Need Some Advice about Selling and Agreeing to a Return on Facebook Marketplace

moneytomyway on 06/09/2021 - 14:41
Last edited 06/09/2021 - 15:39 by 1 other user

Hi all, need some advice from you on selling on Facebook.

Early this month, a guy approached and bought an over the earphones from me. He soon made the payment and the item was posted the next morning. After I sent him the tracking he asked if it has a wireless function which it doesn't nor I did mention anything about wireless on my ad. He then said he doesn't want it anymore and he would post it back which I agreed to. I even suggested he could call Auspost to cancel the delivery to save him hassle to send it back.

Then I did not hear from him since, until today which is 10 days after the parcel was received. I told him it has been 10 days since he received it and given the atmosphere under COVID, I'm hesitant to have it back after 10 days and I'm happy to return 30% of what he paid for, he could decide what he wants with that headphone. He said he was away until 2 days ago and he didn't open the parcel (he lives in NSW its like he could go anywhere for 8 days), and he just posted it back.

What can I do in this scenario? Honestly I do not feel safe with this parcel getting into my home, it's been almost two weeks since he's got it although he claimed he's away (he could either lying or he could be a very irresponsible person who didn't follow the lock down protocol) nor I don't trust the parcel was not opened.

Sorry for the long post, I tried to make it as simple as possible.

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Comments

  • PissLUR on 06/09/2021 - 14:46
    +16

    the simple thing was to reject their return request.

    • moneytomyway on 06/09/2021 - 14:53

      I did, I even offered to pay him back 30% of what he paid for, but he just sent it back regardless.

      • Hybroid on 06/09/2021 - 15:25
        +8

        Why? It's a change of mind by the buyer after they're agreed and paid and posted. That's their problem. If they don't want it, they can sell it onwards.

        Also, stop posting purchases on third party markets. You're just asking for trouble. Cash on collection only, even if it means waiting after lockdown.

        • moneytomyway on 06/09/2021 - 15:33

          Exactly my thought. I was being nice for accepting his return but not after 10 days of receiving the item. Even so I am still offering some discount for him, but he just posted it back in the middle of our discussion.

          Normally I do cash pick ups coz of these issues….

          • Hybroid on 06/09/2021 - 15:37
            +15

            @moneytomyway: I would suggest do nothing for now then. If it arrives, it arrives. Leave it in the corner of garage for a week like they did.

            If buyer chases then at some point convenient to you, open it and check it out. If it looks fine and you're happy, refund them. If it looks dodgy or tampered with then simply tell them no refund and to pick it up or arrange courier of their own accord to get it back.

            You've spent enough brain cells on this now. Move on, live your life.

            • moneytomyway on 06/09/2021 - 16:07

              @Hybroid: Ya I think I will go with this approach.
              Thanks for your advice and yes you are right, this is such a waste of my brain cells

  • GG57 on 06/09/2021 - 14:47

    Have you refunded them?
    If not, don't worry about it until / if the parcel gets back to you.

    • moneytomyway on 06/09/2021 - 14:53

      I haven't as I haven't got the item back yet. There's major delay with Auspost

      • GG57 on 06/09/2021 - 15:41
        +4

        Ok, so I am at a complete loss in understanding your problem.
        You are not out of pocket.
        You have been paid.

        If the parcel ever arrives, just check it out for damage etc., and handle any refund request on that basis.

        Why worry about something that has not happened.

  • Platinumtelecom on 06/09/2021 - 15:18

    What exactly are you worried about when you say “don’t feel safe”.

    Are you worried about Covid on the headphones?
    If so, “please know” that COVID does not stay on surfaces forever.

    • moneytomyway on 06/09/2021 - 15:31

      Well, I am not entirely worried coz of "Covid" I am more concerned of what he did. First of all he's got a lot of time to ask me if it's wireless but he only did it after I have posted it. But I still agreed for him to return the item even advised him to contact Auspost to cancel the post which he ignored. Then he went disappeared for more than 10 days after receiving the item then posted it back to me in the middle of our discussion.

  • tsunamisurfer on 06/09/2021 - 15:20
    +8

    Please be careful he hasn't swapped it with a broken one.

    I would have just told him all sales are final.

    • moneytomyway on 06/09/2021 - 15:30

      I told him I wouldn't take it back as he has had it for 10 days but he just posted it back….I even offered him 30% of what he paid.

      • [Deactivated] on 06/09/2021 - 15:55

        (he lives in NSW its like he could go anywhere for 8 days)

        hmmmmm ….. easy to check whether his address is in a lockdown LGA to see if he was allowed anywhere

        Best case scenario would be if the purchaser did a RTS without opening the parcel. How did he pay?

        • GG57 on 06/09/2021 - 16:03
          +1

          Surely the best case scenario is the package is not returned.

          • [Deactivated] on 06/09/2021 - 16:04

            @GG57: OP indicated that the parcel was already posted back

            • GG57 on 06/09/2021 - 16:07

              @[Deactivated]: Not quite; OP said that the buyer said that they had sent back the parcel.
              OP hasn't received it.
              OP hasn't mentioned anything about the buyer demanding a refund.

              There is no problem for OP to worry about at this point in time.

              • moneytomyway on 06/09/2021 - 16:12

                @GG57: Apology for not making the post clear enough.

                The buyer does indicate for a refund, he even asked for it without me receiving the item……

                • GG57 on 06/09/2021 - 16:14
                  +1

                  @moneytomyway: That is a totally different scenario.

                  But unless you receive the returned item, surely you aren't going to entertain a refund request?

                  • moneytomyway on 06/09/2021 - 16:15

                    @GG57: No way. I am thinking of a way "not" to entertain his refund request to be honest.

