Weird Return

[whorunbartertown]

I had a Buyer purchase a book from me on May 14th. They rec'd it on May 18th, then ordered a refund. They stated the reason as "ordered by mistake". They haven't sent it back, they have until June 9th to do so. Here's where my questions come in. Should I be doing anything, besides waiting for them to ship? Could this be a scam?

[soh.maryl]

That's a remorse return, so, technically, you don't have to refund return shipping.

Am at a loss to see how it could be a scam, except that maybe now they are done reading the book.

Have they opened a case? Have you refunded? Not quite enough details.

[1786davycrockett]

If your buyer has not opened a return case against you, you don't have to do anything.

Don't send them a refund, until they officially open a return case.

Just because they're REQUESTING a refund, doesn't make it an official "return" case.  Your buyer may actually be pulling a "con" on you, believing that you may actually send them a refund, without them officially opening a "return" case.  And, if you do simply send them a refund, they also keep the book that they had originally purchased.  That's not how an official "return" case works.

Don't do anything, until the buyer officially opens a "return" case.  Then follow the procedures laid out by eBay -- if it's not a con, you'll at least receive your book back.

[whorunbartertown]

They officially opened a case on the 18th, the day they rec'd the book. I have not refunded them any money but eBay is holding it. What I think may happen is that eBay will refund them and say that I didn't close the case, even if the buyer doesn't send it back. Then I'm out the money, the book and I get a strike against me.

[momdadsstash]

If you didn't respond by offering to take it back and refund, that's exactly what will happen.

[12345jamesstamps · Accepted solution]

 Since case is open against you offer the refund upon return of book. And make sure they do tracking of a return. Make them do some work returning it.  And block them also. Be polite and business-like.

Some people think they can get a refund by returning nothing. Once book is returned then refund them if that happens. But have to offer the refund in this case. Some people don't like the hassle of returning something or going to the post office.

[simba6]

Often buyers never get around to sending items back.  With luck, it will just go away.

[mtgraves7984]

What I think may happen is that eBay will refund them and say that I didn't close the case, even if the buyer doesn't send it back. 

@whorunbartertown 

Rest easy... the Return won't close until you receive the item back. Don't refund until you have it. Good luck.

[bearswatching]

I would offer, one time only, to refund upon receiving the return of the book, then let sleeping dogs lie. Many times the buyers just never get around to returning the item. I don’t see any way this could be a scam. A much-overused word, by the way.

[1786davycrockett]

"What I think may happen is that eBay will refund them and say that I didn't close the case, even if the buyer doesn't send it back. Then I'm out the money, the book and I get a strike against me."

This is not worth getting a strike against your account.

Just accept the return and send the buyer a mailing label.  After you've received your book back, refund the buyer.  End of story.

I don't understand why you would prefer having a strike against your account, rather than just abide by the eBay Money Back Guarantee.  If you receive too many strikes, eBay may just shut down your account.

Not worth getting a strike.

[swordg]

Nope, wait for them to return, if they fail to do so, ebay will close without a refund, and the buyer cannot leave you negative feedback.

[albertabrightalberta]

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@mtgraves7984 wrote:

What I think may happen is that eBay will refund them and say that I didn't close the case, even if the buyer doesn't send it back. 

@whorunbartertown 

Rest easy... the Return won't close until you receive the item back. Don't refund until you have it. Good luck.

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@whorunbartertown 

Was the case opened with a remorse reason or for NAD? It sounds like it's remorse, in which case, you wouldn't have been obligated to accept the return but for the fact that you have a "free returns" policy. 

When you have that policy, normally, as soon as they open the return request, it's accepted and the buyer receives a shipping label that you pay for as per your return policy. 

If the buyer doesn't return it by the deadline shown in the case, you can have it closed with the buyer not getting refund. 

May I offer a bit of unsolicited advice? For books, I recommend against a return policy (especially one that costs YOU money) because 30 days gives the buyer time to read and enjoy the book free of charge then return it on your dime.

JMHO.