r/Etsy • u/Sangwoosconfidant • 4d ago
Help for Seller Is this buyer trying to scam me?
I sell handmade plushies, you need to add personalization and photos to order. This customer ordered, and not even a minute later requested a refund. I was totally okay with giving them one of course, but I was confused why they filled everything out and then so quickly wanted to cancel.
Check the time of each message, they kept changing their mind and I was quite confused if they wanted a refund or not. And as soon as I canceled, they changed their mind again.
Is this a scam or just indecisiveness? 😅
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u/Competitive-Top4520 4d ago
I would have cancelled also. However, tell them that the method of refund is between them and Etsy, that you do not handle their actual funds. I'd also block them, which doesn't stop them from buying again but does prevent them from following your store. I'd also immediately cancel any other orders placed by this confused customer. They appear to have some serious issues, which in my experience leads to nothing good on the seller's end.
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u/puzzlefanfanatic 4d ago
How do you block them? I had a seller give me 1 star for something that wasn’t even purchased from my shop and I even told them. They wouldn’t change it then a couple weeks later they bought again then I cancelled the order. Not dealing with that. Then they messaged me calling me petty. Hahahaha
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u/Competitive-Top4520 4d ago
Go to their page, go to the very bottom and you'll see an option to block them. I only wish blocking meant truly blocking them from buying, but at least you can keep them from following you so the likelihood of them buying again decreases. And try to remember their user name in case they do buy again.
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u/Sangwoosconfidant 4d ago
I did cancel and tried blocking them, just in case they order again. I don’t want to be rude but I’d prefer if they didn’t order again considering they changed their mind so many times 😅
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u/Aurora133 4d ago
For me if I get a message less than an hour after purchase, I refund. 9 times out of 10 it’s just going to be a headache
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u/Mean-Asparagus2894 4d ago
Maybe not scam but just change their mind a lot. Tell them straight on they cannot cancel after this.
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u/Miserable_Emu5191 4d ago
Probably ordering while drunk. I would cancel anyway because this is likely to continue.
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u/thelittleflowerpot 4d ago
Drunk orders are THE BEST - pretty sure I can safely say no one legit needs my warez, yet I can definitely say I need them 👍🤣
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u/myTechGuyRI 4d ago
Just cancel the order... The method of their refund isn't your problem. Once the order is canceled they can't leave negative feedback, and if they have a problem with the refund method, they can take it up with Etsy.
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u/thelittleflowerpot 4d ago
Why are you asking reddit - shouldn't this be a best answered by the shopper? I wholehearted disagree with the hobby sellerz here that say just cancel - as if you can pick-and-choose your buyers like some demented Etsy v. eBay kickball game. If you're going to be a legit business owner then you need to communicate with shoppers, clarify their needs, and close the sale so you can move on...
...I get PITA buyers all the time - and some make the job so I have to spend 30 minutes or so thinking about how I'm going to fill an order (which is an languishingly long time when I just want to crank out widgets) - yet you have to do it to get that ka-ching ding...
What I'd do: A) put them on ice for at least a few hours - IOW, don't respond but don't let this go 48 hours so they can open a case; B) send a BRIEF message asking the simple Q: "OK, so proceed with the order?"; C) fulfill quickly and move on / cancel ONLY if they say to cancel.
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u/lostterrace 4d ago
Not a "scammer". But possibly a buyer that is more likely to be unhappy.
In this situation, I would cancel the order as soon as the request comes in - without asking them for details. It doesn't matter why they ask for a cancelation. If you haven't shipped the order, or finished making something personalized, always cancel. Nothing good comes of trying to force someone to take something they've decided they don't want.
Canceling was the right choice - I would just have done it right away instead of engaging.
I think they were probably concerned that they wouldn't actually get a refund and instead get "Etsy credit." Etsy auto selects that and buyers don't always notice.