Received eBay item after receiving refund for lost in shipping, what is the OZB thing to do?

c0balt on 02/11/2016 - 16:39

About 7 weeks ago I placed an order for a few phone cases from an eBay seller based overseas.

I really wanted the cases and checked the mail everyday with hope they would arrive. After the items didn't show up after 1 month of waiting, I filed for an eBay dispute and the seller asked me to wait another week or two. I replied that I had waited over a month already and would like a refund. I received the refund and 3 weeks later I received the cases in the mail.

I had since bought one of the same cases from another seller (received in a week), but one of the cases my partner is using and is a good case. I genuinely feel as though I should be telling the seller this, and giving some of the funds back to him. I'm also thinking I should just keep my mouth shut and just accept the case and the refund.

I'm curious to know what OZB members would do in this case?

General Discussion

Comments

  • PrimalNuke on 02/11/2016 - 16:40
    +26

    You'll never regret doing the right thing. The guilt definitely isn't worth it over something as cheap as a phone case!

  • alabatusa on 02/11/2016 - 16:48
    +1

    Check their ebay rating, if its shit keep it.
    If its good and they do right by their customers in generall. Then send the money back.

  • psyren89 on 02/11/2016 - 16:52
    +20

    "Hi guys, should I be morally bankrupt? Please validate me!"

    • [Deactivated] on 02/11/2016 - 18:44

      You summed up 95% of the forum posts. I'm sure they also have a speeding find they'd like us to help them morally navigate.

      • quietsarcasm on 02/11/2016 - 20:57
        +13

        speeding find

        Sir, do you realise how fast you were typing?

  • geek001 on 02/11/2016 - 17:02
    +3

    It depends on how much value you place on your own integrity. Nothing to do with Ozb way or otherwise.

  • quietsarcasm on 02/11/2016 - 17:07
    +1

    Being an ozbargainer (cheap) in a situation like this does not necessarily mean you are immoral, it just means that you looked around and bought the cheapest case.

    Is this really even a question that requires thought?

  • CyberMurning on 02/11/2016 - 17:13

    the question should be what a good ozbargain will do.
    there are some naughty members here as well :D

  • Savas on 02/11/2016 - 17:20

    The store probably won't even care…

  • inherentchoice on 02/11/2016 - 17:45
    +6

    Contact the seller and tell them you have now received the cases.

    See what they say. Given the cases are worth about $0.20 to them (or less), they'll probably just tell you to keep them and keep the refund?

    I don't think you should have to pay for them, given they were much later than expected. It was the seller's decision to give you a refund, and by the sound of things the refund wasn't paid to you upon the understanding or agreement that you will forfeit it if the cases arrive.

    • whodidthat on 02/11/2016 - 18:56
      +6

      Delivery time is not the sellers fault.

      With the way ebay is, the seller is hardly given a choice what to do.

  • rambutann on 02/11/2016 - 17:51
    +6

    I dont know why this is even playing on your mind.

    He has chosen that method of shipping, has stated that it will be there within a given period of time, it didn't arrive in time, it didn't even arrive within a reasonable period of time at all.

    I would not be saying anything at all. I recently purchased some locks off eBay before leaving Australia. I ordered them from the same state as me, they quoted 2-5 business days depending on the location. Shipped the same day, it did not arrive after 6 business days so I requested a refund as it did not arrive before I left therefore rendering it useless to me, and the seller was not able to deliver his product within his provided time frame. Even if its there when I get back I will not be asking for a refund.

    Its rediculous for a product to arrive 3 weeks late, I would have purchased another phone case elsewhere after receiving that refund.

    Yes I understand that it is not the sellers fault that it did not arrive in time but the business decided to use that specific carrier to deliver your product and they couldn't do so in a timely manner.

    • epicttiimm on 02/11/2016 - 18:52
      +1

      Agree with this completely. Yes it's not the seller's fault, but they should either lengthen the delivery estimate or choose a different shipping method.

      • mintysaurus on 03/11/2016 - 18:48

        What if it was impacted by https://www.ozbargain.com.au/node/271205 ?

        • Zachary on 04/11/2016 - 16:24

          Well then that's not really the seller's problem, now is it? They could have mention this or at least a disclaimer stating that it may not be delivered in estimated arrival time due to customs and whatnot, but some don't even have this and is basically on the buyer……

    • whodidthat on 02/11/2016 - 18:58

      It is not the seller who quotes those estimated delivery times (which are usually way out anyway) it is ebay.

      • inherentchoice on 03/11/2016 - 02:18
        +3

        Most sellers do quote delivery times within the item description.

