Received a random return outside ebay return system.

[trip98]

I received an item return today April 10th (showed delivered to  buyer April 1st) without any notice from the buyer or through the ebay return system.  Buyer printed a return label on their own.  Are  there any pitfalls to sending a refund outside the return system via send refund tab?  Strange I didn't even know what I was gong to find in the 4x4x4 box because I send a lot of things in that size. The item appears to be what I sent unused. I have not contacted the buyer yet to let them know I received the item.

[iamalwaysright]

You should be fine with the refund as long as you issue it in full and you choose the appropriate reason for it. As for the box that arrived to you, did you do this?

[trip98]

Haha wasn't that scared.

[chapeau-noir]

I call these "silent returns" - I would just refund purchase price, since there was no communication. My own impulse is to not poke the bear.

[stephenmorgan]

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@trip98 wrote:

Are  there any pitfalls to sending a refund outside the return system via send refund tab?  

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You would not get a refund of eBay fees.  Giving the refund thru eBay and you will be credited the eBay fees associated with the refund amount.

[albertabrightalberta]

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@iamalwaysright wrote:

You should be fine with the refund as long as you issue it in full and you choose the appropriate reason for it. 

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The OP's listings charge separately for shipping so the OP doesn't have to refund the original shipping. 

[chapeau-noir]

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@stephenmorgan wrote:

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@trip98 wrote:

Are  there any pitfalls to sending a refund outside the return system via send refund tab?  

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You would not get a refund of eBay fees.  Giving the refund thru eBay and you will be credited the eBay fees associated with the refund amount.

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Yes - absolutely do it through the eBay refunds.

[mam98031]

@trip98 

Nice buyer.  They saved you the return shipping and the ding in the Service Metrics if they had filed a Return Request.  I would be thanking them, fully refunding them and asking them if there is anything else I can do for them.  

[liawri-75]

Refund and deduct the shipping cost.