Dishonest buyer requests return

[cjpetitbois]

Hi, hoping for some advice.. 

I sold a men’s suit, all dimensions very clear via photos with tape measure indicating chest, back, arms, shoulders etc. The buyer realised it would be too small after purchasing but before receiving the item. Now they want to return it, claiming all kinds of defects. Also deliberately uploading really poor quality photos with a purple flare on the lens. I believe they are being dishonest. But EBay is not giving me the option to decline the return. Customer service were too vague on the phone. What to do ? 

[jckl1957]

If the buyer is claiming the item is 'not as described' then really you can only accept the return, provide a label and refund the buyer when you get the suit back.

It seems unfair but Ebay will not see the item and they will take the buyer's word.

[john1297576]

Better to get it back while in good condition than let buyer do as many have done damage beyond repair, then seller has nothing to resell to a less troublesome buyer.

[cjpetitbois]

Thank you. 
the trouble is I’m going away and won’t be able to receive / inspect the return. Anyway, I hope I’ll be able to escalate the issue remotely. 

[jckl1957]

Once the tracking shows the item has been returned to you, you have 48 hours to refund the buyer.

If you don't refund voluntarily, Ebay will repay the buyer from your funds and you will get a defect on your account.

If Ebay refund then you can subsequently appeal the case - with very specific evidence required.

If you refund, then Ebay assume everything was ok and you can't appeal or 'escalate' - I am not sure what you mean by that.

You could then report the buyer for abusing the Money Back Guarantee but Ebay won't tell you what action, if any, they take.

[red_magpie]

I hope I’ll be able to escalate the issue remotely.

You still haven't understood that eBay never sees the item and will take the buyer's word against the buyer's for faults. The seller has no real alternative but to accept the return and refund the buyer. Either you accept the case, in which case you can't appeal it afterwards, or you refuse the return, in which case eBay will enforce it and penalise you with an account defect.

For clothing especially there's a lot to be said for accepting returns - that way at least the buyer pays for the return postage. Otherwise, buyers are so used to being able to return internet purchases that many feel "entitled" to invent some fault.