Vintage Perfume

Question

I sold a vintage new in box perfume. It is about 30 yrs old. The buyer claims the item has an "awful" scent. She claims same perfume that is 10 yrs old is fine. I have a no return policy. If she opened bottle, it is no longer new. And, now she wants a full refund. I offered her a partial refund, she was not satisfied. Will I lose this battle? Will I have to pay for the return? And, can I re-sell it as new? Please help! I am new to perfume selling!

mamacassidy · Accepted Answer

You might want to re-think how you list those vintage perfumes.

Most perfume bottles are not air tight, so over time, the water starts to evaporate. This leaves behind a more pungent smell than the original was (sometimes it just smells like straight alcohol). When I look at your listings, I can see that many of those new perfumes look to be about 1/2 or 3/4 full, so there's been some evaporation there and they probably don't smell like the original scent.

You might consider listing them as collectibles and mentioning in the description that it may not still be "good".

But either way, when the buyer says it's not as described or damaged, you have to refund.

jonathanbrightlight · Answer

If the bottle itself has appeal, empty it and sell it as a collectible. You cannot sell the open bottle as New, under any circumstances.

chapeau-noir · Answer

I quit selling perfumes when I found they too often went sour or acrid. This was before ebay disallowed the selling of used perfume not in the collectibles category. I ended up with too much rancid product - and some of them were not that old.

cambriachick · Answer

Are you honestly asking if you can resell an opened, fowl smelling, used perfume? Where has common sense gone?! As others said, have her open a case, and refund. Don't try to make the buyer pay for shipping or anything else. You sold a defective product, you need to take the hit. IF the bottle itself is ornamental, have her return it EMPTY, on your dime, and try to resell that.

date-bait · Answer

Perfume that is about 75% full (per your listing) should NOT be listed as new. Even in the collectibles category, that is not NEW. There are other fragrances that you have listed that aren't FULL. They are USED...evaporation does happen, but then your item does not fit the eBay's definition of NEW: A brand-new, unused, unopened, undamaged item.

inhawaii · Answer

Here's some crazy advice.

If the buyer claims it smells funny, just assume that it does in fact smell funny and ACCEPT THE RETURN!

This kind of thing will happen once in a while.

It's all part of doing business online.

bennotbill · Answer

I'm still puzzled why any buyer would think thirty year old perfume will be fine to use.

simba6 · Answer

I have seen many cases where it does go bad and starts to smell vile. And I do mean vile. A no return policy does not apply to items that are not as described or arrive damaged.

Yes you will lose.

Yes you have to pay it's return if you want it back.

No I would not try to sell it again. Open cosmetics are not allowed to be sold.

I suggest you just issue a full refund and let them keep it. Your customer service rating will be dinged if eBay has to refund for you.

jdbelt1960 · Answer

There is no such thing as a new 30 year old item. You should have said vintage, unopened in original packaging or something like that. And now as you have a learning experience make sure you include caveats. Just take it back if valuable and refund fully or let the buyer do what they wish and refund fully.

tinsoldierunderground · Answer

@kapmsdr

My Mother taught me many years ago that colognes and perfumes do indeed go bad. she would use the term 'turned' when the scent became unpleasant or had a straight alcohol odor. Her experience came from years of working for Lord & Taylor's in New York. If you stand against the return and challenge ebay, you will lose badly.

metw8888.tp3jughg9 · Answer

FYI you are permitted under E-Bay policy to deduct from a refund if it was new/unused and has been returned used. That includes if the buyer removed the cellophane factory seal (not all fragrances have a factory seal). Or if the buyer has admitted to using the product.

Don't give her a partial refund. Tell her to open a return request and accept it to have your item sent back and in your hands. If the item is truly spoiled? she won't mind sending it back. If she's trying to get you to let her keep the item and be fully refunded? she's trying to scam you.

ten_o_nine · Answer

Will you "lose this battle"?
Likely yes, if the buyer opens a formal dispute
Will you have to pay for the return?
Yes, If the buyer files an "Item Not as Described" (INAD) claim, the seller is generally required to pay for the return shipping label.
Can you re-sell it as "New"?
No. Once the original manufacturer's seal or box has been opened and the perfume sprayed, it no longer qualifies as "New"

christworks · Answer

@kapmsdr Odors are subjective. I would asked her when she says "awful" does she mean she does not like the scent or does she believe it has gone bad. When you write her back, be polite. Sound concerned.

If the buyer tells you she thinks it has gone bad, then refund them and tell them to keep it. Or, ask them to open a return and you send the label. Then, refund after you get it back. Maybe they send it back or maybe you call their bluff and they never return it.

I agree with @kensgiftshop. I would not list 30-year-old perfume as "new," even if sealed. I personally think that stuff needs to be listed under collectables, not under the main category that implies it is fit for modern use.

12345jamesstamps · Answer

'30 years old'....did you make sure in those 30 years no sunlight hit the box and bottle?

Was item stored for 30 years away from all factors of the weather or a controlled environment?

Was boxed with bottle inside stored correctly for 30 years?

As a sommelier of wines...it is possible the perfume did maybe change in smell.

'vintage new in box'...'about 30 years old'.

Need to do the return label only if a eBay claim is open...and once returned refund.

Here's the tricky part...a buyer is not as knowledgeable about returning a bottle of perfume like us sellers.

Unless there is an eBay claim open from the buyer...there's nothing to do.

Cannot resell as new of course...but you don't even have a return.

As a seller myself...I sold one bottle of expensive perfume for a friend last year.

Never again...had to box it in a box in a box...ground delivery because it's a liquid and labeled as such on the box. I was holding my breath for like 30 days if there was a problem.

What I would do in future of perfume...you 'do returns but buyer pays for returns' and I bet you will never get a return...I hate returning anything because it's a pain.

Buyer is hoping for a refund without returning anything...don't do that.

wastingtime101 · Answer

When it's old it should be listed in the Collectibles category for fragrances, not the Health & Beauty category. In addition, a disclaimer should be added to the listing that the scent of fragrances can change over time, and stress the age of the product.

This is the best way to set buyer expectations and give yourself an added layer of protection.

When you list in Health & Beauty as new, the buyer expects it to be "fresh" even if you say it's vintage new old stock.

jerseyboymusic · Answer

@kapmsdr

No offense, intended.. but you have been on Ebay since 2001 and don't know about the Ebay Money Back Guarantee? It overrides your "No Return" policy. All the buyer needs to do is open a "Not Described" return and you refund upon receipt of the return.

kensgiftshop · Answer

30 year old perfume isn't new. Tell buyer to return for a full refund and yes, you'll have to pay return shipping.

krazzykats · Answer

How to handle a return request as a seller á“šá˜á—¢