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How do I return an ebay purchase?

24 replies

dudsville · 11/12/2020 17:41

I'm probably going to end up just having to learn from this experience, deal with the lost money and add this dress to my next charity run, but I thought i should check to see if anyone has any useful guidance before accepting my fate.

I almost never use Ebay. It's been years since my last purchase and I've maybe made 5 purchases in total. Inspired by a friend's ebay purchase I googled for things from my favourite higher end high street shops. I found a dress from a shop I know well in my size and ordered it in the belief that Ebay had a money back returns guarantee but fully expecting the item to fit. It seems to me to be 2 sizes smaller.

I think now ebay's position is a policy not a guarantee, but I still think reading the policy I would still warrant a return and refund. So I asked the seller for a return for the reason of sizing, and she declined.

Now I didn't say that although it was "new with tags", the way the tag was attached isn't usual for this brand, and also most of their dresses come with generous pockets and hemlines and this dress had neither - that isn't the reason I was seeking a return though, I like the dress and would have happily worn it if it fitted, and i didn't want to cause offence or start an argument by mentioning these other points so i only referred to the sizing in my request.

The seller won't respond to me other than to decline. Do i have any other options?

OP posts:
2Kidsinatrenchcoat · 11/12/2020 17:51

eBay is only the selling platform not the seller so they can’t offer a returns/refunds guarantee. Private sellers don’t have to accept returns, the same as if they were selling through Facebook or any other selling platform, and they only ha e to refund if the item doesn’t arrive or isn’t as described. As long as the size on the label is what it was listed as and the item matches up with the pictures then the seller doesn’t have to accept the return or refund you.

thebakeoffwasntasgoodthisyear · 11/12/2020 17:54

Private sellers don’t have to give refunds, though it’s best of they state that in the original listing. I buy and sell a lot - if something doesn’t suit me then I’ll sell it on.

jessstan1 · 11/12/2020 18:01

Ask the seller.

Interested in this thread?

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dudsville · 11/12/2020 18:48

I'm not on Facebook. I'm not familiar with this form of shopping and didn't realise it was so different. Ah well.

OP posts:
tectonicplates · 11/12/2020 18:55

I found a dress from a shop I know well in my size and ordered it in the belief that Ebay had a money back returns guarantee but fully expecting the item to fit. It seems to me to be 2 sizes smaller.

Could you tell us a bit more about this please? Do you think it's just something that comes up small, or do you think there might have been a factory labelling error?

Now I didn't say that although it was "new with tags", the way the tag was attached isn't usual for this brand, and also most of their dresses come with generous pockets and hemlines and this dress had neither

Is there any chance at all that its a fake? Because if so, then you might be able to get your money back on the grounds that it's incorrectly described or something like that. Most private sellers don't accept returns just because you don't like an item, but if something dodgier is going on then Ebay will usually take the buyer's side.

tectonicplates · 11/12/2020 18:59

Does it of have the usual fabric and stitching quality of the brand? Is there a fabric label inside with washing instructions? I wonder if it could be a cheap knockoff of some kind, in which case it might be possible to get Ebay to help you.

By the way, just a bit of advice for any future purchases: I'd be very wary of any private seller who didn't measure the item and give exact measurements. I always give detailed measurements, then it stops people claiming the clothes didn't fit.

sophs29 · 11/12/2020 18:59

I agree with PP, if it's not a genuine item you should have more chance of getting your money back as it's been missold! But I don't know you could really prove that! But good luck! It must've been very annoying!

tectonicplates · 11/12/2020 19:01

Also what is the seller's feedback like? Do they have any negative or neutral feedback, and if so what reason was given?

ragged · 11/12/2020 19:04

It's not as described, simple refund to get. 2 sizes too small.

dudsville · 11/12/2020 20:15

Thank you, you've given me some ideas.

I'm going to measure it (I didn't notice if she posted measurements, just the size - I'm clearly not up for this way of shopping and that never occurred to me).

I haven't looked at the reviews as I couldn't really stomach it. This item arrived yesterday and I had a long day at work today, I'll check over the weekend.

