Buyer sent item back without explanation.

[darkofthematinee]

Does this happen a lot?  I've sold off and on for more than 20 years and this is new for me.

I've unexpectedly ended up with a sizeable inventory of new clothing items.  It's all retail returns.  In my spare time I've been working my way through the giant pile and listing on the ID I use mostly for selling.  I've sold about 100 items already and barely made a dent.  I'm pricing well below wholesale to blow out the seasonal items before the weather changes.  Listing states no returns.  Of course I would refund if there was an error in the listing, but I didn't want to hassle with returns for buyers remorse.  So far so good.  

This particular item was delivered 2 weeks ago.  No case was opened, never got a message from buyer.  She didn't leave feedback.   She just sent the opened package back to me in a recycled bubble mailer.  

So do I refund the purchase price or the total amount paid?  

[benzexpert]

Up to you. But for myself, I expect a buyer to at least communicate what their issue is.
I've had a couple of shipments refused and returned by the post office. 
Waited to hear from the buyer. Nothing. No messages, or feedback. 
Refusing to accept a shipment is strictly verboten in Ebay 

TOS.  If they don't go through ebay, and don't ask for a refund...well to heck with it. 

You ask yourself, I wonder what happened?  I have other fish to fry than trying to imagine what senario causes someone to either refuse a shipment, or wow, actually pay to ship it back and then not ask for a refund or the item? If they want a refund, they can ask for it.  If you don't accept refunds, offer to return the item to them if they ask, at their expense and educate them on the correct procedure and how return policies and returns work. If you don't hear anything, you're done. 

[postingid7659]

Always let sleeping dogs lay.   

[jonathankirkland · Accepted solution]

If it were me in this particular scenario, I would believe the proper thing to do would be to refund less any fees that were incurred by you. So if it was free shipping I'd with hold the shipping + the FVF paid to ebay and just refund the rest.

I would also block this person so they wouldn't have a chance to buy something again and repeat this bizarre behavior or perhaps something even stranger.

[hoanhi42]

If you feel comfortable then accept it.

[mtgraves7984]

Does this happen a lot?

@darkofthematinee 

I believe you've stumped the panel. All I've got is, "Wow..." 😕

[katzrul15]

@darkofthematinee 

I've had parcels returned to us as un-deliverable, but not ever just had something show up unannounced like you describe.

Is this an expensive order?  I would probably refund the buyer, minus shipping if you charged for shipping.  

Please add this Buyer to your BBL.  

[fab_finds4u]

At least they saved you the cost of a return shipping label! Refund and put them on your BBL.

[pikabo-icu]

Sadly these days if you get back YOUR item that's a positive.

They paid return shipping..

Me? I would refund them less any shipping & fees. 

[darkofthematinee]

Buyer must have been watching the tracking because she finally reached out shortly after it was delivered. She had bought this for her daughter and the kid just didn't like it.   Said she would appreciate refund less any re-stocking fee.   

Um... ok... that's exactly the sort of hassle I wanted to avoid when selling several hundred items all under $20.   But she was polite and apologetic and she did send it back at her own expense.  So I will refund the purchase price less 15% for Ebay's cut and be done with it.  

I really appreciate the input.   I was already planning to refund the sale price, but hadn't even thought about fees.  Thanks for pointing that out.