New Trend? Customers requesting partial refund?

[smileytown18]

I'm just wondering if any sellers have been seeing an uptick in the amount of customer's requesting partial refunds? I've been hit with quite a few in last 2 months. None were able to prove the damage they claimed it had. One even asked for partial refund "because she assumed the stroller liner was memory foam" When I never stated so in listing.

I used to give refund in past when this came up, just to be finished with it. Now I started simply replying that I am very sorry, and they should open case and return item. Does anyone have any experience/ advice on this?

[18704d]

False partial refunds scams have been going on here for years and years.

Giving in to them, merely rewards bad buyers to continue this behaviour, imo.

I believe it's best to make them open a return request, and get on eBay's 'radar',

if they're making too many false requests.

And if you're ever negged for not complying to feedback extortion,

make your Reply to feedback work for you, to warn future partial-scammers that you won't cave in.

Like:

I'm sorry, but No Refunds until All Items are Returned.  Thanks

..or something like that.

Lynn

[tdumonde2014]

So I'm looking to buy four plates for my set and I find that your are selling the exact plates that I'm looking for except you have six for sale. I decide to buy them since it never hurts to have a couple of extras. They arrive and one of them is broken, so I write you and inform you of this and include a picture, I tell you that I am willing to accept a partial refund for the broken plate, since I still need them for my set. You tell me "So sorry, please return them all for a full refund, I don't do partial refunds". So now I have to ship back all of the plates, including the broken one, even though I wanted to keep the rest for my set. Does this make me a "scammer"? Giving partial refunds makes perfect business sense when appropriate and one should not automatically decline them.

[odditiesandantiquities1]

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@smileytown18 wrote:

I'm just wondering if any sellers have been seeing an uptick in the amount of customer's requesting partial refunds? I've been hit with quite a few in last 2 months. None were able to prove the damage they claimed it had. One even asked for partial refund "because she assumed the stroller liner was memory foam" When I never stated so in listing.

I used to give refund in past when this came up, just to be finished with it. Now I started simply replying that I am very sorry, and they should open case and return item. Does anyone have any experience/ advice on this?

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Just from the increase in threads posted here, it certainly seems so. But, if the buyer uses feedback extortion, if any negative feedback give to the seller will be removed....well most of the time.

Every seller needs to stick to the same Mantra. I only provide full refunds. If everyone did that, well it would surely reduce the number of buyers pulling this. Unfortunately, for many reasons, some sellers continue to provide them. 

It's not for me to judge why they do, but it makes it much harder for us all.

[smileytown18]

tdumonde2014, if that's the case and you can prove it, then most sellers will give you a partial refund. There is such an option when you open a case. But the buyers I'm talking about can't show proof and don't want to open cases.

[angelaritafarias]

I am newe to selling on ebay.  I sold  seven items and 1 buyer aske d for a partial refund.  I was surprised but I told the buyer to send me back the product and that I did not do partial refund. So I am not sure if this is something that is happening frequently or its just a few. I wil tell you I have stopped selling for now and learn more about ebay policies and scams from sellers.

[tdumonde2014]

I only bring this up because I see more and more sellers assuming that any buyer who requests a partial is a scammer. One poster had this to say in response to your post.

"Every seller needs to stick to the same Mantra. I only provide full refunds. If everyone did that, well it would surely reduce the number of buyers pulling this. Unfortunately, for many reasons, some sellers continue to provide them. "

[tunicaslot]

I gave out a partial this week - if I miss something or my listing states something that isn't the case ( because I used sell similar and didn't change it ) - I see no porblem with giving a partial. I'm not encouraging scammers - there is a difference.

Everyone has their own business model - but it does seem whenever someone asks for a partial or can we work this out - ultimately they are viewed as a scammer. Mind you partials are given by businesses all the time - a little ding in my washer that no one sees - I got a partial - a scratch on the back of the refrigerator - again where no one can see it - they lowered the price $50. I'm not looking to "scam" anyone - but if my item is INAD - than I do expect compensation or I'll purchase elsewhere and being buyers can't inspect an item before they pay - we have them asking for partial after the fact.

[softersilk]

NEW trend? It's the oldest scam on the eBay books.  Been on eBay since 1998 and customers figured out pretty fast that it's easy to get both stuff and free money if you threaten feedback even casually.  Google "Liar Buyer Fraud" and read up on eBay policies that prohibit demanding a partial.  Scroll to "Behaviors we don't allow".  http://pages.ebay.com/help/policies/buying-practices.html#behaviors

Every scared seller who wimps out and pays off a Liar Buyer makes the subculture that much worse.

[smileytown18]

If they are legit, why wouldn't they open cases or show proof? I recently purchased something and seller forgot one part, and through case offered me a partial refund.
Also what about the other cases, I recently had 2: One "thought" the liner would be memory foam (It did not state in listing) and the other one "Didn't really like the color lipstick. She assumed it would be darker, can she have some money back". I'm a part time seller, I have a day job. It's annoying and time wasting. besides nobody wants negative feedback

[smileytown18]

I guess It only started hitting me lately. I don't remember this being such an issue in past.