After nearly 3 months my buyer wants to return the goods!

[dustyanswer]

I sold some vintage fabric at the beginning of November, posted it & heard no more (I never read my own feedback so I don't know if the buyer left any). I am scrupulous about being honest & informative in my listings so I'm confident there was nothing wrong with the item.
Today (nearly 3 months later) I receive a very polite message from her asking if I will buy the fabric back off her as she now realises she can't use it. Well, I have bought stuff from ebay in the past and thought the same but you just suck it up, don't you? I feel I'm within my rights to message back recommending she sticks it back on ebay herself - I will offer to send her the photos I took to sell it. I sold it pretty quickly so she shouldn't have a problem. (Also she'd have to pay to return the fabric to me).

What do you all think/what would you do?
PS the listing indicated that returns were not accepted.

[gamerchick]

Well it doesn't sound as if she wants to return it, more like trying to avoid the faff of selling it herself.

I think what you've suggested is fine.

[AQuietMind]

Tell her no and you advise she lists it back on ebay to get her money back. She can not do anything and ebay and paypal won't be interested either.

[dustyanswer]

Thanks gamer. I think I know I'm being reasonable but I always worry about my ratings and I wanted to double check with others.

[dustyanswer]

Sorry Quiet! Crossed posts. Thanks to you also

[CointreauVersial]

A nice, breezy reply - "oh, that's a shame you can't use it! Never mind, it should sell again quite easily if you list it. All the best, Dusty" You are under absolutely no obligation to take it back.

[Foxesarefriends]

People are so weird, I can't believe she had the cheek to ask you.

[dustyanswer]

She was very polite Foxes, said the fabric was lovely etc... but I agree it's a bit cheeky! My only thought is that maybe she's a bit skint but in that case why not sell it herself? I'm about to reply to her suggesting she does so & offering her the photos I took.

[dustyanswer]

I sent her this message:

Dear X,

I'm so glad you like the fabric but sorry you find you can't use it. May I suggest you place it on eBay yourself on a Buy It Now basis? You might find you make back at least what it cost you - vintage fabric is very popular. This might be your best course of action especially when you take into account the cost of posting it back to me. I would be more than happy to send you the photos I took for you to use in your listing. Good luck!
Best wishes,

[JigglyTuff]

I know from recent (bitter) experience that you have 30 days to return things on ebay and that's only if they're not as described if you have a no returns policy. So a polite note back (and a block) is probably the way forward.

I never fail to be amazed by the sheer brass neck of ebay bayers

[nauticant]

She can not do anything and ebay and paypal won't be interested either.

This is incorrect, there's a 180 day time limit for a buyer to raise a case with Paypal. They could do this easily by making up any kind of problem with the fabric.

For this reason it's best to be polite but neutral as you have OP. If the buyer became angry they could be motivated to do some research and find out about the Paypal time limit.

[dustyanswer]

nauticant she sent me a message yesterday saying the fabric is lovely and that I'd 'wrapped it beautifully'. She admits she wants to sell it back to me because she 'can't find a use for it'. I know ebay/paypal can be very pro-buyer but surely this proves there's nothing wrong with it?

[nauticant]

In many cases those messages would mean nothing as far as Paypal would be concerned. But sometimes you can get hold of someone there who is willing to exercise common sense.

Continue as you are, disengage, and leave the buyer to sort it out themselves.

[dustyanswer]

Thanks nauticant. I haven't heard back from her as yet. She's being a bit daft to be honest because she could very well make more money by re-selling it. I had loads of offers within minutes of listing it. Oh well, so far this is my only weird ebay selling experience so I'm lucky...

[nauticant]

That point I was trying to make, which I kind of hid away in my FACTS!, is that it's always a good idea to be reasonable and neutral in communications. If the other person gets stirred up, they might take it into their head to cause mischief and it is always surprising quite how many ways there are to do this.

Hopefully this issue can now be ignored dustyanswer.