First time return as a buyer- So you don't have to ship back to get refund?

[hakutsuru575]

So I have just experienced my first time buying experience on eBay, which made me really confused.

I bought this controller for my electric bike that has just stopped working, thinking that I can replace the controller. It turned out not helping at all after the replacement so I hope to return the item that arrived a couple hours ago in the morning. 

This return process is insane- they issued refund even before I shipped it back! Okay, then I was still expecting an email either from the seller or from eBay to tell me what I am supposed to do with this product- will the seller provide label or I have to purchase my own label, which is fair as it's nothing wrong with the item.

And then after a day I just got rated 5 star from the seller and I still have this item! I feel bad because I this is not what I expected and I don't want to keep anything I didn't paid for!

So my question-

Is this the end of the deal? Is it closed? Is this regular eBay return/refund practice? 

[klhmdg]

if you are refunded by the seller you do not have to send it back.

As a buyer, since you bought the item and didnt need it you should have chosen a reason that would have you paying to return it unless the seller had free returns.

Im guessing it was cheaper for the seller to just refund you without having to pay shipping back and receive a used item.

[albertabrightalberta]

When a buyer requests a return, depending on the reason selected for the return, the seller  has several options:

• If not as described, seller can issue a refund without requiring you to return the item
• If they want the item back, they pay for and supply a return shipping label
• If a remorse return, depending on the seller's return policy, it may be accepted or declined. 

Without knowing the reason for the return, I'm concluding that the seller decided they don't want the item back and just issued a refund. You can keep, dispose or fix the item as you desire. 

[albertabrightalberta]

Found the seller and he has free returns but as suggested by @klhmdg likely decided that just issuing a refund was the most efficient way to handle it. 

[wastingtime101]

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@hakutsuru575 wrote:

Is this regular eBay return/refund practice? 

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Adding to the great info posted above @hakutsuru575 , there is no "regular" return/refund practice on eBay since each individual seller sets their own return policies and can handle things like refunding without requiring a return on a case-by-case basis. So going forward I would not advise you to expect the same outcome. Many sellers will require a return before refunding. Since the item was defective I hope there won't be a next time for you.

[12345jamesstamps]

Feedback is important to some sellers. I have refunded for something not getting a return. 

However, some sellers do block from future purchases.

[hakutsuru575]

Thank you guys for all the feedback! I was worried that I would miss some step.