Refunded Buyer for a necklace. The necklace was never returned back to me.
I sold a necklace to a buyer. She decided it was too large for her kind of taste. She wanted a refund. I believe in good customer service, so I refunded her money. She never returned the necklace back to me. I tried messaging her a few times with no response. I reported her to Ebay. Didn't get a response from Ebay except they would look into it. Nothing else. This kind of situation makes me not want to accept returns. Any suggestions on what else I can do?
Thanks in advance for your help.
27 comments
vintagecraze50
·1 year agoAlso, do not stop having a return policy on here because of this. It is 10 times more risky on here to say you do not offer returns. Buyers think they cannot return it so they open not as described cases and the worst of all CHARGEBACKS with their credit card and these you will not win they will get an item for free.
vintagecraze50
·1 year agoYou never refund a customer until they send it back. You tell them to start a return request and that you will refund them promptly when the item is returned. You can set up automated returns on here where when a buyer does a return request it is auto accepted with a free shipping label given to the buyer. That way, there is no hassle. The do not like it return it, and HERE IS YOUR FREE SHIPPING LABEL.
chapeau-noir
·1 year agoWhatever - the dogpile on these kinds of threads is ridiculous. How many people have to post the same thing everyone else did like little copy cats? I think the OP would know what they did wrong after, like, ONE post, but no...people have to put their two cents in over and over and over.
jerseyboymusic
·1 year ago@avon2011lavonne
Telling the buyer to initiate a return request, then refunding when you got the necklace back is good customer service.
luckythewinner
·1 year agoShe wanted a refund. I believe in good customer service, so I refunded her money. She never returned the necklace back to me.
On eBay there is a very specific process for returns that require the buyer to return the item before the refund is offered. You chose not to follow that process, and voluntarily refunded the buyer without a return.
I reported her to Ebay. Didn't get a response from Ebay except they would look into it. Nothing else.
eBay cannot force a buyer to return an item, and they cannot claw back money from a buyer after it is refunded. That is exactly why eBay has a return process that forces the buyer to return it first.
This kind of situation makes me not want to accept returns
IMHO the proper response would be to learn how the eBay return process works and follow it. Because not accepting returns does not really stop returns, it only changes the reason the buyer uses to make the return.
Any suggestions on what else I can do?
I would suggest taking the time to learn how to properly handle returns in the future.
pickapaper
·1 year agoThe one good thing I can see about all this is that the majority of @avon2011lavonne 's items are lower dollar items. Yes, OP made a mistake; we all make mistakes. It's never good to lose money (and the item) but it appears that a huge amount of money is not involved in this learning experience. I've read many times on this board where other sellers came out a lot worse.
chariot_badges
·1 year agoI bet that's the lady that I just met today. "Do you like my necklace? I think it's too big ... but, what the hell, I got it for free so ..."
momtoabeautifuldaughter
·1 year agoYou should have got the necklace back first? Once you refunded her eBay considers it a done deal and that you don't want it returned.
powell-collectibles
·1 year agoThere is nothing else that you can do. Effectively, you told the buyer that you don’t want the item back. You gave a refund. Buyer probably doesn’t want to figure out how to return the item, or believe that you really wanted it back, after you’ve already told him that you don’t via that refund.
isaiah53-57
·1 year agoIt doesn't pay to be kind here - Sorry
And dont expect much kindness from the site either
sin-n-dex
·1 year agoIf you want the item back, you need to wait for it to be sent back (at very least wait until tracking shows it's enroute to you, if you're actually comfortable refunding before you get it back). With my trusted buyers I refund when I see it's on it's way back, otherwise there's no motivation to return it. With more expensive items and buyers I don't know, I wait to receive it back and inspect it.
C.
inhawaii
·1 year agoHello Wal-Mart, I'm going to be returning my flat screen tv. Can i have a refund now and I'll return it later?
isaiah53-57
·1 year agoHow fun - I'm sure the OP just loves your idea of spreading cheer
powell-collectibles
·1 year agoOP thinks – apparently – given the refund first, then expecting The buyer to send back the item was the right order of events. It really isn’t, and the lighthearted example of a customer wanting a refund on a flatscreen TV helps the OP understand.
If the OP is upset, the underlining reason is that she gave a refund far too soon, and without requiring the item to be returned. A lighthearted comment isn’t going to change any of that.
isaiah53-57
·1 year agoWow - "Light-hearted"? -
The statement was derogatory and mean-spirited - designed to point out naivete of a kind-hearted souls attempt to make things right at his/her expense...
If it was the only reply to the OP, the statement did nothing to help - It was only made with the hope of garnering attention from the full-time posters like 95% of @inhawaii posts are...
Funny how you can rationalize anything into well-being - ESPECIALLY here on these boards - A beautiful day in the neighborhood right?
inhawaii
·1 year agoYou have every right to come here and express your displeasure with ebay and with me.
Knock yourself out...
bonjourami
·1 year agoSome posters find constant fault when there is none,its what they live for...that old saying..when someone shows you who they are, believe them.
isaiah53-57
·1 year agoOf course you see nothing wrong with the statement hawaii made or any derogatory or uncalled for mean-spirited post made by any of the full-timers you gang up with - just like you see nothing wrong when the site pulls a stunt or hurts users with another policy change or drops/reduces another benefit...
The bias and hypocrisy of your post is blinding...
vintagecraze50
·1 year agoHello customer. Go home and watch your flat screen TV.
1786davycrockett
·1 year ago@avon2011lavonne
As others have previously mentioned, you should NOT have refunded the buyer before the buyer had opened an official return case through eBay.
Since there was no official eBay return request, eBay is unaware of any problems -- and your buyer has not only received a refund from you, but also is not required to return the necklace.
If the buyer refuses to return the necklace, there is nothing that eBay can do to assist you.
You can deduct the loss on your 2024 income taxes, however.
Unavailable member
·1 year agoIf the buyer opened a return and you refunded the buyer before they returned it the return is closed, you basically gave it away as a gift. The buyer is not obligated to return it and eBay won't get involved because the buyer was refunded.
If you think having a no returns policy will help, guess again. Buyers will just open NAD returns to bypass your no returns policy. No returns never means no refunds.
kensgiftshop
·1 year agoSorry, you refunded before it was returned and Ebay isn't going to look at anything.
They say they will to make you feel better, but they won't.
nevilletetts
·1 year agoNEVER under ANY circumstance should you refund an unsatisfied buyer before the item you sold has been returned in the same condition in which you originally sent it. It is an invitation to be stolen from.
dolcetreasures
·1 year agoWhere in retail is “good customer service†attributed to providing refunds without returns?
lakefor94
·1 year agoYou can't just refund a buyer before you get the item back.
Did the buyer even open a return case?
They open a return case, you accept the return, buyer returns item, you then refund the purchase.
reallynicestamps
·1 year agoNO.
You send a Return Shipping Label, which you pay for.
You get the necklace back.
You refund the entire transaction cost.
AFTER your have the necklace back.
I'm sorry, but you gave her an early Christmas present.
bonjourami
·1 year agoWith your major selling feedback, its surprising that you refunded the necklace before you received it back. The buyer should have opened a case, that was a remorse return, and she would have paid for the return shipping. Then you would have refunded. Theres nothing Ebay can do, when you refunded without requiring a return first, you basically gifted her.