Buyer Return Abuse on eBay
I'm sharing my experience with a buyer who purchased a Milwaukee Grinder from my eBay store on December 22, 2025, and received it on December 26. On January 12, 17 days after receipt, they initiated a return claiming they "ordered by mistake".
I'm concerned about the validity of this reason, given the timeframe and nature of the product. eBay's seller protection allows returns for "ordered by mistake", but it seems unlikely a buyer would wait 17 days to correct such an error, especially for a power tool.
45 comments
ten_o_nine
OP8 months agoTo clarify, I know my return policy, and I'm not seeking feedback on it. I simply wanted to share my experience with a recent buyer return.
adamcartwright
·8 months ago@ten_o_nine
Sounds like this DIYer needed 17 days to complete his project.
3qmart-15
·8 months agoEven worse, there are too many fraud on ebay who would return empety box back!
golfingaddict
·8 months agoI don't mind taking returns. I do have a problem with the way that a buyer is allowed to extend the return time to almost 2 months.
First, in my categories, I can only choose 30 or 60 days. I go with 30.
The buyer can open a return for 30 days after delivery. Then they have 21 days to get the return in the mail.
They can wait until the 30th day to open a return, then wait 21 days to get it in the mail. Then it can take 5-7 days to get back to me. Am I exaggerating? I don't think so. I just go a return the other day that the buyer had 28 days before they decided that they ordered by mistake. Then they waiting 18 days to mail it back to me.
The worst part is I got back a package that reeked of cigarette smoke. But that is another story. The entire package and contents went directly into the trash. In my category it is not unusual for me to toss the item away. They had the package in their smoke filled environment for 42 days before they finally put it in the mail and it took another 7 days for me to get it. 49 days is 7 weeks.
In my opinion, for what it is worth, is that the buyer should have 30 days from the day they receive it to get the package to the carrier for return. With USPS shipping the buyer only needs to hand it to a carrier or drop it at a Post Office. 30 days should mean 30 days, not 50
muddylas
·8 months agoSeveral years ago I bought my husband a nail gun for Christmas. It was delivered a couple of weeks before the holiday. A week after the holiday he finally admitted he really did not need or want it. Thankfully, I was able to return it. Obviously, I ordered it by mistake. Stuff happens - nothing nefarious intended here!
ten_o_nine
OP8 months ago@muddylas
Obviously, I ordered it by mistake.
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No, you did not order by mistake, you ordered for a reason, and the reason is no longer there, so it's not a mistake.
A "mistake" refers to an error or unintentional action, like clicking the wrong button or ordering the wrong item. However, given the 17-day timeframe, it's questionable whether this buyer's claim is genuine.
spreadlovelikefire
·8 months agoI sell mostly undergarments. I once had a return on the 29th day for "ordered by mistake" and in the note part he put "I broke up with my girlfriend so I won't be needing these". I sent him a quick email to make sure they were still in new condition, they were. But it's a valid return reason. Even if he didn't email me back it still would be valid and not abuse. Now if he sent me back the item clearly used then that would be return abuse as that is against eBay policy. But that's not what is going on here. You haven't received the item back yet to verify if it was used. There could be a multitude of reasons someone orders something by mistake then waits to return it. Family emergencies (returning the item didn't make the top 10 things on his list to do for a while), it was a gift and he ordered the wrong part, he completed a project and didn't use it and wants to return it, he lost his job and didn't use the item and wants to return it, he forgot about it with the holidays and everything and remembered he needed to return it, etc. There are so many reasons, you just don't know. I would be more suspicious if he chose "item not as described" than "ordered by mistake". Send him a label, wait for the item to be returned, refund him, relist it, go on with your life.
ten_o_nine
OP8 months ago@spreadlovelikefire
But it's a valid return reason.
