Buyer wants to return/refund after not reading title/description/photos

[gustaf8000]

Here is the situation:

I sold a graded Pokemon card. For those not familiar it's a trading card that has been professionally inspected/evaluated and given a grade of condition and then essentially locked into a plastic case. It is perhaps the most unambiguous thing to possibly sell because there is no question to the condition of the card.

All of my listings have no returns.

The buyer bought the card and wants to return it because they thought they were buying a *First Edition* version of the card. No where in the listing title or description do I mention First Edition, there is no chance anyone reading the description would think they were buying a first edition card. Moreover, the photos I posted do not show a first edition card. First edition cards have a distinctive logo that is impossible to miss if you are only searching for first edition cards, and do not want to buy non-first edition cards.

The buyer submitted a return request. Saying that they are visually impaired and were mistaken in what they were buying. They claim they thought they were buying a first edition card. 

I did not reply to this first message. I immediately requested a call from ebay and spoke to the representative who said that because I do not accept returns, I did not need to honor the return request. So I denied the request.

7 hours later I get a message from the buyer acting as if I had accepted the return and notifying me that they were sending me the card via registered Priority USPS. I replied to them saying that this isn't possible as I do not accept returns, and that I am not going to be present to sign for the returned item.

The buyer went crazy and said that they were in a car crash and spent a month fighting for their life, and maybe if it were not for this they would not have mistook my card for a first edition card. They went on to question my integrity as a seller.

So what should I do? Is it true what the eBay representative said, that I do not need to honor the return because I explicitly do not accept returns? I am a bit dubious of this as eBay really backs the buyer in almost every circumstance. It would be one thing if there as some ambiguity in the item that the buyer bought, but in this case there is zero ambiguity.

Please let me know what you all think of this situation.

Thank you in advance.

[ed8108]

Based upon the reason buyer gives as justifying your accepting a return is not a valid reason in my considered opinion.

[kensgiftshop]

@gustaf8000 

The reason they gave would be considered a remorse return and with a no return policy, you don't have to accept the return.

That doesn't stop them from filing a case with Pay Pal and saying the card wasn't as described or filing a charge back with their credit card.

[m60driver]

If you sell on Ebay you must accept returns.  If you don't want to accept returns do not sell on Ebay.  I can't make it any simpler than that.

[caldreamer]

Better to always accept returns.   Buyer can just "reverse charges" on credit card (and get to keep the card also).

[lamber9347]

@gustaf8000 This is a call that only you can make. Buyer has selected a remorse reason on eBay. However they can open a second case via PayPal. They can also open a case using their credit card, so you are not in the clear here. 

If the card is worth it, you can accept the return and get the card back in order to resell it and perhaps make up some of any money lost in fees. You can also offer a partial refund to the buyer in order to bring this to an end now. Again it's up to you but you have some options. Best of luck to you....

[finalfantasyfan-1]

I actually just had that happen to me, if it happens send PayPal all the photos used in the ebay listing and screen caps of the eBay case.  Then escalate and call PayPal and have them close the case.