Partial Refund Question

[lakefor94]

Buyer has opened a arrived damaged return asking for a partial refund. I have submitted a partial refund offer. How long does the buyer have to accept the partial refund? 

I would also accept the return but the buyer has indicated they want to keep the item.

Been a problem buyer from the get-go.  I saw this coming before I accepted the offer. 

Note to self, once again: When they do a lot of negotiating/requests to drop the price before the transaction, add to the BBL and move on…..

[ebuyer323]

My personal opinion is to never offer a partial refund. Just tell them you require them to return, accept the return, and send a return label. Many buyers "claim" damaged item (but item is really OK), but say they want to keep the item in hopes you will refund them some money. Most will never send the item back if you call their bluff.

[mjnst13]

I guess you could have a conversation with the buyer, ask for pictures of the damaged product, if truly it is damaged you can partially refund according to the arrangement you have discussed.

If he/she is not answering you should close the case. According to my personal opinion check for 3-5 business days and refund partially. Because personally I think as a buyer I do have the responsibility to close any case or dispute from the buyer's side or any disagreement with the buyer.

Others maybe have different opinions, check with them too.

[santamonicajeweler]

Buyer is playing you. You've already offered a partial refund and Buyer taking time showing unsatisfactory process, LOL 

Stay your grounds, let Buyer take time, play along. Don't message, too much nurturing will result on negative feedback 

[kensgiftshop]

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@mjnst13 wrote:

I guess you could have a conversation with the buyer, ask for pictures of the damaged product, if truly it is damaged you can partially refund according to the arrangement you have discussed.

If he/she is not answering you should close the case. According to my personal opinion check for 3-5 business days and refund partially. Because personally I think as a buyer I do have the responsibility to close any case or dispute from the buyer's side or any disagreement with the buyer.

Others maybe have different opinions, check with them too.

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The seller can't close an INAD.

They either refund the buyer or accept the return.

[kensgiftshop]

@lakefor94 

As a seller, you have 3 days to decide to accept the return or refund the buyer in full.

After 3 days, the buyer could ask Ebay to step in.

When that happens, they usually refund the buyer from your account, let them keep the item and give you a defect for not handling the return.

[lakefor94]

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@kensgiftshop wrote:

@lakefor94 

As a seller, you have 3 days to decide to accept the return or refund the buyer in full.

After 3 days, the buyer could ask Ebay to step in.

When that happens, they usually refund the buyer from your account, let them keep the item and give you a defect for not handling the return.

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Right now, the return status states, "waiting for buyer to approve partial refund"

I can do nothing in the return.  Can't accept the return, can't send a label. Can't do anything. 

My question was "How long does the buyer have to accept the partial refund? "

I think @santamonicajeweler may have answered it for me with:

"Buyer is playing you. You've already offered a partial refund and Buyer taking time showing unsatisfactory process, LOL 

Stay your grounds, let Buyer take time, play along. Don't message, too much nurturing will result on negative feedback "

I suppose my question still might be, how long does the buyer actually have to decide or does this thing timeout at some point? 

I would hate to see this thing turn into a refund without returning the item but the return does state "waiting for the buyer to approve partial refund"

I can do nothing 

[santamonicajeweler]

It's three days, @kensgiftshop mentioned it but as I feel your situation, this buyer is going to ask for extension, to play. I am guessing but you need to be prepared for worst

DONOT, I say again, DONOT click on Refund  feature 

That's the only way Buyer gets refunded. Item needs to be returned and you are allowed 48 hours or two business days to inspect the item, only then, Refund

Be careful, 

[lakefor94]

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@santamonicajeweler wrote:

It's three days, @kensgiftshop mentioned it but as I feel your situation, this buyer is going to ask for extension, to play. I am guessing but you need to be prepared for worst

DONOT, I say again, DONOT click on Refund  feature 

That's the only way Buyer gets refunded. Item needs to be returned and you are allowed 48 hours or two business days to inspect the item, only then, Refund

Be careful, 

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Yes, Roger that.  It really looks as though the ball is in the buyer's court at this point.  The refund buyer option does not even show up at this point.

[lakefor94]

@santamonicajeweler @kensgiftshop 

Jfyi, Even though the return appears completely "stalled" as I await the buyer's decision to accept the partial refund, I was able to send a prepaid return label to the buyer thru eBay messages. 

