Just sad and venting--this post is not about GTC.

[grumpus_otter]

I sold a sweater--took bunches of pictures, measured the size against other items I have, tried it on (I wear an 18 and it was huge on me) so listed it as 1X--the size on the label.

Buyer writes back that she got it and it was too small and faded (despite all the accurate pictures).  Buyer is a seller of mostly clothes with more than 1800 feedback, compared to my 78. 

So I say she can get a refund if she returns it, so she opens a return thingie.  But I have to pay for return shipping.  So I grump a bit, but then do it, because I don't know how to sell clothes--she's probably right.  Then I realize that I will have to pay for return shipping AND the item cost, so I'd be out a total of 39 dollars for a 24 dollar item, with free shipping.  So I just did the refund.  This way I am only out for shipping one-way even though I lose the item.  I'm going to watch her shop and see if she lists it, lol

I'm just venting, nothing to do, I know.  I just sell odds and ends from my family--never clothes again!  I was too afraid to fight it because she's an experienced seller and I don't want the bad feedback.  

Thanks for listening--i feel better just having a place to vent.  I am the caregiver for my mom and have no help, and it hasn't been a good day, and then this happened. 

At least i sold some auction items that went for 3.50, 4, and 9!  lol

[helloandgoodmorning · Accepted solution]

You could have re-sold the item when it was returned.

SNADs happen, but if you keep a little insurance in the cookie jar then these situations won't be too bad of a loss.

Sorry you're having a bad day!

[grumpus_otter]

I thought about it, but Having to pay shipping 3 ways would have been $24 anyway.  Decided to cut my losses and run.  But thank you for your nice remarks. 🙂

[castlemagicmemories]

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@grumpus_otter wrote:

I thought about it, but Having to pay shipping 3 ways would have been $24 anyway.  Decided to cut my losses and run.  But thank you for your nice remarks. 🙂

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Sometimes it can be more advantageous to you to cut your losses and move on, but you wouldn't have had to pay for shipping three ways.   You pay for return shipping and refund original shipping when you get it back so that is two ways, and sometimes the buyer may not return the garment so you are out nothing.

If you didn't have measurements in the listing, you might consider doing that.  Not saying that this might not have happened anyway, but sizes vary from company to company and even from garment to garment, and many buyers won't ask for something that should be there, so you might have been missing out on sales if you didn't have this.  

Hope you feel better after your vent!  Don't let this get you down.

[carolinacraftsnmore]

You shouldn't have had to pay for return shipping, unless you're offering free returns. I used to sell used clothes, but got out of that because I felt it was more work than it was worth. I would take pictures only on sunny days, and take as many pictures as I could fit in the listing. I would include the measurements in the listing. And if someone wanted to return it because it didn't fit, they had to pay for the return shipping, because well...they had the measurements available to them to determine if it would fit or not before buying.

However, I do agree with cutting your losses and moving on. Buyer is happy (or at least somewhat) and hopefully won't leave any negative feedback. But I also would be checking her shop to see if she tries to sell it!

Don't be afraid to fight it! Don't let her experience intimidate you in any way! Some long-time sellers hope for that! They bid on items from people who haven't been selling long hoping they can get away with something and get a cheaper item all because the person they're buying from is inexperienced.

We were all beginners at some point or another, and we've all had to learn a few things the hard way.

Good luck!

[grumpus_otter]

I haven't sold clothes before, so I didn't think of actual measurements--yes, that is a very good idea. I do feel better--thank you!

[grumpus_otter]

I don't so free returns, but she was claiming that "item was not as described."  I guess I just didn't feel up to a fight today--but you are right--I will try to be positive next time!  Not that I will do clothes again, lol

[yuzuha]

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@grumpus_otter wrote:
I haven't sold clothes before, so I didn't think of actual measurements--yes, that is a very good idea. I do feel better--thank you!

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Yeah, the problem with just listing the size on the label is that different brands size the exact same thing differently-- i.e., a Large in one brand may be a Medium in another.  And sometimes sizing can even vary within a brand!  I have two shirts from a particular manufacturer that fit me just perfectly.  I bought a third one (a different style) in the same size, and it was way too big.  Measurements are really the only guaranteed way for someone to know whether or not a particular piece of clothing is going to fit them, even if they usually wear that size from that brand.

[castlemagicmemories]

You're welcome. I'm glad you feel better!

Not as described would mean you pay for return shipping and refund price plus original shipping when the item is delivered to you.

[grumpus_otter]

I should have known that about sizes, yuhuza--I'm a woman!  lol

Just didn't think it through. 

But I feel so much better with all the nice responses and conversation--ready to fight another day!

[nodr-45]

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@grumpus_otter wrote:

I should have known that about sizes, yuhuza--I'm a woman!  lol

Just didn't think it through. 

But I feel so much better with all the nice responses and conversation--ready to fight another day!

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When you branch out into a new category it's a good idea to look at sold listings of successful sellers with similar items to see what they're doing right. When in doubt, post here and ask for advice.

You made a few comments about paying for shipping. When you offer free shipping, that doesn't mean you're supposed to absorb the cost out of pocket. Typically sellers add the cost of shipping to the item price so the buyer is the one paying for shipping.

[castlemagicmemories]

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@grumpus_otter wrote:

I should have known that about sizes, yuhuza--I'm a woman!  lol

Just didn't think it through. 

But I feel so much better with all the nice responses and conversation--ready to fight another day!

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Don't beat yourself.  You didn't think of it; it happens!

So glad that you are not letting this get you down. Things will get better!

[ittybitnot]

You shouldn't have had to pay for return shipping, unless you're offering free returns.

That is not the case.  You, the seller, are on the hook for return shipping as soon as the SNAD claim is filed.  The claim need not be true, but if you want to gamble on MAYBE getting your item back you have to front the return shipping cost whether or not you have "free (paid by seller) return" policy. 

[extraordinarilyyou]

It can be a dog eat dog world on eBay sometimes. I feel for you and my first thought was the other seller played you. I expect you will not see that item listed that sellers store. That seller probably has more than one store and will list in another. Clothing is a very hard thing to sell regardless, so if you are open, look for other items you can sell.

I have read one poster hear that makes everyone return everything. No partial refund, no full refunds without the item being returned. Something to think about. I understand the cost, but buyers have a limited number of returns they can do before they lose eBay buyer protection. Some buyers trying to force a partial may have lost buyer protections so can't return items through the ebay guaranteed program. The full refund kept that buyer from getting a return noted in their account.

I hope you are quite successful on eBay. It takes a very strong and good person to be caregiver, and your mother is very blessed to have you. It really is a generous and kind act that many children turn their back on.

[carolinacraftsnmore]

I said she shouldn't have had to pay for return shipping because if she provided all necessary info in the listing and the buyer bought it without reading everything, then the seller isn't at fault. Now if she didn't, i don't know that, and oh well. But I've run across this a dozen times before. As long the sellers cover their butt and include every bit of info in a listing, then a buyer saying the item is not as described is invalid. Whenever I used to get these return requests and they described the part that wasn't "as described", I would take a screenshot from my listing to show that it was in fact described. Like this instance right here from the OP, someone bought something once and said it didn't fit right and claimed item not described, I took a screenshot of where I posted the measurements and the case was closed. We do not HAVE to front the return cost if we want to MAYBE get our item back.