Return item by forwarding to another customer?

[tiger_23_05_2007]

I need to return an item with a purchase price of approximately $120. The seller who offers free shipping and returns requested that I contact them via the eBay messaging system before using the “official” eBay return procedure.

The seller responded with “Could you do us a favor to forward it to the buyer who really needs it?”

I don’t have a problem with doing that if this type of action is legit. The seller who has a 99.5% positive feedback rating and 1.1M items sold appears to be a US based business and I made the purchase via PayPal.

My questions:

1. How can I be assured that I will receive my full refund since I won’t have any confirmation of the return to seller?
2. What if the new customer I forward the item to claims it is damaged? It is in pristine condition, and it would be returned/forwarded using the same packing material that the seller used to send to me.
3. If something else goes wrong, will I have any recourse through eBay?

Any advice would be appreciated.

[simba6]

That is what the eBay return is for.   Click the return this item button.  That insures it's all done per eBay rules and your protected.   The seller can then choose what to do or where they want it sent. 

[krazzykats]

Return an item for a refund | eBay

[mtgraves7984]

Any advice would be appreciated.

@tiger_23_05_2007 

I'd advise that you don't send the item to anyone, except to return it to the seller, that is. Good luck.

[albertabrightalberta]

@tiger_23_05_2007 

Be sure to open the request as "item not as described" since you received a different item than the item you should have received. 

Although you didn't receive your (correct) item, do NOT open "item not received" because the tracking will show delivery and the seller will win the case. 

[12345jamesstamps]

Your job is to return item to seller as item not as described and get your refund. 

You job is not to forward to another customer. With 1.1M items sold I am surprised they are telling you to do anything. You should have been refunded immediately and sent the correct item out for their mistake.

When I make an error I refund the buyer and tell buyer to keep the item and I will send the correct item out.

[buyselljack2016]

Open a return request.

Use the label provided by the seller in that return request.

It will go wherever the seller directs it to go.

As the seller is the one paying for the label, whatever happens with that item after you get it scanned by the carrier, is on the seller.

[buyselljack2016]

@tiger_23_05_2007 

NO, NO, and NO. Do not do them a favor and forward that item..............................  unless they refund you in full.  At that point they could provide a shipping label for you to do the requested action of sending it to their other buyer.   

They can refund you in full with no action by you. 

--------------

If not the above  ^^^^^^^   then.............

open a return request via eBay.

[tiger_23_05_2007]

Thank you all for your quick responses and valuable advice.

Since I don’t think the seller was trying to be deceptive, I wanted to avoid any negative connotations on their account.

But the replies here all make sense.