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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To not return something that turned up 3 months later in the post?

32 replies

justaperson · 24/09/2020 13:43

I ordered something in June - it didn't arrive so I messaged the seller and they sent another one, all sorted.

Today the original item appeared. I contacted the seller asking if they would like me to return it - the cost of the item was maybe around £10 and I think they are probably a small-ish business if that makes a difference. They said they'd like it returned but won't provide a returns label or pay for the postage.

AIBU to think I don't want to shell out nearly £4 plus the hassle of going to the post office to send it back as I'll be out of pocket?

OP posts:
Worrysaboutalot · 24/09/2020 13:45

I would offer them £6 and keep the item.

ChaChaCha2012 · 24/09/2020 13:45

Tell them you'll return it as soon as you receive the postage label. Liability for that cost is theirs

Nacreous · 24/09/2020 13:46

I'd say you're happy to return it but not to pay postage and put the ball back in their court.

SisyphusAndTheRockOfUntidiness · 24/09/2020 13:47

@ChaChaCha2012

Tell them you'll return it as soon as you receive the postage label. Liability for that cost is theirs
Definitely this.
Original poster
justaperson · 24/09/2020 14:19

So I messaged as suggested, saying I'd return it if they paid postage, and had a reply saying they've paid the postage twice to send to me...

They're saying put return to sender on it and post it back, although their return address isn't even on the parcel so I had to open it to tell what it was as I wasn't expecting a parcel.

Wish I'd never bothered to contact them now but felt it was the right thing to do. It's not even something I'll be able to use really as the moment has passed.

OP posts:
BernadetteRostankowskiWolowitz · 24/09/2020 14:21

So tell them "fine, I've written return to sender on the box and dropped it in the parcel post box. Not sure if it will even get to you though as you didn't put a sender's address on the box"

Graciebobcat · 24/09/2020 14:45

Cheeky buggers. It's not your fault they had to pay the postage twice and you are clearly being honest with them. I agree, hang onto it unless they send you a postage label.

Potterpotterpotter · 24/09/2020 14:47

Just tell them no. They either send you a return label or you will just bin it.

I wouldn’t of bothered contacting them personally after 3 months.

Original poster
justaperson · 24/09/2020 15:14

@Potterpotterpotter

Just tell them no. They either send you a return label or you will just bin it.

I wouldn’t of bothered contacting them personally after 3 months.

I'm regretting it now!!!
OP posts:
SisyphusAndTheRockOfUntidiness · 24/09/2020 15:14

I had this happen once, TBH. Actually I had to contact them twice to re-send it. Eventually I got the item. About 4 months later, I got the original item (posted about 7 months previously!) I contacted them but they said to keep it... it was a £9 bottle of Japanese facial serum. The return postage would have been more than the value so it wasn't worth it. (Goodness knows how they make any money selling it online?)

The 3rd bottle never turned up.

AKissAndASmile · 24/09/2020 15:15

They must have claimed off the postal company, surely.

I'd do what a PP suggested and tell them you'll do the return to sender thing but not bother!

StephenKong · 24/09/2020 15:17

All you're obligated to do is notify them that you have it, the rest is up to them. If they want it badly enough they'll figure out a way of picking it up.

LindaEllen · 24/09/2020 15:17

Depending on the carrier it was sent with, they may have been able to claim for a lost item anyway - so it might be that they're not out of pocket.

If they want it to be returned though they should absolutely pay for the postage. I think that's fair.

marydtf · 24/09/2020 15:19

Just send it back to them with no postage. They will have to pay surcharge plus postage to get item from royal mail

delilahbucket · 24/09/2020 15:24

Some people don't understand how running a business works. I run a small business and if you were my customer I would tell you to keep it for that amount as I build losses into my prices like any sensible retailer. If it was a lot more expensive I would ask you to return it at your convenience but of course I would pay your costs to do so.
You did the right thing OP, they however are not and they haven't got a leg to stand on. Don't let it put you off in future. Some of us are good business owners Grin.

