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AIBU?

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Original poster

Ebay - can he legitimately complain?

73 replies

Tirednest · 12/02/2023 14:40

Sold a coat on Ebay. It was a men's coat, very large, 48". I stated the size in the title and the description. Showed a photo of the size tag on the coat. Put a screenshot of the size guide and highlighted the size measurements. Seller has messaged to say coat is much too big and wants to return it.

I do not accept returns as stated. AIBU to say sorry, no, size was clearly stated? And can he legitimately say item not as described? Coat was a 280 coat, worn once, sold for 120.

OP posts:
HumourReplacementTherapy · 12/02/2023 15:09

Keyansier · 12/02/2023 15:04

Well with all due respect, I disagree with the above comments. If I went into a shop and wanted a refund because something didn't fit and they refused me and said it was my own fault, there would be a major scene caused.

I don't doubt it 😂
But you'd be in the wrong.

UnlikelyStar · 12/02/2023 15:10

I mean the buyer can put the item back on eBay.

Original poster
Tirednest · 12/02/2023 15:10

UnlikelyStar · 12/02/2023 15:09

Very similar happened to me and I replied to the seller saying sorry, I can't accept returns. That was the end of it. The seller can put the item back on eBay if they want to. I am not a shop, I clearly stated the measurements. Isn't it a risk you take when you buy on eBay, that the item might not fit?

Hopefully this will happen to me! I've replied saying sorry and that the sizing and measurements were clearly described.

OP posts:
tommika · 12/02/2023 15:13

Make sure it has been raised through the dispute process, and reject the request based on the fact that it was as described

If it is ultimately to be returned then offer a refund on the item with the buyer to return at their expense - and also take a video of you opening it on receipt

Any refunded amount will result in the fees being credited back
But if you provide a full refund then you would end up out of pocket on the postage

eBay do generally side with the buyer, but if you keep all communications within the dispute process then eBay can and do side with sellers

Corrag · 12/02/2023 15:16

I once sold a blouse on ebay. The buyer demanded a return/refund because it didn't go with the skirt she'd wanted to wear it with. When I pointed out that I'm not M&S she had a full on meltdown. This was years ago, before ebay went all chickenshit and started siding with the buyer 99.99% of the time. She couldn't force me to accept a return. She told me I was greedy, selfish and amoral.

I rarely sell on ebay nowadays, not worth the aggravation.

MadamLeota · 12/02/2023 15:22

The danger is the buyer then damages the coat and says 'oh, I've found a rip! I'll send it back for that'
Happens a lot. Change of mind return not accepted and suddenly it's damaged.

gamerchick · 12/02/2023 15:24

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

It's not a bloody shop though Hmm

mouse70 · 12/02/2023 15:24

Why have you sent the item without getting payment first?
Unfortunately ebay side with buyer I know this from a very similar situation sizing clearly stated and evidenced, buyer wanted to return as it did not fit. My site says returns not accepted but ebay made a refund I had to pay for return postage. I did block the buyer but I was out of pocket. I was very very unhappy. Nothing I could do.

Original poster
Tirednest · 12/02/2023 15:25

mouse70 · 12/02/2023 15:24

Why have you sent the item without getting payment first?
Unfortunately ebay side with buyer I know this from a very similar situation sizing clearly stated and evidenced, buyer wanted to return as it did not fit. My site says returns not accepted but ebay made a refund I had to pay for return postage. I did block the buyer but I was out of pocket. I was very very unhappy. Nothing I could do.

Ebay holds payment now until item delivered

OP posts:
NoWordForFluffy · 12/02/2023 15:26

Keyansier · 12/02/2023 15:04

Well with all due respect, I disagree with the above comments. If I went into a shop and wanted a refund because something didn't fit and they refused me and said it was my own fault, there would be a major scene caused.

Well, yes, but that's because you don't understand your consumer rights and, by all accounts, you're a bit of a drama llama going by your previous threads!

Catspyjamas17 · 12/02/2023 15:29

This reply has been deleted

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Shops don't have to accept returns unless the item is faulty.

