When is it too late for a refund?

[450ilovecats]

Just curious:  If a Buyer admits to sending an item back AFTER the stated return policy (e.g. 10 days instead of within the stated 7 days), is the Seller obligated to give a refund?

[toby_le_pue]

A good seller would still honour the refund.

[450ilovecats]

I fully intend to. i was simply curious about policy or procedure, and other Sellers' experience. However, there must be some sort of 'cut off' date when it's WAY outside the parameters of a Seller's return policy and it's reasonable to refuse a refund, or what's the point?

[femmefan1946]

If you take Paypal you take returns and make refunds.

"Good Seller" aside, your customer can open a Dispute for 45 days after the close of the listing. If she does this, your seller account may be adversely affected.

A refund on receipt of the returned item takes care of this potential pain, whether there is a PP dispute or not.

And of course, the buyer has 60 days to leave feedback and the much more important Detailed Seller Ratings.

You are not obligated to pay return postage, but again, if the problem was your description or packing, it would be good customer service.

For example, you described a sweater as red and shipped a blue one. You owe the customer a refund on the return postage. But if the red sweater was scarlet and the customer wanted  cherry red . that is Buyer Remorse and the refund on return postage is up to you.

You can also accept pictures of damaged products rather than insisting on a return. You can ask for pictures of the packaging too, since sometimes it is obvious that the problem was with the shipper and not your packaging.