StillCoughingandLaughing · 24/09/2020 15:55

You’ve given them a perfectly fair option and they’ve refused it. Just don’t get in touch again. If they chased you I’d be tempted to sarcastically reply ‘It’s probably lost in the post - it happens a lot’.

I would offer them £6 and keep the item.

Why? If the OP had wanted two of the item, she’d have ordered two.

AutumnDragon · 24/09/2020 16:22

They must have claimed off the postal company, surely.

If they have a business account with Royal Mail then they probably won't be able to make a claim. We are quite a small company but we have negotiated good rates with RM, which we pass on to our customers. The downside is we can't claim for lost post.

In the Op's situation, we would be happy to take the hit as it is not the buyer's fault, but we get a lot of people (especially on Amazon) claiming their order hasn't arrived when we know it has - it is these people we resent hugely as they are, effectively, stealing.

DaBaDe · 24/09/2020 16:23

I'd do as a PP suggested and just say you've returned it but don't bother!

Original poster
justaperson · 24/09/2020 19:55

Thanks everyone, it's good to know I wasn't being unreasonable and I feel better about the whole thing now!

I do feel for small businesses, it wasn't an expensive item and I'd be happy to return it if it was hassle free but I resent being charged nearly £4 for being honest about something being sent twice!

OP posts:
keeprocking · 24/09/2020 23:17

Wish I'd never bothered to contact them now but felt it was the right thing to do.

This is often the case, computerised systems can't cope with it!

Years ago I ordered a case of wine, delivered to my workplace. When it didn't arrive I called them, they'd sent it to the wrong address, they'd send another to my home address as we'd broken up. This duly arrived, when I got back to work after Christmas there was another case there and then I got a phone call from them, apologising for losing the first one, they'd send a replacement! I was sorely tempted.

Byallmeans · 24/09/2020 23:23

@justaperson

So I messaged as suggested, saying I'd return it if they paid postage, and had a reply saying they've paid the postage twice to send to me...

They're saying put return to sender on it and post it back, although their return address isn't even on the parcel so I had to open it to tell what it was as I wasn't expecting a parcel.

Wish I'd never bothered to contact them now but felt it was the right thing to do. It's not even something I'll be able to use really as the moment has passed.

My friend has a small online business and gets hammered for this all the time. She ends up doing it because she doesn’t want bad reviews but it leaves her out of pocket.

They have already paid postage twice. You now own two items that you’ve only paid once for.

Byallmeans · 24/09/2020 23:26

Also they sent you a replacement in good will. It wasn’t a mistake on their part. You obviously askEd for a replacement so they sent one. You know have the original so send one back.

Codexdivinchi · 24/09/2020 23:30

@justaperson

Thanks everyone, it's good to know I wasn't being unreasonable and I feel better about the whole thing now!

I do feel for small businesses, it wasn't an expensive item and I'd be happy to return it if it was hassle free but I resent being charged nearly £4 for being honest about something being sent twice!

Yeah sounds like you really feel for small businesses OP - especially at times like this..

So they are £8 down in delivery and 2x in expensive item. Yeah really feel sorry ...

Sweetchillichicken · 24/09/2020 23:47

If you paid with PayPal you can sign up to PayPal returns and they reimburse return fees if under something like £15.

StillCoughingandLaughing · 24/09/2020 23:56

So they are £8 down in delivery and 2x in expensive item. Yeah really feel sorry ...

Even if this were true, which it isn’t, it’s not up to the OP to sort it out. But in any case, it isn’t true because:

  1. The OP will have either paid for delivery for the original item, or the company offered free delivery. Either way, the company were in no way ‘down’ on delivery for the original order.

  2. They are not ‘down’ two expensive items. Apart from the fact that it wasn’t expensive, the OP paid for the first one. She’s willing to send back the second one. If you’re trying to say they’re ‘down’ £8 on delivery because they paid to send it out and would be paying for the return, by definition they won’t have lost the cost of the delivery and the item - paying for the return means they get the item back.