CohenTree · 12/02/2023 15:29

Distance selling regulations. He is entitled to return it no matter what your Ebay listing states. You don't have to pay for the return postage though.

CohenTree · 12/02/2023 15:31

Online, mail and phone order sales

Online, mail and telephone order customers have the right to cancel their order for a limited time even if the goods are not faulty. Sales of this kind are known as ‘distance selling’.

You must offer a refund to customers if they’ve told you within 14 days of receiving their goods that they want to cancel. They have another 14 days to return the goods once they’ve told you.

You must refund the customer within 14 days of receiving the goods back. They do not have to provide a reason.

www.gov.uk/accepting-returns-and-giving-refunds

CohenTree · 12/02/2023 15:34

p.s. The above assumes you are a business seller on eBay and that the item was sold for a fixed price (buy it now).

Original poster
Tirednest · 12/02/2023 15:35

CohenTree · 12/02/2023 15:34

p.s. The above assumes you are a business seller on eBay and that the item was sold for a fixed price (buy it now).

I'm not a business seller. Distance selling regs do not apply to private sellers (hence not having to accept returns)

OP posts:
Original poster
Tirednest · 12/02/2023 15:36

CohenTree · 12/02/2023 15:29

Distance selling regulations. He is entitled to return it no matter what your Ebay listing states. You don't have to pay for the return postage though.

DSR do not apply to private sellers.

OP posts:
lljkk · 12/02/2023 15:37

OP: agree to the return but buyer should pay return postage, I'd try that logic with buyer (ask buyer to pay returned tracked postage) since they sound .... clueless but not unpleasant. As soon as item is back, send a transaction cancellation notice (or however ebay cancels transactions now), this action will get your fees back. Block buyer for being clueless, relist with as many measurements in cm as you can think to make about the coat.

If you fight this, ebay will keep the fees AND make you refund even if you don't get the coat back. Don't get in that mess.

I sell a lot on ebay.

CohenTree · 12/02/2023 15:38

Apologies for the misinformation.

Catspyjamas17 · 12/02/2023 15:38

There are different rules for business sellers. If the OP is an individual and the goods met the description she doesn't have to accept a return.

Original poster
Tirednest · 12/02/2023 15:39

relist with as many measurements in cm as you can think to make about the coat

It had 12 different measurements on the listing.

He hasn't opened a dispute yet, just said the coat was lovely but too big and could he return.

OP posts:
Catspyjamas17 · 12/02/2023 15:41

He has the coat and can resell it himself to get his money back - that's how eBay works with private sellers. It's not Amazon.

lljkk · 12/02/2023 15:46

If buyer returns the coat and you get your fees back, assuming buyer paid separate postage for initial delivery (?) then you won't be out of pocket on the return, will you? This is safest option for how you proceed.

SeriouslyLTB · 12/02/2023 15:57

ChefsSalad · 12/02/2023 15:07

Anyone who recognises you will not be remotely surprised at that statement.

Show quote history

Right? Every day a new eye roll with this one.

plumduck · 12/02/2023 16:18

Tirednest · 12/02/2023 15:39

relist with as many measurements in cm as you can think to make about the coat

It had 12 different measurements on the listing.

He hasn't opened a dispute yet, just said the coat was lovely but too big and could he return.

Oh that's so bad.

If I were the buyer I'd just resell. I did this once and the original seller had a go at me via feed back as I'd managed to sell it for £20 more than I bought it.

tommika · 12/02/2023 19:40

Tirednest · 12/02/2023 15:39

relist with as many measurements in cm as you can think to make about the coat

It had 12 different measurements on the listing.

He hasn't opened a dispute yet, just said the coat was lovely but too big and could he return.

Take no action at all if they have only contacted you in the eBay messenger
(Obviously don’t ignore messages)

But if they wish to claim it’s not as advertised they must raise a dispute, which you can respond to

Some buyers do chance it and then don’t pursue
If they do raise a dispute of ‘not as advertised’ then you can push back based on your advert with all the details