Do I have to fully refund someone for an item returned to me?

[magsgeorge]

Hi, i sold a pair of headphones the week before Christmas and ensured pre Christmas delivery by paying extra on postage for the buyer.  21 days later the buyer sends them back without telling me and asks for a refund.  They have already arrived back and appear to have been untouched by the buyer.  Do i have any obligation to refund him?  My advert clearly stated NO RETURNS due to hassle i have had before.

I am happy to give the buyer a partial refund which would be what he paid minus the cost of postage that i cannot recover.  The postage cost be £6 so can i deduct that off the price paid and give a refund for that?  I thought i could but it says that the buyer has to keep the item if it is a partial refund!

IT WAS THE BUYERS CHOICE TO RETURN, HE CLEARLY STATED THAT HE WANTED TO RETURN THEM AS HE DECIDED HE DOESN'T WANT THEM NOW.

SURELY I HAVE NO OBLIGATION TO ACCEPT THIS AS HES HAD THEM FOR 21 DAYS AND ONLY JUST MADE THIS DICISION

Thanks for the help, I am not bothered about changing my returns agreement as its the last time i am selling on eBay.  Its just not worth the hassle as i am not £6 worse off after having relisted this item after two previous no payment sales.  Absolute waste of time, eBay you should look after your sellers.

red_magpie - Buyer said that he wanted to return as he decided he did not want it anymore.  The refund request has come through eBay resolution as an ordinary return request.  The item was delivered to a UPS access point on 24th December.  Appreciate your response to this now as i really don't want to issue a full refund to someone who has just decided they no longer want the item!

[roger_roger_over_and_nowt]

You have to refund all of their original payment.

Stating no returns only means you can refuse a returns request if buyer states change of mind,you cannot refuse a returns request made for any other reason.

If you try to refuse Ebay will step in and force it as their MBG overides any of your terms.

[magsgeorge]

Sorry i didn't make it clear, the buyer has changed his mind. He clearly stated in his message that he's just decided he doesn't want them.

I presume that is dealt with differently?

[rusticrye]

No, it isn't. Buyers must be fully refunded the whole of their original payment. It's the law. The only cost a buyer has when returning for change of mind, is for return postage.

It's a very good law too, as it's encouraged millions of people to shop online. Without it, Ebay and similar platforms would no longer exist. We'd all be selling our stuff to a handful of folk in a windswept field, or through an ad in the local paper, rather than to an audience of millions.

Be glad that buyer is honest, and didn't invent a fault in order to force you to pay for the return.

@magsgeorge