Do I have to refund original postage?

trrk

I sold an item of clothing on Ebay and the buyer requested a return (reason given is that it does not fit). I agreed to the refund since the item was listed as returns accepted but do I have to refund the original postage too leaving me out of pocket? When I selected returns accepted I thought I would only have to refund the purchase price but the refund process suggested I should refund the whole amount.

soolin

trrk wrote: »

I sold an item of clothing on Ebay and the buyer requested a return (reason given is that it does not fit). I agreed to the refund since the item was listed as returns accepted but do I have to refund the original postage too leaving me out of pocket? When I selected returns accepted I thought I would only have to refund the purchase price but the refund process suggested I should refund the whole amount.

Yes you need to refund all of the original payment including postage.

trrk

Thanks - I will do this.

Is there a way to state in the future that I will only refund purchase price or should I just make all listings no returns? I was trying to be helpful but I don't want to be left out of pocket (I might have lost money over this as the purchase price was similar to the postage price and I guess I still pay the Ebay fees?)

Kernow666

when you listed theres a couple of options on returns , even if you select returns not accepted if the buyer isn't happy to will still be forced to accept it back or refund the buyer
best one is returns accepted but buyer pays for postage

soolin

trrk wrote: »

Thanks - I will do this.

Is there a way to state in the future that I will only refund purchase price or should I just make all listings no returns? I was trying to be helpful but I don't want to be left out of pocket (I might have lost money over this as the purchase price was similar to the postage price and I guess I still pay the Ebay fees?)

If buyer has opened a proper returns case then as soon as you get the item back and refund you also get your ebay and paypal fees back (less 20p to paypal). If you state no returns then anecdotally a buyer is more likely to go to a SNAD claim which they will almost certainly win, and then you get to pay return postage fees as well. I'm assuming you are a private seller BTW.

Kernow666 wrote: »

when you listed theres a couple of options on returns , even if you select returns not accepted if the buyer isn't happy to will still be forced to accept it back or refund the buyer
best one is returns accepted but buyer pays for postage

Which is what it sounds like OP already has and which is why he won't have to pay return postage.

trrk

Thanks again for the replies. The item under question was listed as buyer pays for postage. I was just wondering what the best option is for future listings so I don't loose too much money.

Yes, I am a private seller with a low volume of listings.

RFW

Just to clarify how the law works for sellers and returns. There's some who argue that this only applies to business sellers. Whether it does or not, it's worth knowing.
If a buyer says item does not fit there are pretty much two possible reasons.
Let's say it's a pair of trousers, buyer buys 30" waist and is really 38", so trousers never had a chance of fitting, seller not responsible for return postage.
Buyer buys 38" waist trousers, labelled as 38", when they are received the trousers only measure 30" on the waist. Seller is responsible for return postage.

Obviously that's an extreme example, if buyer says the fault is the seller's then seller pays return postage.

On the Ebay system, if you offer returns then you pay, if you don't buyer would open a case on Ebay and you'd most likely still pay. The stats are that if you offer returns you get more bidders/buyers, so long term it's of benefit. Most buyers don't return stuff, when they do it's usually easiest to grin and bear it and get it over with as quickly as possible.

Happydays_56

Still annoying though. Had 3 this week first was "it's not as big as I though, I want to return" that's even though size was given in the listing. Have said send back waiting to hear, no returns case open yet but maybe sending back off their own back ?

2nd was "it's not working" case opened as such and return rec'd today, tested and guess what it's working. Obvious change of mind yet we have to pay return postage. Very unfair.