Sold item being processed at customs... eBay has refunded buyer!

humblepii

Today, the tracking has updated to read:




Item processed at postal facility
So it's now cleared customs and is on its way to the buyer, right?

The case is closed and eBay is still considering my appeal, but there doesn't seem to be any way that I can provide this information to update the case.

Please help - what should I do?

(I see now I was an idiot to respond to the dispute immediately, and not try to 'win' a few extra days there. So much for trying to be a helpful eBayer.)

xanthe

Try calling them?

humblepii

Thanks. They make that pretty much impossible. It seems I don't 'qualify' for a PIN code enabling me to speak to eBay.

I spoke to someone at PayPal who was very nice, but because eBay hasn't gone to PayPal about this yet, he was unable to help.

I am just going round in circles on eBay's Contact Us page as there are just help pages and no contact details at all that I can see. Can someone please point me in the right direction?

Crowqueen

humblepii wrote: »

The injustice of this is actually making me feel sick. I wonder whether the buyer realised I'm new to this and is trying it on.

Thank you all for your help. I'll keep you updated.

From what people have said, I really doubt that is the case. As Soo has said, three weeks is a long time to wait, and most people aren't intimately acquainted with customs situations even in their own countries. I have ordered things from the US a couple of times and luckily they have been under £18 (the tax-free limit on imports into Britain), but I wasn't aware of this sort of thing before reading the eBay forums.

If you sell a lot overseas, and particularly to outside the EU, it may be worth putting a disclaimer on your listings about customs services - because the buyer is usually responsible for these situations as the person who has imported the goods - and making sure buyers are aware of possible delays on certain items over their own local duty limits. People who jump on international bargains during periods where exchange rates have made it very tempting to buy internationally quite often get shafted when they realise that customs exists mostly to correct the imbalance in tax and currency fluctuations so as to encourage people to buy locally. The good news is that eBay are actually aware of this and will help you out if you put something to that effect on your listings. Quite often the issue is that the buyer has had to pay taxes on their imported item and unfairly blame the seller.

But I really don't think it's sensible to get so upset and think the buyer is trying it on. Canada is one of the most a***ly retentive countries I've ever seen when it comes to post - don't get me started on the correct format for address and return address they insist on as well. If it's anyone you should be unhappy at it's the Canadian government.

soolin

Crowqueen wrote: »

But I really don't think it's sensible to get so upset and think the buyer is trying it on. Canada is one of the most a***ly retentive countries I've ever seen when it comes to post - don't get me started on the correct format for address and return address they insist on as well. If it's anyone you should be unhappy at it's the Canadian government.

I take it you have seen that snotty little sticker they used to use then explaining in large letters how an envelope should be correctly addressed. Right down to the requirement that not only Must a parcel have a return address it must be placed in a certain place in a correct font of letters on the front of the parcel.

Crowqueen

soolin wrote: »

I take it you have seen that snotty little sticker they used to use then explaining in large letters how an envelope should be correctly addressed. Right down to the requirement that not only Must a parcel have a return address it must be placed in a certain place in a correct font of letters on the front of the parcel.

Thankfully not.

humblepii

Thanks, Crowqueen. I know I shouldn't take it so personally. But the situation just seems so unfair to me.

I understand that the buyer was within his rights to be upset at the length of time it was taking, but I feel that he was unreasonable when I asked him just to be patient for a little longer because it was beyond my control - I responded to him immediately and was as helpful as possible. I am an honest eBayer and if a seller had contact me like that, I would absolutely have waited. This guy escalated the case to eBay within 48 hours of opening the dispute. He did not seem to acknowledge AT ALL that the thing was on its way to him and he would get it. eBay sided with him (within 50 minutes), obviously, because, no, he hasn't got his item. YET.

As it is, I stupidly appealed immediately, and now realise that I have no further recourse on the case whatsoever. Now, it looks like he'll get his refund and the item will be delivered to him either today or tomorrow. How is that fair?

humblepii

Even just reading that last message back, I know I'm being over-dramatic. I know that the buyer has as much right to be wary of me as I am of him. *takes deep breath* Live and learn.

I'll never make a business woman!

soolin

Personally I would still keep phoning ebay , try the help system again I've never been denied a phone number to call them!

Then I would also try the buyer, once it shows as delivered ask them to send a new payment or else return the goods.

humblepii

Quick thought: when I appealed eBay's ruling in favour of the buyer, my argument was that the item is on its way to him and he had acknowledged this. When they review the case, will they check the tracking update? It's just updated again to read "item out for delivery".

I'm aware that he may not want to pay charges now, but so long as I get the item back in that case, then fine.

The suspense is killing me...!