Return Request Advice

[mzcollectibles]

This morning a buyer requested a return on a set of NIB golf club grips that he purchased a couple of weeks ago. I set this particular listing to no returns accepted. I generally only accept returns on clothing, shoes, wearable items in general. I know most people wouldn't agree with this, but I've had no issues thus far. Luckily, the buyer was honest and started a return choosing "Doesn't Fit" as the reason. The issues is, buyer stated that the grip were "too tight" and had to cut them off of the clubs.  I'm considering just denying the request but a retaliatory negative is most likely guaranteed since he stated that the grips were not standard size.

I feel this is a lose lose situation. I highly doubt eBay would be willing to side with me on a request to remove a negative. Would the most appropriate action be to offer partial refund and tell him to trash the grips? Past requests have been much more cut and dry. This isn't an item that would be sellable even if I accept the return. 

[mzcollectibles]

Inner diameter of club grips are standardized. Some people even add extra tape to customize the size of the grip itself. The grip not fitting isn't likely. When looking though grip sizes it's going to be the size of the grip. Not what the grip fits.

[maxine*j]

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@buyselljack2016 wrote:

Who was at fault for the fact that they "did not fit" is the key factor in this situation.

"Doesn't fit" can be a buyer, or seller error.

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But not a seller error, in this case.  That they are "Men's Standard" grips is clear in the photos, description, and item specifics.  This is what you buy in any pro shop.  Universal fit. 

Maybe what the buyer didn't like was the feel  of the grips once he'd put them on the clubs, and was thrashing around trying to find some way to get his money back for them and came up with the "didn't ft" claim. 

Or maybe they "didn't fit" because he put them on badly.  Most people pay a few bucks to have a professional re-grip their cliubs, because it's an easy job to mess up as a DIYer.

=

[mzcollectibles]

I went ahead and declined. As you and others have pointed out, it's not that big of a deal if he decides to give me a neg. 

I was in retail management for years and had to deal with these types of situations often. Luckily, it was a local business with full support from the owner to tell people to kick rocks if they had unreasonable requests or just couldn't be satisfied. 

Unfortunately, eBay will make us wear the badge of an unsatisfied customer even if the request is unreasonable. I suppose that's where the hang-up is for me.

I have used the same grips myself. Chances are he had no idea what he was doing or didn't like how they felt. At least I didn't catch an INAD.