eBay etiquette

[featherbag]

AIBU or is this seller?

Bought an item of clothing for baby DS from eBay (get most of his clothes this way, he grows too fast for anything else!), and when it arrived it had some marks in it, which to me were obvious and would make the item unwearable. I understand people make mistakes though, so decided to wash it and, if the marks came out, say no more about it. The marks are still very much there, so I politely emailed the seller to request a refund. She's asked for a photo of the offending marks rather than the item back, which I don't mind doing at all. However, she then says she'll only refund my bid, not the P&P (which is more than the amount I bid) as otherwise she'll be out of pocket.

AIBU in thinking that if either of us is going to be out of pocket, it should be the one who inadvertently sold a stained item of clothing? She's essentially asking me to pay for the privilege of washing an item, then photographing it, emailing the photograph and disposing of the item. AIBU to ask the total is refunded?

Come on, I find it impossible that no one here has any relevant experience, or at least an opinion?!

pages.ebay.co.uk/ebaybuyerprotection/index.html

open a dispute with ebay

In most cases, eBay transactions go through with no problems at all. But we've put safeguards in place to make sure that if anything does go wrong, you will get the item you wanted or your money refunded in full, including postage. or email the seller that saying refund all money or you will open a dispute and give negitive feedback

pages.ebay.co.uk/ebaybuyerprotection/index.html

You wont get your postage back I'm afraid. That never happens.
Did you enlarge the photo, and have a good look?
I sold a Cath Kidston rucksack bag last week, and stated it had been well used for a year and that it was covered in water marks.
The lady sent me a nasty email saying how disgusting it was, and wanted her money back. She said that my description did not tally with the photo.
My photo clearly shows water marks and wear and tear of a year's use... We go nasty, threatened me and then ledge negative feedback. I reported her to EBay for Feedback Extortion. I could only leave her positive feedback, as EBay never ever protect the buyer.
You are the buyer. You will win this one, buyers always do in my experience. Lodge a dispute, and if you paid with PayPal, you'll most likely get your money back, but not postage I'm afraid. Hopefully you won't have to send it back, and you'll just get the bid money back.

Blooming iPad. I mean 'she left negative feedback' and my stupid rants typo... 'eBay never ever protects the SELLER'.
Right, Bedfordshire for me. Rant over. Good luck op, sounds like you'll be fine. (buyers always are!) rant over...honest?

If you open a "not as described" dispute you may well get a full refund and p&p back. I did this last weeke with shoes that were scratched and damaged despite being sold as "as new". The seller offered a refund without P&p; I ignored that offer and let eBay decide.

If you open a dispute with eBay tick the box marked 'other' where it states what resolution you want, and write in next to it 'refund'.

Then once escalated eBay should refund you in full and you will not have the expense of a return.

Then you can leave neg and low stars for your seller.

Thanks all - really hope I don't have to go down the disputes/negative feedback route, I hate doing that!

You will get your postage back if you open a dispute, I'm sure.

no you won't get your return postage back if you open a dispute, just the original p&p back but the cost of the return is yours unless the seller is kind and gives you it back too.

The general eBay rule is refund on return. So if you open an eBay case you may have to send it back at your cost. However eBay will nforce a full refund inc p&p as originally paid. I understand why seller asked for photos as with clothing a lot of people claim marks etc when their real problem is incorrect size. But on recieving and seeing the photos its bad form not to offer a full refund on return. Like others say, use ebays significantly not as described reporting tool.

More about refunds

If you're given a refund, you'll usually receive it through same payment method that you used to pay for the item. If you bought an item with a payment method other than PayPal, we'll ask you to confirm receipt of the refund.

A full refund is one that covers the cost of the item and original postage. If you've received an item and want a full refund, you'll usually need to send the item back to the seller. Buyers are responsible for paying return postage unless the buyer and seller have reached a different agreement. In unusual circumstances, eBay may pay return postage.

From eBay