topic Re: Return hassle, what do I do now? in Technical Issues

Return hassle, what do I do now?

jafle_1173 — Mon, 15 Jul 2024 12:33:17 GMT

So I bought a pair of boots. Unfortunately they are half a size too small. I requested a return and eBay tells me I need to buy a label, that was going to cost $43, which would be deducted from my return price. I immediately press cancel return as that is an absurd price. It should’ve cost me around $20 as I know how much it costs to post things within Australia.

So now the return is closed and I can’t open it again. Am I stuck with an item that doesn’t fit now? And who was going to pocket the ridiculous overcharged postage fee, eBay, or the buyer?

This is a very bad experience for me and I may never use eBay again. Sorry to be so negative but I am a bit stunned at what has happened here.

Re: Return hassle, what do I do now?

gutterpunkz05 — Mon, 15 Jul 2024 13:38:31 GMT

You were also responsible for the original postage cost, so the $43 was likely the total cost of postage (both ways) that would not be refunded. The return request can not be re-opened,

Re: Return hassle, what do I do now?

jafle_1173 — Mon, 15 Jul 2024 13:44:16 GMT

The postage to me was free

Re: Return hassle, what do I do now?

gutterpunkz05 — Mon, 15 Jul 2024 13:51:22 GMT

The postage still had to be paid, no service delivers free, and the seller is entitled to withhold costs,

Re: Return hassle, what do I do now?

countessalmirena — Mon, 15 Jul 2024 13:56:43 GMT

Return for an item that is too small is a change of mind return (CoM) - also known as buyer’s remorse. Sellers are not obligated to accept CoM returns, and they are certainly not obligated to pay Australia Post or a courier the cost of return postage. The return postage is to be paid by the buyer - unless the seller both accept CoM and states “free return postage” for such returns.

eBay does not cover the payment in such cases.

❝And who was going to pocket the ridiculous overcharged postage fee, eBay, or the buyer?❞ Australia Post pocket that. After all, they do charge for postage. Tracked postage costs what it costs. Was the return delivery within Australia? Another state?

Re: Return hassle, what do I do now?

jafle_1173 — Mon, 15 Jul 2024 13:58:12 GMT

The seller agreed to cover postage costs when I purchased the item, what’s done is done I’m not understanding why I should have to pay for that. I’m willing to pay to send it back.

Re: Return hassle, what do I do now?

jafle_1173 — Mon, 15 Jul 2024 14:04:35 GMT

Pardon me maam but I think you have misunderstood. I am not upset at having to pay to send the item back, I am upset that eBay sent me a quote that is more than double what it would cost if I were to go to the post office and return the item myself. I used to work in one so I have a rough idea of how much it would cost. It’s within Australia.

Re: Return hassle, what do I do now?

countessalmirena — Mon, 15 Jul 2024 14:11:58 GMT

You weren’t being asked to pay the original postage cost. The seller chose to pay that and didn’t charge you that amount - at least, not separately. The seller absorbed that as part of the total amount that you paid.

When it comes to returning an item as a CoM, you pay that return amount. Paying for the return postage label through eBay simply means that that cost is deducted from the refund, so that you gave no upfront postage cost. It’s nothing to do with the original postage amount.

Unfortunately, if you open and then close a return request, it cannot be reopened.

If the seller is a business with a CoM return policy, you should be able to sort it out directly with the seller.

Or… you could try contacting eBay Live Chat during business hours and trying to get hold of a CS rep rather than a bot… and asking if they could reopen the return case for you as you didn’t understand that the case would be permanently closed. It’s a long shot but you won’t lose anything by trying.

Re: Return hassle, what do I do now?

jafle_1173 — Mon, 15 Jul 2024 14:19:14 GMT

What you are saying makes sense and I will try to contact the seller/ebay.

But it doesn’t answer my question. Why did eBay try to charge me $43 to send them back. It WOULD NOT cost that much at the post office. It would be closer to $20. I just don’t understand where this $43 figure has come from. Even express would not cost that much.

