Ebay buyer wants to return but item exactly as described!

flutterbybutterfly

:mad: I have a guy who asked me loads of questions about the item, which I answered honestly. He then chose to buy the item off me, paid and I posted.

He is now sending arrogant emails demanding a return because he doesn't think the item is any good, even though it is exactly as described with photos etc...

I didn't state a returns policy as I take the view that I am not a shop - it is an auction and therefore sales are final. If I had miscorrectly described the item or sent the wrong item then of course I would offer a refund but in this instance I don't feel that I should have to mess around just because he has changed his mind or not thought it all through.

I was going to reply just now to give him my decision but as I checked my emails he has emailed back stating that he has returned the item already. I have made no agreement to accept a return and make a refund, and have no policy in place to do so. I don't feel that I should have to refund just because he's changed his mind. If I had ordered something from Ebay and didn't like it when it arrived I would just put it down to experience (again if item exactly as described - if not I would have grounds for return).

I currently have 100% feedback rating from overr 200 transactions and it's not fair that some idiot can come along and destroy that as I guess he will leave me negative if I don't accept his return. So therefore I am backed into a corner.

What do you think I should do????

Midmac

Dont refund him. You have made no mistake. Wait for the item to turn up before you make any further decisions.

flutterbybutterfly

So what do I do if I end up with the item back and the money! I can't hold on to both as that would make me dishonest, do I send back the item? If I refund the money it's like admitting blame which I don't feel I should do and I would be out of pocket for ebay fees to the final item value of £30.

Lois_Lane

You could write 'return to sender' on the package and put it back in the post box....

tomstickland

If he has sent it back to you without you agreeing to it then that's his decision. You've not agreed to it, so it's still his possesion which he can send anywhere he wants to. That's the bottom line anyway. Don't worry about negative feedback, I've got two negs from idiots, but it's obvious to anyone who reads my feedback.

However, I suggest doing an advanced search for contact details, phoning and then discussing. If you really don't want any feedback trouble then negotatiate a refund and relist it.

MyUserNamesTaken

How did he pay? If he used paypal and then sent the item back without paying for special delivery (recorded may even be enough?), he won't have a leg to stand on. He can tell them he sent it back, but he has to be able to prove he sent it back. If he can't, no refund. He'll obviously make up some crap excuse to paypal saying the item was not as described. If he has sent the item back using a form of trackable postage, chances are paypal will refund him. If he didn't pay by paypal, don't worry about it. If the item turns up and needs to be signed for, refuse delivery.

tesuhoha

Personally I would just refund the money to avoid any further unpleasantness and accept the loss. Have you left him any feedback yet? He will probably be as nervous to avoid negative as you are. I now dont leave any feedback until I have had positive feedback from my buyers, as its a valuable weapon.

flutterbybutterfly

tomstickland wrote:

However, I suggest doing an advanced search for contact details, phoning and then discussing. If you really don't want any feedback trouble then negotatiate a refund and relist it.

I don't feel brave enough to phone up and my husband won't let me, I once ordered something that arrived broken but obviously due to inadequate packaging and ended up contacting the seller on the phone after ignoring my emails and he was horrible and really abusive, he then continued to call me as when you request their number ebay sends yours to them also, and he continued being really abusive etc.. I reported it to ebay but they didn't do anything. I have trouble with confidence on the phone anyway so I think I would just buckle and from his emails he seems really arrogant.

As far as relisting the item, I bought it wholesale to resell and the item won't really sell now the weather has got better (here anyway) as it is a winter product. (Not giving too much away hee hee as I want to keep my niche next year).

Thanks anyway,

deanos

Refund him minus postage and ebay/paypal fees.

tomstickland

Hmm, I'm sorry to hear about your previous abusive caller, but personally I'd have no problem with calling people. I had a very irate buyer who thought I was trying to mislead him, so I called him and after 20 minutes he finally calmed down and we worked out a mutual solution. We even left each other positive feedback - he realised that I'd made a genuine mistake and I calmed down over his overreaction and realised that he thought he'd been scammed. All a lot quicker in one 30 minute phone call rather than 200 emails.

If you don't feel up to calling him then I'd suggest either:
-refund and resell, though this is a cop out
-return to sender and inform him that you have not agreed to a refund, take the neg feedback and move on.

bleugh

I like these ones, take the neg that you will get on the chin, it's character forming and will stop you been abused by more people, making you bend over to keep your 100%

you have two options

1 - return to sender,
-either hold on to it until return payment is received
-or, just bung it in the post and let him pay for the postage upon receipt
2 - refund him less ALL of your fees

or possibly 3, be a wuss and give in, making yourself out of pocket



take the £30 and subtract the listing fee, the final value fee (prolly about £2 or so total)
now subtract any paypal fees (if used) - another £1 or so

now, remove the cost of packaging, bubble wrap and paper and time are expensive

then subtract the postage fee

now, you have a figure left, in the low £20's probably

re-list the item

remove those re-listing fees from the refund also

explain all this to the muppet in a nice way, stating that its exactly as described, so will not be out of pocket on this

if you're firm but nice, they usually respond