Is refusing a package a valid method to send a return?

[mseifert*]

I am a buyer who purchased something and changed my mind on an order. The seller's listing says they accept returns if buyer pays return shipping.  If I refuse the package's delivery, I will save shipping costs to return the package. Is this a legitimate way to return the package? I've started the "return process" but Ebay is prompting me via email:

"Please send the item back by Jul 12, 2019. If you don't, we may close this request and you may not receive a refund." and offering for me to print a label.

Can I let the seller know that I've sent the package back via "return to sender" or do I have to print a label and send it back via the "standard" method? If I choose the "return to sender" route, there seems to be no way to let the "Ebay system" know the return is on the way back to the seller.

Thanks in advance for your help.

[ed8108]

Do not refuse the package, accept delivery of the package, then return with tracking on or before the deadline date to return.

[mseifert*]

What are the consequences of refusing versus purchasing postage? It seems like an unnecessary waste of funds (if you don't take offense at letting USPS do the return). Can the seller OK the "return to sender" method? Or is everything so automated that the return label is needed to oil the system and make the return happen?

[dede394]

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@mseifert* wrote:
What are the consequences of refusing versus purchasing postage? It seems like an unnecessary waste of funds (if you don't take offense at letting USPS do the return). Can the seller OK the "return to sender" method? Or is everything so automated that the return label is needed to oil the system and make the return happen?

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Yes, that's fine. In fact, eBay says:

Buyer obligations

Generally, the buyer is responsible for accepting the item when it arrives. If the buyer refuses delivery, their claim is not eligible for the eBay Money Back Guarantee.

http://ebay.com/help/fool/me/too?id=4210

[mseifert*]

So, since my purchase is not a case of "item hasn’t arrived" or "isn’t as described", I am not subject to the "Money Back Guarantee" anyway. So losing the guarantee is not of consequence in the transaction.

The only real risk seems to be going outside the standard return system and what unknown consequences may happen when no label is generated.

[lja440]

The CORRECT way to handle buyers remorse is to accept the package and list it yourself. 

The seller shouldn't have to take the loss just because you didn't think before you bid.

[myangelandmyprincess]

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@mseifert* wrote:
So, since my purchase is not a case of "item hasn’t arrived" or "isn’t as described", I am not subject to the "Money Back Guarantee" anyway. So losing the guarantee is not of consequence in the transaction.

The only real risk seems to be going outside the standard return system and what unknown consequences may happen when no label is generated.

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But since you wouldn’t be eligible for the money back guarantee the seller could just not refund you if you refused the package and you would have no recourse

[myangelandmyprincess]

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@lja440 wrote:

The CORRECT way to handle buyers remorse is to accept the package and list it yourself. 

The seller shouldn't have to take the loss just because you didn't think before you bid.

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This.  Also some shipping methods charge the sender the return costs with return to sender.   Your seller may not have used one of those methods.  You need to accept the package and pay the return cost s

[bearswatching]

As a seller yourself you may have had to deal with remorse purchases and realize how annoying they are. Not to mention, that if the seller has exceeded their free listing allotments it will cost the seller financially. Do the right thing and pay for the return. Do unto others...😊

[orangehound]

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@mseifert* wrote:

Can I let the seller know that I've sent the package back via "return to sender" or do I have to print a label and send it back via the "standard" method? If I choose the "return to sender" route, there seems to be no way to let the "Ebay system" know the return is on the way back to the seller.

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Two things:

• Not all shipping services will return the package back to the seller for free.  First Class Package and Priority Mail are free ... ground (parcel select/retail ground) and media mail would have a charge.
• By not uploading a valid tracking number for the return, there is some risk to you that the seller will not refund your money ... on appeal, I don't know whether or not eBay would accept the original tracking that showed the package returned to sender.

[berserkerplanet · Accepted solution]

As others pointed out, you waive eBay MBG coverage when you do so.

However, if you trust the seller, it is a way to obtain free remorse return shipping.

I have one of these in the works right now. I'm a no returns seller, but I pretty much always (5 returns total in 15 years) accept returns. Buyer purchased, and requested to cancel AFTER it was already physically shipped. I told them they could refuse it and I'd refund when I got it back, or they could open an eBay remorse ("I changed my mind") return and pay for the return shipping. I think it's on it's way back via return to sender (buyer chose to trust me).

Judgement call as a buyer. Most sellers are honest as are most buyers.

Also, in a remorse return the buyer pays for the return shipping, and is therefore responsible for the return as far as eBay is concerned. If it is lost, damaged, and never arrives back to the seller the buyer is responsible. Same with reuse/return to sender scenario so no loss of any protection there.

I don't see any downside in utilizing "refused/return to sender".

[vikingsandpintos]

I say, accept it , then return it if you insist...

But I am old school. I have ordered things and changed my mind, so I gifted or sold the items. As a seller, I have made an error in estimating shipping costs, so I paid the difference and said nothing about it to the buyer.

I wish more people would just suck it up, and accept that if they made a mistake or changed their mind, they would just deal with it. When it affects others, it's just not right to do.  

But that is just me getting older. Trying to be more accepting of others views, and at the same time, getting grumpier! lol   AND YOU KIDS GET OFF MY LAWN!!  

[mseifert*]

@berserkerplanet has most thoroughly answered the question as asked, thank you.

As to the unasked ethical question which has most of the attention, I appreciate the sentiments and questions it raises. Is a remorse return different via ebay than at any local retailer? Does it depend on the seller and the situation (an individual selling personal items, single proprietor of established business with thousands of sales, store front with employees, etc.). What are the terms of the return stated? If the seller offers to refund shipping one way / two ways / not at all / etc.

As to creating extra work for someone, I don't agree that the right action in all cases would be to keep the item and resell it myself. If the seller is in a business of selling the items and especially if they offer returns, that is part of doing business. People make mistakes. As a seller, I wouldn't begrudge the restocking from returns if I'm offering a product.

In this case, the seller is an established business with thousands of sales. I emailed the seller to ask if they were ok with "return to sender". Fortunately they responded that they had no issue with it and only cared about receiving the item back. I've offered to pay the shipping cost they incurred when shipping and I believe all is good.

Thanks everyone for your input.

[jgoebert2012]

If the item was shipped via USPS Media Mail it usually is NOT returned...just goes to USPS heaven.

[stanleysoverstock]

Like you and most of us elders we learned a long time ago " I'm not the only person in the world that matters". Now it's " I'm entitled no matter what". Andrew