What do I do if item I bought as new is actually very used when I got it?

[solomonseal]

I bought an item as a gift for a friend and it was advertised as Brand New, however when I received it it was actually clearly very used and unsuitable as a gift. I contacted the seller and said I was happy to keep the item for myself but wanted a partial refund. She said "accidents happen" and she must have acidentally listed it as new and to send it back for a refund. What should I do?

Thanks for any advice:)

[happyshopping20091118]

Hello,dear.

Once you get contact with the buyer ,it is the right acction.

If you really do not want the item,you could return the item back.Then get the full refund.

Or,anyway,you could deal through paypal or ebay since the seller made the mistake on advertisement.

🙂

[thecatspjs]

thecatspjs do you really think that sellers should not cover the cost of return postage if they have made a mistake?

Firstly I think the discussion has been sidetracked from the query the OP was asking.  The OP never indicated if the seller offered to pay the post, or if the OP had asked, or even expected it.

If I make a mistake I either refund in full and let buyer keep goods or send a prepaid satchel for return of the item, I do not generally do partial refunds at a buyers request. That is my practice for my business.

Nonetheless, I certainly hold no expectation that other sellers should do any more than the terms and conditions that we all work within - set by ebay and paypal. "Out of pocket" expenses to return faulty goods is more often that not, the norm in the B&M world too.

As I posted earlier, IMO the practice of posters, without all the facts, encouraging neg's for other sellers operating well within the policies of the ebay marketplace is carp.

[koalablue12]

OP - I bought an item as a gift for a friend and it was advertised as Brand New, however when I received it it was actually clearly very used and unsuitable as a gift. I contacted the seller and said I was happy to keep the item for myself but wanted a partial refund. She said "accidents happen" and she must have acidentally listed it as new and to send it back for a refund

Sorry - this seller has done everything right, mistakes can be made, admitted to, and rectified - all of this has been done by the seller. Re return postage, all buyers agree to the rules when they click 'I accept' - I personally never expect a buyer to pay return if it is a fault on my part, however this is NOT a requirement as per the terms of ebay clearly stated, and if a seller is to be 'negged' for it then ebay need to re-evaluate the rules

[abrahams95]

As a seller. If my item listed was not as described, I would immediately offer a full refund including return postage. Then there is less chance of negative feedback. I always post items with tracking and would expect the same for the return postage. Anything is batter than negative feed back.     

[patchoo78]

Imagine if you went to Target and asked them for a partial refund if you could keep the item :^O

[***super_nova***]

Imagine if you went to Target and asked them for a partial refund if you could keep the item :^O

Well, yes, when I have found in a store something I really wanted, but it was shop soiled and they did not have another in my size,  I asked for discount, and the manager was only too happy for me to take it at 1/2 price.

In the case of  on line sale, the buyer already has the item and returning it would be costly, it is only common sense that if the seller makes a mistake they should wear the cost.  It has nothing to do with eBay rules; they cannot judge if the seller made a mistake.  They cannot go and inspect the item.

I really cannot understand that people think that they can make such a mistake as listing something as new when it is worn, and then be surprised they get a NEG.

Does anybody really think it is OK for the buyer to be out of pocket $12 or $20, or whatever the postage would be to return the seller's mistake?  Would you really pay the return postage to get the original cost back and then leave positive FB?

[thecatspjs]

Entirely different situation - the item has not even left the store.

I have purchased things in stores and got home to find a piece is missing or the item does not work - so it is not as described.  On taking it back whilst I might be offered a full refund, I have yet to get an offers for reimbursement or compensation for my travel costs to return the goods.

[jensmanchester-australia]

Does anybody really think it is OK for the buyer to be out of pocket $12 or $20, or whatever the postage would be to return the seller's mistake?  Would you really pay the return postage to get the original cost back and then leave positive FB?

The OP has left negative feedback for the seller.

It is the first neg the seller has received in the last twelve months so they seem to be a very good seller.

Nowhere did the OP mention that they would have to pay return postage - for all we know the seller had offered to pay for the return postage. The main issue was that the buyer didn't want to return them as the seller requested but that they wanted to keep them and receive a partial refund - that is not the buyer's choice but the sellers choice.

Perhaps the seller wanted them back to make sure they were in the condition the buyer stated. Again  - nobody really knows as we have not been presented with all the facts.

The item would have only cost a couple of dollars in return postage as it only a small lightweight item. If they were in such bad condition as the OP stated for a couple of dollars in postage I would have returned them for refund.

If the seller has offered an refund on return and the buyer has refused their offer then if the seller contacts ebay they will most likely remove the negative feedback.

[davewil1964]

Settle, jen. Are you trying to introduce logic to the issue? Shame.

[thecatspjs]

The OP has left negative feedback for the seller.

It is the first neg the seller has received in the last twelve months so they seem to be a very good seller.

😞

not that any will give hoot - but a big thumbs down from me to the posters in this thread that encouraged the OP to give a neg without all of the facts and with much speculation on their part X-(