Why bother with "No returns Accepted"?
Summary: gungeey expressed frustration about receiving a return request on an old car manual sold on eBay, despite having clearly stated 'no returns accepted.' The return was requested not because of any issue with the item, but because the buyer no longer needed it. rfmtm clarified that this issue is due to eBay's policy changes for eBay Motors, while albertabrightalberta advised on handling the return as it stands. Various participants discussed eBay's policies, with some suggesting that eBay's system seems unfair to sellers and pointing out how buyers may exploit it to their advantage.
Sold an old car manual. eBay item number: 206172038624 . Clearly stated "no returns Accepted" in the listing.
Three weeks later got a return request notice from ebay the buyer wants to return the item, not because "not as described" but with
a return reason of "No longer needed".
My ebay options were A) offer a partial refund B) give refund and let buyer keep the item C) have buyer send back itrem.
In the meantime the funds are on hold, it's a lofty 10 dollar profit but I'm just twisted on principle.
I picked the lesser of the three evils, and have the buyer shipping it back to me on his dime.
How does the buyer even get the option to basically change his mind? When the item is as described? Maybe after using it for the intended
purpose?
As the seller, what protection do I get? I'm guessing lots of sellers would forgo the item, let the buyer keep it and send off a
refund, just pass it off as a cost of doing business while hoping to avoid poor feedback.
Ebay gets a nice chunk from every sale made big and small, would think they'd take a little better care of the me. The seller
is the bread and butter that builds the ebay skyscraper.
May as well not have the "No returns accepted". There's zero teeth behind it.
gungeey
indianabutler
·2 weeks agoI used to sell automotive manuals and when I got a I don't need it anymore before the return window closed it usally means they just bought the book to figure out a problem with their vehicle and now they don't need it anymore. It's like people buying a dress for a wedding and wearing it then returning it to the store. They no longer need that dress.
gungeey
OP2 weeks agoI tend to think along the same lines. You'd think if the buyer had the particular model car he'd of kept it, though. It was described as used. It was in pretty nice shape, my own personal manuals are used and grimy. In hindsight I'll throw it out next time.
happiness-abcd
·2 weeks ago · Editedscrewed me because usps gave me a receipt havent paid sinve the 11sep now 25 even though buyer said they had item twice and sent picture enough is enough
umccars
·2 weeks agoBesides all the replies, I feel like books and literature, should be non returnable. Sellers are not a library for people to use and return. Ebay needs to fix this.
gone.c-33
·2 weeks agoSo a seller lists a book as new, you receive an ex-library copy and you can’t return it for a refund?
albertabrightalberta
·2 weeks ago · EditedGenerally, a remorse return request is not a big deal and as a seller, you have nothing to lose! You can accept the return, have the buyer pay return shipping and if you charged separately for shipping in the listing, you don't have to refund original shipping.
EDIT: the listing is in the correct category.
@gungeey
Accept the return, let the buyer return on his dime and issue a refund. (You had free shipping for the original listing so you cannot deduct the original shipping from the refund.)
https://www.ebay.com/itm/206172038624
You'll have a happy buyer and you'll be able to relist and resell the manual again.
gungeey
OP2 weeks ago · EditedHow it shakes out remains to be seen. I'm interested in seeing if my stance now with the buyer is "send it back" (on his dime) he may decide to keep it and forfeit the refund.
@albertabrightalberta
Regarding your statement "I can explain it to you but cant understand it for you".. Snarky, condescending ? What light have you shed on this for me?
I don't want this guy as a happy buyer. He's working ebays system. At my expense.
a lousy $18 manual that I'll give away at an in person swap meet at this point.
18 bucks minus ebay fees minus free shipping. I made 11 dollars. The 11 dollars is not the point. My time is the point. My effort is the point. Me selling stuff and wondering what fanagling the next buyer down the road is going to try is the point. It's you that needs things explained to them.
albertabrightalberta
·2 weeks agoThat's a signature line and is NOT directed at you.
If you read these boards on a regular basis, you'd be amazed at the number of times we explain policy and issues to posters. Yet even after multiple responses explain in different words and with different examples, OPs don't always understand.
That's the meaning of my siggy.
I explained to you that you do NOT have to accept the return since your buyer was honest enough to give the honest reason for wanting to return. (Had he dishonestly claimed NAD (not as described), you wouldn't have had a choice!
Accepting the return makes you whole - you lose nothing except the time involved in reselling it.
You get the item back, you get credit for the FVF, you don't pay return shipping!
Your next buyer who wants to return may lie and claim NAD. Then you won't have a choice of whether to accept the return.
As for the amount of money you made on this sale, if you didn't make enough, that's your own doing. You set the price and presumably, you calculated fees and COG before listing. If you didn't charge enough, how is the buyer or ebay at fault for your not making enough?
rfmtm
·2 weeks agoThe reason you did not get to refuse this remorse return is because it was listed under ebay motors. A change ebay made 7/25/25. Otherwise, that option would be available.
gungeey
OP2 weeks agoA guy had my 60 year old car manual lay around his house (more likely his garage) for three weeks and decided he doesn't need it anymore.
I made the mistake of selecting an optional, yet, non-valid "No returns allowed" button that shouldn't be available to sellers in ebay motors? OK. Thanks for the clarification.
Ya know, if the guy had even contacted me directly instead of "working" ebay's system he could of kept the manual and got his money back on this paltry item. Like many, I treat my customers that well.
Dear Mr. Ebay: When you leave the backdoor open all kinds of vermin can get in.
I'll reevaluate my meager offerings, I wouldn't want to be in this scenario with something of greater value.
gungeey
emuestate
·2 weeks agoI thought that only applied to items listed as new. I have some car parts for sale, and also don't take returns, and only the new car parts were automatically changed to their new return policy. I never personally changed them. It happened automatically through eBay.
rfmtm
·2 weeks agoYes, you are right usually used items as excluded, but not always. Not clear why this one wasn't, but many ebay rules are convoluted and only ebay decides. May be worth OP contacting ebay to find out the reason, if not just for future reference.