Finding damage after item is sold?

[iqyb7272]

I sold a pair of nylon hiking pants recently. I went to pack them up and noticed the tiniest pinhole in the fabric the size of a small ant. I normally wouldn't think anything of it but it could possibly get bigger over time and I don't want the buyer mad. I sent them a message showing them the hole and asked them if they still want it. I was supposed to ship it today and am still waiting on a response. What would be the appropriate action here? Should I just ship them? I am willing to just refund them in full and let them keep the pants as they were inexpensive! This has never happened to me before I'm usually very thorough but this pinhole escaped me initially. 

I'm on my forum account.

[tobaccocardyahoo]

This is a decision which depends on who you are or want to be.

I would not ship a not as described item if I knew it was flawed, unless I was planning to issue a refund without any buyer intervention.

If I was going to do something else with it, or was feeling cheap, I would cancel the order and take the cancellation hit.

In any case, I would message the buyer and tell them what I was doing.

Your decision is what I would do, not my recommendation to you. Depending on your risk level, sense of honor and financial situation, you might choose another course of action.

[dhbookds]

I would mail the item and then give a full refund......with an explanation.......  my error......I eat the postage....buyer gets to see that item was flawed........rather than suffer the disappointment of just a cancellation/refund.  

[12345jamesstamps]

Mail it out and a few days later give the refund or I prefer to do a credit on future purchases to the buyer.

I mailed an item out in the past and then gave a full refund on my own due to a damage of one item.

eBay artificial intelligence gave me a 'ding' for 'out of stock' even though that is not how the refund was being done.

Maybe a refund except for a few cents might work better. just a thought.

[sin-n-dex]

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@12345jamesstamps wrote:

Mail it out and a few days later give the refund or I prefer to do a credit on future purchases to the buyer.

I mailed an item out in the past and then gave a full refund on my own due to a damage of one item.

eBay artificial intelligence gave me a 'ding' for 'out of stock' even though that is not how the refund was being done.

Maybe a refund except for a few cents might work better. just a thought.

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If there's tracking, you shouldn't get the ding because you mailed *something* to the buyer.

When I mess up, I generally send something and eat postage, but also refund the customer because they're not getting what they ordered (or in the condition they expected). Losing postage (which is around $5) is better than getting a ding.

C.

[simply-the-best-for-you]

I would ship it, esp with such minor damage.  A lot of buyers are not on eBay every day.  I would ship so I maintain my 'late shipping' metrics.  Then I'd wait to see what the buyer says.  If it's more signifcant damage, I've handled it several ways but they all start with what you did, apologies & SEND A PHOTO, otherwise ppl think you're lying.  Then put the ball in their court.   I will also usually offer a discount on another item in my store for their inconvenience.