Seller issued a blank return label and refused to pay for shipping
Hi everyone, I've run into a problem and could really use your help.
I bought an item that was clearly marked as "return accepted" and "seller pays shipping." However, when I requested for a return under the reason "changed mind", the seller issued a blank shipping label with nothing on it. I reached out repeatedly asking for a prepaid return label, and they claimed that "per eBay policy" prepaid label cannot be issued under "changed mind" category. They requested me to return the item at my own cost.
Is there such a policy at all? The item is completely unopened, and the shipping package is unopened too. I'm running into troubles because:
1. "Asking eBay to step in" option isn't available, because the system assumes the seller already did their part by issuing the label (even though it's blank), and now it's my responsibility to take actions by shipping it back.
2. The countdown to take actions is on my end, and the time is running out.
Any suggestions will be appreciated!
zjiang1023
OP4 months agoWOW thank you so much everyone for the discussion and helping me out. This was my first post and I do appreciate it!
The item was marked as "30 days free return" and "seller pays return shipping. " When I submitted the return request, eBay automatically sent me a message saying "You'll receive a return shipping label by [DATE]". Of course then I received a blank PDF file lol.
Eventually I just contacted eBay customer service via phone, and they were able to escalate the case for me and notify the seller to provide a prepaid label in 5 calendar days. Will see how it goes!
soh.maryl
·4 months agoGlad to hear this appears to be working out for you.
But am a little surprised, if you used the reason for your request to return as "changed my mind, that they are sending you a prepaid label.
Do let us know how this works out for you.
powell-collectibles
·4 months agoThat is the way it works when a seller has free returns. That means returns for any reason – item not as described, changed mind, doesn’t fit, etc. Buyer doesn’t really need a reason – a lot of the sellers just offer free returns with no questions asked.
powell-collectibles
·4 months agoSomething is wrong here. If the item is seller pays shipping, you shouldn’t have to pay for the return. And, if it was returns accepted but buyer pays, you shouldn’t have the ability to print your own label, not have one provided by the seller.
if you are correct about the return settings, your seller is trying to pull a fast one by providing a blank label. Reach out to eBay on instagram and give them the information.
soh.maryl
·4 months agoIt's always been my understanding that: If a buyer's listed reason for wanting to return a purchase, is "changed my mind", that's a "remorse" return and the buyer (not the seller) is required to pay the return shippig cost.
So I was wrong?
gator08041971
·4 months ago@soh.maryl
As I was saying to @kensgiftshop I don't think so.
If you have returns for any reason, then its just automatic. You have the option however to just refund and not require the item back and you can setup automated thresholds for how returns are automatically handled, including providing return labels.
Bottom line, if we don't know what the original listing had the return options set as, we are only guessing.
Hence why I asked for the item number.
If the seller offered say 30 day free returns, then they can return for any reason the buyer requests.
If they offered 30 day paid returns, then remorse reasons need to be paid for by the buyer.
If they don't have any returns offered, then the seller has no obligation to return the item at all under remorse reasons, even though the buyer could still file a return.
Obviously, a return can be forced by claiming the item isn't as described, but this should not be used to circumvent return options. The seller can report the buyer for return fraud if this happens to be the case. However sometimes the buyer has to use that if the seller is being shady, and I'm not seeing that being the case yet here without knowing the listing return details.
No one should make assumptions without facts.
kensgiftshop
·4 months agoIf the seller offers free returns, they pay return shipping for any reason.
soh.maryl
·4 months agoThank you. Guess I didn't realize that.
kalyoth
·4 months agoas I posted above, ebay is funny & lets the sellers return policy dictate it. Because they allow the seller to decline remorse returns.
gator08041971
·4 months ago@zjiang1023
Which item is this?
I was looking at your recent purchases via feedback, and I don't see a return option on some of those items. Can you share the eBay item number for the item in question? So we can review the return options in case we are missing something.
Unless the item has free returns for any return, it may not qualify for free returns if you changed your mind. You may have to pay for the return label then send it back.
Once its received, the seller can then process your return.
kensgiftshop
·4 months agoOther sellers that offer free returns have posted they can't provide a shipping label through Ebay.
They'll have to buy a label outside of Ebay and send it to you.
gator08041971
·4 months ago@kensgiftshop
While I haven't tried in a while, I never had an issue in the past with this. So I'm not sure that's accurate. But unless I can test this, I can't say for sure.
kensgiftshop
·4 months agoI don't know if it's true or not, but there has been a few post about it.
kalyoth
·4 months agoReturn an Item
The shipping is based upon the seller's return policy in the original listing for the reason you selected.