Do I have to allow Ebay returns? 26 August 2022 at 7:55AM edited 26 August 2022 at 7:55AM in Ebay, auctions, car boot sales, post & parcels 11 replies 480 views

sparkiemalarkie

Hi I have just sold a brand new pair of trainers boxed and in perfect condition for £80  +p+p. The same make and style are readily available in the shops obviously much more expensive.
The buyer wants to return the shoes as they are 'very small' for the size.
The trainers are exactly as described in the listing

I simply want the shoes gone.....

Do I have to offer her a return?

Is there another solution that you could suggest ?
She also sells on Ebay ....can I offer her a discount if she wants to keep the trainers and sell them on for herself?

tia

sx

jon81uk

As a private seller you wouldn't have to accept returns if the goods are as described.

However sometimes it is easier to allow the return, get the item back and resell it rather than risk the buyer damaging the item to try and find a way to return.

soolin

Have you definitely not got returns enabled? In which case assuming this is a change of mind return and not an SNAD there should be an option to decline. Buyer can still leave feedback. Just make sure any case open is definitely a change of mind. 

jlfrs01

It's probably worth swotting up on eBay's T's and C's - this is a cut and paste which should clear things up: 

"Under the Consumer Contracts Regulations a business seller has to refund the price of an item (and original delivery charges) if the consumer changes their mind within 14 calendar days of when they receive the returned item or proof that the return has been posted".

As a regular buyer and seller on eBay myself, I think you will find sellers cannot leave negative feedback for buyers, only the other way round. I've found this to be the case when people who have entered into a contract to purchase after winning an item I have listed (or a "Buy It Now") have failed to pay, they've either changed their minds or it has been another seller who has an identical item listed, so "tactical bidding".

jon81uk

jlfrs01 said:

It's probably worth swotting up on eBay's T's and C's - this is a cut and paste which should clear things up: 

"Under the Consumer Contracts Regulations a business seller has to refund the price of an item (and original delivery charges) if the consumer changes their mind within 14 calendar days of when they receive the returned item or proof that the return has been posted".

As a regular buyer and seller on eBay myself, I think you will find sellers cannot leave negative feedback for buyers, only the other way round. I've found this to be the case when people who have entered into a contract to purchase after winning an item I have listed (or a "Buy It Now") have failed to pay, they've either changed their minds or it has been another seller who has an identical item listed, so "tactical bidding".

Note the word business in your quoted text, private sellers are not subject to the same rules.
Private sellers do not need to accept change of mind returns, only for items not as described.

On the feedback subject (unrelated to the OP) if a buyer does not pay then cancel the transaction giving the reason as non-paying bidder and they get a strike against them. 

sparkiemalarkie

Ok there has been a development...
I have looked at the buyers selling page and she has just listed the trainers I sold her
I still haven't replied to her message about returns

Pembroke

sparkiemalarkie said:

Ok there has been a development...
I have looked at the buyers selling page and she has just listed the trainers I sold her
I still haven't replied to her message about returns

This is where you now need to be very careful as it's not unknown to get back a different item to the one sent. For instance the same design but damaged in some way, or not in it's box, or 'soiled'.

As above you're a private seller, you don't have to accept returns, or make refunds if the item is as described.

But if you feel that you must offer a refund then the standard answer is you will do so, as soon as she has returned the item to you in the original packaging and after you've checked they match the photos in the original sales listing.

It might also be prudent to remind her that responsibility for the return arriving in good condition with you shifts to her as the sender. 

Undervalued

jon81uk said:

jlfrs01 said:

It's probably worth swotting up on eBay's T's and C's - this is a cut and paste which should clear things up: 

"Under the Consumer Contracts Regulations a business seller has to refund the price of an item (and original delivery charges) if the consumer changes their mind within 14 calendar days of when they receive the returned item or proof that the return has been posted".

As a regular buyer and seller on eBay myself, I think you will find sellers cannot leave negative feedback for buyers, only the other way round. I've found this to be the case when people who have entered into a contract to purchase after winning an item I have listed (or a "Buy It Now") have failed to pay, they've either changed their minds or it has been another seller who has an identical item listed, so "tactical bidding".

Note the word business in your quoted text, private sellers are not subject to the same rules.
Private sellers do not need to accept change of mind returns, only for items not as described.

On the feedback subject (unrelated to the OP) if a buyer does not pay then cancel the transaction giving the reason as non-paying bidder and they get a strike against them. 

But presumably here the buyer will just say they are not as described otherwise they would fit! They may have a particular size printed on them but we all know that sizes vary, particularly with footwear.

TOP_CAT

Many people cant size themselves very well at all ....they just think they can .

soolin

sparkiemalarkie said:

Ok there has been a development...
I have looked at the buyers selling page and she has just listed the trainers I sold her
I still haven't replied to her message about returns

Is it just a message or has buyer opened a case?

sparkiemalarkie

soolin said:

sparkiemalarkie said:

Ok there has been a development...
I have looked at the buyers selling page and she has just listed the trainers I sold her
I still haven't replied to her message about returns

Is it just a message or has buyer opened a case?

Hi , I had a look at the buyers profile and what she was selling  to try to work out the best way forward.
I saw that she had listed for sale the trainers she bought from me.
I haven't seen if she has opened a case.....

I did message her to say that I don't accept returns and have not heard back.
Returns not accepted is enabled on all my listings.

sx