(crafty) Seller & Return Postage Query

[Willowisp]

I bought an item which was described as excellent condition & worn once. Paid over the odds because it was cheaper than buying new (of course). Item arrives & there is damage to the fabric & some marks that look like that tar.

I contact seller, who apologies & says they obviously didn't check the item. I can return & he will refund me - including return postage. However, to return with tracked will cost me 1/3 of the cost of item. I am also relying on his 'honesty' to refund the postage.

If I open an ebay dispute, will i get my return postage refunded ? Will it become a no fault refund (assuming I 'win'). He states on his listing he accepts returns..I've only ever used the paypal dispute & that doesn't refund return postage.

Whatever happens I'll be leaving negative feedback due to the aggro & unpleasant buying experience [pouts]

when you open the dispute when you choose your resolution tick the box marked other then write in next to it write in refund

when you are able to escalate to customer support do so and you should hopefully get a refund without the need to return the item

otherwise you are relying on the seller being decent and refunding your return postage as a separate payment - many promise this but do not refund when you later ask for your money.

thanks - he does state he accepts returns though, so I am concerned that I'll be expected to return it.

Love ebay when it works, hate it when sellers cheat & lie !

Well, opened the dispute & sure enough, as seller accepts returns I have to take the hit of returning the item via tracked post. So I am out of pocket from the cheating scum seller [cross]

and is the option to escalate it to customer support there yet - wait couple of days as that may become visible, then once it is hit escalate and you should get a refund without the need for a return

I am sorry, but I don't see the problem here - maybe I am missing something though

The item isn't in the condition you expected - fair enough and you have grounds to complain about that.
However the seller has told you they will refund your return costs and the full original payment when the item is back with them.

It is fairly standard to send an item back in such circumstances with tracking - but this can be done simply via recorded delivery which is 75p extra on ordinary postage.
Until such time as the seller fails to refund your full payment including return costs I can't see where your anger about them is coming from.
The seller is entitled to have the item back - they may be able to clean it and sell it on again.

I am a seller and occasionally I get items returned - I do have a no quibble policy and I'll accept change of mind returns. I always refund return postage - but not until the item is actually back with me.
Until I actually have the return back I don't know how much to refund for the postage. Some items come back as 1st or 2nd class, some recorded, some special delivery or even via courier. How can a seller refund an amount they don't have a record of?

If I were you, I'd give the seller the benefit of the doubt - in my experience if they say they will refund return postage then they do - why would they risk a neg and low DSRs by not following through?
Unless the seller's feedback suggests that they renege on promises and are untrustworthy then there is no reason not to believe them.

The item is torn - not much chance of cleaning it up. The description was 'excellent condition & worn once'.

I will be paying a 1/3 of the price of he item to return it. In which case I would prefer to keep the item & repair.

My anger is I paid for the item in good faith - believing it to be as described - & I stand to lose money. If I had changed my mind or it didn't fit, I'd be happy, nay, grateful, to receive a refund.

I haven't been to the post office yet to price it up, just looked online which gave me that price. I suspect the seller would state it had 'gone missing' to avoid giving me a refund, so I want to make sure I can provide a tracking number. Does the extra 75p provide a tracking number ?
Do I need to provide & input a tracking number into the system ?

2 days have passed, so less cross, but still annoyed that may/will lose out.

yes recorded should give a tracking number - that is if the postie bothers, mine never seems to.

The option to escalate isn't there yet?

No, just checked. The update is return to seller for a refund + original p&p only.

He did say earlier he would refund the return postage though, so can I send this back & state not what agreed ?

with ebay/paypal you can only refund the original amount ie if item was £10 and postage £3 you refund £13 and then send £3 for return postage to buyers email but you can't refund £16 on a £13 purchase, hence that option on ebay

is there anything on his feedback to suggest he won't keep his promise, most business sellers do refund return postage, fro your own OP it does not sound like he has been rude but on your query offered refund of full price and your return postage, so you will not be out of pocket, ok you don;t have item but it does seem like he has done what is required to solve problem and swiftly

He's not a business seller.

I'm annoyed that i have to pay £5 to postage for nothing. As I said, his 'error' & I'm paying for it. I can't afford to throw £5 away & in any case, why should I ?

I was quite happy to pay for item as described & at the amount bid.

When I sell my stuff I go over it with a fine toothcomb, clean it etc & if I did find something wrong I'd point it out. Distance buying is about trust, not false advertising...!

But why should you get a full refund and not send the item back? Sounds like a freebie. Send the item back, he will refund you as he has stated and then you should leave pleasant feedback or nothing at all. He obviously made a mistake and is willing to rectify at a loss to himself.

It really pisses me off when buyers expect freebies other some slight imagined or otherwise.

though i sell mostly i do sympathise here why should buyer be out of pocket for return postage when mis described, i totally agree buyer should pay return postage if does not fit or change their mind in fact i think if just change mind should only get item cost back not postage

I don't want to keep the item, I am not after a freebie. I am after not being out of pocket from the lousy seller.

If he was willing to rectify this, I wouldn't be posting & the item would have been returned

Why should I lose my £5 ??

I'm actually in 2 minds to play dirty & return something else instead...

return something else instead?! - you really should not do that, you would be as bad, if not worse, than the seller if you do that.

I know It's a very bad, but tempting idea...however in the same way he didn't 'check', surely I'm not a fault for posting wrong parcel ?

Why are you making this so complicated? Just send it back and ask him to refund the postage via Paypal.

I'm a bit confused...the seller has admitted their error, apologised and offered to refund in full including return postage and you are calling them cheating scum??!!

What else do you expect them to do? No seller would refund until they received the item back obviously - otherwise we'd all be open to cheating scum dishonest buyers wanting something for nothing.

Either return the item and take the seller at their word and you will get all of your money back or ask them for a discount for the inconvenience and faults with the item and keep it. I think you are being a bit OTT with your comments regarding the seller - it sounds like an honest mistake to me.....Annoying yes but not dishonest.

As you seem to distrust this seller so much why don't you ask them to send you a pre-paid envelope to return the item in?
That way you would not be out of pocket for return postage and you'd get the original payment back when the seller receives it.
The seller can send a pre-paid envelope with tracking so they'd know you'd returned it and you'd be able to check they'd received it.

They are not offering return postage !

I have opened a dispute & the result is that I return the item (costing me £4-5) & I will be refunded my original costs only.

Therefore - I am out of pocket by £5 (approx). Now what I bought costs me £12, but to get my £12 back, costs me £5.

Can you see why I'm annoyed. The condition is not as described - it's TORN.

I think it's a bit much...

I misunderstood. I thought you said the seller would pay return postage.

I quote from your original post I contact seller, who apologies & says they obviously didn't check the item. I can return & he will refund me - including return postage.

Confused......

Yes, but I didn't trust him, so opened a dispute where he has completed the info stating He accepts returns & will refund Original price + Original P&P.

I opened a dispute because I had a feeling they wouldnt stick to their word.

I have been on to eBay & they have escalated to their 'Specialist Support Team'....whatever that is...

you can't actually refund more than original payment so you refund original payment and P&P then make separate payment to the buyers payal account for return postage

80sababe Genius at requesting SAE. One arrived the other day, posted back with signed for option & full refund received today. Thank goodness that's resolved.

What a palaver though...& need to find a replacement...!

You're welcome - glad the suggestion helped and that it's all sorted now