Buyer admits buying wrong part and I don't accept returns. How can this go?

[braus3449]

Listed a throttle body and in the title I wrote 2012-19 Fiat 500 Abarth. Buyer says the electrical connector is different and doesn't plug into it. 

He sent me this polite message,  don’t think it came from a fait 500 abarth as the one you sent me has a different plug connector than mine. It should be a 2 row 6 pin connector and yours was a 1 row 6 pin connector. What can we do? Do you have a different one or should I return it? Thanks xxx 

So already he's fishing for a return. So then I ask him, what car is this for? He says 2011 Fiat 500 Abarth. Well  DUH! A 2011 isn't the same as the 2012-19 I sold. I was more polite of course. I'm not a junkyard so don't have another to send him. How do you think this will go down. Ebay messages clearly show he has a 2011 which I was not selling.

[onlinecentral]

1) In a perfect world you would break even. The theoretical unicorn buyer would pay the return postage plus reimburse you for the original postage.

2) The best case scenario is for you accept the return and take a loss on the original postage.

3) The worst case scenario is for you to refuse the return and appeal to eBay because you have a No Returns Policy. eBay will decide in the buyers favor in a nanosecond. The buyer keeps the merchandise and gets a refund.

You will retain the most money if you accept the return.

[dbfolks166mt]

     You can pursue that path but you will loose. If a buyer can get refunded for an item simply by claiming they found it cheaper somewhere else what do you think your chances are of winning in your situation?

[femmefan1946]

EBay does not care.

The customer does not want the thing and does want his money back.

Get the thing back and resell it.

Refund.

Get the thing back and resell it.

Get the thing back and resell it.

Get the thing back and resell it.

[maxine*j]

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@braus3449 wrote:

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@calntom wrote:

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If the buyer files anything related to Item Not as Described, the buyer is in the driver's seat regardless if it is true or not.

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OK but maybe I'm not clear or I'm not understanding it. He messaged me through Ebay that his car is a 2011. Any Ebay CSR can see that. How can he first say he bought it for a car it's not made for, then say it's not as described? Wouldn't I just call Ebay and point that out? Isn't that why everyone here always says to keep communications on Ebay, not through email?

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With millions of sellers and millions of transactions every day, eBay does not have the time or staff to investigate when things go awry.  So, every dispute is taken as  "Buyer said, Seller said" situation, and eBay will always side with the Buyer.

If your buyer files an INAD and you have a No Returns policy, eBay will refund his money and let him keep the part (because "No Returns" means you don't want items returned when refunds are issued).

Right or wrong, that is the reality of selling on eBay.  You decide what you want to do, given that reality.

=

[domin-tomas]

To make it simple, the buyer is 99.9% of the time protected by ebay. The buyer can say 10 different reasons why they want to return and still get the refund.

[cstpos]

@braus3449If you don't agree to take it back, the buyer can intentionally break it, the open a case against you with ebay. ebay will side with them. Ask him to open a return using the reason that he ordered the wrong item. I'm not sure how you're listings are worded. We started accepting returns about 6 years ago because ebay allowed it even if we didn't. We have a our listings as Buyer pays return shipping.

You can let the buyer know that you're willing to accept the return minus the shipping cost, and see what they say.

[herbetta_collectibles]

Technically you don't have to accept a refund and if you are left a negative rating you can try to get eBay to remove it.

You could allow them to return an unopened item assuming it was packaged with the understanding shipping would not be refunded and it is up to you but to discourage you could add a restocking fee. If it is an opened item, a higher restocking fee.

You could also remind him it was a no refunds sale and suggest he list it and sell it. If you get a negative, and for some reason I don't know, cannot get it removed, it will only be with you a year. I have no clue how much this item is even worth, so the decision can only be weighed by you.

All the best!

[calntom]

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@braus3449 wrote:

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@calntom wrote:

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If the buyer files anything related to Item Not as Described, the buyer is in the driver's seat regardless if it is true or not.

