topic Re: American Buyer Trying To Get a Partial Refund in Seller Central

American Buyer Trying To Get a Partial Refund

major-d-clutter — Sat, 11 Apr 2026 21:39:59 GMT

Hi everyone - Thanks in advance for any comments.

I sold an old mirror to an American buyer. It went GSP. Buyer asked and received a reduction in the price prior to sale.

I packed well and sent it away.

Buyer got in touch to ask me about the mirror. I told her what I knew as it was a relatives but that I didn't know the exact age.

She got back wanting a partial refund as she said it was in too good condition to be original. Never had this complaint about an item being in too good condition before. She said the photos were too dark in the listing to see how good the condition was and she thinks the frame is made of rubber. It is nuts but I have to deal with this lady.

She's now saying it's too heavy to be original - just crazy stuff.

I asked her if she wishes to raise an Item Not As Described Case with Ebay. She hasn't answered that but asked if I would accept a return and full refund. I don't do overseas returns.

It is quite depressing as I feel there's veiled threats in her emails.

HELP!!!!

Re: American Buyer Trying To Get a Partial Refund

andy20678 — Sat, 11 Apr 2026 21:46:20 GMT

found this You won't be able to refund them the international shipping cost, but they can reach out to eBay to get the rest of their refund back.

Re: American Buyer Trying To Get a Partial Refund

major-d-clutter — Sat, 11 Apr 2026 21:57:31 GMT

So will I get the mirror returned or will they get to keep it? Sorry to be a pest but I just think the buyer is either a bit crazy or a clever con artist going by the emails.

Re: American Buyer Trying To Get a Partial Refund

andy20678 — Sat, 11 Apr 2026 22:03:28 GMT

does this help When a buyer requests a refund through the Global Shipping Programme (GSP) on eBay, the seller is generally required to resend the item back to the buyer. This is because the GSP allows eBay to handle the return process, including the cost of return shipping. However, the seller is not obligated to keep the item if the buyer has requested a return. The decision to keep or return the item should be based on the seller's return policy and the specific circumstances of the transaction

Re: American Buyer Trying To Get a Partial Refund

pillarboxred — Sat, 11 Apr 2026 22:10:59 GMT

Sometimes we just lose money. I have dealt with cases by "calling the bluff" of the complainer and offering a full refund on return of goods. On two occasions the genuinely unhappy buyers did return the items but usually they decide to keep them. I don't entertain partial refunds unless I am certain of the facts.
Be very careful because eBay's system can surprise you be issuing a full refund instantly if you select the wrong button.
Antique mirrors often have replaced glass as they cease to work as mirrors when too tarnished. I think she was hoping to buy an antique mirror with its original darkened glass, a seriously expensive item now.

If you offer a full refund upon return, she might just decide to keep it as she probably just wants a discount.

Re: American Buyer Trying To Get a Partial Refund

pillarboxred — Sat, 11 Apr 2026 22:26:07 GMT

It sounds like she was hoping to get a Queen Anne looking glass with the original mirror but it is an Art Deco Barbola mirror. I've looked at the listing. She is talking nonsense: a 1930s mirror, if it has hung in a dry, clean house for ninety years, will still be bright. Barbola is a moulding composition which might contain rubber. Wasn't it a hobby craft material? It is easy to find out what Barbola is.

People like that are exasperating! Make a doll of your buyer and stick pins in it (just joking).

Re: American Buyer Trying To Get a Partial Refund

theelench — Sat, 11 Apr 2026 22:36:06 GMT

In my early days on ebay I sold internationally and found that most Americans who bought from me were picky and prone complaining about more or less anything. They rarely asked questions or for extra photos before purchase, but as soon as the item (usually vintage glass) arrived the quibbling would start.

A tiny chip, mentioned in description as too small to photograph to the underside of one foot, would be far bigger than they expected. The colour wasn't as shown on their device. It seems smaller / bigger than advertised, although I was meticulous about including measurements (and US inches/cms are the same as in the UK).

It seemed like US buyers always have to find something to complain about and it seemed that they were angling for a partial refund, even if they weren't. If I said that I accepted returns for refund at their expense, they never returned the item.

When ebay introduced the MBG, which more or less guaranteed buyers could get a refund for any reason, I was quite happy to stop posting any further than the UK mainly because of American buyers.

Re: American Buyer Trying To Get a Partial Refund

pillarboxred — Sat, 11 Apr 2026 22:38:32 GMT

" the buyer is either a bit crazy or a clever con artist going by the emails" Either /or-or both.

If she opens a return case, be careful to choose refund upon return. I don't know whether eBay have on purpose made it tricky to do because they want us to refund promptly and swallow the loss of money and our goods. By keeping the buyer happy, eBay reckons it keeps the buyer shopping on eBay which is good for eBay but not the victim seller. I think bad shoppers need to be barred to protect sellers but eBay is thinking about its revenues.

Re: American Buyer Trying To Get a Partial Refund

major-d-clutter — Sat, 11 Apr 2026 22:57:34 GMT

Thanks everyone for your responses. The mirror was wrapped in tissue and stored for decades unused. It's in beautiful condition but that isn't good enough for this buyer - I think they are just wanting a partial refund as I previously said but it is so annoying when they are trying to ( I believe) extort money.

It's like walking on eggshells with Ebay if there is a problem because I think they do decide in the buyers favour in many cases.

Cheers everyone - good to run it passed others. Thanks.

