Can I refuse a delivery from the USPS?

margecat

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Ok, it's a long story! Here's one for Willowy!


At work we do a Christmas gift giving for the County's charity nursing home. The residents say what gift they'd like, and the list is passed around the County offices. However, this year, they gave the list to us last Thursday, 12/12. My person wanted a dressy, fancy hat (not a knitted winter one, etc.). The only place I could find one was on eBay. I deal with eBay about once a week, and their shipping time estimates usually are very accurate. I needed the hat by yesterday, 12/17, and the auction (I used Buy It Now, so I'd get it immediately) stated "on or before 12/17".

Now, I know that was cutting it close, but I figured it most likely would've have arrived in plenty of time, and, if not, I could buy her something else, and just keep the hat. I really wanted that pretty hat for her, though.

The tracking info was sent to me on Sunday, 12/15, but it only showed that the electronic thing was done, i.e., someone said they were planning to send it out, and it generated a tracking number. Nothing had happened, so yesterday, I emailed the seller, asking if she had sent it out.  She made some excuses, "My son disappeared a month ago, and I have some friends handling my eBay auctions". Uh-huh. Never, in any of the emails, did she offer to ask those "friends" if they knew where the hat was. I emailed her again, asking her to do that and provide proof that the hat was shipped out by 12/17; if it hadn't been shipped yet (remember, it was supposed to have arrived by then), to please cancel my order, and refund my money, as I couldn't use it (I had explained the gift thing when I bought it, so she knew why I needed it, and that I wasn't being frivolous). I also opened a case with eBay, explaining all of this.

Well, guess what she did? At 3:00 AM this morning, 12/18, she sent the package! I had twice requested that she NOT do so, if it hadn't already been sent. I think she was lying to me all along. Ok, I understand: if she had sent it out before the 17th, I'd have to just accept it late.That date is not guaranteed, and it is the Christmas season. However, she did not even attempt to send it out before that date, so I think I have every right to tell her not to send it. In fact, I once did this before with another seller (I waited 2 weeks, no communication from him), and did so with no problem.

It was suggested that I refuse delivery, and have it returned to her. I feel bad, as the Post Office shouldn't have to absorb the costs because of this jerk, but it would cost me $10 to return a $20 hat. I really have no use for it now, and I'm angry that this seller, knowing why I wanted it, now has deprived an old lady the one lousy thing she asked for at Christmas (most residents will only get our gifts; they have no family). I bought her 3 knitted hats, but that's not what she wanted, and it's too late now to get the hat to her.

Any advice? Thank you.
 

Willowy

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Yep, you can refuse it as long as it hasn't been opened---even if your carrier just leaves it in your box, as long as you don't open it, just write "refused" on it and give it back to the carrier or take it to the PO. If it's Priority or First Class she won't have to pay anything (the cost of return/forwarding is built into the pricing) and if it's Standard she'll have to pay return postage.

Too bad the lady didn't get just what she wanted :(. Can you give gifts at any other time of year?
 
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margecat

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Thanks, Willowy! I knew I could count on you to help!

Well, I ended up NOT doing that, after all. DH offered to take the hat to the nursing home (I had to call to ask if it would be ok, and it was).

And, of course, there was some "excitement" about the arrival here!  The tracking showed it going to Delaware (we're in PA). I needed it by this weekend so he could take to the nursing home.  The tracking showed that it was delivered yesterday, but it wasn't here. I called the post office, and our former carrier, a very helpful, and nice woman, offered to track it down. It was thought that it went to another home in the development (our street numbers repeat for every street in this 500-house development. I pity the mail carriers!) I think that may have happened; all I know is, an hour later, there was a knock on the door, the hat was there, and I saw the mail carrier running to his truck, and I thanked him!

I decided to add some silk flowers to the brim, and it was very nice.

And the stupid eBay seller, I think just to be spiteful, used clear tape all over the nice hatbox that was made for the hat. Yep. She didn't wrap it in brown paper, etc. first--she just mailed it all criss-crossed with packing tape, and also stuck the huge mailing label on it. I tried t open the box carefully, but there was a lot of tape damage. Anyway, I used some beautiful, wide velvet Christmas ribbon around it, and wrapped it up prettily, and it's been taken to the nursing home.

