Please help me with this refund - my first time!!

[alwaysalaughtobehad]

Please can you advise me? I have watched the eBay video on returns but still have questions unanswered!
So buyer is returning item for a refund. They say it doesn't match description. (Personally I think they are being overfussy but hey I accept it). So I understand I am liable for the postage which was £2.85 (small parcel).
However when I go through the returns process the eBay label with tracking is going to cost me a whopping £9.12.
So clever DH says buy your ow n£2.85 label on Royal Mail website and upload for seller to use.
Given the worth of the item I am happy with it being non-tracked although will ask buyer to get a proof of postage.

2 potential problems though:
a) I will not have a tracking number to enter on the eBay website. Is that compulsory?? If not how do I avoid these ridiculous charges?? Buyer definitely doesn't want to keep item so I need to get it back somehow

b) If I buy the label tomorrow buyer will need to use it Friday, Saturday or Monday. That seems reasonable to me? I will explain that to them obviously.

Please help. I had done well with selling baby items but this is really putting me off :(

As far as I am aware unless the item is Significantly Not as Described the buyer is responsible for the return postage costs, they also do not get their initial postage costs back just the cost of the item.
And you do not refund them until they have sent the item back, eBay is clear on that, they are only entitled to a refund once the item is back with you.

Has the buyer actually opened a not as described case? You're only obliged to pay for return postage if they do this, and then you will be given an option to purchase a tracked returns label which the buyer can print, for £2.99.

Weareeternal...... Not strictly true, the item doesn not need to be back with the seller for the buyer to be refunded. A simple delivery attempt (shown in online tracking) is enough for eBay to refund. Otherwise sellers could just ignore the postman or refuse to sign for the return to avoid having to issue a refund.