I understand, I was trying to be vague/respectful in case buyer is member.....but I could really use some advice: I bought a (black) coach bag, not in perfect shape, but not a total tear down. It ended up being about $25 with shipping. When I got the bag there were (white/tan) paint splatters in several places so I initiated a return. As a seller would you rather issue a refund vs have the item returned? And if so, what would you offer?
eBay, etc. General Question/Answer Thread
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I understand why you were evasive but depending on the nature of the problem and the circumstances of the listing, i.e., how described, how pictured, etc., answers would vary.
How I would handle it might differ from how others would do it. I generally don't like issuing partials because they're requested too often as a way for buyers to get the item at a price lower than what they'd agreed to. I try to accurately describe and photograph anything that could be an issue and if the listing showed the problem, my stock response would be "return for refund."
OTOH, if I made an honest mistake and missed something, I'd be willing to work with the buyer on an appropriate partial refund to compensate for a possible loss of value resulting from the misdescribed item.
If I suspect the buyer is a PFF (laughingly described as a "professional partial fisher" in another discussion and/or if I believe that the price was commensurate with condition, the "return for refund" mantra would be repeated.
Without seeing the listing, description and pictures, I can't say how I'd handle your specific case. You say you initiated a return. So are you implying that the seller preferred giving you a partial? If that's the case, it doesn't sound unreasonable if it's the seller who's making the partial offer.
Yes, I initiated the return and they offered me a small refund - not really enough to make me want to keep the bag - and no, I'm not a PPF lol. I guess I just wanted the perspective from another seller as to a fair amount (refund) they would offer - which I know is difficult without pictures. Also as hokey as it sounds, I don't want to screw the seller either; hopefully they aren't on the hook for a lot besides the return postage.
If I were that seller I would rather give a partial refund. If she takes the return she will take a loss on the shipping both ways. Plus then she has to try and resell the bag. The value of the bag is too probably low to compensate. She will probably lose less by giving a partial refund ($5 or so) and just being done with it. Lesson learned.
Of course the buyer can refuse the offer and go ahead and return the bag anyway, which is probably what I would do in this case...UNLESS I wanted to try to salvage the bag as a rehab project, and if the bag would be worth considerably more if I succeeded.
Thanks for weighing in Catbird. I thought about doing just that, but it's not a particularly hard to find or special piece so while the rehab would be fun I don't think it would necessarily be profitable.
Sorry for delay, I wasn't aware that you responded.
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No, there was no implication that you are a PPF particularly based on the fact that you didn't ask for it but she offered.
I'm not surprised at all that the seller made the offer but as pointed out, you aren't obligated to take it. Insist on the refund. It's commendable that you don't want to take advantage of the seller but she is the one whose listing wasn't transparent enough so she will be out shipping in both directions.
Hopefully if she relists, she'll have learned a lesson and will be fully open about the condition.
I sold a bag on eBay on Aug. 31 and shipped it Sept. 1, via USPS Priority Mail, fully insured and with signature confirmation. USPS attempted to deliver the package to the buyer's address on Sept. 3 but left a notice since no one was there to sign for the package. According to the USPS tracking, the buyer still has not picked up the package. The buyer has not responded to my messages through eBay. If the buyer does not retrieve the package by Sept. 18, USPS will return the package to me. Anyone have any clue what could be going on here, or what I should do about it?
There isn't much you can do about it. EBay might give you your buyer's phone number if you want to try to call her.
I wouldn't recommend calling. I've seen too much anecdotal evidence (as well as my own personal experiences) where items will be picked up by the buyers but for some reason, in these cases, the postal clerk forgets to scan as "delivered."
You will certainly hear from the buyer if she hasn't received it and at that point, you can contact the receiving/delivering post office (direct phone number) to follow up. My guess is that because you haven't heard, she probably received it. The old phrase "no news is good news" applies here.
The concern is that there are buyers who are savvy enough to know that the lack of d.c. is a slam-dunk win in an INR dispute and although they may not have followed tracking previously, you're calling attention to the fact that it's showing as not received by her. Sometimes those buyers will then file INR. (In this case, with full insurance, the post office would probably cover its butt and follow up with their employees so you'd have a bit more leverage but still.....
My advice is to wait and see whether you hear from the buyer and respond and follow up at that point.
Thanks for your replies. I agree that its certainly a possibility that the buyer actually has received the package but USPS didn't mark it as delivered. Otherwise you'd think the buyer would have contacted me, since the sale was two weeks ago. Keeping my fingers crossed.
That's why I recommend against poking her. You WILL hear if she doesn't get it! I guarantee it.
Hopefully I haven't screwed this up by sending her two messages already. I was trying to be proactive and positive in making sure she got the package. And hopefully she will be honest about the situation. She's got 57 feedback, 100% positive score fwiw.
Just wanted to let you know all buyers have 100% FB.
Unless they are also selling on that account-
eBay removed seller's ability to leave Neg FB for buyers some years ago.
The more telling FB is what your buyer is leaving for other sellers! If you're going to check buyer FB, that's the one you want to read.
CHEERS
If the post office forgot to get the signature when she picked it up it won't show as delivered.