Ebay...Do you refund shipping????

[marcyinPA]

I just read the other thread about reconsidering selling on Ebay, and I'm right there with that poster!!

I listed and sold a pair of Christmas jammies. I disclosed in the listing that they ran small (marked a size 8, but fit more like a 6/7). I believe that my sizing description was completely accurate, based upon the fact that they fit my son last year when he wore a size 6/7. Anywho, I got an email from the buyer that she was really unhappy with them because not only because they didn't fit her child, and didn't even fit her 3 year old (wow, must be a big kid!). OK....so I told her to ship them back to me and I'd refund her original purchase, but not her shipping. She wanted a complete refund, including BOTH shipping costs. I would be out several dollars by then, way more than the pjs were worth. So I sucked it up, and I told her to keep the pjs, donate them to charity if she would do me that favor, and I refunded her only the cost of the pjs. She sent me another email, saying she didn't want the pjs, and would ship them back to me.

I'm expecting a negative, after having 360 positives.

So back to my original question...do you refund shipping costs to buyers??? Doesn't make sense to me if you had to pay the USPS, but maybe I'm not doing business right??

 

[TangaroaTiki]

No, I would never refund shipping. I have never been asked to, but I wouldn't.

 

[harleyquinn]

I would refund the money if I grossly misrepresented the item. Otherwise the buyer can file a complaint with ebay and get their money back that way.

The last two things I have purchased had some flaws that were not described in the item. It's terribly annoying to have the description say NWT and get a clearly used item with no tags in the mail. It's not my fault they lied, so I shouldn't pay anything.

But you dsiclosed the sizing issue, so the seller should suck it up. Clothes don't always fit and you did your best to explain what it would be like.

 

[2Princes2Princesses]

I wouldn't refund shipping either. You shipped them. I know I have bought things from several companies (not Ebay) that offered refunds if not satisfied or whatever, but they always say "Full refund minus cost of shipping."

I had the same thing happen. I had a baby shirt for sale. I said it was for 6-9 months, but I mentioned in the description that the tag said 6-12, but it was VERY Small. It fit my DS from 6-9 months and he is HUGE (70th per. for height and 97th for weight), but I wanted to emphasize it was NOT for up to 12 months.

The buyer left me neutral feedback, saying the item was mis-sized. Sometimes, no matter how good you describe things, people just don't read it or pay attention. She never contacted me...just left me the feedback.

Ebay makes me nuts. I stopped selling on there altogether and only buy on occasion.

 

[jessica52877]

I do, just to be nice. I don't have that many instances where something happens like that so I just eat it, if the shipping cost was $30, then I might think differently.

 

[ameraumi]

Did you include measurements? I have learned to always include the measurements on clothing items. But you did state it fit smaller then the tagged size.

Even if they would file a claim with Paypal, they will be responsible to mail the item back to you and only have the original price refunded. I would stand firm on the no return shipping refund.

 

[DianeV]

I would not start a precedent of refunding shipping charges especially when it wasnt anything you did. Being nice is one thing but letting a buyer get away with this only encourages them to do it to other sellers too

 

[hollieplus2]

As a seller I never refund shipping either way unless there was an error on my part. As a buyer, unless there was an error on the sellers part I never request shipping fees back. Only one time did I demand this. I bought a cell phone and when it came I found out the phone was stolen. I told the seller I wanted a refund w/ shipping both ways. If you didn't misrepresent the item and the buyer is just not happy w/ it then no, don't refund shipping. Buying clothes on ebay is iffy, you never know if it's going to fit. The tag says size 8, you said it ran small, she took a chance.

 

[LisaNJ25]

I would not refund it... you told her they ran small... were they also the tight fitting ones like the disney store? Maybe she doesn't realize they will be snug?


If she fills a dispute against you she will not get back shipping both ways..

 

[merryweather20]

I agree with most of the above. Don't refund the shipping its a risk someone takes when buying clothes.

I read another post where someone was sold a stolen phone (seller supposedly thought it was okay and had purchased from an auction), maybe hollieplus2. In this case I'd expect the shipping to be refunded too (seller should for sure make sure nothings stolen before selling).

 

[hollieplus2]

I agree with most of the above. Don't refund the shipping its a risk someone takes when buying clothes.