                    • GG57 on 06/09/2021 - 16:15
                      +1

                      @moneytomyway: If you don't receive the goods, don't refund.
                      Done.
                      Move on.

              • [Deactivated] on 06/09/2021 - 16:12

                @GG57: OP stated that the buyer advised him today that he just posted it back which is why

                OP hasn't received it.

                yet.

  • newjerseydamo on 06/09/2021 - 15:57
    +2

    People have pretty much already offered their advice, but just a heads up in regards to cancelling shipping.
    Only the sender has the authority to contact the postal service regarding the parcel.
    The receiver can't do anything; only the sender can lodge lost package etc.
    So you would have had to cancel the package.

    • moneytomyway on 06/09/2021 - 16:12

      Thanks for your tips, good to know. The buyer however ignored me when I told him to cancel the parcel and went complete ghost for 10 days

  • bobbified on 06/09/2021 - 16:00
    +6

    How much are these earphones?

    You sold the item and buyer bought the item. You got paid and they got their item. The transaction is over. Don't go and complicate things for yourself.

    • moneytomyway on 06/09/2021 - 16:14

      Its just a matter of $150 but its still money. I wish the buyer would have read my ad carefully or return my parcel as soon as he receives.
      Posting back to me while we are still in the middle of discussion to be honest pissed me off…..

      • bobbified on 06/09/2021 - 16:16
        +3

        Facebook Marketplace, Gumtree, etc…. all sales are final.

        When the package arrives, "Return to Sender" and leave it at that.

        • moneytomyway on 06/09/2021 - 17:02
          -1

          There won't be any signature required so its unlikely I will be able to stop the mailman.

          • Blokeinhisundies on 06/09/2021 - 17:13
            +1

            @moneytomyway: You don't have to stop the mail man. If it arrives when you're home just refuse delivery and tell the mail man to return to sender. If you aren't home mark the parcel as return to sender and drop it in one of the big red post boxes and it will go back to the buyer.

  • garetz on 06/09/2021 - 16:15
    +6

    All sales are final, you are not a retailer, it is their responsibility to ask questions before they buy the item, you sold a 2nd hand item with no expectation of after sales support. You do not owe him anything.

    He purchased the item, then after the fact tried to get out of it, just say no, not your problem.

    • moneytomyway on 06/09/2021 - 16:59

      Exactly my thought, but the guy posted it back while we were still in the middle of our discussion.

      • garetz on 06/09/2021 - 17:05
        +2

        When you receive it, Just put Return to sender on the box, and refuse delivery.

      • freefall101 on 06/09/2021 - 17:08

        He did that purely because he knew you wouldn't take it back otherwise. It was to manipulate you into giving a refund anyway.

        If you've said you'll refund it, wait until you've gotten it, had time for any nasties to die off, confirm it's in exactly the condition that you sent it then give them a refund and move on with your life.

  • Jimothy Wongingtons on 06/09/2021 - 16:34
    +4

    golden rules:

    gumtree/fb marketplace = cash only.
    all sales final.
    sold as is. no warranty.

    • moneytomyway on 06/09/2021 - 17:00
      -1

      Lesson learnt

    • TilacVIP on 08/09/2021 - 08:40

      And what if the buyer later calls and wants his money back due to such and such, and they now know your address. Could get ugly if they are one of "those" type, unless you did the deal in the Macca's carpark, which majority of buyers are not going to like, for reasons [if they are sold a dud], just as the seller not wanting buyers coming to pickup from their home.

      Although most face to face sales work out fine, there are always going to be some form of risks involved. There are no golden rules.

      • Jimothy Wongingtons on 08/09/2021 - 09:34

        Brave if you’re willing to meet at your place

        • TilacVIP on 08/09/2021 - 13:11

          I've bought quite a few things off GT and FB, pickup & not once have they suggested meeting in a public place. I suppose there's a lot of brave people out there.

  • Cave Fire on 06/09/2021 - 16:39

    … marketplace doesn't have support or any return process. If you agreed to accept a return, then you should go through with it "he would post it back which I agreed to" Postage speed is reduced so it could take longer than normal, eg ten days.

    • moneytomyway on 06/09/2021 - 17:01

      While I did agree with him returning it, but certainly not after he received it for more than 10 days. I told him I am not taking it back but I am happy to refund him 30%, he refused and posted it regardless….

      • Blokeinhisundies on 06/09/2021 - 17:10
        +1

        As others have stated already, just mark it as return to sender and it will go back to him. Not sure what the big deal is.

  • dmbminaret on 06/09/2021 - 17:08
    +1

    Sorry. I tried to help. Block. Sleep well.

  • tabitha731 on 07/09/2021 - 08:50
    +1

    Theyve paid? And they’ve received the product, no longer your issue if they changed their mind. Due diligence on the consumers part to read teh advertisement thoroughly.

  • Series4Episode10 on 07/09/2021 - 09:41

    Why do you feel unsafe? if it's because of the current virus, if you care to look into how it's transmitted, it is only transmitted via air and there is NO chance of contracting it via contact with an object.

    • moneytomyway on 07/09/2021 - 17:16

      Well, thats not 100% the reason I didnt want to take it back. If anything I'm more upset about him keeping the items for 10 days or so then sent it back while we were in the middle of our discussion.

      • popsiee on 07/09/2021 - 17:21

        Did they pay by Paypal ?

  • OzHunterNSW on 07/09/2021 - 12:05

    You lost me at "hi all"… next will be Hi Ya'll crap

  • ColtNoir on 07/09/2021 - 14:45

    Are you a business? If not, 'sorry, no refunds'. As long as you didn't say it was wireless in the ad, which you've said you didn't.

    • moneytomyway on 07/09/2021 - 17:17

      I shouldn't agree to accept on his return when he first asked for it.

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