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Where do you see I mentioned "Invalid Reason". All responses are the same, I never said it was invalid, just sharing my experience with a buyer.
spreadlovelikefire
·8 months agoYou literally say in your opening statement that you are "worried about the validity of the reason". Therefore, you think it isn't valid.
jerseyboymusic
·8 months ago@ten_o_nine
I had a similar "ordered by mistake" return... person back in November made an offer on a shirt... dry cleaned, pretty much new and unworn condition. We communicated a bit on it before I accepted the offer.
29 days after receiving it, he opened a "ordered by mistake" return. I got back a worn, dirty and smelly shirt (same shirt)
Just opened a issue with buyer claim with Ebay. Let's see what doesn't happen
dhbookds
·8 months agoAgree with others...........you set YOUR return policy to 30 days for any reason....... so buyer wants to return within the 30 days. Don't see how that is abusive. You could have set no returns which would not allow returns for "changed my mind"......
ten_o_nine
OP8 months ago@dhbookds
I was sharing my experience, not looking for advice. Thank you.
lakefor94
·8 months agoIt has been somewhat entertaining. Has the buyer tendered the Return Abuse Item to the carrier yet?
Can't wait to here the outcome......
ten_o_nine
OP8 months ago@lakefor94
Has the buyer tendered the Return Abuse Item to the carrier yet?
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Hang tight, it's only been 2 days, they have till Feb 2nd.
ten_o_nine
OP8 months agoHang tight, it's only been 2 days, they have till Feb 2nd.
albertabrightalberta
·8 months agoWhat's "invalid?"
"Ordered by mistake" is a valid remorse return request and since you have a 30 day return policy, the buyer can return it for ANY reason or for no reason.
And since your return policy is for buyer pays return shipping, you won't be out anything except your time. You can even retain the original shipping charge since you charge separately.
I don't understand your complaint.
ten_o_nine
OP8 months agoThe abuse is in the reason for the return.
jonathanbrightlight
·8 months agoWhile possible, there is nothing about what has been stated anywhere that would confirm that, and it's better not to assume the worst.
Prepare for the worst, expect the best.
The reason for the return, according to your original post, is "ordered by mistake". Since your return policy allows for returns within 30 days for that reason, among others, there is no abuse.
Edit: This is the return policy specified in your listings:
Here is the return policy guidelines as linked: https://www.ebay.com/help/policies/member-behavior-policies/condition-returned-items-policy?id=4763
If it does not meet these criteria when you get it back, then it could be considered return abuse (but not at this point when you do not know what condition they are returning the item in):
General return requirements
Same or unaltered condition (not an exhaustive list):
Home & Garden
ten_o_nine
OP8 months ago@jonathanbrightlight
Wow, AI at work.
jonathanbrightlight
·8 months agoWhat are you imagining was AI there?
ten_o_nine
OP8 months ago@jonathanbrightlight
What are you imagining was AI there?
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I am AI.
kensgiftshop
·8 months agoThat's not abuse.
If you accept returns, they can return for any/no reason.
lonebuck-books
·8 months agoHow is this abuse of the return policy? They want to return an item which is allowed and they selected one of the reasons that makes them pay for the return shipping (if you have it set up that way) so to me it sounds legitimate. Before calling it abuse, I would wait to get it back to inspect it. If it is in the same unused condition, it isn't abuse. If however it is damaged and you are a TRS, you can deduct up to 50% from the refund for the damage. That would be abuse of the return policy.
In my experience, people who chose one of the buyer remorse reasons for the return aren't the ones who are trying to scam you or abuse the system. They are the ones that actually want to do a legitimate return.
fullers_uk
·8 months agoWaited 17 days until the credit card bills started dropping in after xmas and needs the money.
dabunk2000
·8 months agozused for a project and no longer needed I would bet but nothing you can do but accept the return
pickapaper
·8 months ago@ten_o_nine
You are complaining about buyer abuse but you really don't know why this buyer is returning the saw.
