Returned items damaged by poor packing

[amxjewel]

My rant and vent: I recently started selling again on ebay. I have had 2 returns because buyer said the item was not as described. With each return I asked the buyer to pack carefully with the same packing material and in the same box that I shipped the item. Did they? No. Both times the item was returned in a smaller box and without the packing material that I had used. Both times the returned item was damaged due to the too small box and not enough packing material. Both times, buyer said that they threw away the original packing material and box. But as per ebay's return policy I had to issue a refund. A retail business or store will not issue a refund if the item is not in the original package. Ebay should have the same policy.

[eobard.thawne]

But they (eBay) don't... so ranting about it is moot.

Refund. Move on.

[stainlessenginecovers · Accepted solution]

Top Rated Sellers that offer some sort of return, can deduct up to 50% off the 'refund' should the item get returned in 'less than originally sent' condition. 

[donsdetour]

Hazard of doing mail order sales> never expect an buyer to know how to pack an item.

Just the risks of selling the way we do.

[jahood1984]

Most buyers don't care how they return package stuff from my experience.  I only became top rated because of this issue, I sell a lot of laptops and the buyers always throw them back in the box with no wrap, styrofoam, air pillows nada.  I always ask for them to please package as it arrives especially since the return is mostly changed mind or outright user error and doesn't respond to trying to be helpful but the last 3 of 4 came back with virtually no packaging in them, the MacBook pro is made from a solid block of aluminum and some of the round edges came back totally flat to get an idea how bad it is lol.  I deduct 50%, eBay probably pays them what I deducted as a courtesy and life goes on.