Buyer wants partial refund

[eaug86]

I’m using EBay for the first time to sell my father’s vintage pen collection.  Most transactions have gone well with positive feedback. Since I am not a collector, my descriptions are not extremely detailed. The pens are listed as Vintage. My issue is with a buyer that is asking for a partial refund claiming there is some corrosion on a clip and a minute crack.  He sent blurry photos with his complaint. There was no visible evidence of this on my end. I replied explaining the pen was advertised as vintage and used, therefor I will not provide a partial refund. He replied pressing for a partial refund, but not requesting an amount. Is it in my best interest to offer him something to protect my positive ratings, or do I stop replying to his messages?  Thanks for any advise. 

[vintagecraze50]

Mont Blanc pens appear to be very sought after due to value. You might have a partial refund scammer. If the pen is not to their satisfaction tell them to return it. It is my experience here that most people who request partial refunds are people trying to get discounts after the sale so they can sell it again for even more . Do not feed into this behavior on here it only makes it worse.

[vintagecraze50]

Fabulous advice. Good Job!!!

[vintagecraze50]

Regarding protecting your rep. If the buyer leaves a negative feedback because you would not give them a partial you can always reply to the feedback in a positive way letting others know what happened with the transaction. Something like, “Gave customer full refund, after they requested partial refund” Sellers and buyers  on here know that when a partial refund is requested there might be something fishy happening with the buyer.

[vintagecraze50]

Yep, always accept returns.

[vintagecraze50]

Nope I would not do that. It continues to reinforce people preying on new sellers and discouraging them to sell on here due to bad results.

[aproudparent2010]

If the buyer pushes the issue and opens an INAD you will be giving a 100% refund and also paying for shipping to get the pens back.

[farmalljr]

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@judy181garden wrote:

When you inspect your items to list and notice any defects,  point that out in the listing. I usually put in  bold red type please notice: and then point out flaws. That way they are aware and can't say item not as described.

Judy

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Yeah, they still can. I get the point you are trying to make, but any buyer can claim INAD for any reason. Even if you listed the fault in the description. That's how the MBG works. 

[vintagecraze50]

The seller should offer them a full refund immediately, with item returned.

[vintagecraze50]

Correct, and then they can sell it again and get possibly a better price and a better buyer.

[vintagecraze50]

As a thought here. Perhaps adding to the terms of your sale that no partial refunds are given only full refunds if unhappy with purchase. I may be adding that to my terms of sale as well and I have been selling on here for 16 years .

[vintagecraze50]

Adding no partial refunds granted may prevent would be partial refund scammers from perusing your merch.

[vintagecraze50]

I thought of some hilarious examples of what this look like in the general scheme of purchasing items:

I buy a car at a dealership and I go back and tell them the car is a little sluggish going up hill can I have half my money back.

I bought a tree and planted it from you and it just keeps getting too big can I have half my money back

I bought this dress and but I have only worn it 16 times and I really cant use it anymore can I get half my money back.

I think this pet rock I bought died. Can I get half my money back.

This vacuum cleaner just does not pick up all the dirt I want it to, Can I get half my money back.

[d-k_treasures]

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@vintagecraze50 wrote:

The seller should offer them a full refund immediately, with item returned.

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A better way of putting it is that the seller should ask them to return the pen for a full refund.

The way you said it, and the way the pages are, they could end up refunding immediately, instead of return for refund.

[dbfolks166mt]

      This is not an uncommon tactic used by buyers against new sellers. I used to get these when I first started ironically if you tell them you will not do a partial refund but will gladly accept a return often times you never hear from the buyer again. 

[xspecial]

Partial refund scammer.  Offer full refund upon receipt of the return in undamaged or un altered condition.  

Let the community know how you proceeded.