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 ?

[turquoisetulips]

No I can't say I have ,, most [probably 99 % ] of my sales have been very smooth .In fact I've made some pretty good friends with some of my return customers .I still get a Christmas card every year from a buyer in Utah . I've met some very nice people ,, and considering I just turned 61 years old  making new friends is something I cherish. 

[jonathankirkland]

https://pages.ebay.com/help/sell/return-policy.html

It seems that by offering a return policy, a buyer really doesn't have to specify a reason for making a return.

Another thing you could do to try to cut down on returns is specify there will be a 10% restocking fee.

---

[turquoisetulips]

I've thought about restocking fee's  but I've always been worried it may chase away buyers . I don't really have a problem with buyers returning their purchases , in fact only twice . However this time of year with so much  holiday themed jewelry  I have ,, the possibilities  of an  increase in  returns  can be more prevalent . 

[castlemagicmemories]

---

@turquoisetulips wrote:

 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 .

---

I totally understand you would feel better if given a reason, but I doubt she would tell you, I wore it once and now have no further need for it.

She may have felt a reason was superflous since you take returns, and you take them for any reason when you do that.

[castlemagicmemories]

---

@turquoisetulips wrote:

I've already refunded ,, and I can resale it now . Fortunately its not like last year when I sold the Thanksgiving locket  to a buyer who wore it on Thanksgiving  and then returned it for a refund . By the time I got it back Thanksgiving was over and too late to put it back up  for sale again for another year. I was pretty bummed . 

---

You don't have to put it up for a year.  Someone could have seen it after Thanksgiving and just really liked it and bought it for next year.  Someone could have been traveling to spend Thanksgiving with relatives after the fact, and they would want it to wear or give as a gift.  The beauty of Ebay is you don't have to wait for a holiday to list anything to do with that holiday, some buyers collect or buy ahead when they see something they like.  

Don't be bummed!  Sorry that happened, though.

[turquoisetulips]

I just noticed  your name Chino cowboys ,, is that Chino CA   by any chance ?  If so , were just around the corner .My sons own a house too in that neighborhood . 

[turquoisetulips]

Could be ,, yes 

[turquoisetulips]

That's true , I do sell quite a few  '' The nightmare before Christmas '' themed lockets all year  long ,, but they've really taken off the past few weeks . 

[castlemagicmemories]

---

@turquoisetulips wrote:

That's true , I do sell quite a few  '' The nightmare before Christmas '' themed lockets all year  long ,, but they've really taken off the past few weeks . 

---

That's GREAT!!!  Congrats!1

Probably because Halloween is coming up soon!

[the*dog*ate*my*tablecloth]

There's a Nightmare Before Christmas store at Disney Hollywood in Orlando. I think NBC is something that transcends Halloween. It fits in well with the goth crowd.

[*eponymous*]

---

@turquoisetulips wrote:

The buyer didn't open a return ,, she simply sent it back . I will tag my merchandise from now on. 

---

Tagging doesn't mean anything to eBay or PayPal.

You seem to be suffering from a sense of entitlement to never being taken advantage of because eBay once sided with you.

Consider yourself fortunate. It won't happen again!

[*eponymous*]

---

@turquoisetulips wrote:

Nobody ,, not a single buyer has had a problem with how I conduct business . I always ship within 24 hours of payment , always provide a tracking number , always gift wrap the item and always include a very generous gift with every sale I make . When anyone contacts me , they get a prompt and polite reply .There's nothing wrong with  inspecting merchandise that has been returned , in fact every potential buyer should already expect this possibility  whenever they make a purchase and then want to return it . 

---

Again, you are assuming privileges not available to you when selling online!

[*eponymous*]

---

@turquoisetulips wrote:

I've already refunded ,, and I can resale it now . Fortunately its not like last year when I sold the Thanksgiving locket  to a buyer who wore it on Thanksgiving  and then returned it for a refund . By the time I got it back Thanksgiving was over and too late to put it back up  for sale again for another year. I was pretty bummed . 

---

Resell...

You have unrealistic expectations and ideas if you think you make money on every sale and that selling is fair. Your POV does show that most buyers are honest because nothing can force them to be honest..

[*eponymous*]

---

---

@turquoisetulips wrote:

I've thought about restocking fee's  but I've always been worried it may chase away buyers . I don't really have a problem with buyers returning their purchases , in fact only twice . However this time of year with so much  holiday themed jewelry  I have ,, the possibilities  of an  increase in  returns  can be more prevalent . 

---

Tags mean nothing to eBay or PayPal  or in a chargeback, but I would never insult my clients that way, in any event!

Again, you make profit at the margin, not on individual sales. Returns and refunds, and the losses they result in, are simple business expenses.

 Restocking fees do nothing but steal from your bottom line. You don't get a fee credit, and buyers simply file a SNAD. 

[margarenisa_0]

---

@*eponymous* wrote:

---

@turquoisetulips wrote:

The buyer didn't open a return ,, she simply sent it back . I will tag my merchandise from now on. 

---

Tagging doesn't mean anything to eBay or PayPal.

You seem to be suffering from a sense of entitlement to never being taken advantage of because eBay once sided with you.

Consider yourself fortunate. It won't happen again!

---

I don’t want this to be a pile on but I gotta say I completely agree.

OP- you’re being weird and controlling, probably because you make what you sell.

On EBay- no one owes you any explanation to return something if you state you take returns. Let it go.