eBay

grouch_douglas · ‎12-17-2018

Long story short: buyer made some pretty sizeable damage to an article of clothing I sold to them last week and had arrived to them today. I always inspect my items before listing and the damage they're claiming on the item is absolutely unmissable. So much so that if it was indeed there when I had it in my possession it would have been specified.

In my defense if I sell anything that is damaged it is always specifically detailed in my listings wether the item is used or new. The other thing is this buyer has been on ebay a lot longer and has a ton of positive feedback. The best I offered them was a 15% partial refund and they can keep it but they have not responded. I have not responded to their return request. So what should I do? I know how these things turn out for sellers most of the time but I don't wanna give in without a fight.

southern*sweet*tea · ‎12-17-2018

Don't offer partial refunds. That just encourages bad behaviour. (most of the time, there are exceptions)

Accept the refund, send the label. Refund when you get it back.

The easier you are to offend the easier you are to control.

We seem to be getting closer and closer to a situation where nobody is responsible for what they did but we are all responsible for what somebody else did. - Thomas Sowell

sam9876 · ‎12-17-2018

Ditto.

goodluckselling · ‎12-17-2018

@grouch_douglas wrote:
Long story short: buyer made some pretty sizeable damage to an article of clothing I sold to them last week and had arrived to them today. I always inspect my items before listing and the damage they're claiming on the item is absolutely unmissable. So much so that if it was indeed there when I had it in my possession it would have been specified.

In my defense if I sell anything that is damaged it is always specifically detailed in my listings wether the item is used or new. The other thing is this buyer has been on ebay a lot longer and has a ton of positive feedback. The best I offered them was a 15% partial refund and they can keep it but they have not responded. I have not responded to their return request. So what should I do? I know how these things turn out for sellers most of the time but I don't wanna give in without a fight.

The return request would have been auto accepted by eBay if the reason is for not as described. The buyer would already have gotten a return shipping label send to them from your account.

What was the reason for the return request?
Are they just requesting a return through the eBay messages or
did they actually open a money back guarantee return request?

Good Luck Selling!

emerald40 · ‎12-17-2018

So a partial refund will now allow that buyer to wear that damaged piece of clothing in public?

redroofsurplus · ‎12-17-2018

WE DON'T DO PARTIAL REFUNDS EITHER, EVEN IF THEY SEND IT BACK AND WE LOSE MONEY SO BE IT. PARTIAL REFUNDERS ARE A SCAM WAITING TO HAPPEN

goodluckselling · ‎12-17-2018

@emerald40 wrote:
So a partial refund will now allow that buyer to wear that damaged piece of clothing in public?

I am not following you? eBay has announced in the fall seller update that not as described return request would be auto approved and the buyer will be sent a return shipping label which indicates to me that the buyer will have to return the item in order to get a refund.

OP mentioned a return request and wondered what to do. In the events as explained by the OP I am pointing out the return request was already approved and that is why I asked additional questions to verify if the return request as actually opened or just a message asking for a return.

Good Luck Selling!

cubano4u · ‎12-17-2018

I wish you could write a little bit more detail as to what the complaint is from your buyer. You say the buyer made some pretty sizeable damage to the clothing, based on the fact that you didn't see that damage yourself. So you are saying they purposely damaged the clothing in order to send it back to you for a refund?
Did they cut a hole in it?
Did they burn a hole in it?
What is the sizeable damage?
If they opened a return then they don't want the clothing, so why would you offer them a partial refund?
I realize you wrote this when you are upset but just a little more explanation and others here can provide you with some feedback and suggestions as to how best to handle.

adkhighker · ‎12-17-2018

@grouch_douglas wrote:
Long story short: buyer made some pretty sizeable damage to an article of clothing I sold to them last week and had arrived to them today. I always inspect my items before listing and the damage they're claiming on the item is absolutely unmissable. So much so that if it was indeed there when I had it in my possession it would have been specified.

In my defense if I sell anything that is damaged it is always specifically detailed in my listings wether the item is used or new. The other thing is this buyer has been on ebay a lot longer and has a ton of positive feedback. The best I offered them was a 15% partial refund and they can keep it but they have not responded. I have not responded to their return request. So what should I do? I know how these things turn out for sellers most of the time but I don't wanna give in without a fight.

I'm not sure, but the instant you offered them a 15% partial refund, won't that be interpeted by eBay that the buyer is in the right about the damage, should a case be opened? And like someone else upthread already said, don't offer a partial refund if there was nothing wrong with the item. Just tell them send it back for a full refund. Otherwise you're setting yourself up for future extortion attempts in the form of buyers asking for partial refunds.

ed8108 · ‎12-17-2018

@emerald40 wrote:
So a partial refund will now allow that buyer to wear that damaged piece of clothing in public?

Absolutey, makes it ok to wear. :

terrycanarsky · ‎12-17-2018

this buyer has been on ebay a lot longer and has a ton of positive feedback

Unfortunately that doesn't mean diddly since buyers can only have positive feedback. It's part of eBay's pandering to the buyer at the (possible) expense of the seller. I.e. no warning of buyers who are problematic.

Unfortunately, there are few ways to 'fight' this. You can show all the photos or proof in the world, and eBay will side with the buyer unless he/she makes a catastrophically stupid mistake like admitting in messages they burned a big hole in the clothing or similar. Even then, it's not likely you will have a positive outcome.

Honestly, your best bet is to accept the return.

~M

the*dog*ate*my*tablecloth · ‎12-17-2018

There's a third possibility, maybe it was damaged in transit? I've had some packages arrive looking like they've gone through a war with black smudges and the corners ripped open. Are you sure it couldn't have happened before it got to the buyer?

castlemagicmemories · ‎12-17-2018

Is it possible you simply missed the damage the buyer is seeing? Buyer may not want a partial if the item is damaged, they said they wanted to return. Your call whether you want a return or refund without a return.

yuzuha · ‎12-17-2018

If it only just arrived today, that's pretty fast for them to have worn and damaged it. Are you sure it wasn't damaged in transit, as someone else suggested? How did you ship it-- in a box or a poly mailer?