Can't get refund for my cost of returning/shipping an item back to seller.

[chriluh0]

I bought a watch and the description didn't match the item (it was supposed to be a sterling silver watch band, it was plated and plating was worn off on some links. Got refund, no problem. Seller couldn't print a return shipping label so I could ship it back. I had to drive some distance to go to a FedEx location to purchase the return postage and return the package through FedEx who provided a tracking number. I gave this number to the seller and took a photo of the invoice as well as included a photo copy of the shipping cost which I included in the return package for the seller.  I also messaged her with all the return information. The problem is that I can't seem to get an answer on how she is to give me the refund for the return shipping of $32.27, paid by me via Mastercard. She doesn't know how to do this and didn't get a clear answer from eBay. I can't seem to contact them to get an answer or solution to my being refunded for return shipping cost. Very frustrating, NO INFORMATION telling me or her how to go about this on help/support/assistant provided by eBay. No means to contact eBay via email, phone or messaging. The return shipping was more that the price of the watch. It was shipped from the USA to Canada via international Global Shipping in Kentucky. How can I get a refund for the $32.27 it cost me to return the item back to the seller?

[kensgiftshop]

@chriluh0 

The seller should have sent you the funds before you shipped it back.

The seller can send the funds to your Pay Pal account.

[titipeo]

If I recall correctly, seller can only submit a prepaid return label to the point where they delivered, which was the Global Shipping address in KY, as that is where he paid to ship the goods. You as buyer need to request through eBay, as you had to pay extra charges for shipping and perhaps taxes from the US to CA. Seems to me things where done in a rush before verifying who will pay what.

As soon as I will see the cost of shipping being higher than the item, I would have stopped there and seek guidance from ebay first regarding this. You mentioned that eBay didn't provide additional information, did you check before hand, or after the fact? What where the eBay instructions regarding the return?

[pjcdn2005]

If you give your PayPal email  address to the seller they can send you the funds there.

 If you ever have another international return when the seller is responsible for return shipping do not pay for the label until the seller sends you the money.  eBay cannot force the seller to pay you the shipping cost once the package has been sent so you must have the funds before shipping.   If they refuse to send the money you can get eBay involved (before shipment) and they will usually have the seller refund without requiring a return.

[pjcdn2005]

With the gsp  return labels are not issued at all.  The seller has to send a label by email or the money for a label.

[pjcdn2005]

Did the seller insist on FedEx?  depending on the weight, a tracked packet USA label from Canada Post would probably cost around C$20.

[chriluh0]

Where did you find this information? I looked for days to find an answer before I shipped the item back and had very little time to send the item back according to messages left me by eBay. I would never have thought to withhold sending the item back then trying to resolve the problem since eBay gives you only a few days to send the item back or you don't get a refund for even the item, let alone shipping cost.

[chriluh0]

I only wish I had access to the information you provided in your reply. Where on the web site did you find this info? I searched and searched and used the assistant in the messaging portion for communication with help from eBay never having received an answer to the questions I had. Why don't they post an info section on shipping, international as well as national so it's crystal clear as to who pays what. It's taken me several buying transactions to get what little information I had prior to this transaction, refund and return, and the most clear and concise information has come from the community. It would be helpful to know where the info was obtained on the web site. All of my searches on the computer yielded nothing that would help me with this, and I couldn't contact eBay directly no matter how hard I tried. Very frustrating, very costly to learn through this experience what I should have done. Thanks so much, you were more helpful than eBay has ever been. They almost seem like they are "the wizard who no one sees, just a voice from some unknown place" since they are invisible but in charge of the whole operation.

[chriluh0]

Thanks. Where did you find this information I so desperately searched for before this transaction. Transparency on the part of eBay would have been very helpful and prevented the whole return saga for me. It would have been a non-issue. eBay customers should not have to rely on community for these type of  problems and solutions to questions.

[chriluh0]

I was instructed to use the method with a tracking number, which I thought was FedEx. Items always came via FedEx or Purolator, therefore I used FedEx. I should have sent the parcel back via the post office, but was ignorant of this whole process. Had I been able to find this information ahead of my shipping and paying the $32.00 return, I would never have returned let alone via FedEx. Although I tried for several days and several of these situations I would have done things differently, but couldn't find any answers to the many questions I had. There was mistake number one. Nothing teaches better than losing money over an item that wasn't even worth $30.00, as quartz watches are virtually worthless when they stop working, especially when one can't remove the back of the watch to replace a battery. I have learned a great deal thanks to all of the community members who have given me feedback where eBay gave me zero feedback whatsoever. I am obliged to all of those who took the time to "enlighten" me and I greatly appreciate your expertise, experience and knowledge regarding my problem. Thank you so much.

[chriluh0]

eBay sent me an email with instructions to go to a FedEx location in a nearby town that only does pick ups. I then travelled 45 min. together to the FedEx location in the nearest city to me. I was screwed in returning the $30.00 watch for over $30.00 in FedEx charges. Live and learn and always ask eBay community for help. I really felt pressured as eBay gave me a deadline date to return the package within 3 days. Thanks ever so much for your help!

Chris L.