One reason is that this could have been a buyer who has not bought a power tool for a while. The two Milwaukee tools you sold did not come with a battery. The batteries that these power tools use have gotten very, very expensive, many from $50 to $200 each. Perhaps your buyer went to buy a battery and found it was going to cost an arm and a leg for a battery and decided he didn't need the tool after all, to invest that much money in the tool and the battery.
Side story: my DH went to Home Depot about a month ago, just before Christmas, to buy a new battery for one of his Ryobi tools (which cost $200 just for the battery). Home Depot keeps all their tool batteries in a locked case. The case was empty and the clerk said that the day before, someone had come in during store hours, broke into the case and stole all the batteries out of the case. They stole thousands of dollars worth of tool batteries.
lakefor94
·8 months agoIf 17 days after delivery is too long in your mind, perhaps change to 14 day returns for power tools on other listings.
Wondering if a buyer returning a power tool with a remorse reason after 29 days days is considered a lot worse than 17 days?
luckythewinner
·8 months agoSo the only thing we know so far is that alleged "abuse" involves a buyer who is following eBay's policy for returns?
When you offer eBay returns, you are offering returns for any reason including remorse. So IMHO to fixate on the reason seems like a waste of emotional energy.
ten_o_nine
OP8 months ago@luckythewinner
There is a return policy, and there is a return policy abuse. No power tool buyer ever buys a tool by mistake and takes 17 days to realize that.
luckythewinner
·8 months agoYou chose to offer 30 day returns on your power tool.
At this point, there has been no abuse except what you are imagining in your mind.
ten_o_nine
OP8 months ago@luckythewinner
There is a return policy, and there is a return policy abuse.
slippinjimmy
·8 months agoI detect a "Minority Report" type theme happening here..........
jonathanbrightlight
·8 months agoThere is no abuse of your return policy described in what you have said happened.
golfingaddict
·8 months agoIt gets better.... now the buyer has about 21 days to ship the item back to you.
It's one of those frustrating things with returns on eBay. eBay sets the terms and if you offer returns, you have to accept those terms.
lonebuck-books
·8 months agoEven if you don't offer returns, you have to accept those terms. The MBG overrules any "no returns" terms a seller might think they have.
golfingaddict
·8 months agoI am aware of the return policy.
Did I say something to make you think I did not understand?
jonathanbrightlight
·8 months agoWhy not?
Maybe they bought it for a task, made sure it arrived ahead of time, but then pulled it out to do the task and realized they had misunderstood what they needed or what they had ordered. Their next step would be to return that according to the listed return policy, and order the right tool for that job.
luckythewinner
·8 months agoOr a Christmas present that was given to someone who was not local, or who was on vacation, or who was in the hospital.
Or maybe the buyer knew that you freely offered them 30 day returns, but was not able to mind-read your distain people who hold you to your own terms.
albertabrightalberta
·8 months agoThen shorten your return timeframe.
ten_o_nine
OP8 months ago@albertabrightalberta
I was sharing my experience, not looking for advice.
lakefor94
·8 months ago"I'm concerned about the validity of this reason, given the timeframe and nature of the product."
I would raise an eyebrow if it was an INAD since you know what you are doing as an experienced seller.
You accept returns and this buyer wants to return the product and will pay the return shipping. At least you are not taking a INAD hit on Seller Metrics.
Being TRS and accepting 30 day returns, do you qualify to do a 50% refund if the product comes back used?
fern*wood
·8 months agoI wouldn’t concern myself with the reason they picked. I’d just handle like any other return for remorse if you allow returns.
ten_o_nine
OP8 months agoI am handling as any other return; my concern is that eBay allows this kind of excuse to return an item after having it for 17 days, especially for a power tool. I guess maybe they didn't look at it yet, because they were touring with Taylor Swift.
toomuchstuffagain35
·8 months agoOr more likely they don't have another project they need it for?
bonanza125
·8 months agoNot much you can do. Ebay allows a 30 day return so just accept the return and sell it to someone else. The buyer probably landed up not having any use for the tool so they are returning it.