I had wondered if it could be fake. It just doesn't feel like the quality that would be usual for this company, but I don't know every item they make so I would hate to suggest it when it wasn't the case. I could ask the company though, I'll take a pic and email them.

If those things (measuring and emailing the company) lead me to think I could try again for a refund how do I involve Ebay? I looked for a button but couldn't find one.

And thanks for tip re future shopping but I think I'll stick to normal shops in future!

OP posts:
midinthenight · 11/12/2020 20:18

It sounds fake. If it's a shop such as Boden that you're familiar with, it probably is. You could try to report it if you can be sure or it may not be worth the hassle.

tectonicplates · 11/12/2020 20:18

I haven't looked at the reviews as I couldn't really stomach it. This item arrived yesterday and I had a long day at work today, I'll check over the weekend.

You didn't check the seller's feedback before buying?

Redburnett · 11/12/2020 20:19

Open an 'item not as described' case because of the size difference, perhaps quoting measurements, and request a refund.

paiop · 11/12/2020 20:26

I use ebay a lot as I trust the way they protect buyers much better than amazon. As long as you can prove you have posted it back to the seller and have opened a case for 'not as described' then you will get your money back.
It's easier to open a case for a return on the desktop site rather than the app. If the tag is kit attached as is should be then it is still not as described but the incorrect sizings should be enough

whatwedontknow · 11/12/2020 20:27

I second the open a case not as described, especially if it was sold as new with tags. eBay will arrange a returns slip and refund, seller won’t have a choice.

Some people think because it’s still got tags that it’s new with tags. It’s not, NWT means brand new, a dress that’s been hanging in a wardrobe or in the loft is new other. i.e new but unworn.

paiop · 11/12/2020 20:28

It may take a couple of weeks for the return to be escalated by ebay but they will force a return of the money. Hang on to post it back until they give the go ahead. The seller will have to pay postage if the fault is theirs

tectonicplates · 11/12/2020 20:35

Some people think because it’s still got tags that it’s new with tags. It’s not, NWT means brand new, a dress that’s been hanging in a wardrobe or in the loft is new other. i.e new but unworn.

I disagree. NWT means the item is unworn, no matter how old it is. "New other" is for things like tagged items with factory faults.

Otherwise where is your cutoff point for what counts as new? If you bought it a week ago then it's new, but if you bought it two months ago then it isn't?

The tags thing relates to the original manufacturer's tags. The things I would disagree with would be something like where it's described as BNWT but the it's a tag from a second hand shop, and has clearly been worn and washed. That's what's not acceptable.

dudsville · 11/12/2020 20:44

I just googled the brand name and the descriptors on the label, I.e. the name of the dress and what looks like an item code, and searched under images. Nothing came up. It makes me feel better about chasing this up. Thanks again for all of your help.

And no I didn't look at the feedback before I purchased. I know I've been naive. I'm not familiar with this way of shopping and I thought it was enough to know the brand and size, and I mistakenly believed returns like ordinary shops. Lesson learned!

OP posts:
tectonicplates · 11/12/2020 20:48

I definitely think you should take it further and do an Item Not As Described case. Do ask for further help here if you can't work out how to do it. Make sure to say if you think it's a fake.

And it's only private sellers who are allowed to say no returns allowed. Please don't let it put you off Ebay, just look more closely at the returns policy of each seller. Anyone registered as a business seller is required by law to accept returns.

Possums4evr · 11/12/2020 20:56

I've bought stuff online that didn't fit though and it wasn't fake - I can buy two Boden dresses in the same size and one will fit and one won't. It might be a fake but not just because it doesn't fit!

dudsville · 11/12/2020 20:58

Thanks, and that's helpful to know about different forms of sellers.

OP posts:
whatwedontknow · 11/12/2020 21:13

@tectonicplates I think that demonstrates the difficulty selling on eBay, managing buyer expectations. Same as postage costs which always create debate.

tectonicplates · 11/12/2020 21:20

Same as postage costs which always create debate.

That debate can be eliminated by offering free postage and upping the price of the item slightly instead.

whatwedontknow · 11/12/2020 21:51

Well that’s just another side of the debate Grin

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