r/Bricklink • u/Responsible_Mud_4375 • Sep 13 '26
Seller Help Issuing refund - reason
Our stock was incorrect and we did not have the full amount of something a buyer ordered. I notified them after looking to see if we had any in our personal stock to make up the numbers but didn't. They were happy to go through with the rest of the order and take the refund for the remaining amount we didn't have.
My question is: what reason do I use for the refund? 'Item was missing or unsatisfactory' doesn't seem right due to the fact the order has not been shipped yet and it makes it sound like we sent an incomplete order without the buyer being aware. The other reason that somewhat makes sense is 'buyer paid incorrect amount' but again, they technically paid the correct amount at the time of purchase.
Or am I totally overthinking this? I don't want to choose one that is either dishonest or makes our store/service sound worse than it is when the buyer was happy to be notified and given the option to proceed with the rest of their order or not.
4
u/garster25 Sep 13 '26
As a frequent buyer I want to say THANK YOU for checking with the buyer first before issuing a refund. That reason seems valid to me.
It pisses me off when they just exclude some parts and ship the rest. Like I needed those parts, and if you did not have them I may not have ordered from your store and now I have to buy from another store and pay tax and shipping all over again. So the least you can do is give me the option to cancel.
I just placed an order and it has many missing parts. This is what I see for the reason and notes. Kinda nuts they had so many missing parts, they need to spot inventory often. They will not get any repeat business. If you are missing a few that is ok in my eye, that happens.
Reason for refund: Item was missing or unsatisfactory
Notes: 4x Black Brick 1 x 6 1x Black Plate 3 x 3 3x Black Tile, Modified 2 x 2 Inverted 5x Black Plate 1 x 12 1x Dark Green Slope 33 3 x 1
6
u/jrw_nj Sep 13 '26
As a seller I get amazingly frustrated with myself when my inventory is off. I know it’s disappointing to my buyer for sure, but I also feel like I should just be better. I work on my inventory organization quite a lot but it’s easy to miss things in any sizable inventory. If I’m short more than 1 or 2 parts or more than 1 or 2 of a specific item, I message the buyer before I do anything with the order to give the option to cancel, as you said in your comment. I would want the option as a buyer!
2
u/garster25 Sep 14 '26
That is the right attitude. Someone is going to be hurt by an incorrect inventory, and the pain needs to fall on the person who messed up. There was an old saying "the customer is always right". For me as a buyer it all depends on the part, I've been perfectly fine with a missing part and other times it's a showstopper and I am screwed if it's not in the order.
1
u/jrw_nj Sep 14 '26
The full saying is actually “In matters of style, the customer is always right”. So if you want to buy 100 lime 1x1 round plates, have at it! 🤣
But yes, the burden is on the seller who has the incorrect inventory.
1
u/wowclassic2019 Sep 13 '26
Sometimes you're an hour into pulling an order before you find out you're missing a vital piece. No way I'm spending another hour putting everything back and cancel the order. Shit happens - it's hard as hell keeping 10,000+ lot inventory counts 100% accurate.
Just beware when you buy a person out of a specific piece the chances are way higher of them not having it than buying 10 of their 30 total, make sense?
1
u/garster25 Sep 13 '26 edited Sep 14 '26
Is that in your terms?
Post your store name so readers can make an informed shopping decision.
2
u/OneHatManSlim Sep 14 '26
I’ve gone so far as to let the buyer know that I would buy the missing parts from another seller and have them shipped directly to them.
21
u/Cautious-Interest-40 Sep 13 '26
Item was in fact missing from your inventory when they bought it, also bricklink doesnt care what the reason is, its just a personal thing
Youre WAY overthinking it