Customer returned book because "Wrong item was sent."
I asked the buyer for info on why the book was wrong. They didn't respond. I got the return and it was the EXACT book that they ordered. And I give a free upgrade to priority mail so I have to eat a lot of postage on this order and on so many other orders. I'm getting REALLY tired of customer returns at my expense that are unjustified. EBay allows the seller to choose "no returns unless not as described". Amazon needs to do this to stop the abuse of sellers. After 20 years of selling books on Amazon, I'm disgusted enough to slow way down my listing. I have stacks of books everywhere, thousands of good books, and each time I look at one of the stacks I think of the returns abuse and I go and do something else.
Customer returned book because "Wrong item was sent."
I asked the buyer for info on why the book was wrong. They didn't respond. I got the return and it was the EXACT book that they ordered. And I give a free upgrade to priority mail so I have to eat a lot of postage on this order and on so many other orders. I'm getting REALLY tired of customer returns at my expense that are unjustified. EBay allows the seller to choose "no returns unless not as described". Amazon needs to do this to stop the abuse of sellers. After 20 years of selling books on Amazon, I'm disgusted enough to slow way down my listing. I have stacks of books everywhere, thousands of good books, and each time I look at one of the stacks I think of the returns abuse and I go and do something else.
14 replies
Seller_kIukTwdhvntAp
"And I give a free upgrade to priority mail so I have to eat a lot of postage on this order and on so many other orders."
First, let's get real -- it is NOT a 'free upgrade' since you either build that into your prices OR you are not a really astute businessperson.
There is no such thing as "free" -- it either costs you, or it costs the buyer.
Amazon has been becoming a graveyard of FORMER book sellers for more than a year or two now.
There have been DOZENS of posts about the issues faced by book sellers on Amazon in the past year or so -- gating of publishers brands, whitelisting for BOTH new and used, IP complaints, HIGH PRICE errors, and more.
Amazon is no longer a good (it's barely viable) location for selling books and it is downright toxic for textbooks!
Sell elsewhere. You can scan the posts for all the suggestions, but eBay seems to be getting a lot of sellers from here and it sounds as if you are already there!
Seller_XSqPquQH4FvW1
Actually, the OP is correct. When Amazon refunds the original shipping even when the reason is bought by mistake, the buyer is getting free shipping. I recently had 4 supposedly buyer-funded returns where I had to eat the original shipping costs. This is getting to be a big chunk of change.
But you are correct that Amazon doesn't seem to want 3rd party booksellers anymore. We all need to be selling on other venues.
Seller_keSnEDesLFVwv
I hope that that 'something else' includes listing on eBay.
I've had the same return problems, and the same depressed state of mind when contemplating more returns. My spirits are greatly improved by listing on other sites.
Seller_fES06yRlGgMc4
Most of our customers are still decent people. Nevertheless, if you step on a nail only every 10 or 20 steps, it's still going to sting every time you do.
Amazon policies are the source of most of those nails. Among other things, they draw a lot of dysfunctional (and also dishonest) people to their site (and your store)
To them "YOU SENT THE WRONG ITEM" does not mean you sent something other than what they ordered, or that the item varies from it's description in some way. It means "yes, I got exactly what I asked for but I don't want it" They are too deficient to be able to accept responsibility for their own actions, and so as with any disappointment in their lives, it must be "ALL YOUR FAULT".
Amazon doesn't care how much damage it does to it's sellers. Their main mission is to keep the price of the stock attractive. At some point, and it may be a long time or it may not, this flimsy propping will fail, and everyone will suffer.
Danny_Amazon
Hi there @Seller_y2iTAQfyIRvmJ- thank you for posting to the forums and I can appreciate the frustration here.
Per our policy around SAFE-T Claims, you may be eligible for reimbursement if Amazon determines that the customer abused Amazon's return or refund policy. If you do look to dispute the return shipping in this case, take a look through these best practices for building a SAFE-T Claim to help you do so.
Seller_52pUzzgnsLDGs
Do not give free upgrades on postage. When they buy the book it clearly shows how long it will take to get to them. NO ONE notices a postage upgrade. I don't. I see a package, I open it. No one looks at the label to see what kind of postage was used and even if they did most people have no understanding. Look how many people there are who think free shipping is free? Good Grief.
Seller_EXuhrAKFLHPpw
I've filed Safe-T-Claims when I've gotten these types of returns. Just give them an explanation of what happened along with photos of the book cover and ISBN along with the return packaging. I have had the return postage credited back to my account each time. They make the decision pretty quickly.
Seller_4HsL3GZbyDLea
Sadly, this is how Amazon is now. Amazon has socialized all their losses caused by their own insane and treacherous policies and sent you and I the bill for all their policies' financial repercussions. All the customer incompetence, dishonesty and sloth now comes out of yours and my pockets. Amazon gets to look "customer centric." When all Amazon is actually doing is stealing from you and I to make themselves look good. And the customers now enjoy being able to discard all responsibility and order and return with complete reckless indifference.
Seller_awYU0oH8skccg
Just Move on ...Its Not Worth Getting Flamed by Buyer or AZ... I Don't Complain about Anything...Of Course I Don't Sell Anything So It All Works Out! LoL
Seller_YICCARZsaPNtg
this happens to us like twice a week, send EXACTLY what was ordered and they say wrong item, or you send a one size fits all item that is adjustable and they say too big or small....not the most intelligent of buyers on here, but sadly amazon lets them get away with fraud and stealing daily
