An eBay rant!

[Dulcinea]

Recently I sold a kid's garment on eBay, and the buyer wasn't happy with the purchase, so I sent her a refund for her purchase price minus the shipping/handling fee of $5. The buyer has filed a PayPal claim for the $5 shipping fee, which I can't refund because that was to get the item to her, plus PayPal fees and handling! WTF? Why all the fuss over an insignificant amount of money?

Between slow sales, people who take forever to pay, and people like this el-cheapo person, I might just give up on eBay. :rant:

[sufrommich]

1. Do you have it written in your return policy that you will

refund the cost of the item minus shipping?If so,they won't get the shipping cost back.Can't you file some kind of claim with ebay to get the fees rescinded if an item is returned? I think you can.

[Duer 157099]

2. What was the reason the buyer gave for being unsatisfied?

To me, that's the important factor - because if it's due to having received an item that was somehow different from the description, then I agree with the buyer that they should not have to absorb the s/h fee. On the other hand, if they just don't like it after they get it, that's no excuse at all, even for a refund (unless the seller specifically offers such refunds). It's a good idea to put "AS IS" in the description so that people know they are stuck with whatever they buy. And to make sure the description is accurate.

[CountAllVotes]

7. I agree

I bought some coins several months ago on eBay. They were said to be "proofs" but in fact they were uncirculated.

I got part of my money back only. I returned at my expense and was never reimbursed for the initial cost of shipping either.

So, I lost out.

I do little business on eBay these days.

The thieves are out with some very long knives I've noted. :(

[Vinca]

3. While I understand exactly where you're coming from,

I'd give her the $5 just to get her out of your life. It's not worth the hassle and will drive you nuts. I've had a similar thing happen to me in the past and the person was such a pain in the butt I was about ready to pay them extra to go away. Ebay's gone to hell in a handbasket if you ask me. Low prices, lots of watchers and few bidders. I'm still annoyed about that not being able to leave negative feedback business, too.

[Dulcinea]

6. That's what I ended up doing.

I gave her the whopping $5 just to get rid of her. She also went straight to my blocked-bidder list.

[Kat45]

4. When one returns and item bought online or mail order, the refund never includes shipping.

And that's buying it from regular stores/businesses. So it surprises me that anyone would expect--never mind demand--their shipping fee back.

[Duer 157099]

5. I don't think that's a comparable situation

Or rather, it may or may not be. Regular stores typically sell new items and so the condition isn't usually in question. Used items have to be meticulously described, and if the seller does not accurately describe something, I don't think it's fair to make the buyer absorb the shipping cost for the seller's error. But as I said, it really depends on the reason for the return -- if it's just buyer's remorse, then yes, I agree, they need to pay the s/h cost.