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OK but maybe I'm not clear or I'm not understanding it. He messaged me through Ebay that his car is a 2011. Any Ebay CSR can see that. How can he first say he bought it for a car it's not made for, then say it's not as described? Wouldn't I just call Ebay and point that out? Isn't that why everyone here always says to keep communications on Ebay, not through email?

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I get your point on the message the buyer sent.  You can try to call eBay and point that out. Good luck. You will need it and a lot of it.

We are just trying to keep you from losing your item along with the money.  

Even with the extremely remote chance that eBay sides with you, the buyer can get that reversed if they contact eBay and then you would definitely be out your item and the money and earn a defect on your account. eBay would not even contact you before taking your money.

[braus3449]

I don't understand all this negativity about putting your tails between your legs and letting buyers walk all over you. Had another buyer last month asking to return an item, I declined, and that was the end of it. Posted about it here: Ebay said I didn't have to accept return & return ... - The eBay Community

[simply-the-best-for-you]

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@braus3449 wrote:

I don't understand all this negativity about putting your tails between your legs and letting buyers walk all over you. Had another buyer last month asking to return an item, I declined, and that was the end of it. Posted about it here: Ebay said I didn't have to accept return & return ... - The eBay Community

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@braus3449  Here's the probable difference & I am also a No Returns seller.   If he opens a SNAD (which he probably will based on what you posted), you have no choice, you will lose, regardless of his admitting he bought the wrong year.   If he opens a Return Request (btw a SNAD is also called a return request) with a Remorse reason, you'll be able to decline.   It's a drop down menu, first couple of reasons are considered SNAD, the rest are considered Remorse.  

The sad truth is that even those who are honest, often times accidentally pick a SNAD reason.  Now personally, depending on a variety of things, I would do what Stainless suggested, even though everyone else will think that's a bad idea.  As a no returns seller, I will often get the to try & accept responsibility, but sometimes it's just easier to cave & get your item back.   I just took one the other day b/c my "measurements were off", got it back yesterday.  My measurements were of course, perfect.  Like they are 99.999% of the time.   If you fight it, you will not win.  But you may be able to talk him into returning on his own dime, if you point out that his car is not of the year you sold it for.   

A lot depends on the buyer's honesty & also their savvy of how to work the system 😞   And yes, it totally sucks.  

[partfinds]

Ask him to return it— you have no better choice and he knows it. When you get your return— report buyer and raise cost on all your items by a much as it cost you to ship it back and forth. 

[tex-421]

Here is a binary decision tree to help you make the right choice:

A.  Tell the buyer he is more than welcome to list the part on eBay to recover the expense and reorder from you the correct part, or

B.  Send the buyer a return shipping label ask him to mail it back and send him a refund.

Don't over analyze it.  It's really not complicated.  It is a straightforward decision.

[calntom]

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@braus3449 wrote:

I don't understand all this negativity about putting your tails between your legs and letting buyers walk all over you. Had another buyer last month asking to return an item, I declined, and that was the end of it. Posted about it here: Ebay said I didn't have to accept return & return ... - The eBay Community

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You had a buyer lay down. That's great.

If the buyer has not opened a case, you are in good shape. What are you going to tell him, if anything?

Just about every scenario has been laid out.

You got this. I would be interested in hearing how it works out.

[bearswatching]

PLEASE don’t encourage the OP to go against eBay policy. Restocking fees have not been allowed for over three years. That doesn’t help your fellow sellers when they come up against similar situations.

[simply-the-best-for-you]

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@tex-421 wrote:

Here is a binary decision tree to help you make the right choice:

A.  Tell the buyer he is more than welcome to list the part on eBay to recover the expense and reorder from you the correct part, or

B.  Send the buyer a return shipping label ask him to mail it back and send him a refund.

Don't over analyze it.  It's really not complicated.  It is a straightforward decision.

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Why would he send the buyer a return shipping label?   If he decides to allow the return, buyer should pay shipping, as there is no case at this point.