Returning eBay item for free. Possible?

JustAnotherSaver

Story short i'm going to need to return an item i bought on eBay because it took so long to get to me. Not the sellers fault as once it's posted it's out of their hands (no pun intended).

It's been sent Royal Mail 1st class recorded. It was posted to my mother's address and i told her to just tell the postie to return it to sender (i don't know if you can do this so it'd be handy to know if you can?)

My mother wasn't in when they tried delivering & so a card was left saying the item has been left at the main post office in town due to it needing a signature.

So obviously it's not been opened & i don't need to open it either as the item is now no good to me.

Can i go to the PO & say return to sender (& therefore not pay any return postage) or will i have no choice & will have to pay to return it?

I don't know whether others do this but when i return things i generally send via 2nd class recorded to obtain proof that i've sent it off so that in the event the item goes missing, i have proof i sent it off & can still get my refund.

Assuming the answer to my earlier question is that i can refuse it & return to sender for free, how would i go about obtaining proof of return so that i'm covered for a refund?

This_Year

If it's not collected Royal Mail will return it to sender after a set number of days (believe it's 18 working days but it may be less) and you won't be liable for any return postage - the original reference number (some call it tracking number) will show it's return and eventual delivery back to sender.

Providing the postie does obtain a signature at the other end, of course.

JustAnotherSaver

This_Year wrote: »

If it's not collected Royal Mail will return it to sender after a set number of days (believe it's 18 working days but it may be less) and you won't be liable for any return postage - the original reference number (some call it tracking number) will show it's return and eventual delivery back to sender.

Providing the postie does obtain a signature at the other end, of course.

Well i'm off work this week so is it worth just going in to speed the process up & asking them to just return to sender, or does it not work that way?

This_Year

JustAnotherSaver wrote: »

Well i'm off work this week so is it worth just going in to speed the process up & asking them to just return to sender, or does it not work that way?

Sorry, I don't know!

I've never been in the situation of not wanting my parcel.

Annie35

there's some general & anecdotal grumblings on the ebay forums that refused delivery cancels INR buyer protection, so if it gets all messy it may(maynot) make things supermessy :eek: I dont know if thats true or not but its a fight you may end up with??

have you actually told your seller you want to return it? If you wanted to do it the right (ebay) way id just open an item not as described case (described a date, didnt meet it), get a prepaid returns label & pop it back to them. Leaving it to the fate of the PO uncollected return it may never get back, youve no proof, youve miffed your seller who is being less then helpful,, you could be risking your refund.

Tealblue

Proof you've sent something off doesn't guarantee you a refund from the seller - you need proof of delivery. If it does go AWOL and you have proof of posting, then you can claim within certain limits (see Royal Mail's website for full info).

Agree with post number 5 - do it properly to be certain, but do at least contact the seller first. They may decide to refund and let you keep the item if it is fairly low value.

soolin

Tealblue wrote: »

Proof you've sent something off doesn't guarantee you a refund from the seller - you need proof of delivery. If it does go AWOL and you have proof of posting, then you can claim within certain limits (see Royal Mail's website for full info).

Agree with post number 5 - do it properly to be certain, but do at least contact the seller first. They may decide to refund and let you keep the item if it is fairly low value.

Actually for returns only proof of an attempt at delivery is required- there is no requirement to actually make sure seller gets it back. This is to stop sellers refusing to accept a parcel and refusing a refund on a return.

molerat

Is your mother's address your registered paypal address ?

soolin

molerat wrote: »

Is your mother's address your registered paypal address ?

It doesn't need to be as long as it was shown as the address when paypal checked out. As long as one address in paypal is OK, all the rest added at checkout will be as well.

theonlywayisup

Annie35 wrote: »

there's some general & anecdotal grumblings on the ebay forums that refused delivery cancels INR buyer protection, so if it gets all messy it may(maynot) make things supermessy :eek: I dont know if thats true or not but its a fight you may end up with??

It did used to be the case on Ebay buyer protection that refusal could
be interpreted as breaking the contract and as such buyer protection could be forfeited. It was removed some years ago to be in line with legislation [that the seller must show delivery].

I think you raise a good point that the buyer should contact as it may be the seller doesn't want the item back (value?). Although the cheapest way for the seller to get it back (assuming it has a return address) would be for the buyer to refuse it.

the_lunatic_is_in_my_head

theonlywayisup wrote: »

It was removed some years ago to be in line with legislation [that the seller must show delivery].

We had a case closed in our favour in March last year, tracking only showed attempted delivery.