Does the seller have to pay my return postage costs?

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I bought a pair of shoes on eBay which were described as worn a handful of times. The shoes arrived and they are done, full of scratches, dirty and would need reheeled at the very lest to even have a hope of wearing them.

I have emailed the seller and she "as a gesture of goodwill" will refund my original postage cost plus the item cost but not my return postage costs.

Can she do this? I have to pay £6 to return crappy shoes that the charity shop wouldn't accept! Can I do anything?

sorry if I'm being dim, but if she's paying you for the price you paid for the shoes, including your postage costs, why do you need to send them back? Is she expecting you to do so, or can you keep them, to send them to a charity shop?

no you can't force her to, but you could send them back MyHermes for £3.30. And you can of course leave appropriate feedback and stars. Whatever you do return them with proof of delivery, standard post won't cover you if she pretends not to receive them.

She only needs to refund the total cost you paid. Bung in a dispute ans send back tracked

No I have to send the shoes back before she will refund me!

Sorry now I'm being dim but what is Hermes?

So my costs by sending them back to her aren't relevant?

If she is refunding me what advantage would it be to raise a dispute if she doesn't have to pay return postage costs?

raising a dispute makes no difference, unless of course ebay decide to refund you without the need for a return. but if the seller is unco-operative you may need to open a dispute.

A good seller will give return postage costs, but you can't force them to sadly. My Hermes is a courier company, they will collect and deliver an item under 1kg for £3.30. Cheaper than RM and you will also have online proof of delivery which you may need if seller refuses to refund or states they didn't receive them back.

www.myhermes.co.uk/wps/portal/PN_CTR/Home/homepage/

Hint you will neg her if not...but only HINT!
But no, she can't be forced...it's an eBay failing sadly.

the premise is the same as if you bought something from a shop in a box, (do this all the time, right, like appliances or electrical goods, or packaged clothes?) brought it home, found it wasn't as described, and took it back to the shop.

You wouldn't ask the shop to pay your petrol costs to return the item, would you?

If they were on a buy it now, then the Distance Selling Regulations would apply. Therefore the seller should pay return postage on damaged/faulty or not as described goods.

Distance selling only applies for business people.

Wouldn't expect to go into a shop and buy an item that was done though!

I raised a dispute because seller wouldn't refund something that was faulty. Waited to escalate it, sent ebay photos & videos documenting fault and case was settled in my favour. eBay sent me a prepaid postage - a PDF to print out and stick on the bag.