Questionable Refund - Do you just go ahead and do it/bit the bullet?

[goldrushfinds]

Kind of piggy backing on my question from yesterday, but I am just about to send a costly refund to a buyer. Sold a new bread machine in original box. The body of the machine is metal and faily sturdy. I surrounded the machine within the original box with panels of styrofoam and then placed that box inside another box (double boxed). Buyer sent me photos of machine with a sizeable dent on lower front third. Exterior box showed minor damage, but not in area where dent occurred. I just wonder how could such a sharp dent occur through 2 boxes and a panel of styrofoam, with no major damage to exterior box. Would you just go ahead and refund the buyer and call it a cost of doing business. Really curious, as I want to know what the norm is among other sellers. Thanks in advance. 

[penguins_dont_fly]

"I am so sorry, please return for a full refund"

[vintagecraze50]

HAVE THEM RETURN FOR REFUND. Get picture of damaged box and item. File insurance claim and get whatever you insured the shipment for back from the PO.

[vintagecraze50]

YOU WILL NOT ENTIRELY BITE A BULLET, if you get your insurance claim approved. They need that picture of the damage downloaded. Usually they will pay out.

[goldrushfinds]

Problem with that is, cost of returning the item to me will cost another $35 or so on top of the other costs already. I feel like I would be digging a deeper and deeper hole. To file a claim with USPS can I just use the photos that the buyer sent me?

[goldrushfinds]

Do I need possession of the item to file a claim with USPS or can I just use the photos sent from the buyer?

[brightlightbookseller]

Usually, yes, you can use those photos, but sometimes they'll want more than what the buyer sent.  You'll have to see what's requested.

[lamber9347]

These are decisions really only you can make. Personally, my motto has always been- return for refund. However, if the item is damaged already and it will cost me $35 for the return, I would not bother and simply refund, but that's me and my finances. I'm here to sell and make more money, not prove a point or teach a lesson to a perfect stranger. I would not 'invest' more money in something already damaged. Best of luck to you....

[lakefor94]

If the item is truly dented, it is not a desirable item for resale if you eat another $35 to get it back before refunding. 

Just curious of the actual selling price without the original shipping?

[goldrushfinds]

$89.99 was cost of item

[goldrushfinds]

Thanks for that, now please beam me aboard.

[lakefor94]

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@goldrushfinds wrote:

$89.99 was cost of item

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Yep, that was a risky one at $90. If you know it is dented, I would refund and move on. 

I just came back from the UPS drop spot having shipped a $375 item for $46.  32x10x5 at 42lbs. 

Not a bad risk in my book. Would probably not do it on an item under $200. Hard to say exactly where the line is drawn on shipping risk. 

[kensgiftshop]

I don't know much about bread machines, but can you part it out.

You might make more that way.

[goldrushfinds]

Thanks for your insight...

[goldrushfinds]

Could part it out, but with the cost of return shipping factored in, probably not worth it.