Item not quite as expected.

[tigercametotea]

I bidded on a Topshop top and won it. When it arrived though, it was smelly ( reeked of mothballs and something else, like BO?) and very very bobbly. Its not meant to be bobbly, its an acrylic nylon mix stretchy black sleeveless turtleneck top and its obvious it became bobbly through being worn and washed (though not sure if its due to not being washed at the 30 degrees specified, I do not know).. The seller did not add any description about it other than post a picture of her wearing it and the photo did not show up the bobbliness of the fabric at all since the colour is a matte jet black.

Seller listed it as "No returns accepted" either.

Well it only cost £5 so I don't think it's worth returning. I emailed the seller but she didn't reply. Do I leave a neg or a neutral? Or open a dispute? To be fair, I did not ask before bidding whether the top is bobbly and worn or not, but I did not expect it to be sold on Ebay if it was in this state - on hindsight, I was probably overly optimistic!

Rude of the seller not to reply. As there wasn't any description of the condition at all (!) and presumably it was listed as used, I don't think you could open a dispute.....I would probably put in the charity bag, and be a bit more careful next time. Feedback - not sure. I would probably just not leave any, but that's just me.

i once bought a dress which stated 'needs hemming' but in reality it had been cut indecently short and needed hemming. I emailed and thankfully got a refund.

I would open a dispute if i were you, prob not much can be done about the smell but it shouldn't have been sold with bobbling if they didn't advertise it as such.

If you emailed and they didn't reply I'd be tempted to leave a neutral to alert other buyers that the seller has pretty low standards about quality.

I've just had a nightmare transaction and opened a dispute, which ebay found in my favour (no brainer really) Am still steeling myself to leave negative feedback as it seems so unpleasant, but the seller really was awful so I should really put on my big girl pants and do it to warn other buyers.

She has now replied. She says I can return it and that she always tries to list her items as honestly as possible. What are Ebay guidelines concerning returns? Do I get a full refund + return postage if I return? I just tried searching Ebay help pages for this and it said sellers are obliged to refund return postage as well. ocs.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?CustomerSupport

I've never returned anything on Ebay before and was always under the impression that sellers don't refund return postage. Am I mistaken or has the guideline changed somewhat? Also, if I return, should I open a dispute anyway just to make sure Ebay keeps a record?

hmm don't know why link doesn't show the search results. You have to type "Return postage" and then click Search to get the search results, then click on "Who pays for return postage costs?"

I just think I probably won't bother returning if seller is not paying return postage because of the low price of item.

I think they pay return postage and refund item, but not refund postage to you- or at least I think thats all they have to do. Good sellers normally refund all and swallow the cost though.

open a dispute with eBay - tick the box other then write in next to it refund - then when escalated eBay should give you all your money back as a no fault refund, and you will not need to return the item

than you can leave a negative

Actually she only said she would refund purchase price upin return. Oh dear I've already opened a dispute last night and asked for partial refund equivalent to buying price. I suppose she may well say no and insist on refund upon return. She isn't obliged to refund me at all is she? I'm not sure how resolution centre works but I always thought Ebay buyer protection can only insist she refund original p&p and purchase price upon return. If that's the case I would just return it for a full refund then, if just to make sure she doesn't get to profit at all from this. The reason why I asked for partial refund last night is just to save myself the hassle of returning. I wasn't sure if bobbling of material counts as Significantly Not As Described under Ebay rules and wasn't aware at all that if I did what Fergoose suggested, I would get a full refund without having to return.

we she is wrong, you are entitled to a full refund of all of your money, she cannot keep your original p&p - that is wrong.

If you return 2nd class recorded you should get a signature proving your return - but write on the packaging 'please ensure recipient signs for this parcel - thank you' - as many posties don't seem to bother any more.

Thanks Fergoose. Will do. Just waiting for her reply now as she has up till 8 Jun to respond before I can escalate the dispute.

Hi all, just to say that Ebay has refunded me in full today without asking for me to return the top, after I escalated the case - the seller failed to respond a week after the dispute was opened.

Should I just leave it at that and not leave a review for the seller? Or should I leave a review to warn others?

I think you should leave a negative to warn other potential buyers - seller wasn't really very good was she?

Oh its just that her record has been flawless and at 166 positives. I do feel a bit bad to be the first to tarnish that.

yes but she sent you something not as described - the whole point of feedback is to warn other buyers. Also you can only see feedback for the last 12 months can't you - she could have negs from years ago

I have just left a neg, felt quite reluctant at first as I suppose she might have slipped up this time but appears to be a good seller otherwise.