A buyer returned purchase but refuses to state the reason

[turquoisetulips]

I sell living memory locket necklaces  on here ,, and they usually have a theme , Mothers day , Thanksgiving , Christmas , Halloween  etc etc ,, many varieties . A few weeks ago I sold a locket to a buyer ,, about a week later  after they recieved it they wrote me a message - quote - What are your return policies '' ? I replied , the buyer pays the return shipping , once the item arrives its inspected to make sure it has not been broken and is in the same new condition as when it was shipped . If so, then a full refund will be issued . They never replied back but a few days later I recieved the locket in the mail  without a single explanation as to why they returned it . I have since let them know I received their purchase and its in perfect condition and so  they will be sent a refund shortly . However what worries me about dealing like this , is I've had buyers before ''borrow'' themed necklaces from me  just to wear on a one day occasion ,, then ask for their money back . Since this particular buyer  this time refuses to give an explanation for returning a perfectly good locket ,,I'm very suspicious I'm being taken advantage of- again. Any suggestions ?

[missjen831]

I don't understand the problem? You accept returns. Refund the buyer and move on. Consider it buyers remorse. If the item was returned in the same condition, what does it matter? How are you being taken advantage of?

[chinohighcowboys1963]

Buyers are not required to state a reason for return.

Just be glad she didn't open a case on you, and you got the item back in sellable condition.

Refund the buyer and put her on your BBL if you think she might do this to you again.

[hidy-hoo]

Buyers that purchase to rent are a fact of life ~ in brick and mortar stores as well as on-line.  You may want to attach a "no returns if removed" hang tag to your items to prevent an item being worn and then returned...this isn't foolproof, but does cut down on the number of renters.

[turquoisetulips]

That is a very good idea and I will do just that -thank you 

[dhbookds]

people can honestly change their minds about wanting something............

[turquoisetulips]

Why would she open a case ? The locket was new , handmade by me and in perfect condition . It was shipped with a tracking number  within 24 hours of purchase . Since I've agreed to give her a full refund   upon return  and have only asked for the reason she sent it back , what reason would she have for opening a case ?

[mismarymarpl0]

How is the buyer taking advantage of you? Because you offer returns, you take them for any reason, the buyer doesnt need to have a reason to return ot.

Im really tired of sellers who offer returns hinting or flat out accusing buyers of fraud if they want to return the item.

[turquoisetulips]

 How are you being taken advantage of?-- misjen 

I said it was a possibilty I'm being taken advantage of because of my buyers refusal to give an explantion for returning the necklace . Maybe you missed what I wrote about what I sell ,, its themed jewelry  that sometimes can only be worn for a one day event , example Thanksgiving . I have had buyers purchase such lockets , wear them and then ask for their money back  after the event is over . Since I'm not in the business of loaning jewelry to buyers for free ,, I think that is being taken advantage of.  I'm not saying that this is the case this time ,, just that is it possibilty . I'm going to take the advice of the other poster and new tag my jewelry from now on ,, its good advice .

[jonathankirkland]

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@turquoisetulips wrote:

Why would she open a case ? The locket was new , handmade by me and in perfect condition . It was shipped with a tracking number  within 24 hours of purchase . Since I've agreed to give her a full refund   upon return  and have only asked for the reason she sent it back , what reason would she have for opening a case ?

---

I'm really not trying to be a fear monger here, but I just want to briefly fill you in on the sneaky and awful things people can sometimes do here.

Sometimes people are just out to cheat, and sometimes they will open a case for no good reason at all. Sometimes people do this because they feel it is the only way they will be refunded in case the seller gives them trouble.

And some other times it's even worse than that, if the buyer is really a scumbag cheat they will claim you sent them an item SNAD (or "significantly not as described"), in which case YOU have to pay for the return shipping, and if they are a SUPER SCAMMER, they will keep your item and return a rock to you in the box. Or simply break or destroy your item making it unsellable return it to you stating that you sent it to them in that condition.

And in this ebay simply refuses to believe that the buyer is at fault and would refund the buyer in full.

I realize this is all a bit extreme and it is probably very rare for the amount of sales that do occur as a whole, but just be aware that this type of thing CAN happen.

Again, I am NOT trying to put fear into you for selling by any means! Just simply stating that in this case I really think you are fortunate and that things could be a lot worse.

I wish you the best of luck going forward though!

[jonathankirkland]

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@turquoisetulips wrote:
I have had buyers purchase such lockets , wear them and then ask for their money back  after the event is over . Since I'm not in the business of loaning jewelry to buyers for free ,, I think that is being taken advantage of.  I'm not saying that this is the case this time ,, just that is it possibilty . I'm going to take the advice of the other poster and new tag my jewelry from now on ,, its good advice .

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Sadly, this is something that ebay sellers unfortunately just have to deal with.

It is NOT fair and it is NOT right, and again I know I sound like a fear monger but it is just simply the way things are on here.

And I know this does not sound very sympathetic, but just try to consider yourself lucky perhaps that you have received the items back in an acceptable condition so they can be resold again.

I realize this is extremely frustrating for you and I hope these kinds of returns are a very rare occasion for you.

Again, good luck moving forward!

[phanoto]

The only suggestion that I have is to not wait so long to refund that the buyer thinks you are not going to give a refund.

[turquoisetulips]

I had to  block a buyer last year for attempting to ''rent '' a themed necklace from me . I knew she was lying about the reason for the return ,, so did e bay .   They  read her comments seen what she was trying to do .  Ebay did not forced me  to refund her .E bay completed the refund themselves  to her with a strict instruction that this refund was only a one time curtosy  and it would not happen again. They frown on renters . 

[mismarymarpl0]

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@turquoisetulips wrote:

Why would she open a case ? The locket was new , handmade by me and in perfect condition . It was shipped with a tracking number  within 24 hours of purchase . Since I've agreed to give her a full refund   upon return  and have only asked for the reason she sent it back , what reason would she have for opening a case ?

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She could have opened a fake SNAD and stuck you with shipping both ways.

[muttlymob]

Im really tired of sellers who offer returns hinting or flat out accusing buyers of fraud if they want to return the item.

Ditto.

Who would really expect a friendly response to a message like this:  "I replied , the buyer pays the return shipping , once the item arrives its inspected to make sure it has not been broken and is in the same new condition as when it was shipped . If so, then a full refund will be issued ."

If I were the buyer I wouldn't waste a reply either to a seller who sends an open-ended accusation as a reply to a simple question about return policy.

It would be so much more customer friendly and not openly insulting to send a message like:  "My return policy is that a refund of the item price will be issued upon return of the item in the same condition it was sent."