Does $1 Equal $50 Dollars?

[pf9000]

If an auction begins with $1 and sells for $1 plus $25 shipping, and the buyer initiates a return. Does that cost the seller $50 Dollars?

[splendidthreads]

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@sextons-sweet-deals wrote:

The O.P. has been here long enough to know better! That $1 listing fee game and $20 - $40+ in shipping is old eBay days and I thought eBay had already addressed this issue. 

If you want to sell that way, expect to be burned big time from buyers. List at a starting competitive price and actual shipping cost based on weight, dims, packing materials. 

It's almost like you're asking for fraud advise here. Not cool!

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There doesn't seem to be any fraud involved here.  OP listed 10-12 pounds of glass tubes at auction for $1, most likely expecting them to go higher. 

He's in California, and the shipping is fine for the weight and the size of the box (16 x 12 x 7) that he described in the listing.  For that many tubes shipped safely with bubble wrap, the box would need to be large to accommodate them all.  Shipping quoted comes up at $18 here in middle-ish part of the country.  It's $20 to Maine and Miami. 

On the USPS site, for that box size and 10-12 pound weight from CA to NY, it's $49- $57. I'm surprised that the actual shipping wasn't higher than was showing in the listing.  

[sir.koinz]

Only if you are offering free shipping and you are shipping to the furthest point on earth from your location, or your package is really heavy. If the buyer paid the 25 shipping and you have your return policy set for buyer pays return shipping then the buyer pays. Unless they file a not as described return claim, then you are responsible for the return shipping.  So,  it really depends on a couple factors but it sounds like you need to start packaging your items a bit more sturdy because our mail system is notoriously hard on packages. A little extra bubble wrap, some thick foam and a good quality cardboard box, plus lots of packaging tape, heavy duty at that. No scotch tape and nothing over 2 oz in any type of envelope, padded or not, has always been my rule and I've never had an issue.  Make your stuff bullet proof! It's ok if it takes the buyer 15 minutes to open the package as long as the contents are exactly as you packed them when they finally get it open, they might even thank you. I would. 

[sir.koinz]

Except the buyer doesn't pay the seller the tax, they pay eBay. 

Just sayin...

[yoonix1]

I don't think so. It's a dollar for a seller. In case of return request, better refund the Buyer, and close the case. I don't think you should spend $25 dollars to get your $1 item back.

[iamalwaysright]

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@mtgraves7984 wrote:

Does $1 Equal $50 Dollars?

@pf9000 

Not at my place.

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Let me know if you guys know a place where it does equal.

I have a few $1 bills that I’d like to trade.

[aproudparent2010]

You made the choice to start the bid at $1 with the understanding that it may only get that one bid.
Now you can let the buyer just keep the item and give them the $1 + shipping refund or be stubborn and ask them to return it on your dime and be out the shipping both ways plus the $1

[pf9000]

If you have your return policy set for "Buyer Pays Return Shipping", the seller still is required to pay return shipping. All a buyer has to do is select NOT AS DESCRIBED even though the pictures and words match the description.