Seller's Options After Untimely Return Request - Trading Card
Good evening all. I recently sold a trading card with a no returns accepted policy. 6 calendar days after tracking shows the card was delivered, I received notification from eBay stating as follows: "The buyer reported an issue with the item. You can choose how you'd like to respond to their request. While you don't need to accept the return, we recommend responding to the buyer's request. We'll update the buyer as soon as you respond."
The notice then wants me to select from the options of "Accept the return," "Offer a full or partial refund - Issue a refund and let the buyer keep the item" or "Decline the return - Close this return request and the buyer keeps this item." If I decline the return or magnanimously issue a partial refund is that the end of it on my part? In the phrasing of the "decline the return" option which would "close" the request, is eBay acknowledging that the request was untimely? Am I holding all the cards here, no pun intended?
For the sake of full disclosure, the buyer's stated reason for the request was "doesn't work or defective." He claims that a flaw on the card wasn't disclosed, despite the fact that I took three pictures of the face of the card at such an angle that the flaw was open and unmistakable even without zooming in and also invited any questions about the card. Notwithstanding the foregoing, I am considering a partial refund.
Any insights are appreciated.
ryry-jj
·8 months agoWhat it sounds like to me, is eBay is asking you to accept the return request from the buyer as a means of providing a "good eBay buyer experience"...however, per ebay's policy on trading cards, you do not have to honor that request if it is outside the 3 day window.
So you can do whatever you want. Would you like more business from this buyer, do you care anyway? Or are you satisfied with one and done here? Up to you...and that is what eBay is saying as well.
tobaccocardyahoo
·8 months agoWere this a timely request, the buyer would have been guaranteed the refund.
There is still a chance the buyer might win this claim. Although the deadline has passed, showing the defect in the picture is not an adequate defense if it is not also identified in words as part of the listing.
Good luck.
thecuse70
OP8 months agoI'll go a step further tobacco. I could have the strongest "defense" to whatever claim the buyer makes and I will still lose under the Money Back Guarantee -- but only if it applies in the first instance. If it does I would probably just issue a refund. But I don't think it does apply here because (1) it's a trading card, (2) my policy on this particular item was no returns and (3) I was notified of the return request more than 3 calendar days after the item was delivered. I'm just looking for assurance that this is the case.
bonjourami
·8 months ago"was notified of the return request more than 3 calendar days after the item was delivered. I'm just looking for assurance that this is the case."
You are right about the three day return for collectible cards. Not sure how he opened a case later than that.
kibble-net
·8 months agoIf the buyer claims it's not as described, you ought to take the return. If you don't, ebay will force it on your behalf and fees won't be refunded. Also, possible negative feedback from the buyer.
thecuse70
OP8 months agoYou are correct if the request was timely and therefore covered under the Money Back Guarantee. But for claims of "item doesn't match the listing" where my policy is no returns and the item was a trading card, the buyer must request a return "no later than 3 calendar days after the . . . actual delivery date." Here, I received the notice from eBay 6 days after the delivery date and the language of the options seems to suggest I can simply deny the request and that's it.