Do I have to accept a return?

[suchatiredbunny]

I've had a message from a buyer who bought a brand new pair of shoes from me (I'm a private seller, just having a clear out). Apparently, they're too small so they want to return them.
How do I stand? On my info it says no returns, and as this is their problem and there's no fault with the actual item, what should I do?

No you don't if your policy is 'no returns'.

Same thing happened to me as a seller as I got an email from eBay 'strongly recommending' I agree to the return request. I still didn't agree - makes being a causal/ occasional seller far too complicated. The buyer can always sell on themselves if it just doesn't suit/ fit them.

If the seller asks for a non fault return (is don't fit or not suitable) then no, you don't have to accept it. But be prepared for the possibility of negative feedback.

Depends if they could term it as "not as described".

On the rare occasions this happens to me, any requests to return I accept just for an easy eBay life, as sad as that may sound. Purely because I don't want my 100% positive ruined, as I can always re list it. But also because eBay prompt and advise you to accept the return, regardless if you have no returns as your policy or not. I feel that if you don't accept it ebay will keep a note of this, and if it carries on happening (you refusing to accept returns) they will almost punish you in a way for it. This might not happen, I don't know, but they are sneaky and love buyers.
But it's a pain because seller doesn't always want to agree to them paying return postage etc, so again the seller is left out of pocket in having to pay return postage due to a buyers poor judgement etc. Saying that tho I'm a size 6, and in some shops I'm a 7. I never buy shoes online because I always need to try them on first, so they aren't always deemed to fit. Btw, you only get charged for the eBay return label if the seller uses it, they have to have a printer to use it. If they don't have a printer that's not your problem, seller then pays return postage and you don't need to refund them that on top of the original PayPal refund amount of what they paid in total. Sorry for the drip feed but I like to explain thoroughly! 😂

I would refund them and forget about it tbh. Unless they were £200 shoes. Ebay is shit for sellers nowadays. It used to be a fab marketplace 10 or so years back.

And this is why i no longer use ebay. 'No returns' doesn't actually mean no returns. Arseholes! Ebay I mean.

Yes you do have to. Writing no returns means nothing

Saladd thats incorrect.

It depends WHY the Buyer requests a return.

If they claim there's something wrong with the item (i.e. It's faulty or misdescribed) then yes, you have to accept a return.

If their reason is it doesn't fit, isn't suitable or they just don't like it, then this is what's called as a "non fault return" and can be rejected (as long as the seller isn't a eBay business).

Some sellers put "no returns" then get the hump when they have to return it when the buyer claims it is dirty or not the correct size as listed. As described above this term can only be applied to non fault returns.

@19lottie in my experience that doesn't matter - the buyer can still push for a refund or make up a fault if you decline or leave you bad feedback anyway. Ebay is a joke for sellers - I stopped selling there completely for this reason and will never go back to it.

Thanks folks. I spoke to eBay who said I don't have to return the shoes and they will remove any negative feedback if it gets left. The buyer has been in touch to say she will try to sell them on. (Which is what I do if I get something that doesn't fit). So I'm hoping that's sorted itself out.

In the meantime, I've had a not-received case opened. - bought on Sunday, posted second class on Monday, case opened on Friday!!

This is why I don't sell on Ebay. It's shit for private sellers because buyers have to be treated as if you are running a shop.

If you posted an item second class on Monday then eBay would have provided a delivery estimate as Wednesday or Thursday.

Just send them a polite reply saying it was posted second class on a Monday but ebay can be a bit optimistic with their delivery estimates so it should be with them shortly.