Now you're just being bloody awkward, Buyer!

[hoobypickypicky]

ARGH! Rant alert!

The customer tells me, 6 weeks after dispatch to Oz, that her parcel hasn't arrived. By virtue of much experience of sending overseas-bound parcels I resign myself to the likelihood that it never will. I think I'm a decent seller. I don't tell her to do my job of chasing the shippers or tell her to wait until I've recovered my losses. Instead I refund her in full - over a hundred pounds - immediately and, being both busy and poorly, resolve to sort it out with the shippers in a couple of days.

That doesn't pacify her. She demands a copy of the shipping receipt. I'm busy, unwell and in pain and politely tell her so, and that I'll look it out when within the next couple of days (knowing that any investigation is not down to her anyway, the contract is between the shipper and I). She responds with another demand for the same. By this time I've searched for the receipt without success and tell her so.

She comes back to me a day later saying that clearly I haven't found the receipt so "Shall I start the ebay resolution process"?

A resolution of WHAT????? I told her I'd refund her as soon as she alerted me to the problem. I did refund her in full seconds after she first contacted me. The refund is pending with Paypal because they decided to send it via Echeque and not direct from my bank but she can see on her PP account it will be with her in a day or two.

There's still a minuscule chance that the item will arrive and if it does she will have over a hundred pounds worth of item for free.

I'm beginning to think that I may as well reply to any further contact with "go take a running jump" because she's going to give me negative feedback no matter what, isn't she?

[PedantMarina]

did you not cancel the transaction when you refunded her? >confused-icon

[hoobypickypicky]

I didn't, no, because I wasn't aware that I had to.

Should I have?

[hoobypickypicky]

Oh my! I've spotted something in my Facebook 'other' pm inbox. The buyer's partner! They've messaged me asking me if I'm who recently sold them this item on Ebay!

She's not only an awkward buyer, she's a stalky awkward buyer!

On the plus side, I've called Paypal who tell me that I've done everything right and in a commendable way and that my account is very well run.

They said that the buyer can open a case but it will be pretty fruitless and not get them anywhere.

If they give me negative feedback I will feel obliged to mention the instant refund and the stalking me on Facebook!

[WhatWouldFreddieDo]

I know nothing much about Ebay other than maybe always pay cash or never pay cash when collecting an item but it sounds like you've done everything right and she is not behaving in a reasonable fashion.

I run a B&B and sometimes you just get these people - perhaps not very bright or perhaps going through something big in their lives, and they decide that you're the unreasonable one for not providing a full cooked breakfast at 4.30am ...

[nickstmoritz]

Send expensive items tracked and insured. You can then add tracking details to the sale. I realise this would be costly to Oz but you have to cover yourself as a seller and just state you will only send tracked. Buyer can choose if this postage arrangement suits them or don't buy. I have sent normal post to Oz a few times without problems (touch wood) but only for lesser value items.

Always keep all comms professional, you have fully refunded so ask for transaction to be cancelled. If they don't respond it gets cancelled auto if they refuse you could escalate the case to resolve.

I would be v. unhappy with any strange buyer attempting to track me via fb so report them to ebay if they try this again (& don't respond to them at all outside of ebay messages). Hope it gets sorted.

[PeterParkerSays]

Don't mention Facebook, or they'll know it was you that they found.

[coffeeandcream]

Agree with PP who said ignore all FB messages from buyer. But if things turn nasty let eBay know the buyer is attempting to transact through FB and not the proper channels.

[Butterflyspring]

you need to send a cancellation request otherwise you will have over £10 in ebay fees to pay. And block the person on facebook and don't reply. The buyer will probably neg now I reckon.

[hoobypickypicky]

Hi again, I'm back from work now and just catching up. Thank you for the advice and the reassurance that it isn't me who's losing the plot!

I replied on FB that sorry, no I don't use Ebay, they must have the wrong person. Her response was ok, no problem.

If I get any more messages from her I'd be inclined to tell them where to go!

I'd forgotten about the chance of having ebay fees despite having refunded. I'll send the buyer a cancellation link now - she's going to love that, isn't she?!

[hoobypickypicky]

Oh buggeration. I can't send a cancellation request because the transaction was carried out over 45 days ago.

I think I need to call Ebay. Bear with me, I may be gone some time.

[Butterflyspring]

please block them on facebook - and maybe tighten your security there too - stop strangers messaging, privacy on friends, pictures, etc. Worth doing I reckon.

[Numanoid]

I second Butterflyspring's advice, block them on FB. I use a different email address for Paypal and FB, so eBay buyers/sellers can't find me using it, and I can also deny it's me if they do! There is no need for transactions to be discussed in any other medium other than eBay, and it would concern me that communications couldn't be tracked by eBay elsewhere. :/

I think asking eBay's advice on this one is best, sounds like you got one of the horrible, picky buyers who will never be happy! I had neutral feedback once (didn't affect 100% positive, thankfully!), because apparently the packaging was ripped (doubt it) and so had damaged the item a little. I never had any messages from the buyer and commented so on the feedback, saying I would offer at least a partial refund if they sent a photo of the damage... they never got back to me after that.