How to handle this "issue" with buyer?

[SusanDelfino]

I urgently need some advice.

I sold a coat on ebay. It's just a standard one but due to the cut I wore it as a maternity coat. So I described it as "Coat Size 42 (Maternity Size 10)" and then explained in the description that it's a size 42 coat but that due to the cut which accommodates a bump til the end of pregnancy I wore it as a maternity coat.

So now the buyer has messaged me saying she was under the impression it was an actual maternity coat. She hasn't asked for a refund (yet) or anything. Just stated that she had the wrong impression.

Was this my fault? How do I need to handle this and what do I reply?

It's not your fault but you can't stop her giving you Neg f/back if she turns grumpy about it.

I think I would try to play it with a "Sorry to hear that you are disappointed. I did explain in the advert that it was xyz. I found the coat worked brilliant as a maternity item and it was (few more positive words about wonderful coat it is)."

Emotionally neutral, and leave it in her court if she wants to try to return it or ask for a reduction, etc. Maybe if she just tries it on, she will decide it works fine as you found. If she wants to return it & the coat was less than price of postage, then probably best to just refund without having her refund... and block her, as a known person who doesn't read ads properly.

ps: sorry, I do find that people don't read details of ads, they can't handle the type of description you tried to do. Not your fault, just something to chalk up to experience.

I feel your pain BUT I can understand why a buyer might have got the wrong end of the stick if they skim read the listing description, as if they searched for "maternity coat" your listing would have appeared. TBH if t wasn't a maternity coat, you shouldn't have put that in the description.

your best bet is to reply to the buyer, be uber polite and just re explain what you put in the description. Tell her she's welcome to return it for a full refund if she likes. she already had this right if she opens an item not as described case (which she WILL win), but chances are she won't bother.

You shouldn't have described it as a maternity coat, since it wasn't. I know you explained yourself in the item description, but ultimately you were being misleading.

Ok, thank you.

Do I have to pay her posting costs to return the coat?

Ultimately, yes. But if the buyer decides to return it they may take it upon themselves to cover the return postage themselves, but if they ask you to then you're best to cover it. Alternatively, if they open a case, they'll automatically get a pre paid label for the return, and the cost will be added to your eBay seller fees.