Of course, to keep up the tradition of this blasted hat, there had to be some drama there, as well. DH called me to say that they weren't sure which resident was to get it--they had 2 Jane F.'s!  One Jane F. had just died, and they weren't sure if the other Jane F. was on the gift list. She was, so Merry Christmas, Jane F.! I hope you like the FOUR hats and the scarf!
 (And, seriously, my condolences to the other Jane's family. It's terrible to lose someone, but even harder this time of the year.)
 

MoochNNoodles

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Oh my goodness!  What a runaround!  I hope the Jane F that it went to is the one who wanted the hat.  That's a sweet thing to request! 

I hope you give that seller an honest rating.  There are all kinds on there I guess.  I tried to get my step-dad an awesome gift (a vintage snoopy toy; he loves snoopy!) but I couldn't watch the auctions end and I missed one; so he's getting pajamas. 
  The last one I bid on; I was outbid by less than $.20! 
  (sorry...really wanted that toy for him!)
 

natalie_ca

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Oh my goodness!  What a runaround!  I hope the Jane F that it went to is the one who wanted the hat.  That's a sweet thing to request! 

I hope you give that seller an honest rating.  There are all kinds on there I guess.  I tried to get my step-dad an awesome gift (a vintage snoopy toy; he loves snoopy!) but I couldn't watch the auctions end and I missed one; so he's getting pajamas. 
  The last one I bid on; I was outbid by less than $.20! 
  (sorry...really wanted that toy for him!)
Try using "Auction Sniper".  You don't have to worry about watching ebay auctions ever again.  You set your limit and it will automatically bid to keep you ahead, and it will "snipe" at the last 5 seconds, meaning that if you are behind, it will automatically bid the minimum amount needed to get you the item.  Since I've been using it, I've won 3 out of 3 auctions.
 

GoldyCat

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Glad things worked out in the end, even with all the drama. You definitely need to give the seller a low rating, both for the delayed shipping and for ruining the nice hat box.

Try using "Auction Sniper".  You don't have to worry about watching ebay auctions ever again.  You set your limit and it will automatically bid to keep you ahead, and it will "snipe" at the last 5 seconds, meaning that if you are behind, it will automatically bid the minimum amount needed to get you the item.  Since I've been using it, I've won 3 out of 3 auctions.
I used to use eBay quite a lot and snipers irritated me both as a buyer and as a seller. As a buyer for obvious reasons. I'd check the auction 20 seconds before the end and would be winning, and then a sniper would come in and snatch the item. As a seller it just made me mad if I had someone who had asked me questions about the item and then had been bidding all along only to lose out to a sniper at the last second. I was tempted to put in a note that I would not sell to anyone who bid in the last minute of the auction unless they had prior bids, but I didn't think it would hold up legally. Anyway, it's one of the main reasons I stopped selling on eBay.
 
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margecat

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The most amazing thing happened on Christmas Eve!  I was waiting to leave negative feedback until after Christmas--I would feel awful doing that to someone so close to Christmas, so I didn't.

Yesterday, I got an email from eBay: the seller refunded 100% of the price! So, the hat was totally free!
 

natalie_ca

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Glad things worked out in the end, even with all the drama. You definitely need to give the seller a low rating, both for the delayed shipping and for ruining the nice hat box.
I used to use eBay quite a lot and snipers irritated me both as a buyer and as a seller. As a buyer for obvious reasons. I'd check the auction 20 seconds before the end and would be winning, and then a sniper would come in and snatch the item. As a seller it just made me mad if I had someone who had asked me questions about the item and then had been bidding all along only to lose out to a sniper at the last second. I was tempted to put in a note that I would not sell to anyone who bid in the last minute of the auction unless they had prior bids, but I didn't think it would hold up legally. Anyway, it's one of the main reasons I stopped selling on eBay.
I always place an initial bid on my own. Sometimes two.
 

catsallaround

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With the auto sniper service and the way the bidding goes if I want something at a decent price I personally place the bid last 7 or so seconds.  Snipe or be sniped.

I do a lot of Buy it now for coupons and clothes but for remote control car parts there is no other way.  Some of these people OBVIOUSLY have A LOT more money as you see some RC's go higher then in store.

I have to say USPS has been pretty behind and mis delivering a lot of items last month or so.  I know the season is the issue but I watched an item get dropped off and move then sit for over a week.  The DAY I emailed them it moved so thought that was pretty odd.  Watched few things go to wrong state then one went to ANOTHER wrong state.  We order a lot as husband fixes and resells but it definatley is something else this year compared to last 2 years.
 
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