Return of the luxury clothing item with signs of wear

[justynaw0131]

Hi there,

I just had a sale with a long pre sale conversation, sending photos and exact dimensions of the white leather vest the client wanted to buy. After the purchase the client the really wanted to have item delivered Friday the latest. Hmm. Two weeks later the client started the return giving false reasons of the wrong colour and size. It does not take much here to figure out that the intention here was for the person to wear it for one night only. I have called ebay immediately and was advised to investigate the item on the return and in case of any signs of wear the ebay salers protection will be triggered.

After inspecting the item today found make up marks and the piercing on the leather which must have been some kind of badge. Called ebay again explaining  and been told to proceed with the refund and get it dried cleaned. Is this the way things should be? I sold brand new item worth over £500 and now ebay advice is to dry clean it and then what, sell it as a new item again?

Any advice please?

I am a private seller.

Justine 

[*vyolla*]

A private seller is one who is just selling off their own personal items such clothes from their wardrobe, bits from their loft/garage etc. A Business seller is someone who buys or makes items to sell on. It's a shame that you've not registered as a business seller because you'd have more of a leg to stand on here.

For example, business sellers may only refund 50% of the item price if the item has been worn and is not returned in the same state it was sent out in.

You may need to chalk this one up to experience, and upgrade your account.  Let us know if you need a link to do that and we can provide it.  Changing your account doesn't affect your feedback profile or any current listings.

You can obviously offset more expenses as a business seller, but can't offset any at all as a private one. 

[*vyolla*]

Just to add, have you reported the buyer for returning a damaged item?

There's a button on this eBay guidance page you can use to do that:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/help/selling/resolving-buyer-issues/report-issue-buyer?id=4084&st=3&pos=2&que...

It won't get your money back, but will at least log that the buyer has worn and damaged the item. They may have done this before and been reported by other sellers, thus be on eBay's radar.

[tobiasd4]

As you are now on ebay radar, best to upgrade account to business.

As said, had you correctly been a business, you could have made a part refund.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/help/policies/selling-policies/business-seller-policy?id=4710

[plpmr]

"Any advice please?"

"the client started the return giving false reasons" 

that's because you have a policy of no returns, when as a business seller you must accept returns.