Help, Ebay- always a bad egg !

[AdventurerKat]

Sounds like buyers remorse to me too, especially if she was buying other boots.

If it was more money on the line, I would probably take the hit in feedback (you are bound to get a bad one eventually, even unmerited, it just happens) but for $12.00 and some change, I would just get the boots back and refund.

 

[peacefulgirl]

This should help I suppose ....

Ebay announces:


***Coming Soon: New Return Policy Feature in SYI***
Date: 10/14/04 Time: 11:12:48 AM PDT


In the next few days, we will introduce an improved way for sellers to display their return policies on the Item page. Having a return policy helps build confidence for potential buyers and improves sales for sellers.
The new feature will provide a separate section on the Sell Your Item (SYI) form, where sellers can include details of their return policies. The new feature will enable sellers to specify:


whether they accept returns;
the time period for returning items;
the type of refund offered to the buyer (for example, exchange, money back, merchant credit, etc.);
any additional details about the return policy.
Sellers who take advantage of the new feature will have their return policies displayed in a designated section of the Item page. Using this feature is completely optional. The new return policy section will not appear on the Item page if a seller chooses not to have a return policy.

We've heard from buyers that having an "easy, no-hassle" return policy was one of the most important changes an eBay seller could make to encourage buyers to shop more. We've found that sellers who clearly spell out their return policy have received a higher sell-through rate, on average, with only a minimum of actual returns. We hope these changes to the way the return policy is displayed on the Item page will improve the eBay experience for both buyers and sellers.

 

[disneychrista]

Interesting.

 

[CajunDixie]

If you let her return them I wouldn't reimburse her any of the shipping charges! And don't forget to block her from future auctions since she seems to be a PITA.

 

[threeboysmom]

I order from catalogs all the time. When something doesn't fit or it's different from how it was represented in the catalog, and I return the item, I still eat the shipping cost. I've never had a company give me a credit for the item plus the shipping cost. I think it should be the same way with ebay as well.

I'd offer a reimbursement for the cost of the boots only after she has returned them to you. She woule have to eat the cost of shipping just like with any catalog/internet order.

 

[DianeV]

I had someone try to tell me that I sent him 2 different sizes in a pair of tennis shoes and wanted me to send the other correct one!

I told him I didnt have any more of this shoe and that I didnt think they were different sizes. I was thinking he was up to something so I told him once he sent them back and I saw my mark I make on them that they were the ones I sent him that I would refund.

I never heard a word from him again.

 

[Ilovestitch]

That bidder has bid on/won a lot of snow boots in the same size. Looks like they bought several pairs and want to return yours. If I was 100% sure they are in perfect/new condition than I would tell her they are exactly as described- that you only do refunds when you make a mistake in the listing. -Steph

 

[peacefulgirl]

well ..... I emailed her that I would refund the one way shipping and the 7.50. Got no response. But the boots showed up in the mail LOL. no smell, no nothing. Anyway how do I word the email that I refunded her and how do I word feedback ? And I def will NOT do feedback until she does... have a feeling she wont do it till I do, so it may never yet done.... gesh!

 

[TupperMom7]

If it was me and I knew that the boots were in excellent condition when they left the house, then I wouldn't refund the money. Is it possible that they might have been in a box ready for shipping and gotten moldy? I know that our basement is damp and things can get that way if left there for a week or two. If that is a possibility, then I guess you could take them back. If that is not possible, like you saw them right before you put them in the box, then that's a different story. Ebay is not like Walmart. When you buy something and it is in the condition that was described, then you have to keep it. You cannot be giving out refunds just because people don't like things once they receive it or you would be broke!

 

[TupperMom7]

Make sure that you add her to your list of bidders that you don't allow to bid on your auctions. That way she cannot bid on one of your auctions again and cause this trouble.

 

[my3kids]

I have this exact situation right now! Sheesh! I even checked to see if it was the same buyer.

 

[peacefulgirl]

Just got a positive feedback from her !

"fair transaction, refunded after complaint. Thanks!!"

surprised! I only paid her the 1st s&h and the item price.. she had to pay to ship it back to me ...

weird huh!

 

[yourtravelpro]

Originally posted by peacefulgirl
I bought the boots myself from the store so no, no one ever wore them ...

I will be putting that "all sales are final" in the future !

so how do I handle this now?

This is going to happen from time to time. You can either provide good customer service and take them back which would in turn give you good feedback or tell her tough luck but in my opinion that is no way to do business.

I would also avoid auctions that state "All sales Final". I'm sure you'll agree that you would like your buyers to be satisfied.

 

[RickinNYC]

I had a situation a couple of years back from a guy who had purchased some collector's edition action figures that I wanted to get rid of. He did pay top dollar only because in that particular collector's market, they were listed as such in several difference magazines, etc... Granted I only paid a couple of bucks when I originally purchased them but it was his choice to get involved in a bidding war for them.

Anyway, I packed them in bubble wrap and covered them in styrofoam peanuts and securely taped the entire box. Given how much he paid, I did NOT want anything to happen to them. I event sent them express with insurance and I covered the extra cost.

What does this guy do? He emails me complaining that the items were open and he was angry that I would sell something "mint" when they weren't. I was stunned. I never opened them ever. And said so. He argued. I sent him an email back stating that I wasn't going to give him a refund unless he shipped them back to me EXACTLY in the same manner, i.e. insurance and express. He refused, said he didn't ask me to do that so he didn't have to (he was right).

I still insisted he mail them back. He wanted to be reimbursed the cost of the items, the cost of the original shipping and the cost to ship them back BEFORE he mailed them. Now I knew something was up.

I told him I wouldn't provide any refund of the shipping cost, only the cost of the item. He stated that whenever he bought ANYTHING from any major service, i.e. Walmart, catalogs, etc... and he returned it, he ALWAYS got reimbursed for all shipping both ways, plus the cost of the item. And those companies would usually throw in a gift card or something else to satisfy his anger. So he said I should do the same for him and add on a few bucks to the refund for his trouble.

Plain and simple, the guy was a scam artist and a liar. I told him so, wished him well, and invited him to post a negative. I said I would do the same to him. He never posted anything, and I never heard from him ever again. I still posted a negative on his profile though to forwarn other sellers.