Quick Question!

nightsong

I have quite often been able to get the seller to pay the return postage.

This works particularly well if they have 100% feedback as it's perfectly obvious you will neg them if you're not happy, and they won't want to lose that precious 100%!

Basically, if an item is not as described, I can see no reason at all why I should be out of pocket over it. So I simply state this, but very politely of course.

e.g. "I wish to return the item for a full refund, and will be grateful if you will pay the postage costs both ways, since I am returning it because of your inaccurate description".

If they say no, then just repeat your request, politely but firmly. Keep going. Quite often they give in at this point and grudgingly agree to your terms!

I don't care for threats of negative feedback, but if they continue to refuse to cover your postage costs, you can say "I am sorry that we have not been able to resolve this to my satisfaction. I feel my request for you to pay return postage is fully justified, as discussed before. I will bear this in mind when leaving feedback." This is only valid if you DO intend to neg them of course, but I would personally. It's two strikes - one, they sent you an item that was not as described, and two, you are out of pocket when you should't be.

Of course they ARE within their rights to refuse, but I don't consider this a fair aspect of the ebay experience. I've never had an item I've sold returned but if I did, and it was because of my error, I would refund the buyer's return postage without question.

jahlboy

nightsong wrote: »

I have quite often been able to get the seller to pay the return postage.

This works particularly well if they have 100% feedback as it's perfectly obvious you will neg them if you're not happy, and they won't want to lose that precious 100%!

Basically, if an item is not as described, I can see no reason at all why I should be out of pocket over it. So I simply state this, but very politely of course.

e.g. "I wish to return the item for a full refund, and will be grateful if you will pay the postage costs both ways, since I am returning it because of your inaccurate description".

If they say no, then just repeat your request, politely but firmly. Keep going. Quite often they give in at this point and grudgingly agree to your terms!

I don't care for threats of negative feedback, but if they continue to refuse to cover your postage costs, you can say "I am sorry that we have not been able to resolve this to my satisfaction. I feel my request for you to pay return postage is fully justified, as discussed before. I will bear this in mind when leaving feedback." This is only valid if you DO intend to neg them of course, but I would personally. It's two strikes - one, they sent you an item that was not as described, and two, you are out of pocket when you should't be.

Of course they ARE within their rights to refuse, but I don't consider this a fair aspect of the ebay experience. I've never had an item I've sold returned but if I did, and it was because of my error, I would refund the buyer's return postage without question.

This, but never mention feedback in your communication with the seller otherwise they will report it for Feedback Extortion and get it removed.

soolin

nightsong wrote: »

I have quite often been able to get the seller to pay the return postage.

This works particularly well if they have 100% feedback as it's perfectly obvious you will neg them if you're not happy, and they won't want to lose that precious 100%!

Basically, if an item is not as described, I can see no reason at all why I should be out of pocket over it. So I simply state this, but very politely of course.

e.g. "I wish to return the item for a full refund, and will be grateful if you will pay the postage costs both ways, since I am returning it because of your inaccurate description".

If they say no, then just repeat your request, politely but firmly. Keep going. Quite often they give in at this point and grudgingly agree to your terms!

I don't care for threats of negative feedback, but if they continue to refuse to cover your postage costs, you can say "I am sorry that we have not been able to resolve this to my satisfaction. I feel my request for you to pay return postage is fully justified, as discussed before. I will bear this in mind when leaving feedback." This is only valid if you DO intend to neg them of course, but I would personally. It's two strikes - one, they sent you an item that was not as described, and two, you are out of pocket when you should't be.

Of course they ARE within their rights to refuse, but I don't consider this a fair aspect of the ebay experience. I've never had an item I've sold returned but if I did, and it was because of my error, I would refund the buyer's return postage without question.

As has been said, I would expect to get ebay to remove any resulting neg if you sent me that.

nightsong

Oh really? Thanks jahlboy and soolin for your comments. I suppose that's fair enough actually.

Nevertheless it is an accurate reflection of how I'd feel about it. I would leave a negative in this case. I really do not see why I should be out of pocket, AND have the inconvenience of packing something up and taking it to the Post Office, just because a seller chooses to describe an item inaccurately.

We all know that some sellers try it on - they make an item sound so much better than it actually is, and rely on buyer apathy to avoid having to issue a refund. Even if they do eventually have to refund they know they'll only have to pay one lot of postage. Makes me cross!

soolin

nightsong wrote: »

Oh really? Thanks jahlboy and soolin for your comments. I suppose that's fair enough actually.

Nevertheless it is an accurate reflection of how I'd feel about it. I would leave a negative in this case. I really do not see why I should be out of pocket, AND have the inconvenience of packing something up and taking it to the Post Office, just because a seller chooses to describe an item inaccurately.

We all know that some sellers try it on - they make an item sound so much better than it actually is, and rely on buyer apathy to avoid having to issue a refund. Even if they do eventually have to refund they know they'll only have to pay one lot of postage. Makes me cross!

You would be fine if you left out any mention of feedback. In your last email just say that you will be sending it back for a full refund , and leave it at that.

RFW

zerog wrote: »

The seller doesn't have to pay your return postage but may choose to do so.

Legally, if a business seller, for not as described items, the seller most definitely does have to pay the return postage. Getting them to can be the tricky part.

TwinMummy2be

Back again! So I went to post the item back to the seller only to find that their address on eBay is incomplete so I messaged them for full address. I got no response so I opened a case with PayPal and now they have responded with a partial refund offer, they say they can't refund the original postage costs nor the return postage costs. Is this correct? Surely if I have paid to be sent an item which I then find to be described incorrectly I shouldn't be expected to be out of pocket?
Thanks for any replies.