Oh Christmas Tree, Oh Christmas Tree!

[wheredidiputthatremote]

I am angry.  Been doing this since 2011 and I do my very best to kill my customers with kindness no matter what.  But this one got me.  Sold a 18" Nowell Mold Light Up Tree.  It took me 2 hours to pack it up - top and the base in two separate boxes and then inside one big box.  The buyer gets it and messages me that she wants a "return tag" it wasn't what she expected.  I'm thinking maybe she isn't familiar with the imperial system where 18" is 18 inches.  Maybe she thought it was a 18' (foot) Ceramic Christmas tree.  So I ask her to explain.

A day later she opens up a return for "doesn't seem authentic".  Like people forge christmas tree molds with the stamp "nowell molds" on the bottom.  So I respond with a partial refund of 50% offer - telling her please accept my offer - it took me 2 hours to pack this up in three boxes and I know it's going to come back in pieces if you ship it back to me.  Two days go buy and tonight I get a message that she rejected my offer.  Whomp whomp whomp.  

So what choice do I have other than to accept her return?  Nothing.  Everytime I call a CS rep or message Ebay for Business on FB it's the same thing - accept the return or wait for it to be escalated.  So naturally - I caved and accepted the return.  I'm not expecting it back in one piece - and I am at peace with that.  It's just that I bust my hump to do this - and ya I know "it's the cost of doing business".  But isn't this abuse of the return policy?  And if it is - what recourse do I have.  I'll answer my own question honestly: None.

4th quarter - the time of year every seller waits for is here.  I've kept up with all the seller updates with the "seller's should" suggestions - and a lump of coal it is.  Bummed out.

[ersatz_sobriquet]

Maybe you sold to the grinch himself! 

[emerald40]

You accept 30 day returns.  So no it is not an abuse of the return policy.

[wheredidiputthatremote]

---

@emerald40 wrote:

You accept 30 day returns.  So no it is not an abuse of the return policy.

---

She opened a "doesn't seem authentic" return so I'm on the hook for return shipping

[ersatz_sobriquet]

Doesn't "seem" authentic when it's a remorse return is an abuse of the MBG. Nothing new to see here though, it's become official "policy" 

[emerald40]

Yes, buyers often lie so they do not have to pay return shipping.

I learned that a long time ago.

[emerald40]

---

@ersatz_sobriquet wrote:

Doesn't "seem" authentic when it's a remorse return is an abuse of the MBG. Nothing new to see here though, it's become official "policy" 

---

You are assuming it is remorse.  But where did the buyer say that it was.

It very well may be but buyer is claiming not authentic and that is what ebay will believe.

[escuintla]

Never, ever, return money if you still have your item in the mail carrier truck.  If it arrives broken, cut in half, you are out of luck because you paid already. 

And, let's admit something: Buyers, taught by Ebay with its unstoppable rules on their favor, well, know all the secrets being said and done. Besides that, a CS rep won't have the expertise, the patience, or the time to give you a refund for a lie from a customer. 

[wheredidiputthatremote]

---

@escuintla wrote:

Never, ever, return money if you still have your item in the mail carrier truck.  If it arrives broken, cut in half, you are out of luck because you paid already. 

And, let's admit something: Buyers, taught by Ebay with its unstoppable rules on their favor, well, know all the secrets being said and done. Besides that, a CS rep won't have the expertise, the patience, or the time to give you a refund for a lie from a customer. 

---

Trust - no item, no refund

[wheredidiputthatremote]

---

@escuintla wrote:

Never, ever, return money if you still have your item in the mail carrier truck.  If it arrives broken, cut in half, you are out of luck because you paid already. 

And, let's admit something: Buyers, taught by Ebay with its unstoppable rules on their favor, well, know all the secrets being said and done. Besides that, a CS rep won't have the expertise, the patience, or the time to give you a refund for a lie from a customer. 

---

Trust - I do not give my items away

[castlemagicmemories]

I fail to understand what is not authentic about a ceramic tree!

[wheredidiputthatremote]

---

@castlemagicmemories wrote:

I fail to understand what is not authentic about a ceramic tree!

---

Me too. Agreed. Especially when it's stamped on the bottom. Who on God's green earth is going to forge a 1970s Ceramic Christmas tree. It's not about the money. It's about a **bleep** inad return

[castlemagicmemories]

---

@wheredidiputthatremote wrote:

---

@castlemagicmemories wrote:

I fail to understand what is not authentic about a ceramic tree!

---

Me too. Agreed. Especially when it's stamped on the bottom. Who on God's green earth is going to forge a 1970s Ceramic Christmas tree. It's not about the money. It's about a **bleep** inad return

---

I wonder what she means by, it wasn't what she expected.  What was she expecting?  Real pine branches?

[gracieallen01]

---

@castlemagicmemories wrote:

---

@wheredidiputthatremote wrote:

---

@castlemagicmemories wrote:

I fail to understand what is not authentic about a ceramic tree!

---

Me too. Agreed. Especially when it's stamped on the bottom. Who on God's green earth is going to forge a 1970s Ceramic Christmas tree. It's not about the money. It's about a **bleep** inad return

---

I wonder what she means by, it wasn't what she expected.  What was she expecting?  Real pine branches?

---

Perhaps it was the wrong color green?  It didn't match her cat's eyes.

[myjunqueyourtreasure]

Thanks. You've just convinced me not to list my ceramic tree.