Can I charge restocking fee for false reason for return

[sunnyrecoon]

Sold excellent condition printer for $150/free shipping. Buyer submitted return request that the item didn't work, and included pictures in details of poor printouts. Poor printouts were due to buyer's bad ink cartridge. Even buyer's pictures have a shot where printer says "Low Ink" on the display. I sent three messages to buyer telling the issue was with their ink cartridge. Never received response....suspecting buyer does not understand English.

I spend about $15 to ship it Fedex, and I will be charged for USPS return shipping which is definitely more than $15. So considering this, can I charge restocking fee when I receive the printer back?

[mtgraves7984]

No. Some time ago, eBay took the 'Restocking Fee' option away from sellers.

[ed8108]

Not here on eBay.

EBay will say ,cost of doing business

[uniwarehousewares]

Here is what you can do, you can charge restocking fee up to 20% if you exactly mention this to buyer , but if buyer reach to ebay then he will get his money back, so better way is , if you are TRS or offer free return then you can deduct up to 50% after receiving of item if you find item is out of packing or used or have missing parts but before deduction make sure to report the buyer if he does any of above  and then deduct money, after that buyer will call ebay  and will seek help, ebay will fund the money to him from ebay pocket and you will not be charged. as far as concern of return shipping label , also report this buyer for false claim so return will not be taken against your seller service metrics. 

bottom line : you can deduct up to 50% after receiving of item but cannot recover return shipping cost. if you are enrolled in ebay concierge then quarterly you can request them to issue free return shipping label to buyer from ebay pocket .

[comics-scifi-collectibles]

@sunnyrecoon. No  as the others said you can't charge a restocking fee

 Under the ebay MBG the buyer just has to SAY that the item is not as described and you MUST accept the return and refund the buyer.

IF you do not do so willingly then eBay steps in and forces a refund. You do not get your sellers fees back, you get a DEFECT and the buyer may be allowed to keep the item.

If the buyer abuses the eBay MBG in some way then you can report them but it doesn't get your money back  

https://www.ebay.com/help/selling/resolving-buyer-issues/report-issue-buyer?id=4084&st=12&pos=3&quer...

The only slight protection a seller has is if they offer FREE RETURN shipping on their listings OR if they are a Top Rated seller and offer 30 days or greater returns.  The seller can then reduce the refund amount by up to 50% if the buyer sends a different item or somehow reduces the value of the item.

https://www.ebay.com/help/policies/selling-policies/seller-protections?id=4345&st=12&pos=4&query=Sel...

[kensgiftshop]

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@uniwarehousewares wrote:

Here is what you can do, you can charge restocking fee up to 20% if you exactly mention this to buyer ,

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Doesn't matter what you tell your buyer, you can't charge them a restocking fee.

[7606dennis]

No.

[myescape]

As this is a not as described request  seller can not deduct anything from the refund upon return.Ebay will not be funding anything

[comics-scifi-collectibles]

@sunnyrecoon  Adding.... you also appear to offer FREE RETURNS on most all of your sold items so that means you accept returns for ANY reason.  As I mentioned in my other reply you can reduce the amount of the refund if the buyer somehow reduced the value of the item.   For example, they put a cartridge in wrong and damaged the printer, sent it back without the box when you shipped with one etc.   

[bigdeals.etc]

No. Sorry.

[uniwarehousewares]

i  am on my words, i face these kind of cases on daily basis ,seller can deduct even its not as describe case, when buyer open not as describe case its not mean that case is legitimate until you receive the item, if you no offer free return , many buyers use not as describe in order to get free label, even if seller not offer free return but if you are TRS and if you find not as describe case is false return then you can deduct up to 50%.

[uniwarehousewares]

its same thing, seller can deduct up to 50% if offer free return or TRS, its two sides of same coin, ebay just changed the title of restocking fee to seller protections for returns. so when you have option to deduct from 10 to 50% its same thing either before seller deduct in name of  restocking fee up to 20% cap, now cap is 50% for sellers. 

[oldwestgold]

Actually, if you contact eBay cs 5 times you will get no less than 20 different answers.

[uniwarehousewares]

Seller can deduct even if its is not as describe case and reason is, opening as describe case not evidence that buyer receive wrong item or something wrong with item, some buyers open as describe case just to get free label, once seller receive the item and found its false return filed by buyer then seller can report the buyer and can deduct up to 50%, NOT AS DESCRIBED CASES fulfill 3 to 4 different kind of reason including wrong item sent , damaged etc 

Bottom line : If seller is TRS or offer free return then he can deduct up to 50% , its does not matter if its remorse or not as describe case because buyer case could be false claim.