Buyer messages you after they wash the item

[iamalwaysright]

I sold a clothing and the buyer didn't file any return yet. I've sold many of these with no issues except this one buyer who messaged "After washing in cold water this item shrank above waist and short on arm length! Now it’s too small and no use to me."

Ideas on how to handle this? The buyer is a new buyer and I'm his first purchase.

[fin-william]

If buyer files "item not as described" case I believe you are going to refund and depening on situation get the item back or not. What actually happened and how things are don't matter in INAD cases.

[craft-stash]

Oh No not SHRINKAGE George!🤣

[inhawaii]

I would do my best just to try and sweet talk the buyer in to keeping the item.

As long as they buyer has not filed a official "item not as described" claim you really don't have to worry.

If thy do, then you can start to worry.

[powell-memorabilia]

Send instructions on how to un-shrink a shirt.

[iamalwaysright]

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@craft-stash wrote:

Oh No not SHRINKAGE George!🤣

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It was in the pool!

[johnrj1226]

Without knowing  what the cleaning instructions are/were on the fabric care tag for this "clothing" it is not  feasible to say if the buyer did  right or wrong or they are looking for an after sale discount.  But I do know certain items require "dry clean only"  like some silk items and many years ago 50s/60s era Levis would shrink before they were "sanforized" (pre shrunk at the factory/mill).

Always stated cleaning instructions(machine washable or dry clean only) in the description of the  clothing item I sold on eBay.

[m60driver]

Even back in 2014 when I closed my brick & mortar store it was the rare garment that was not "pre-shrunk".  That being said, having an item returned after washing is just part of being in the retail garment business.  You will be forced to refund if they file an "item not as described" case.  Resistance is futile.   

[winterpalace25]

It's only on Poshmark that an item can't be returned if it has been washed. You need to gracefully accept the return because any other option will cause you problems. Now and then we have to eat it.

[stainlessenginecovers]

How much we talking here? 

[deltilogical]

you mean all those times I washed something and it shrank I could have brought it back for a refund? 

I went into the ice cream parlor yesterday and while waiting this little girl came back with her cup and said she ordered cookies and cream but this didn't taste like cookies and cream and she didn't like it and could she have a different one.   The young woman at the counter hesitated and then said, ok, but i have to help these people who have been waiting, first.   When in Great Barrington, for ice cream stop at Soco Creamery.  

[albertabrightalberta]

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@winterpalace25 wrote:

It's only on Poshmark that an item can't be returned if it has been washed. You need to gracefully accept the return because any other option will cause you problems. Now and then we have to eat it.

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The item is supposed to be returned in the same condition as received, per ebay policy. Whether ebay will protect the seller in a case in which the item was altered is unpredictable. Whether they consider shrinkage necessary to determine "quality or function" is anyone's guess. 

https://www.ebay.com/help/policies/ebay-money-back-guarantee-policy/ebay-money-back-guarantee-policy...

[s.scharmu0]

Hi!

       They altered the item & you should NOT have to refund. This happened to me years ago here. When they saw the message the buyer sent me they closed the case then. Maybe however nowadays are different.