Can a seller change a listing title and content after sale?

[talia11]

Hi eveyone, 

Recently I purchased a dog intestinal wormer. When the item arrived it was heart wormer (so incorrect product). I messaged the seller and they claim the description and photo show it is heart wormer. When I go into my purchases on the ebay app, the title of the listing is indeed for heartwormer however, the paypal reciept and the original messages I sent the seller show the listing title for intestinal wormer. I am confused the purchase is now showing as heart wormer, as before I messaged them I checked the listing on the app to make sure I hadn't incorrectly ordered heartworm, and the listing was very clear it was intestinal wormer. The seller actually originally messaged me to say the listing said intestinal wormer, but the photo and description showed it was heart wormer, but this just wasn't the case when I purchased it,  and now the listing isn't showing anything about intestinal wormer at all.

The seller is now refusing a refund and saying it was my responsibility to check the listing, and depsite offering free postage won't refund me claiming postage actually cost them $8. I requested a return and said I will return the item and they can refund me, but they are being so difficult I am more inclined to just leave neg feedback (the item was only $10.50). 

[talia11]

No problem. They originally said they would cretae a return label, then said it was $8 to send so I basically got it for free (they offered free postage), then said they don't have have the paypal funds to refund as PayPal hold them for 21 days.

[talia11]

They are a new seller (under 30 feedback I think) so maybe taht is the issue, but they changed it pretty much as soon as I alerted them to the issue which is my problem, mainly as they have tried to maintain it is my fault

[digital*ghost · Accepted solution]

They do have the funds to refund because PayPal are holding it in their account. The hold just means they can't spend or withdraw it.

The initial postage cost and whether or not it was listed as "free" is irrelevant, in these cases the seller is obliged to issue a full refund of your payment and cover return costs.

Item not as described requests and return requests are one and the same, because you generally have to return for refund either way.

[talia11]

Ok so today they have sent me a return label,  the To' address is someone in QLD (not the seller nor myself) and the 'From' is the seller's name and address! This is really doing my head in, I am inclined to cancel the retrun and leave it. I also don't want to have to pay retrun postage, as how do I recoup that?

[wide-world-of-stamps · Accepted solution]

Probably someone who actually bought the product you're returning.

That way they only pay 1 postage cost for both your return and that sale.

[talia11]

I cancelled the return and left negative feedback. I am not inclined to waste anymore time and cetrinaly not money posting it back, they are still constantly messaging me saying it was my fault and error, so they can wear the neg. Thanks eveyone for your help.

[imastawka]

You gave up too easily.  The revisions clearly state the title was changed - twice.

[digital*ghost]

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@talia11 wrote:

Ok so today they have sent me a return label,  the To' address is someone in QLD (not the seller nor myself) and the 'From' is the seller's name and address! This is really doing my head in, I am inclined to cancel the retrun and leave it. I also don't want to have to pay retrun postage, as how do I recoup that?

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I agree that it sounds like they want you to send it to a new buyer, their sold history shows one was purchased yesterday, but a bigger issue is that you need to prove postage to ebay to the seller's actual return address on file with eBay in order to qualify for buyer protection and guarantee a refund, so it was a dodgy thing to do no matter which way you look at it (that is, if they know that, they could have been trying to kill more than two birds with one stone).

Getting reimbursed for postage costs can unfortunately be tricky if the seller is not willing to provide a label up front, or reimburse the money after you send it. And when i say tricky, I really mean anything from frustrating to infuriating, because in those kinds of cases eBay has to front the money, and they appear reluctant in a lot of cases (it can often take months, if they pay it back at all - hence the earlier suggestion to get a written approval from the seller that they will reimburse for a specific postage cost, this should theoretically improve the process significantly). 

PayPal's refunded returns is an option in some cases, but I had reason to sign up for that the other day and noticed their T&Cs indicate if the seller is responsible for return postage (which they are for an eBay not as described request), then you're not eligible to get the postage refunded through that program. People may have been able to before anyway, but I wouldn't rely on that in these kinds of cases since eBay and PayPal still communicate. 

Sorry to hear the outcome was less than ideal - the neg should have a deserved impact, though. 

[*tippy*toes*]

If the seller sent a postage label, then you wouldn't have been out of pocket for the postage, as they would have already paid for it. Once the item was delivered back, then they have to issue the refund for the money you'd previously paid.