Returning purchased item to different address than the original location of item

[ergonomictutoring-5]

Hello, I purchased an item from a seller located in China. I decided to return the item for a refund, and so I contacted the seller and he started the return process. However, he messaged me a USPS return shipping label to his warehouse in California, because he said that shipping it back to China would cost him too much money and would be troublesome. He said once I provide him with the tracking number, he will refund my money.

I am new to returning items on eBay, so my question is whether this is safe, or whether I am going to get duped out of my money, since it is not going to the original location from where the item was shipped to me (China).

[charity_scents]

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@ergonomictutoring-5 wrote:

Hello, I purchased an item from a seller located in China. I decided to return the item for a refund, and so I contacted the seller and he started the return process. However, he messaged me a USPS return shipping label to his warehouse in California, because he said that shipping it back to China would cost him too much money and would be troublesome. He said once I provide him with the tracking number, he will refund my money.

I am new to returning items on eBay, so my question is whether this is safe, or whether I am going to get duped out of my money, since it is not going to the original location from where the item was shipped to me (China).

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Did you go through the official route of requesting a return (via the return this item button)? If so, and if the seller is paying for return shipping, I see no reason why a different location would bother you. It will be documented through the return process and it will have a tracking number. Should be no reason to worry. 

If this is outside the normal return sequence, then you should open a return request (blue button on your purchase history)

[ergonomictutoring-5]

Yes I did go through the official route of requesting a return. The address listed on the official return route is in China, but he did NOT buy the shipping label through that page. Instead, he privately messaged me saying "i created a shipping label for you to send it to California, as shipping the item back to China would be too expensive". The California address is therefore NOT the address that is shown in the official return screen where I (the buyer) would click "Mark as shipped" once I ship it.

This is why I am wary and cautious. Do you know what I should do?

[cr-8076]

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@ergonomictutoring-5 wrote:

The address listed on the official return route is in China, but he did NOT buy the shipping label through that page. Instead, he privately messaged me saying "i created a shipping label for you to send it to California, as shipping the item back to China would be too expensive".

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Unless that return label with the California address is uploaded -- see "Upload your own label" here:

-- through the return request SO THAT EBAY CAN ALSO SEE IT @ergonomictutoring-5 eBay cannot force a refund when the tracking number is delivered.

One workaround is to upload the label yourself as one of the 10 photos you can add to a return request

and get your seller's reply confirming the address on the label.