If you message the buyer and offer a partial refund to avoid a return, and they accept a partial refund instead of returning the item, then you ask them to open up a return request through eBay. EBay will automatically approve the return and you will have to confirm the return address for the label, but after that there is immediately an option where you can respond to the return request by offering a full refund, a partial refund, or contacting the buyer. Click that you would like to offer the partial refund and send over the offer that you and the buyer agreed to in messages. When the buyer accepts your partial refund, the case is closed in the eyes of eBay. They cannot open a second return request and they have to keep the item. Even if the buyer changes their mind about the partial and decides to go rogue and send the item back to you outside of eBay- you are protected. In eBay's eyes, the case is done, you did your part, and then you block and report the buyer for misusing returns. -AP
