EBay sellers how to handle requested refund

[distherapy]

What operating system did you have? If the buyer upgraded to the iOS7, battery drain is a common complaint - https://www.google.com/search?q=iph...j8&sourceid=chrome&espv=210&es_sm=91&ie=UTF-8

and I can't imagine that would be your fault.

 

[LovemesomeDW]

This is exactly why I don't sell electronics on eBay! How is the buyers feedback? I would suggest you offer to refund him the money only after he ships the phone back and you confirm it's the same phone. Buyer must pay for return shipping also. eBay usually sides with the buyer so if he ends up reporting it to eBay/paypal and they side with him, you will be without a phone and the money. And it doesn't matter that you took the money out of your account. Your account is linked to your bank account/credit card. They will get their money. Good luck! I hope it works out for you.

 

[HLAuburn]

Because I don't trust eBay/PayPal, I would offer a refund IF the SAME phone is returned in SAME condition and less your shipping fees. Be sure to communicate with the buyer only through eBay so there is a record of your conversations and your willingness to resolve the situation.

My guess is the buyer won't take an offer to return it and they are hoping to get the money and the phone. Isn't that called STEALING?! I don't know how eBay gets away with this stuff, but they do.

Good luck...keep us posted.

 

[Egdisney]

I used to work at Paypal. Before they award the buyer ANY money, they will require that they return the item to you in the condition it was received. They will have to pay for trackable shipping . The only way the money will be taken from your account without receiving the phone is if you ignore the prompts and responses necessary. Chargebacks are a different story, I would resolve through paypal before the buyer goes there(most don't) chargebacks come from the credit card company. As the payment processor PayPal is required to return the funds from the business or individual. PayPal has no part in credit card investigations. It sucks.

 

[nunzia]

Frankly, you will not win..Ebay will side with buyer. All you can do is be very careful to make sure it is received in the condition it was sent and issue the refund. Only if it comes back damaged or changed can you start your own case. Save yourself the grief and realize the buyer nearly always wins and block this particualr person from your future sales.

 

[CherylA]

What operating system did you have? If the buyer upgraded to the iOS7, battery drain is a common complaint - https://www.google.com/search?q=iph...j8&sourceid=chrome&espv=210&es_sm=91&ie=UTF-8

and I can't imagine that would be your fault.

I updated it before I sold it, but I used it upgraded for a couple weeks and didn't notice any difference in battery life. Could be the problem he is having though.

 

[3boymthr]

You will know it is the phone you sold because the serial number will either be the same or different. You can check old serial numbers in your iTunes account.

 

[JB2K]

For the past few years, I have resold our old smartphones on eBay -- never had a problem with any of the iPhones or Androids sold (and I always get excellent feedback from my buyers).

One important thing is when you create a listing (especially for used electronics, or recorded media such as CD/DVD/Blu-ray), you should state in the listing that you will not take returns.

Reason for this is that I have no idea what the buyer would do with a laptop, video game system, or a smartphone I sold (they could have put a virus in the device, or it may be returned to me in "not quite as good" condition). As for CD/DVD/Blu-ray - I am not going to sell one of these items to someone just to have them "pirate" a quick copy for themselves.

 

[MinnieLovesMickey12]

I haven't read any responses to this yet. I just want to tell you what can and probably will happen. You WILL accept a return on it or you will be forced to give a refund without ever getting the phone back. You have no recourse. If they file a dispute Ebay will refund them from your Payapl account. It doesn't matter if you transferred the money out. You have a form of payment associated with your Paypal account and when Ebay debits your Paypal account, and they can, it will take the money from whatever form of payment you have on file. You agree to all this when you become a seller on Ebay.

If a person says the item is not as described it does not matter one way or the other whether or not you WANT to accept a return. You will have to. Ebay will require the buyer send the item back with return tracking and delivery confirmation. And once the tracking shows you got it back they will refund the buyer automatically from your Paypal account.

You may very well get back a different broken phone. You may get back a box with abrick in it. There is nothing you can do about it. I have been ripped off by a scam buyer myself and there is nothing you can do about it.

So you can either accept the return yourself and do the refund yourself after you have gotten the item back or you can do nothing and Ebay will do it for you. I am telling you this from personal experience. I am a buyer and a seller on Ebay.

Now I am going to go read other's responses.

edited to add: when you refund you CANNOT withhold original shipping. You have to refund the shipping too if you charged it. But since you gave free shipping you cannot deduct that money from the refund.

 

[lauti]

I haven't read any responses to this yet. I just want to tell you what can and probably will happen. You WILL accept a return on it or you will be forced to give a refund without ever getting the phone back. You have no recourse. If they file a dispute Ebay will refund them from your Payapl account. It doesn't matter if you transferred the money out. You have a form of payment associated with your Paypal account and when Ebay debits your Paypal account, and they can, it will take the money from whatever form of payment you have on file. You agree to all this when you become a seller on Ebay. If a person says the item is not as described it does not matter one way or the other whether or not you WANT to accept a return. You will have to. Ebay will require the buyer send the item back with return tracking and delivery confirmation. And once the tracking shows you got it back they will refund the buyer automatically from your Paypal account. You may very well get back a different broken phone. You may get back a box with abrick in it. There is nothing you can do about it. I have been ripped off by a scam buyer myself and there is nothing you can do about it. So you can either accept the return yourself and do the refund yourself after you have gotten the item back or you can do nothing and Ebay will do it for you. I am telling you this from personal experience. I am a buyer and a seller on Ebay. Now I am going to go read other's responses. edited to add: when you refund you CANNOT withhold original shipping. You have to refund the shipping too if you charged it. But since you gave free shipping you cannot deduct that money from the refund.

^ all this! it's the chance you take selling in eBay.

 

[CherylA]

So far he hasn't responded or done anything further after I replied to his initial complaint. We'll see what happens. I don't have very high hopes! How long before Ebay just closes the case if he doesn't take the next step?

 

[CherylA]

Well how bout that. The buyer closed the case and marked it as resolved. Phew! I won't be selling electronics on ebay again!

 

[robinb]

Well how bout that. The buyer closed the case and marked it as resolved. Phew! I won't be selling electronics on ebay again!

Wow. I'm glad everything worked out for you!

 

[DianeV]

Sometimes that mysteriously happens when you don't give in to them...