsource it or use the carriers lost letters department (if they even have them anymore).

Either way they shouldn't be sharing the sellers address or expect the seller to get involved in any delivery case or redelivery attempt.

It might even be considered a personal data breach if the seller is not involved in delivery anymore.

[*vyolla*]

With Simple Delivery I agree that if loss during delivery is eBay's problem and not the sellers then, in that instance, the sellers return address may not be necessary. 

[akemp1]

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@*vyolla* wrote:

With Simple Delivery I agree that if loss during delivery is eBay's problem and not the sellers then, in that instance, the sellers return address may not be necessary. 

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It's worse than unnecessary it's downright dangerous if a buyer doesn't agree with the outcome of their case  even if it was perfectly handled under the normal ebay process they can come knocking on the private sellers door as seen above. They don't mention that in the 'free to sell' adverts.

[4_bathrooms]

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@akemp1 wrote:

But when items are sent SD surely that should be ebay's responsibility now as they collected the address from the buyer, had the opportunity to validate it, and have cut the seller out of delivery responsibilities.

Once the seller has handed the parcel over to ebay's carrier it should no longer be their problem as they are no longer getting paid or contracted for delivery.

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Under "Simple" Delivery eBay assume responsibility if the item is lost or damaged in transit. However, eBay do not accept liability if an item is deemed undeliverable by the carrier or if a buyer fails to collect their item from a Click & Collect store.

[akemp1]

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@4_bathrooms wrote:

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Under "Simple" Delivery eBay assume responsibility if the item is lost or damaged in transit. However, eBay do not accept liability if an item is deemed undeliverable by the carrier or if a buyer fails to collect their item from a Click & Collect store.

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Yes but my point is why should that be the seller's problem as it's ebay who have the relationship with the buyer by running an account for them, collecting/validating their delivery address and could prompt the buyer to collect and even charge the buyer a re-delivery fee (ebay are always keen to charge new fees) if required?

[indiannasmith]

I always put a return address on anything I send out, but regardless, doesn't a buyer get your address anyway when they buy  from a private seller?

[akemp1]

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@indiannasmith wrote:

I always put a return address on anything I send out, but regardless, doesn't a buyer get your address anyway when they buy  from a private seller?

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How would a buyer get the seller's address other than on the label?

[4_bathrooms]

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@akemp1 wrote:

Yes but my point is why should that be the seller's problem 

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Because eBay effectively says it is in the "Simple" Delivery terms and conditions. Besides, it's perfectly logical that if an item can't be delivered the carrier will return it to the sender.

I have a question for you:

Before "Simple" Delivery was mandated by eBay did you include a return address on the packages you sent or not?

[akemp1]

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@4_bathrooms wrote:

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Because eBay effectively says it is in the "Simple" Delivery terms and conditions. Besides, it's perfectly logical that if an item can't be delivered the carrier will return it to the sender.

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It's more logical that it should be returned to the people that arranged the failed delivery with the buyer, and are handling any case raised about delivery to progress a workflow for arranging reattempts with the buyer.

Before "Simple" Delivery was mandated by eBay did you include a return address on the packages you sent or not?

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Before SD sellers had a choice depending on how they bought their labels or stamps. I have seen some sellers say they only included the postcode not the full address so presumably it goes back to their delivery office. I included my address as it was me arranging the delivery (and any redelivery) and I'm very able to stand up for myself in person.

[caddyscane]

Lol they'll be calling your bluff. No numpty who decides to return an item cuz they dont like it has the means or wilpower to drive hours. I find these are the kinds of ridiculous things the low ball auction winners hit u with. If its not that its "I will be starting legal proceedings today" over a £5 mug

[4_bathrooms]

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@akemp1 wrote:

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It's more logical that it should be returned to the people that arranged the failed delivery with the buyer, and are handling any case raised about delivery to progress a workflow for arranging reattempts with the buyer.

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I really don't see how that is logical at all. A carrier is not going to attempt redelivery of an item that was previously deemed to be undeliverable. Also, a Click & Collect point isn't going to hold on to an item indefinitely. I'm pretty sure the vast majority of sellers would rather get their item back and the buyer to receive their guaranteed refund. I have no idea why you would want eBay to have more involvement than they already do; the seller would simply be left with no item and no funds for an even longer period of time than they do at present.  

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@akemp1 wrote:

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Before SD sellers had a choice depending on how they bought their labels or stamps. I have seen some sellers say they only included the postcode not the full address so presumably it goes back to their delivery office. I included my address as it was me arranging the delivery (and any redelivery) and I'm very able to stand up for myself in person.

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Royal Mail and Parcelforce tell senders to include a return address on the packaging; it's common sense. When purchasing a postage label online Royal Mail do provide an option for the sender's details to be omitted from the label; I'm not sure about Parcelforce. Most couriers either always include the sender's address on the shipping label or provide a document showing the return address with an instruction to include it inside the package. It's just common sense.

Don't get me wrong, I'm no fan of "Simple" Delivery - I always put "Simple" in quotation marks as it is anything but simple. However, I don't consider the seller's return address being included on the postage/shipping label a major problem as it would most likely have been there anyway even if SD wasn't involved.

Anyway; I'm pretty certain the OP's buyer never turned up at the OP's friend's house. Besides, all a buyer needs to do in order to obtain a private seller's return address is to open an INAD claim - the only way they wouldn't get it is if the seller rolled over and refunded without sending a return label.