buyer problem - is it possible to just return an item

[justcruising48]

Have an unpaid item. Buyer has bought from me before, they are also a seller of high end stuff of 100s to 1000s $s, so know what they are doing. Told they bought by mistake but would pay in couple of hours. I packed ready to post. Then told their afterpay was hacked. I said I would wait. Then they could not afford it till later.  Then said they would pay for the medium express bag and any money I would loose. Never had that before and I know that is not possible.  I said I would rather still wait for payment and can give them a week after they asked for 4 weeks. I got  the message to quote " You realise I could return the item when I get it, don't you! I won't do that, even though I can. '' Is this even possible when it is a brand new item well packed? I have never had such behaviour like this before, and from a big seller too. 

[jellybirddesigns]

Cancel, refund and block.

Life is too short for this nonsense.

[twyngwyn]

what is the item number? Was it PoK?

[justcruising48]

No, it is item 225179438873

[justcruising48]

True, too much time wasted already. They are already blocked from further purchases. But can anyone just return something without a reason as I do not have refunds or returns ticked. 

[twyngwyn]

are ALL their messages to you, via eBay messaging?

[justcruising48]

Yes

[davewil1964 · Accepted solution]

All they have to do is claim the item is damaged.

eBay will side with them and require you to provide return postage.

Just cancel with the reason 'buyer didn't pay'.

[justcruising48]

All via ebay messaging, but they have not yet paid, just going to later so they say.  

[jellybirddesigns]

It doesn't matter if you have no returns or refunds.

There's nothing stopping a buyer opening a dispute once they get an item, and Ebay prompt you to refund or accept to send label on your behalf which the buyer can use. So yes, they can return on a whim at your cost and often buyer behaviour overrides Ebay's policies.

There's not much wiggle room for sellers once a dispute is enacted.

Some buyers don't even open a dispute, they simply refuse the parcel, or just send it back to whatever return address you use on the packaging. They  often don't even discuss it with you first.

With buyers like this it is honestly not worth sending an item out anyway as it will always end in tears.