What to do?

going_nowhere_fast

I sold an item on e-bay. The item was in perfect condition, correctly described and sent well packaged. There is nothing wrong with it. All my listings always specify no returns.

The buyer has sent me a msg saying they have posted the item back and said give me refund now! There is no explanation given for sending the item back and as far as I am concerned the item cannot be returned - I'm not a shop!!

What can I do?

PS. Have not (as yet) received the item back.

martinthebandit

When you get it back refund and move on, doing anything else will just cause you grief.

cattie

Specifying no returns means nothing in the world of ebay. You have to accept returns & if you want to continue to sell on ebay & not get marked down for defects & a possible eventual ban from selling via ebay, you give buyers a prompt refund when requested.

The 1st rule of selling on ebay these days is to remember that ebay always sides with the buyer rather than the seller in any dispute. After all, sellers are not important, as all they contribute to the ebay empire are fat fees.

mgdavid

however, the buyer should do it the correct way. Raise a case in ebay, state why they want the return and refund, then return the goods to you using a tracked or signed service, then you can respond and refund, and you will get a fee credit for the listing.

19lottie82

hmmmmm. i'd be inclined just to accept the return, as long as the item is in the same condition as when you sent it.

usually a buyer is only entitled to return an item for a refund, if it is faulty or has been mis sold, but a buyer can easily make up a flimsy excuse, and ebay will most likely order the refund upon return.

if you reject the return you'll prob just have to deal with an ebay case and most likely negative feedback, which isn't really worth the hassle.

if I were you, id message the buyer and say you will refund once you have received it and are satisfied that it is in the same condition as when when you sent it.

hopefully there won't be anything more sinister going on here.

19lottie82

can I ask what the item is / was?

going_nowhere_fast

It was clothing and they haven't sent it recorded delivery back to me. They are threatening to get a refund via PayPal if I don't send them their money but I haven't even got the item back. If I refund them they have £30 of my money plus I don't have the item to re-sell.

They seem to be one of those troublesome kind, has negative feedback for selling fakes.

How do I raise a case with eBay? I haven't used eBay for some time so can't find my way round the site these days.

alykatz

going_nowhere_fast wrote: »

It was clothing and they haven't sent it recorded delivery back to me. They are threatening to get a refund via PayPal if I don't send them their money but I haven't even got the item back. If I refund them they have £30 of my money plus I don't have the item to re-sell.

They seem to be one of those troublesome kind, has negative feedback for selling fakes.

How do I raise a case with eBay? I haven't used eBay for some time so can't find my way round the site these days.

All you have to do is sit tight , dont refund ultill you have the item back.
If they open a case via ebay or paypal they will be told to send the item back tracked and will have to upload the tracking number to prove item has been sent back.

19lottie82

going_nowhere_fast wrote: »

It was clothing and they haven't sent it recorded delivery back to me. They are threatening to get a refund via PayPal if I don't send them their money but I haven't even got the item back. If I refund them they have £30 of my money plus I don't have the item to re-sell.

They seem to be one of those troublesome kind, has negative feedback for selling fakes.

How do I raise a case with eBay? I haven't used eBay for some time so can't find my way round the site these days.

As Allykatz has advised, if they try to complain to ebay or paypal, all they will be told to do is to return the item (tracked) and once delivery has been proved, they will be refunded.

Don't do anything right now. If it DOES arrive then you can refund them BUT my guess is they haven't returned it and are just chancing their arm for a refund.

If it doesn't show up and they start getting shirty (threatening neg feedback etc), CALL ebay and report them, explaining that you suspect foul play / extortion (although you can't open a case, as such)

RFW

Make sure you keep copies of emails/messages saying they have returned the item. Chances are, at some point, they'll change to say they never received it.

pinkshoes

If they have FB for selling fakes, make sure you have the same item sent back before refunding!