topic Re: How long do I have to wait for a return label? in Buying

How long do I have to wait for a return label?

stolniik — Thu, 26 Jun 2025 06:57:02 GMT

Hi all,

I purchased an item on the 7th June, item arrived damaged (either in transit due to poor packaging, or was damaged but not disclosed). After a lot of abuse from the seller, I was able to receive a full refund on the 12th of June. The case is closed, however I still have the item.

The seller is refusing to pay for a return label. Ebay advised me that it is the seller's responsibility to provide a return label, or otherwise I can keep or dispose of the item. Given the item is damaged, I would like to dispose of it.

Ebay advised there is no "due date" for the seller to provide a return label as the return case has been closed. However I am worried that if in say 6-12 months time, the seller finally sends a return label and in that time I have lost it or its been damaged further, then I might be liable to pay for the item?

Has anyone been in this situation and can provide some advice? How can I move on from this, without paying for the return postage myself. Thanks!

Re: How long do I have to wait for a return label?

twyngwyn — Thu, 26 Jun 2025 07:23:12 GMT

Is he refusing to pay for return, but still wants it returned?What exactly did his message say?

Re: How long do I have to wait for a return label?

stolniik — Thu, 26 Jun 2025 08:19:50 GMT

He said that he has refunded me the full amount plus postage, and that I can use the postage money I paid initially to post it back to him. I’ve been on eBay for a long time and never seen this before.

Re: How long do I have to wait for a return label?

twyngwyn — Thu, 26 Jun 2025 08:24:32 GMT

Wait until you can see how much was refunded….it might not be enough?

Is he refunding your postage, or postage as extra, for you to return?

It should be both…..

What is the item number?

Re: How long do I have to wait for a return label?

twyngwyn — Thu, 26 Jun 2025 08:28:40 GMT

Was the refund done through eBay (as in a dispute was lodged) or on the seller’s own back?

Re: How long do I have to wait for a return label?

*casey* — Thu, 26 Jun 2025 10:01:30 GMT

" Ebay advised me that it is the seller's responsibility to provide a return label, or otherwise I can keep or dispose of the item"

Looking at your last couple of feedback received, one seller in the US and the other in Japan, IF the seller is overseas, he'll be unable to send you a return label

Re: How long do I have to wait for a return label?

stolniik — Thu, 26 Jun 2025 10:01:16 GMT

This was from a local seller, one state away. Would cost $10-$15 max

Re: How long do I have to wait for a return label?

twyngwyn — Thu, 26 Jun 2025 10:16:22 GMT

What is the item number, and was an official dispute lodged?

Re: How long do I have to wait for a return label?

stolniik — Thu, 26 Jun 2025 10:36:34 GMT

The seller refunded the total cost of the item ($171.90) plus the initial postage ($10.95) I paid for delivery to my address. Didn’t provide anything extra for delivery back to the seller

I don’t know how to find the item number on the eBay mobile, might have to do it tomorrow when I’m on my computer.

The seller has said they will not pay for a return label and that it should be at my cost. EBay says this is not the case, however also said to hold onto the item for an indefinite time incase I’m provided with a return label. When I clarified support for the latest date the seller has to respond, they said there isn’t one and that it could come at any time in the future.

Re: How long do I have to wait for a return label?

countessalmirena — Thu, 26 Jun 2025 10:56:30 GMT

@stolniik wrote:
He said that he has refunded me the full amount plus postage, and that I can use the postage money I paid initially to post it back to him. I’ve been on eBay for a long time and never seen this before.

That is not a thing. As in… no. That’s not how it works. The initial postage amount refunded is not supposed to be used by the buyer to return a not-as-described item.

The seller can either provide you with a return postage label OR pay you the tracked return postage cost amount, upon which you would pack the item carefully and send to the return address provided by the seller using those specific funds.

If the seller doesn’t do that, what happens is a large serving of nada.

I’d suggest storing the faulty/damaged item for 60 days, after which you would dispose of it. Notify the seller politely to that effect.

