International returns question

[c6ydence]

I have an international buyer that requested a return. I was struggling with making the return label so I spoke with an eBay agent and they told me to tell the buyer to contact ebay, the buyer then told me that eBay told them to wait for the label.  However I’m reading from other people online that are saying that after a few days if I don’t provide the label in time that eBay will just give the buyer an automatic refund. So is this person trying to scam and get a full refund by outwaiting the time I have to give them the return label or will eBay actually give them the return label? 

[mtgraves7984]

@c6ydence 

Has your buyer opened an actual Return? If so, you need to Approve it... that would be the only way for a label to 'appear'. But to qualify my reply... I've never had an international Return, so I can't comment as to whether the label is available to your buyer with that simple action or not. Sorry...

Sit tight for posters with experience/knowledge about your issue. Good luck.

[lakefor94]

Like @mtgraves7984 said, other sellers with international experience will be along if you are patient.

Wait for someone that knows for sure.

Did you actually ship international directly or did you ship to the buyers Freight Forwarder here in the states?

[c6ydence]

Yeah, I accepted the return. eBay doesn’t provide return labels for non-domestic returns so I have to make it myself which happens to be difficult and expensive and eBay support hasn’t been much help. I really don’t want to have to refund without receiving the item back but I’m backed into a corner on whether it’s worth it to spend $58 on a return label for an item worth $120. 

[c6ydence]

It was Ascendia. I used USPS First Class International which I’ve learned was a bad idea. This was my second time shipping anything international so I’m learning.

[lakefor94]

Tagging @slippinjimmy , he does a lot of international shipping.

[stainlessenginecovers]

@c6ydence  3 things:

1.) Sellers in the USA cannot make a 'label' for someone outside the USA

2.) Ebay cannot make a label for someone outside the USA

3.) You have to find out, from the buyer, what it would cost to ship the item back to you, then you have to send them the $$ (paypal or?)

If I were you I would chock this up to a learning lesson and just refund as it does not seem worth spending $58 for $120 item- after you refund you MIGHT get your item and save $50?? 

Simply NOT worth it.

Does your listings show you 'accept returns'?? 

Lastly, until you are accepting into the EIS program, you should find the 'exclusions' and exclude ALL countries outside USA. 

[c6ydence]

I’ve spoken with 4 different eBay agents and they’ve all told me to make one using Fedex or UPS. On this specific item it says I don’t accept returns but the item was damaged in shipping. But thanks for the advice I definitely don’t plan on shipping outside of the US anymore. 

[slippinjimmy]

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@c6ydence wrote:

I’ve spoken with 4 different eBay agents and they’ve all told me to make one using Fedex or UPS. On this specific item it says I don’t accept returns but the item was damaged in shipping. But thanks for the advice I definitely don’t plan on shipping outside of the US anymore. 

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@stainlessenginecovers  posted the basics of what to do. As he posted eBay cannot provide labels for international returns, it's something you have to work out with the buyer.

Before asking the buyer how much it would cost them to ship the return you should look up the Postal service in their country. At least you would be able to see what options are available to the buyer and direct them to use the most appropriate service.

In many cases nowadays YOU can actually purchase the label for them (like using USPS Click'n'Ship for a domestic  label. If you do this then you get to fill out the customs information and ensure that the declaration is correct. Unfortunately since the removal of the De Minimis exemption most foreign postal service must ship via DDP (Duty Paid), this makes buying a label in a foreign country much more complicated than it was in the past.

Can you tell me what country the buyer is located in, what the item was, what the value was and what the reason for the return is I might be able to offer more detailed way of dealing with this issue.

In some situations with International Returns, depending on the value it's better for you to just refund and not require a return.

[c6ydence]

I just ended up refunding the buyer. Wasn’t worth the trouble. 

[slippinjimmy]

@c6ydence wrote:

The buyer is in Italy and it’s a 1979 Barbie valued at $120. They want a refund because there was what looks to be a cut in the box that the doll comes in.

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I don't normally recommend this but your best option might be to work out some sort of partial refund that will be good enough for the buyer to keep the doll.

If you go the return route you will be losing the shipping both ways which will probably be about $60+. If you can make it go away for that amount or less it would be about the best result you can get.

Given the current situation with cross border shipping and customs it's possible you could end up with nothing if there is a return attempt.

[ryry-jj]

For the future, I would suggest opting into eIS and let eBay handle all the returns...and shipping for that matter