ebay purchase -DOA - how to handle return?

[fac]

my recent ebay purchase arrived DOA, I am going to contact the seller. I assume I will either offer to return the product or that he sends me a replacement, however, how do people normally handle returns? I assume it will be fair that the seller pays for the return but how can the seller pay me for the postage.
I paid through paypal and am not too concern on the charges..

BTW, I had a problem with a previous purchase a few years ago, I didn't contact the seller nor leave any feedback, it wasn't much, I assumed it was an honest mistake. But the seller contacted me for feedback, I told him the problem, he promptly refunded without asking me for the product.

thanks

 

[Cheshire Figment]

I would suggest sending a polite e-mail (going through eBay for record purposes) explaining the problem and what you have tried to do. Ask the seller if he has any suggestions which you can try to get the item to work properly. If he provides suggestions try them. At that point ask him what he suggests as far as returning the item to him for a refund.

But make sure at least all of your emails go through the eBay system so they have a record if you end up filing a dispute.

 

[lindsmom]

I agree with PP, just wanted to add that you could say something like "The item wasn't working when it arrived, wondering if you wanted to send a new item or refund money? I will be happy to return the broken item if you'd like to send a prepaid envelope (or package depending on size)"

I had a problem with something once, and the seller had specified "before leaving negative feedback please contact me to rectify problems" (although I don't think he used the word "rectify" haha) so I did - left him an email saying before I left any negative feedback wanted to check with him first. If you don't get a response after your first email, you may want to mention feedback as a veiled threat. But not in your first email - like pp said, keep it nice and polite at first.

 

[ajh88]

I'm assuming you did this already, but I'd go back and re-check the listing - make sure they said the item was working and didn't say "as-is" or anything like that.

Depending on how expensive this item is, the seller may opt to refund your purchase without return or request the item be returned - they may or may not be willing to pay the return postage (and I don't think by ebay terms they are obligated to do so, but with all the recent changes, I'm not 100% sure). If you do send it back, make sure you get delivery confirmation and possibly insure it (just to make sure the seller can't come back and say you didn't return it or that it was damaged on return shipment).

I think the PPs all offered good advice - hopefully it will work out smoothly!

ETA: Just so you know, as a seller when someone has wanted to return a product to me, I have paid for the return shipping. I generally do a "good faith" refund of 25-50% of the price, so they have confidence I will follow through with the refund and so they can ship it back to me. Then I refund the remainder, plus actual shipping charges, once I receive the item. It requires some trust on both ends - the seller doesn't want to refund all the $$ and risk not getting the item back, while the buyer doesn't want to return the item and risk not getting a refund.

 

[tammyt24]

I've only encountered this a couple times, but both times I returned via a trackable method and had seller include the return postage in my refund.

 

[fac]

Thanks for the great suggestion.
Yes, I have already contacted the seller asking him how he likes to handle the return but I myself didn't know what the general practices for returning in ebay hence my post here. It was listed as new, hence there is no reason to assume that I will take the risk of DOA. Checking ebay just now, he has one netural response that he had sent wrong item but refused to pay the return postage. I will see.


Last night, I only sent from my email account. How do I go through ebay to send the mail? I went back to page I won the item, should I go through ask a question on the same page? or just click on the seller info to send him a mail?

thanks

 

[JandT'smom]

You should also check the listing and see if the seller even offer refunds. Sometimes listings state no refund. As a ferquent ebayer I would not buy something myself that is listed as no refunds but people seem willing to take that risk.

 

[auralia]

the seller is under no obligation to pay return shipping i had this happen and was out 15$ return shipping and the seller wouldn't pay it and ebay said he didn't have to.

 

[Mad4Mickey]

my DH and I are trying to figure out what DOA is ??? (Sorry I don't want to seem stupid but because of our jobs DOA means Dead On Arrival .)

 

[ajh88]

my DH and I are trying to figure out what DOA is ??? (Sorry I don't want to seem stupid but because of our jobs DOA means Dead On Arrival .)

That's what it means here too....usually used to refer to an electronics item that doesn't work when you get it ("dead" on arrival).

 

[Mad4Mickey]

That's what it means here too....usually used to refer to an electronics item that doesn't work when you get it ("dead" on arrival).

Thanks so much I have never even thought of buying something electronic from Ebay so I didnt even go there .

 

[fac]

Correct. I meant "dead on arrival".

It was a wireless adapter. We have more laptops, desktops in our house than rooms , hence I need a few. It is an older model, unless I plan for a technology refresh such as upgrade the router to the latest model, there is no need to buy a new but old model adapter.

It is cheap, I paid through paypal, the worst that can happen is to lose the return postage and obviously I will make it a certified return.

 

[Catira]

I had purchased a used IPOD on Ebay to replace my daughter's damaged one. Someone threw her in the pool and it was in her shorts at swim practice. Item had been described in excellent working condition. When ipod arrived it was not working. Contacted seller and agreed to return for a refund. Sent item back certified mail with a request for signature. Contacted seller again to verify he had received item and request my refund. Was told item received. Days later still no refund.. at this time I opened a claim with Paypal. First item requested.. proof that I had sent item. Guess what? I misplaced my receipt and tracking # when I shipped back the ipod. But, I do have the emails buyer and I exchanged.. sorry without proof of tracking # we can't help you is what PAYPAL informed me. I was out $70... so please make sure you have proof if you do decide to ship item back.

 

[auralia]

in catira's situation i would have put something in a box and mailed it to the seller again and got another tracking number for this i don't know rock? then when it arrived at his house i would have given pay pal that tracking number... if sellers are sneaky you can be sneaky back.