I have refunded for item and postage, before getting the item back, help

[gerbyjunk]

just asking, school boy error. 

I have accepted a return and refunded the buyer who bid for an item which I had not realised was not the size as advertised.

but as this was 3 weeks ago, how should I proceed in getting my item back, I know I will need to pay for the postage, but where do I start?

[red_magpie · Accepted solution]

You're in your buyer's hands now. You should NEVER refund a buyer until they have returned the item. If they now decide to keep both the item and the refund there will be nothing you can do about it. EBay will not get involved.

Next time  you need to make a refund, ask the buyer to open a case through the resolution centre. This can be a return request for change of mind returns, or a money back guarantee case if the item is not as described. In the former case, the buyer is respnsible for returning the item; in the latter, eBay will enable you to purchase and send the buyer a prepaid return label if you want the item back.

You can read about eBay's money back gu\arantee to buyers here:  https://pages.ebay.co.uk/ebay-money-back-guarantee/.