Item not returned after issuing refund
Summary: ziwatson0 expressed concern about issuing a refund on eBay without receiving the returned item first. Several participants advised that refunds should not be issued until items are returned, highlighting that lack of adherence to this may lead to loss, as buyers might not return the item. ice_10uk mentioned that eBay may issue refunds without items being returned due to certain protection policies, but others disagreed, clarifying that refunds are not processed until items are marked as delivered back. The conversation underscored the importance of understanding eBay's return and refund procedures to protect sellers from potential scams.
I issued a refund for an item on eBay, but it hasn't been returned to me yet. This is quite concerning as I expected the buyer to send it back before refunding. I understand there might be specific procedures and policies in eBay's system regarding returns and refunds. However, I'm unsure how to effectively handle this situation or protect myself in the future. Has anyone else experienced this, and what steps did you take to resolve the issue? Any advice on managing such situations or insights into eBay’s policies would be greatly appreciated!
apparelnexus
·1 week agoOnly issue a refund once you have received it - ebay makes clear that if you give a refund the buyer has no obligation to return the item.
ice_10uk
·1 week agosadly things as they stand ebay will give a automatic refund to buyer befor item as been returned That is called buyer's protection fee.
which is a loop hole that some buyer users tend to use. sellers protection went years ago that why so many sellers left ebay shame
papso22
·1 week agoThat's not what happens unless the seller refuses to issue a label. The money back guarantee returns have nothing to do with the buyer protection fee.
ice_10uk
·1 week agobuyer protection fee is just a seller selling fee that was passed over to the buyers as seller's was leaving due to losing to much money.
ice_10uk
·1 week agoplus sellers having to pay a selling fee plus fee was also added to postage so ended up with high fee's .
ice_10uk
·1 week agoreturn lable is issued via ebay not seller . the seller only pay's for the return cost
papso22
·1 week agoThe seller has to accept the return before ebay issues the label. A delay in accepting the return, or refusal to do so, will usually result in a refund without the return.
jonatjonatjonat
·1 week agoWhat I think you mean there is if Simple Delivery is used (which if a buyer protection fee applies is possible) then if the buyer opens a claim for item not arrived or item arrived damaged then ebay provide a refund with a return being required.
I'm not sure I understand the rest of the posts you have written unfortunately.
sml192
·1 week agoIn some circumstances eBay may refund the buyer once they can see the item is on its way back but the refund amount isn't deducted from the seller until it shows as delivered:
'When eBay refunds a buyer in a return request
eBay may sometimes issue a refund to your buyer on confirmation the return is on its way. When this happens, we’ll wait until the item is back with you before deducting the amount from you. This doesn’t impact your protections as a seller.'
selective_distribution
·1 week agoWhy would you give them their money back BEFORE they have returned the item? So now they have the item and the money! People are not honest, why would you be expecting them to return the item to you? Sorry to be blunt, but a little common sense goes a long way.
jonatjonatjonat
·1 week agoThis happens more than you would think amazingly.
ice_10uk
·1 week agoebay issue a pre paid return label once it scanned at a post office buyer gets a refund
jonatjonatjonat
·1 week agowhat?
jonatjonatjonat
·1 week agoThis isn't what happened though in this case. The OP just gave a refund without any return occurring.
And it does happen a lot. I am unsure why, I can only assume those that make this mistake haven't ever returned anything ever. Because consider a bricks and mortar shop. Would a bricks and mortar shop refund you if you rang them and tell you to pop the product back to them when you could? No.
Amazon is the only exception who in some instances do refund but then tell you that if you don't return the item - you'll be charged again.
apparelnexus
·1 week agoLots of sellers automatically give a refund to avoid having to pay for the shipping label - hoping that the buyer will then foot the bill to send it back instead. I recommend any buyer on the receiving end of this not return the item so they learn it's not a fun way out of paying the postage.
maarsy
·2 weeks agobuyers can often be rude or aggressive in demanding a refund , found out several times first hand and i have been scammed out of items a few times this way . if you want to make sure to get the item back make sure not to refund first
jonatjonatjonat
·2 weeks agoYou get the item returned first - then refund.
On this one - its between you and the buyer. But ebay won't help you and personally i'd move on and chalk it up as a learning exercise.
tressygirl
·2 weeks agoFirstly you do not refund Before you receive your item back.
This is how to protect yourself in future and the correct procedure to follow....
Buyer opens a case for item not as described. If you the seller wishes the item to be retuned you need to issue a pre paid return label for the return of the item, within 3 days.
Once the item is received, you have 48 hours to refund the buyer.
I'm afraid if you did not follow the above, there's nothing to enforce the buyer to send your item back to you now.
@ziwatson0
ice_10uk
·1 week agoebay issue a pre paid return label once it scanned at a post office buyer gets a refund and buy can send a empty box etc then it down to seller to prove and fight that item was not sent as records show as posted and recieved.
asleepingdragon
·1 week ago · EditedThis isn't true. You don't get a refund until it's marked as delivered. Why are you saying this?
I've absolutely no idea why anyone would give a refund without a return. That's sorta batshit. Next time tell your buyer to open a return case in eBay, this time you've lost your money and your item.
sml192
·1 week agoWhat they have stated is partly true. Generally the buyer won't be refunded until the item shows as delivered, however, in some circumstances eBay may refund the buyer once they can see the item is on its way back but the refund amount isn't deducted from the seller until it shows as delivered:
'When eBay refunds a buyer in a return request
eBay may sometimes issue a refund to your buyer on confirmation the return is on its way. When this happens, we’ll wait until the item is back with you before deducting the amount from you. This doesn’t impact your protections as a seller.'