return of an item (clothing....doesn't fit)

[beancou-71]

i am not a large seller of items on ebay (couple hundred items in 5 years) , but i did do the free return which means that i have to pay for the item to be returned (to gain more exposure)

Since i don't get many returns i was to double check the procedure on a recent item.  The item (women's Corduroy pants) sold was $12 and the buyer paid $9.65 shipping.  The buyer wanted to return the item because it did not fit.  So i had to pay the return shipping cost.  When the item was returned (in original condition), what am i to refund.  The item cost only ($12) , or the item cost and the shipping cost they paid ($21.65)...???

[buyselljack2016]

On a "remorse" return refund that I just made ebay provided the option for me not to refund the initial shipping paid by the buyer. The default was to withhold .  The initial shipping was not "included". The buyer had paid that as a separate charge. I do believe, that tad shipping been "included" in the cost of the item that option would not have been there.

[beancou-71]

On a recent "return to sender" item that came back, i contacted Ebay about the refund procedure and they asked if i had contacted the buyer about a partial refund (item only). I did and they accept this, and i issued the refund.  I like my "best seller" status and would hate to lose it to a disgruntled buyer. This was not the case here, but.....

[monster-deals]

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@beancou-71 wrote:

So i had to pay the return shipping cost.  

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Why?

You don't HAVE to take them back.

You can just refund.

[kensgiftshop · Accepted solution]

@beancou-71 

On a remorse return, if the buyer paid the original shipping, you can deduct it from the refund.

If it was free shipping, they would get a full refund.