Advice needed on bidder wanting to return items

[Upsadaisy]

The bidder has said that I have mislead which I don't beleive I have as I stated that items were in played with condition though minimal wear.
I've said they are welcome to return the items and I will refund the payment they have made. I've just had a reply they want me to pay the return postal costs too. I'm reluctant to do this as I don't feel I've done anything wrong and the postal cost was £5.00 one way.
What do you think?

I'd check the feeback, they may have a habit of doing this, either way, I wouldn't refund postage costs.

I ad this and refunded one postal cost as goodwill - suggest they resell it with what they feel is an accurate descrption!!!! might make them angry though!!

Thanks I've just checked feedback and its immacualte so I've said I will refund the payment they've made for the item and the postage they paid to have it sent ot them.

Whats the norm with returns....do you refund them then they return the item or do you wait to receive the item back and then refund?

I feel pretty uneasy which ever way as it involves trust but is there a norm in which this is done?

refund once you have the item back

Whenever I've returned things I've ended up paying the postage - it's been a case of compromise as the buyer doesn't always agree that they've misled, usually because of a difference in interpreting statements like "as new", or sizing, or whatever. I tend not to want to have a huge argument over a couple of quid, so pay the return postage on the basis that I'm at least cutting my losses and getting the bulk of my payment back - and put it down to experience. So it just depends on what sort of an e-conversation you have with your buyer, and how they feel about pushing the issue - yours clearly didn't want to let it go, and you've been very good in offering the full refund.

If you haven't already done so, don't leave feedback til after they have - it protects you from getting a negative, which really you shouldn't in the circumstances, as you've done everything you can to help. When I sell, I always wait to receive feedback before I leave it in return, so that I can make sure all is well.

It depends what the circumstances are about refunds, I do them but if an item is returned I dont refund those postage costs and most people dont refund postage at all. Like others have said I would not leave feedback until I have received it

Arrrghhhh! First time as a seller and had a complaint - items not as descibed. Am sure they are in much better condition than described, but nevermind, will refund.

If they payed by postal order can I refund by cheque or paypal? If I send money by paypal will it cost me - if so it would be better to send a cheque.

when the item is returned and you have checked that it hasnt been damaged in any way send either a cheque of postal order.

It is frustrating when someone returns something and you feel that the condition is not as bad as they claim and perhaps they simply changed their mind.

Thething that upset me most was the tone of the email, it basically said that I just wanted to rip people off.

I had been really careful with my listing and suggested people emailed me for further photos just to make sure people knew exactly what they were bidding for.

To top it all off, they actually got a real bargain and only paid about a third of their real value

I've been on ebay for quite a while (800+ feedback) and the general unwritten rule is that if you've won something and want to return it you have to pay the postage. You've probably been unlucky and met one of ebay's t*ssers that they seem to have so many of nowadays.

I don't offer returns on my listings - my items are described accurately imo. Depending on the price of the item I use my discretion but it has only happened once in 800+ tranactions. I would rather reimburse a couple of quid tbh and save the hassle.

its not nice when someone is accusatory in their e mails.

If I honestly thought it was properly described and that it was possible they had changed their mind I would be prepared to accept the negative feedback for it and not refund, you can always follow it up and leave your own for them if you havent already done so.

I know people hate negative feedback, I do but its the feedback system that makes e bay work, you dont know they havent done this before if nobody is prepared to 'risk' negatives.