Buyer opened return case I accepted return but was forced to refund and ebay closed case before being able to send return label
Summary: calebmcfarland04 faced an issue with a buyer regarding a return on eBay. After accepting the return, they were prompted by eBay to issue a refund before selecting a return label, but later discovered the case was closed without the ability to issue the label. albertabrightalberta explained that issuing a refund before the buyer retrieves the label stops the return process. calebmcfarland04 feels at fault due to this system failure and is concerned about losing both the item and refund. shire123 shared a similar experience, acknowledging it as a potential issue with eBay's process, leaving calebmcfarland04 with limited options.
As the title says, I had an issue with a buyer that we could not work out together so he opened an item not as described case and a return request. I accepted the return and ebay prompted me if I'd like them to return it or keep it I selected return, ebay then prompted me to refund the buyer to continue any further and so I did and only then did ebay ask me about return label options. I selected use ebay return label and that was that. Next day (today as I am writing this post) I message the buyer if he gotten the label and I received no response, looking into it further I noticed how the return case was now closed by ebay and I could not find any info about the return label anywhere in my seller hub or email. I don't understand what happened I did everything right I did everything ebay told me to do and I spoke to ebay support over the phone and the agent completely dodges my questions on why I was forced to refund the buyer before being able to select a return label told that is not how returns are done and that there is nothing they can do for me and that me I am on my own now and my only other choice is to buy a label outside of ebay and send it to the buyer and just hope that they actually return it for they are no longer required to because ebay closed the case. What the hell happened and what am I suppose to do now what did I do wrong? I must admit out of my 7 years on ebay so far I have only had to return and refund twice so perhaps I missed something? Has other sellers experienced something similar to this at all? Was I pretty much scammed by ebay out of my own item?? Any and all replies to this would be greatly appreciated, thank you very much.
shire123
·3 weeks agoI just had a return similar to yours this past week. I did accept the return but I was given the choice of refunding and letting the buyer keep the item or continuing with the return. But I don't remember the screen saying to refund the buyer now. The next screen was to choose the label type.
Unfortunately it sounds like the buyer is probably going to keep the item and the refund. And from what you are saying if this is true there is nothing ebay will do.
calebmcfarland04
OP3 weeks agoVery unfortunate, The buyer's account already gave me very bad vibes joining ebay the very day he bought my item so I already felt like he was trying to pull something funny with me opening a item not as described case. Glad to hear ebay basically helped this guy scam me. I already haven't really been selling anymore on ebay and now after this clear mistake on their part I don't think I ever will again.
albertabrightalberta
·3 weeks agoIt sounds like you chose to get the item back and sent a return shipping label but then you issued the refund.
When that's done before the buyer retrieves the label, the label is no longer accessible so they can't return the item.
calebmcfarland04
OP3 weeks agoHello thank you for the reply, it appears so. I don't understand I thought I read through everything perfectly fine. Ebay forced me to refund the buyer first then moving on to the next window it asked which label I'd like. I am so very confused and bothered because I don't believe I am at fault here this was completely on ebay I believe and now I am completely at a loss on both the item and payment. Like I said in the post I can try buying and sending a return label myself but let's be honest after everything me and this buyer have been through I highly doubt he will send it back I believe sending another label is just a waste of more money.
albertabrightalberta
·3 weeks agoI'll tell you what I've done in the past.
If I want the item back, I accept the return and supply the label.
Once I see movement within the postal system and know that it's on its way back to me, there have been times that I just want to close the case so I've refunded prior to delivery. (I've only done this twice and they were cases where I felt comfortable with and trusted the buyers.) Usually I wait to get the item back before refunding.