Also, the fact that I can’t open a new return request is an absurd, and anti consumer feature makes no sense. What if someone misclicked something? Tough luck?

Re: Return hassle, what do I do now?

gutterpunkz05 — Mon, 15 Jul 2024 14:23:18 GMT

So the seller would get the item back, but be out of pocket for the original postage cost, due to your error.

I accept you have a grasp of postage costs with experience in a PO.

I have sold hundreds of pairs of boots and from experience posting Australia wide, $43 would be inline with standard postage both ways.

In any event, the return is done and dusted, so unless you can come to some arrangement with the seller, your only option is to on sell them.

Re: Return hassle, what do I do now?

padi*0409 — Mon, 15 Jul 2024 14:23:22 GMT

@jafle_1173 wrote:

Why did eBay try to charge me $43 to send them back. It WOULD NOT cost that much at the post office. It would be closer to $20. I just don’t understand where this $43 figure has come from.

Unless eBay had the exact dimensions and weight of the parcel that $43.00 would be their guesstimate of the cost to send it.

Re: Return hassle, what do I do now?

jafle_1173 — Mon, 15 Jul 2024 14:28:09 GMT

But the initial postage cost is included in the original sale, as the other lady said. That sale is done it should have nothing to do with what I should pay for return postage. Are you sure this is how it works?

Re: Return hassle, what do I do now?

padi*0409 — Mon, 15 Jul 2024 14:39:32 GMT

Does the seller even accept Change of Mind returns ?

What is the item number ?

Re: Return hassle, what do I do now?

jafle_1173 — Mon, 15 Jul 2024 14:44:52 GMT

Yes they do. Returns are accepted within 30 days buyer pays return postage is what it says on the listing. Cheers

Re: Return hassle, what do I do now?

padi*0409 — Mon, 15 Jul 2024 14:48:17 GMT

@jafle_1173 wrote:

Yes they do. Returns are accepted within 30 days buyer pays return postage is what it says on the listing. Cheers

In that case it would be easier to deal directly with the seller, but they won't return your money until they have the boots back.

Re: Return hassle, what do I do now?

jafle_1173 — Mon, 15 Jul 2024 14:58:03 GMT

Yes I’ve flicked them a message. Seems a bit sketch from my perspective doing a return outside of eBay though, no? What’s stopping them from just keeping the boots and sending no return funds. Would PayPal have my back in this case?

Re: Return hassle, what do I do now?

padi*0409 — Mon, 15 Jul 2024 15:03:32 GMT

@jafle_1173 wrote:

Yes I’ve flicked them a message. Seems a bit sketch from my perspective doing a return outside of eBay though, no?

Since the eBay dispute is closed, that's the only way to do it.

What’s stopping them from just keeping the boots and sending no return funds. Would PayPal have my back in this case?

Just send with SOD if you're concerned. I don't think Paypal would get involved to be honest.

Re: Return hassle, what do I do now?

gutterpunkz05 — Mon, 15 Jul 2024 15:22:44 GMT

If your lucky you might get a seller who is prepared to run at a loss.

Note if the return arrangement is not going through the official return process, the sellers ebay sales fee is also not refundable.

So on top of the return postage, they may also want to withhold their original postage cost + ebays fees.

I see in your last post, that you are aware you have no protection if the return is outside ebay. As far as paypal is concerned, your transaction was with ebay, not the seller. So if the arranged return goes wrong, and you tried to claim via PP, then ebays response to PP would be that the only record of return, is the one you have cancelled.

Re: Return hassle, what do I do now?

jafle_1173 — Mon, 15 Jul 2024 16:07:09 GMT

Signature on delivery? How will that help me?

Re: Return hassle, what do I do now?

brickworksmarket — Mon, 15 Jul 2024 21:07:34 GMT

I have found that the return postage charge is allover the place. Items that should only have cost $10.60 where charged $16. Others that cost me $25 to send only charged $10 to return. I would have thought it would be based on the listing weight and size entered by the seller.

I normally offer my buyers a return label or if they send it themselves they enter the tracking number into the return.