Buyer wants to return one of two identical items from the same order and listing

[baantiques]

Not sure I put this in the right forum before.  I had a buyer purchase two items from one multi quantity listing.  Upon receipt, he decided one of them was not up to his standard and asked to return it.  I have 30 day returns so no problem there, but I can't figure out how to make this happen.  If he initiates a return but only includes the one item, it looks like I'll have to refund for both upon receipt, unless I'm missing something somewhere.  Do I tell him he needs to return the entire order?

[bbravo65]

..I would ask the buyer to return the entire order...if both items were identical then the buyer's excuse is so "unclear"...

...by asking the whole order to return, it will make the refund process plus eBay's fee credit back to your account easier...

...but this is my personal choice...

[shaha7142]

Nooommmg!!!
Always one more obstacle...
So, now it's "I'll just order two in case I need both and then when I need only the one I'll return the other!"

Here is how to end up with just one when you don't need both:
1.  Order that one you need now, wait for it to arrive.

2.  Return the two unused ones for the previous "two" order.

3.  Get a refund.

Granted, IF you haven't used either one then you can return BOTH now and order one.

Either way, order just the one, return the two, get refund for the two order, done.

[tod184]

Unfortunately, ebay's programming makes no allowance for partial returns of items bought from a multiple listing. Ebay's solution is to have the buyer return all items and then repurchase the correct amount. I've had this happen to me recently and I, with my buyers okay,  dealt with it differently. 

My buyer bought 5  items from a multiple listing and then wanted to return 2.  I asked her to return the 2 and provided her with a prepaid return shipping label. When I got the two back, I used the pull down tab in my selling list and  used the option "refund".  I then reimbursed her what the 2 items cost. I added a note that it was a partial return for 2  of 5 items.  

Now the buyer must agree to this since there is no record of her actual return in ebay so it's a matter of trust.

[teth_1615]

---

@baantiques wrote:

If he initiates a return but only includes the one item, it looks like I'll have to refund for both upon receipt, unless I'm missing something somewhere. 

Do I tell him he needs to return the entire order?

---

Unfortunately @baantiques ebay's [sic] programming makes no allowance for partial returns of items bought from a multiple listing.

Ebay's [sic] solution is to have the buyer return all items and then repurchase the correct amount.

eBay has not yet figured out how to prorate a partial refund for 1 of 3 items, for example.

[tod184]

Thank you Teth_1615. I had never seen that return form before.  It also is not mentioned in the Return Policy info for sellers.  It's been awhile since I had to  go through the info for buyers.....where it may mention partial returns.