EBay question - does seller have to accept returns if they’ve stated returns accepted on the listing?

[Ghostofthepast]

Bought something on a “buy it now” offer on the Saturday, it was accepted and paid for right away, seller posted it the following Tuesday and it then delivered on that Friday. I had already left for the weekend away I wanted it for and my cleaner kindly signed for it.

The listing stated “returns accepted within 28 days” so when I got back I processed the return and got a QR code right away. I am happy to pay the return postage.

The seller has now got in touch with me suggesting she won’t honour this return - I’m just wondering if she has to as this was noted on the listing, or if she can decline it for any reason?

6 days from payment to delivery seems like quite a long time to me but I’m not sure if this is standard.

thanks

What's the reason for you wanting to return it? Technically yes if she says she accepts returns then she has to accept the return providing you having used/damaged the item.

Haven't*

Did you let the seller know that you required the item by the weekend? Also did you pay extra for next day/expedited delivery service?

Because it didn’t arrive in time, so I have no use for it now.

I didn’t explicitly let her know no, but I did message her on that Friday morning to check where it was in case it was about to arrive in that morning’s post. She didn’t respond but then it did arrive when I had already gone. Expedited shipping wasn’t offered, it was standard 2nd class.

Whether it was offered or not, the seller isn't a mind reader. Unless you specifically said you need it by then, they wouldn't know. They might have then offered to send it a quicker service for additional money.

Personally I think it's absolutely cheeky of you. I would not expect someone to attempt to return something simply because they ordered it and changed their mind. I'd refuse the return.

6 days including a weekend isn't a long time! But I'm fairly sure if you took it to ebay she has to accept the return. In fact I think even if they say no returns they can't actually enforce that.
I can see why she's a bit annoyed though as she probably put a despatch time on the listing which is usually up to 3 days, plus 2nd class (I'm presuming) delivery being a few days it hasn't arrived particularly late.

I don’t use eBay that much, can I ask what’s the point in having the “returns accepted within 28 days” if sellers don’t mean it?

Here is what it said on the listing. Shouldn’t a seller choose the “returns not accepted” option if they don’t want to offer returns?

That’s useful, thank you

When you purchase something it states the approximate delivery time in line with the sellers stipulations on the listing.

I am an eBay seller. I cannot get to the post office regularly as I'm rural. My postage is set to 'post within 3 working days' the approximate delivery date is calculated by eBay from this information plus the type of postal service I use.

If you were purchasing your item from me on that Saturday, the third working day would be posting on the following Wednesday. If it was a back holiday, it would then be posted on the Thursday.

If I quoted 2nd class I'd expect eBay to calculate a generous 5 days for royal mail. You'd be receiving it the following Monday.

I think that you received it on the Friday is pretty good on your seller really.

Individual sellers and small shops cannot compete with Amazon. Many people have come to expect delivery along the same lines.

My advice to you is read the listing, especially the estimated delivery date.

However, if her listing specifies she will accept returns then yes she does have to.

If she's refusing, open a case and let eBay sort things.

Not sure why everyone is saying you're unreasonable. If the seller states they accept returns, they can't suddenly decide that they don't. Your reasons are irrelevant.

Yes to this. EBay will side with you on this. If you offer returns, you can't suddenly decide that you don't like the reason given.

If this is a business seller then returns are not optional (and this also goes for all the business sellers who use a 'personal' ebay account to get around this - if they buy and resell for profit then they're a business). See the consumer contracts regulations for distance sellers - the Which website has a good explanation of it.

If this is a genuine personal seller who also offers returns then I imagine ebay will enforce it so I'd just follow the process on there.

I'm happy for people to return things they feel aren't as described or have been damaged en route. For people to order something that never stood a chance to arrive on time when they could have bought something on Amazon Prime if they needed it that desperately i would be very pissed off.

Maybe you don't realise, but people have to pay for packaging, posting and spend their time taking it to even be posted. If you wanted something that quickly you had prime or one of those buildings called a shop.

She may have not specifically put she accepts returns and eBay just defaulted it into the listing. I've been caught out by that before. I'd contact eBay tbh

I don't accept returns. However twice I've been forced by buyers to accept returns from buyers who decide they don't like what I've sold them. EBay sides with the buyer.

Ebay is a nightmare for sellers.. I left this year after 12 years as a private seller! buyers are a complete nightmare! An example of a few sales I made... 1/ I sold a knitting pattern for knitting a babys shawl (in the knitting section, showing the knitting pattern in a photo.. Telling what knitting needles and wool type for the knitting pattern.. Knitting pattern was mentioned 5 times!) and I was selling for the total price of £2.10 including postage costs and they complained they thought it was a complete knitted up babys shawl..2/ The second item was for lady's knee high boots.. In the woman's section.. Showing the WOMAN'S boots size 5! and in the woman's boot section with Woman's boots size 5 in the title! A man bought them and complained they were too small as his feet couldn't get into them😭l give up! Also the non received items were getting out of control (I always get proof of postage from the post office)..

If you’re a business seller it matters not whether you’re happy or otherwise!

EBay sellers charge the buyer a fee for postage, packing and time to send the item. It isn’t free for a buyer

"EBay sellers charge the buyer a fee for postage, packing and time to send the item. It isn’t free for a buyer"

If the item is returned this all has to be refunded, so the seller is left out of pocket.

Obviously, this is just a cost of business and something sellers need to be aware of. But many business sellers either aren't aware or don't think the rules apply to them.