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!

[red_magpie]

Firstly, any refunds for any reason must be made through eBay's resolution centre. If you simply refund them through Paypal you won't receive any return of fees for the sale, and eBay may even penalise you with a defect on your account for making a seller-initiated refund.

Secondly, you haven't told us what reason the buyer has given for asking for a refund. As a private seller, you're not required to accept change of mind refunds. (But if you agree to a refund, you have to repay in full, including the postage).

Has the buyer opened a case through the resolution centre? If so, is it an ordinary return request, or have they claimed it isn't as described, and opened a money back guarantee case?

It would also help to know from the postal tracking record the date on which this item was delivered.

There are at least three different answers to your question, depending upon the points stated above. It will save an impossibly long job in replying if you could either use the "options" link at the right of your question to edit it and provide this information, or simply ask again.