I read another post where someone was sold a stolen phone (seller supposedly thought it was okay and had purchased from an auction), maybe hollieplus2. In this case I'd expect the shipping to be refunded too (seller should for sure make sure nothings stolen before selling).

Yep, that was me. I did say I wanted shipping both ways back and I got it. Took some work but I did. That was the only time I requested shipping back.

 

[kellia]

I would not refund shipping unless it was my mistake. In your instance, no, I would not. In the past, I did for something that ended up having a stain I missed or something like that, it was last year, I forget exactly what it was, but I believed it was my error so refunded the amount including shipping and told her to keep them.

 

[sz9144]

I also vote for no shipping refund if it's not your fault.

I sold one of those TMX Elmo's on ebay, and the buyer had me send it to someone else as a surprise. well, since the other person did not know what it was, they refused the package. It wasn't my fault, so I refunded the amount paid, minus shipping and ebay listing fees. the buyer had no problem with it.

 

[marcyinPA]

Thanks everyone for the feedback! Of course, I think I was completely up front, and although I didn't take or list measurements on the pjs, I did just go by what I knew, and that was that my DS wore them when he was a size 6/7. It's about as up front as I could be, and if the buyer wanted measurements, she could have asked for them!

The buyer thinks I'm wrong but I really feel that I'm in the right here, and you guys sealed the deal for me. Thank you!! The part that really confuses me is that I gave her a refund of the purchase price and told her to keep them, and she still wants to send them back Whatever!

 

[cami89]

For future reference, always provide measurements. I try to cover my butt on clothing auctions by always stating that sizes, fits and cuts vary from one manufacturer to the next and that I've provided the measurements to ensure an accurate fit. And, like you, if I've found the item ran small/big I will note it, but providing the measurements puts the burden on them to judge for themselves.

 

[tinktinktink]

In your case I would not refund her shipping because you did your part. you stated that they ran small and that's a risk you take when ordering online. Department stores don't pay for you to send stuff back when it doesn't fit and neither should you. I recently requested that a seller pay for me to send 2 shirts back because they were listed in EUC but arrived stained and 1 actually had food spilled on it and had not need laundered. Both sellers issued a refund and told me to keep or donate the shirts so I gave them positive reviews.

 

[3boymthr]

The whole must take it back if the buyer protests with paypal is why I refuse to give in and do the free shipping which ebay keeps pushing at me every time I list an item. I recently had a buyer want to return an item because it did not include the cords when the listing clearly stated it did not include the cords (vintage game system and a new cord cost $250 which is why we sold it) I said I'd be happy to take the item back but as per my return policy I do not refund shippllping and I don't refund the cost of shipping it back. Since shipping cost $35 on a $40 item he decided to try to find cords. If i'd done the free shipping he would have shipped it back and I would have been out $35.

 

[tazleiten12]

I'm pretty sure if a buyer files a dispute with paypal, and they win. (They usually do). They will get their purchase price and original shipping back. They will need to pay shipping back to you.

 

[aliceindisneyland]

Make sure to add her to your blocked buyers list immediately so she can't see/bid on future items from you [no need to tell her that, and they don't notify her that she's been blocked.]
Also, consider adding a blurb on all future postings stating that you have represented the item to the best of your ability, and no returns are offered, and that if an item is grossly misrepresented the buyer is still responsible for shipping. State it as positively as possible because it is a bit of a turnoff to read the rants of some sellers who have been burned by buyers.
I would just refund the item and shipping AFTER it is returned to you in original condition - and make sure she knows that if she does not provide tracking you will not refund anything. I would not pay for her additional cost to track the item though. I hate it when a PITB buyer takes up my time and energy (and money!), but I try to remember that I have made a lot of money on ebay - and they have it set up to favor the buyer - so that's just the cost of doing business sometimes.
Unfortunately it comes down to whether you are willing to pay $5 (or whatever shipping was) to keep your 100% rating.
When I have an item that is mis-sized in my opinion, I list the size I estimate it to be in the listing and description, then note [for example] that the tag size is 4T but it runs big so it fit my daughter at age 6. I also include measurements on all of my clothing listings - it takes an extra minute but at least you can say, "As noted in the listing..." if someone complains.
ETA: There is no guarantee that she will leave you positive feedback even if you refund her item and shipping! She can still leave you negative feedback! But I believe you can contest it and show your very professional and kind communication with her, along with the refund info, and get it taken off. I've never had anything go that far though. Good luck!