Buyer wants a refund before Returning. Is this right?

[formerdiva]

I sold a suit that I thought was lovely on eBay for a bargain £19.99at auction (£275 BNWT). The buyer has said that the skirt is a different colour to the jacket so wants a refund. I'm not too fussed, as I expected it to sell for more than that anyway and I could get more in a local dress agency.

Having looked on ebay's returns policy, my understanding was that the buyer needs to mark it as a return on her eBay page, send it to me and I'm to refund within 3 days. I mailed this to the buyer, but she's saying that I need to pay her before she'll return it.

Any advice on what I should do? She's got a feedback of 50 something at 100% positive and has been a member for 4 years, so she doesn't look like she takes the mickey on a regular basis.

BTW - I have 100% positive feedback.

Any thoughts really appreciated.

no - she returns in condition it was sent and you refund in full then. never refund before return as is doubtful you will get your item back. Marks & Spencers don't refund before you return do they?

She returns first, that is what ebay policy says.

Great - thanks very much for responses.

I had someone try and do this to me, I explained as laurie did that you wouldn't get a refund from a shop without returning the product but they still argued the toss. E-bay fully supported me with return before refund. You may well find they won't return it and just trying their luck!

It's a famous con...
Offer to pay return postage as the error was yours and say you will refund the minute you get it back...

Bet she never sends it, we had a guy try the same with a perfect Sky Box we sold... He never returned it but tried to get a refund by saying " I need to buy another pronto or the kids will kill me" despite having had it a month and saying it never worked... And he left good feedback!!!

I Mumsnet - there's nowhere else I could get this advice.

Mailed the buyer quite firmly about it, and she happily said she'd post it today. Thanks for the advice - much appreciated