Re: American Buyer Trying To Get a Partial Refund

neovass0 — Sun, 12 Apr 2026 02:24:10 GMT

I have no doubt there are users who sell abroad all the time and have no problems at all, but yeah, it's been a disaster for me every time, lol. Situations like this and yes it feels deliberate. They know it's a hassle / expensive to get it returned and so always ask for partial refunds. That is often on top of asking for an initial discount, because of their higher shipping costs. On many occasions, the American buyer would open item not received cases within days, like I was only shipping down the road. They would be refunded by eBay and then the item would arrive later. I only sell within the UK now, but even these days, I know other sellers complaining about the US buyers leaving items in customs, either refusing to pay the tariff charges at all, or opening 'not-received cases', getting refunded and then collecting the item. Working the system. Basically, you are not alone and yes it is very frustrating.

Re: American Buyer Trying To Get a Partial Refund

papso22 — Sun, 12 Apr 2026 04:55:50 GMT

You don't getting choose whether you do 'not as described' overseas returns. The buyer has the same rights as UK buyers, I.e to return an item they think is not as described, at the seller's expense, for a full refund.

Given how difficult it is for a UK seller to provide an international label, and the possibility of the buyer simply keeping any funds sent for them to buy a label, a partial refund may be the easiest option.

Failure to provide a means of return risks a refund forced by ebay, and no item returned.

Re: American Buyer Trying To Get a Partial Refund

shuiq-32 — Sun, 12 Apr 2026 06:33:21 GMT

Hi, this does sound like a frustrating situation.

From what you’ve explained, it looks like the buyer may be trying to get a partial refund after already getting a discount. Things like saying the item is in “too good condition” or “too heavy” don’t really sound like valid reasons for it being not as described.

The best thing you can do is stay calm and keep everything within eBay’s process. I wouldn’t offer any partial refund outside the system. If the buyer genuinely thinks there’s an issue, they should open an official return request so everything is properly documented.

As it went through GSP, eBay usually handles these situations and sellers are often protected.

If they want to return it, let them go through the proper process. If they dont open a case, then it likely means they’re just trying there luck to get some money back.

Re: American Buyer Trying To Get a Partial Refund

papso22 — Sun, 12 Apr 2026 06:47:35 GMT

Sellers have no specific GSP protection for item not as described cases, unless the buyer chooses 'damaged in transit' and even then it's a lottery.

They get protection for item not received cases provided they have tracking to the UK hub.

Re: American Buyer Trying To Get a Partial Refund

kyanyama — Sun, 12 Apr 2026 12:08:23 GMT

Definitely sounds like the buyer is angling for a discount or a freebie - judging from their lame excuses. And am sure they have done this loads of time and have perfected the best of wording of their complaints.

Selling overseas is much more difficult, especially as the buyers over the pond know the eBay complaint system like professionals. And am sure a lot of buyers know a lot of sellers cave in to pressure about their item.

As the others have advised you need to be extra sure you follow the correct procedures so you either get your item back or buyer doesn't want any more cases on their a/c.

You will need to be as 'pernickity' as your US buyer. And really re-consider selling outside the UK unless you are prepared to give your stuff away to those who are serial scambugs who play the system.

When I've had to deal with these types I've contacted other sellers to ask if they had any 'problems' with the buyer. Some replied, some didn't. But discovered those that had replied had problems and I used that info when reporting the buyer for abusing the mbg. I reckon your buyer was hoping to get an antique they could re-sell for mega bucks in the US rather than an Edwardian item.

Hope it works out for you!

Re: American Buyer Trying To Get a Partial Refund

major-d-clutter — Sun, 12 Apr 2026 20:35:17 GMT

They are demanding £55. I've contacted ebay as I can't deal with this woman. I think I will contact some of their previous sellers. Thanks for your time.

Re: American Buyer Trying To Get a Partial Refund

major-d-clutter — Sun, 12 Apr 2026 20:38:44 GMT

She just demanded a refund of £55 which I declined to do. She is saying she would rather deal with this without contacting Ebay which is quite telling I think.

Thanks for your time.

Re: American Buyer Trying To Get a Partial Refund

major-d-clutter — Sun, 12 Apr 2026 20:42:33 GMT

It does leave a very bad taste in the mouth = she's now demanding £55 as she would rather not have to go through Ebay -I've declined as it feels like extortion.

Re: American Buyer Trying To Get a Partial Refund

*guinevere* — Sun, 12 Apr 2026 21:02:15 GMT

Don't deal with her outside ebay. If you were unwise enough to partiaally refund outside ebay she could still open a SNAD case and get a full refund despite you already having partially refunded her.

The fact she has even asked tells you all you need to know about her.

Furthermore if she doesn't want to deal through ebay it could be because she has been so dodgy in the past that she has been banned from opening any more cases with ebay, which would explain her wanting to deal outside ebay.

Re: American Buyer Trying To Get a Partial Refund

*vyolla* — Mon, 13 Apr 2026 14:37:58 GMT

Honestly, I'd just refund £55 of the original payment via eBay's Refund feature, block them from buying from you again and, if you know your items will sell within the UK, don't offer international shipping as an option in future.

If your buyer opens an eBay item not as described return it'll be a nightmare trying to organise a return label yourself, costly too.

Re: American Buyer Trying To Get a Partial Refund

pegr-834437 — Mon, 13 Apr 2026 15:16:44 GMT

Check how much a return label with usps will be, if its around £55 then just refuse, wait for them to open an INAD and then contact ebay and show them the messages where they are saying its too good condition and see if they will close it, worst case if the label isnt too much extra they have to send it back and you get to resell it.