question about return protocol

[evry1nositswindy]

I had a buyer open a case that something I sold didn't work.  It was new in the package, but she showed me it didn't work.  I told her there was no need to return the item, I would just issue a refund.  I did it, opened and closed the same day.   A few days later I get the item back in the mail.  When I look at the details on my end, it says item defective, seller pays return shipping.  I stated in the messages we exchanged that she didn't need to return.  Does she see the same thing I see?  If so, she will be expecting me to reimburse her for shipping.  It was a small dollar item, so I didn't want to be out even more shipping.  What is my responsibility? 

[tunicaslot]

If you clicked the box - Refund in full without return - you are under no obligation to refund the buyer for postage. I'm assuming she is a new user who didn't understand that she didn't have to return the item.

[green-night · Accepted solution]

 I told her there was no need to return the item, I would just issue a refund.  I did it, opened and closed the same day. 

When you replied to the return what you chose as a response matters:

Did you reply with "Refund without Return"? 

Or did you authorize the return and provide a label and then refund before received?

OR did you authorize the return, not provide a label, and then refund before received?

---If you chose "refund w/o return" or didn't provide a label and the buyer returned anyways, you would not be responsible to compesate buyer return shipping.  Only if you authorized the return and provided the label would you be regardless of what messages you sent the buyer. 

[evry1nositswindy]

I looked back at the messages and on my seller dashboard.  A reason is not shown.  I'm pretty sure I chose refund without return.  I never authorized a shipping label and the buyer purchased one at the post office on her own.  It shows closed and refunded on my end.

[green-night]

Then you don't need to anything else.