I could not do anything through the return at this point other than send the buyer a message thru "standard eBay messages" and attach a return label. 

[santamonicajeweler]

You're following the correct procedure now. All you need to do is wait till you receive the item back. You don't need to talk to Buyer at all. If Buyer contacts you, you respond by going through all options you have given to Buyer

"You can give someone opportunities but not force them to take it" and you have given plenty at this point 

[dare-2046 · Accepted solution]

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@lakefor94 wrote:

Buyer has opened a arrived damaged return asking for a partial refund. I have submitted a partial refund offer.

How long does the buyer have to accept the partial refund? 

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There's no 3-day deadline for the buyer to decide. The buyer has @lakefor94 

- from the moment the partial refund was offered,

- until just before the request automatically closes 21 business days after it was started,

to accept or decline the one-time partial refund offer. The request is stalled while the buyer decides.

If the buyer accepts the partial refund offer, eBay issues the partial refund and the case is closed.

If the buyer declines the partial refund offer, the return request reverts to the the remaining options.

- The buyer can decline the offer, then quickly click Ask eBay to step in before the seller can respond.

- Otherwise, the seller can

(a) Accept the return and issue/reissue a return label,

(b) Refund with no return required, or

(c) click Ask eBay to step in.

1. The seller cannot refund now, while the buyer is deciding to accept or decline the partial refund offer.

2. The seller cannot refund even if the buyer returns the item, neither during this stall nor after it automatically closes.

3. The seller can only refund with the Accept the return or Refund no return options after the buyer declines the partial refund.

4. Otherwise, eBay can force the refund if either the buyer or the seller clicks Ask eBay to step in, and likely with no return required.

[lakefor94]

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@dare-2046 wrote:

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@lakefor94 wrote:

Buyer has opened a arrived damaged return asking for a partial refund. I have submitted a partial refund offer.

How long does the buyer have to accept the partial refund? 

---

There's no 3-day deadline for the buyer to decide. The buyer has @lakefor94 

- from the moment the partial refund was offered,

- until just before the request automatically closes 21 business days after it was started,

to accept or decline the one-time partial refund offer. The request is stalled while the buyer decides.

If the buyer accepts the partial refund offer, eBay issues the partial refund and the case is closed.

If the buyer declines the partial refund offer, the return request reverts to the the remaining options.

- The buyer can decline the offer, then quickly click Ask eBay to step in before the seller can respond.

- Otherwise, the seller can

(a) Accept the return and issue/reissue a return label,

(b) Refund with no return required, or

(c) click Ask eBay to step in.

1. The seller cannot refund now, while the buyer is deciding to accept or decline the partial refund offer.

2. The seller cannot refund even if the buyer returns the item, neither during this stall nor after it automatically closes.

3. The seller can only refund with the Accept the return or Refund no return options after the buyer declines the partial refund.

4. Otherwise, eBay can force the refund if either the buyer or the seller clicks Ask eBay to step in, and likely with no return required.

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@santamonicajeweler @kensgiftshop 

@dare-2046 laid out the grail with the post above. 

The only thing I had going for me in this whole senario was that I had offered a return twice in messages and had sent a return label in messages. 

The buyer could have probably used the automated system to obtain a full refund as soon as the 3 days were up from the time the return was opened. I would have had to jump thru the eBay hoops to obtain a courtesy refund. 

I do not think I had a dishonest buyer, just an experienced one that got a step ahead in the game. After I sent the return label in messages, the buyer ended up stating in messages to go ahead and close the return and I had eBay do that.  The buyer passed on the 10% partial refund. 

I already had two feedbacks removed for demanding something that was not in the listing. (a partial refund) I will go ahead a compile all the information in a one page document in case a CC chargeback wonders this way at some point. 

Thanks to all who contributed to this thread. Best to all this holiday season. Merry Christmas.

[aaliyahbaby]

what happens if buyer declines partial refund, and both seller and buyer dont act on any remaining options (nobody asks ebay to step in).  what happens?

[nenu-5410]

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@aaliyahbaby wrote:

what happens if buyer declines partial refund,

and both seller and buyer dont act on any remaining options (nobody asks ebay to step in). 

what happens? 

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Since "the seller didn't resolve the return request" by selecting either of the 2 remaining options 

eBay will step in to resolve the request on behalf of the seller, without anyone asking.