Something along these lines…

Dear [seller]

This is to let you know that I am storing the damaged/faulty [item name] for which I was refunded through eBay’s MBG (see reference number [xxxxx]), for a period of 60 days from today, in order to offer you that timeframe during which you may decide to organise and pay for return postage to the return address you may provide.

As per eBay’s Money Back Guarantee policy, the seller is responsible for the cost of return postage. Quoting:

❝

Reason for return	Who is responsible for return postage
Items that don't match the listing	Seller

❞

– https://www.ebay.com.au/help/policies/ebay-money-back-guarantee-policy/ebay-money-back-guarantee-policy?id=4210#return-shipping

As per the above policy, you can either

1) provide me with an eBay return label, or

2) send funds to me to pay for tracked return postage.

If by the end of the 60 days you have not done either of these things to facilitate and pay for the return of the item, I will ensure that the item is destroyed/disposed of, and it will no longer be possible for me to return it.

I look forward to hearing from you with your preferred action going forward.

Kind regards,

[name]

Re: How long do I have to wait for a return label?

stolniik — Thu, 26 Jun 2025 11:18:41 GMT

Through eBay.
I sent a refund request, I was offered 50% and keep the item. I refused and requested 100% and a return slip. After some communication they gave 100% but no return slip. I have the money in my account and the return has been closed.

Re: How long do I have to wait for a return label?

stolniik — Thu, 26 Jun 2025 11:21:56 GMT

This.. is.. amazing. Thank you! That is exactly what I was looking for. Would this hold up in the event 60 days has passed and the seller requests the item back ? I’m scaled eBay would advise me to pay the money back.

Honestly I was threatened and harassed in the messages, so I’m hesitant to contact them again. But I think your message lays it out very clear. Thank you

Re: How long do I have to wait for a return label?

countessalmirena — Thu, 26 Jun 2025 11:51:49 GMT

The dispute is closed, so in terms of eBay action, you should be fine. Particularly if you send the communication through eBay messages, that record will show that you gave the seller plenty of time.

In terms of any other action – ditto.

You may want to send a registered letter with signature required as well, to the seller’s address if you have that return address from the original parcel, just in case.

Re: How long do I have to wait for a return label?

etb321 — Thu, 26 Jun 2025 23:05:41 GMT

The seller does not want the damaged item back. What is being said is if you want to return it that's your business but they're not going to take the hit on the return postage. Put the item to one side, cease communication with the seller, after the ebay 30 days resolution timeout, bin it.

Re: How long do I have to wait for a return label?

springyzone — Fri, 27 Jun 2025 22:15:29 GMT

From the sounds of it, this may not be a high cost item?

You're saying it is an aussie seller and postage around $10-15 max.

Ebay has given you your answer.

You are NOT expected to pay return postage. Why should you?

Yes, you have been refunded item and postage cost, but the item was faulty so why should you then be out postage cost to return it?

This is not the way it works.

If the seller wants the item back, he has to provide a postage label or return postage costs, end of discussion.

Personally, I would not communicate any further with the seller.

Just set the item to the side for a month.

Ebay is never, as in never, going to ask you for the money back, okay? That doesn't happen. Even if by some miracle they acknowledged a mistake to the seller, they would refund the seller out of their own coffers. Not going to happen in this case. Decision has been made.

So you won't have to pay back any time in the future, put that out of your mind.

If the seller contacts you again in the next month, send them a copy of countess's letter.

I'd only give them 30 days though.

That by the way is just as a courtesy. If you binned that item today there would be no come back. The seller never provided you with a return label during the dispute so in effect has said he isn't after the goods back.

So purely as a courtesy, you can keep it aside for a month to allow the seller to come up to speed with how ebay works, but if he is still fighting it after 30 days, bin the ting and cease comminicating.

There will be no come back, not from ebay, not from him. What can he do? He didn't follow ebay procedure & he is hardly going to try anything legal over a small purchase. Lawyers are $440 an hour at least.

As forr trying to come back at you in 18 months, he hasn't a leg to stand on.