Major problems with buying clothes on ebay - FIX IT EBAY

[ginger_ice_cream]

I have purchased two not as described (damaged) items of clothing on ebay in the past month. The first time I was lucky and when I complained to the seller they refunded my total purchase amount. Have contacted the latest one and it seems they are pretty slack with communication so don't know how long I will wait for a reply and I will just have to hope that they will be willing to at least partially refund.

The MAJOR prolem you have put in place for the buyer ebay is that when we want to complain via you that the item was not as described your answer is - send the item back for a refund. So, in other words, the buyer is not in any way at fault - I havent just changed my mind, or the item doesnt fit, but I should end up out of pocket to get my money back!!?

If I send the item back for a refund I have to spend either around $8 to send back unregistered, and probably an average of around $10 or $11 so that my butt is covered and I have proof I sent it back to the seller. I get a refund, but what about the money it cost me to send back??!! I end up spending around $10 on an item that wasnt as described - i.e. had undisclosed stains or holes, and have nothing to show for it. Yes, I get back the ebay transaction amount for the privilege of having a damaged piece of clothing sent to me that I beleived was in good condition, but I have to spend money to get my money back!! If it's my fault I will cop that, but when it's the sellers fault it is unreasonable to expect the buyer to be out of pocket to pay return postage with nothing to show for it.

Several years back I had to send back satin pj's that had damage even though the item was described as being in "excellent condition". Paypal ended up refunding my money as the seller got quite nasty with me, but it cost me $10 to send the item back. I therefore ended up with no pj's, and $10 worse off - due to the sellers dishonesty. Thanks ebay.

There has to be a more up to date and better system in place for items not as described that don't financially penalise the buyer. Wake up ebay. Buying damaged clothes is not much fun. Your response, spend more money on this item to return it is not reasonable or fair.

[2106greencat]

Poppy is correct, for the sytem to work both buyer and seller must follow procedure.

If you leave the seller a negative fwhen they are attempting to do the right thing, then IMO you are not a buyer many sellers here would appreciate and you may well wind up on a few BBL's, which would be a shame.

[homeopathmichele57]

on the 2 occassions this has happened to me as a seller I have always refunded return postage - it's only right & fair.

[lane-ends]

For clothing that is faulty sellers either dont want to pay return post, and hence refund and let you keep it is more cost effective than paying more for an unsellable item. Often if the item is resellable then the postage cost is more then they would pay for the item cost. Hence best PR is to let buyer keep the item so they dont have to make more effort.

Actually having the item send back is an attempt to get the buyer to not bother at all, or because they mistrust buyers. Given the ease of asking for returns this system brings then this mistrust will increase.

Amicable resolution is now not Ebays policy, instead it is enforced reluctant resolution.