    • FowlParliament on 03/11/2016 - 12:24
      +1

      In this case OP's stating that he bought the cases from overseas - my guess is China. Most of the China-based sellers that I have seen who list on ebay specifically state that shipping to Australia is usually around/over a month. It's slow and they're upfront about it. If he did indeed buy the item from China, then I don't think what OP did was reasonable or that not paying for them is morally justifiable. Basically - go ahead if you want to keep the $, but don't expect us to pat you on the back and say what you want to hear.

    • Zachary on 04/11/2016 - 16:22

      I had the same issue as you, except mine was supposed to come within one month period but eventually came after a few months of wait……I had already ordered another from a different seller(which came within stated delivery time period) and this seller has refunded me. So I suppose I can say that can be my compensation for the extremely long wait. ☺

  • mbck on 02/11/2016 - 18:28
    +1

    Phone cases. It's not a big deal. But anything bigger/more expensive, I'd tell them and do the right thing.

  • whodidthat on 02/11/2016 - 18:54
    +3

    Some of the funds?

    Isn't the right thing to do to either give all the funds back, or send the items back?

    This is the problem with poor delivery performance these days (no fault of the seller) and the unfair "ebay money back guarantee".
    ebay couldn't give a stuff, they get paid whatever.

  • derek324 on 02/11/2016 - 19:27
    +2

    Contact the seller. In somewhat similar situation I was told: do not waste your money sending the item back, keep it, have a nice day (item was about $20).

  • Chef-Johnson on 02/11/2016 - 19:29
    +3

    Why the song & dance? Paypal him the balance and get on with it

  • [Deactivated] on 03/11/2016 - 08:52
    +2

    Contact the seller
    Maybe leave some feedback after that
    You wouldn't have posted if it wasn't playing on you mind
    Integrity v's effort
    Make the effort, you'll feel better

  • [Deactivated] on 03/11/2016 - 11:53
    +3

    Put yourself in the seller's position then tell us what you think you should do.

  • Roney on 03/11/2016 - 13:44
    +2

    You know how efficient the Aust Post is. If this continues with such slow delivery and we don't refund, you can bet we would not get a good range of Ebay sellers in future.

    • whodidthat on 03/11/2016 - 21:43

      I know some who already gave up and others closing up by the end of the year.
      The place will be left with China based sellers and mega sellers - plenty who dropship.
      All the uniqueness that used to be there in spades will be gone.

      ebay have stuffed up, as has Australia Post.

  • fgp380 on 03/11/2016 - 18:42
    +1

    Aust Post service has declined while China Post delivery can take from 2 to 6 weeks to get here sometimes. In the last two weeks, I've had 9 overseas buyers put in a claim for item not received. Used to be only one every few months before. eBay's shipping estimate is unrealistic. I think they base it on an average of buyer's shipping feedback comments.

    • Roney on 08/11/2016 - 00:59

      Isn't the Aust Post doing the leg work for China Post?

  • bradsmrbetty on 04/11/2016 - 08:36

    Had this happen myself, For memory it was a 3-4 dollar item, the seller had a policy in the listing that after 4 weeks a replacement or refund, waited another week as you have done they refunded my money, next day I got the item.
    The way I see it is, as a business they factor in x amount of loss in their pricing structure in knowledge that x amount of packages will be lost or arrive too late to get postive feedback from the buyer.

  • goosegog on 04/11/2016 - 16:06

    You are the only one who has to live with your conscience . Personally, I would own up & be able to sleep at night knowing I had done the right thing. I can see that you initially had a situation as the goods hadn't arrived in the specified time, however, now they have & you are using part of the order - make a part payment offer to the seller, then sell the rest.

  • Donaldhump on 06/11/2016 - 22:12

    ebay it

  • garetz on 10/11/2016 - 05:28

    Its the sellers responsibility to get the items to you within a timely manner, usually a time frame provided by them. If its not within the time frame, then you are out your time and money, even if you get a full refund, you still waited 1 month for that item. If you receive it after that, then its entirely up to you what you do with it, i wouldn't waste more time sending it back, unless you agreed to do so and the seller is reimbursing you for postage. Usually the seller has insurance for lost items in transit, so they get their money, or they increase the items price to cover a certain % of the orders being lost.

  • c0balt on 10/11/2016 - 11:38

    Sorry for the late update.

    I decided I really didn't care and just kept the cases without contacting the seller.

    Had it been something of more value than $3, I may have - but my time spent emailing the guy would be worth more than that alone.

Login or Join to leave a comment
Login Join