Seller authorized return but wants to refund instead. What should I do?

I bought some 30W LED ceiling lights but the ones that came are only 14W. I opened a return case and the seller authorized a return but when I told them how much the postage would be (130% of the purchase price without tracking) they changed their mind and want to refund instead.

 

I completely understand (postal rates in Canada are insane) and I would want the same if I was the seller. I told them that would be acceptable and I would close the case if they sent a refund. Their latest message to me says "But only you close the case can we refund you,please understand it,and we promise we will refund you then."

 

I also received an email from eBay that says they will close the case if I don't ship in the next couple of days.

 

I am just about ready to close the case but I want a second opinion first.

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Seller authorized return but wants to refund instead. What should I do?

The next morning I received an email from PayPal that said I had to return the lights. I phoned PayPal support and explained the situation one more time, including that the seller had promised a refund and had reneged and that the cost for me to return them would be about 40% more than the original purchase price. While we were talking about it I mentioned that, while I can't use them where I had intended to I could find uses for them elsewhere and I would happily accept a 50% refund. The PayPal rep said "OK. I can do that for you right now" and while we were still talking the refund appeared in my account.

 

I am very happy with this outcome. It is basically what I asked the seller for in the first place.

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Seller authorized return but wants to refund instead. What should I do?

I think this is one of those instances where you need to call ebay Customer Service for direction.

 

I think the seller is trying to pull a fast one.

 

The case will close when they refund, not the other way around. If you close it, you stand to get nothing. This is as I understand the Returns process but admittedly I am not proficient in it. 

 

As I said, I would strongly advise you to call a CSR and then report back to the seller with your findings. That way, the seller will understand you are not to be trifled with.

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Seller authorized return but wants to refund instead. What should I do?

Do not close the case.  As you have already been advised, telephone eBay and report the seller.  Seller has to pay for a tracked return for SNAD cases, or refund in full.  Returns need to be WITH TRACKING for proof to eBay/PayPal, or the seller can claim it was never returned.  Refunds need to be received BEFORE a case is closed by the buyer.  Never accept anything less or you will have no recourse with eBay.  

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Seller authorized return but wants to refund instead. What should I do?

Refund comes first, close case second. Tell the seller that refunding will close the case.

 

I thought that returns needed tracked shipping.

 

...

 

Aren't Wattage ratings fun.

 

For LED's you have the actual and the incandescent equivalent (and most packages make the "equivalent" the big number).

 

So your 14W LED you got should be around 84W incandescent.

versus 30W LED you wanted being around 180W incandescent.

 

-..-

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Seller authorized return but wants to refund instead. What should I do?

According to the last time I reviewed the terms of the eBay MoneyBack Guarantee, a seller can request the buyer use cheaper, untraceable postage to return a SNAD but that forgoes the requirements that the case see it's Delivered. I assume some Proof of Shipping is, however, required.
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Seller authorized return but wants to refund instead. What should I do?

@sidecar_bob

 

Where was it bought from?

 

If the item came from China, they have their own rules so be very careful.

 

If any where else, they need to supply you with a return shipping label or send you paypal up front for shipping.

 

Apparently, they are trying to pull a fast one so you will be out any return privileges without you paying for shipping which they know will never happen.

 

Call Ebay and get a case specialist on the phone.

 

 

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Seller authorized return but wants to refund instead. What should I do?

I have never seen any evidence that Chinese sellers have different rules for returns. The problem Is that eBay is not clear on how to proceed with an international nad return to any country.

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Seller authorized return but wants to refund instead. What should I do?

Thanks for replying.

 

I didn't get email notifications about any of these replies and the case was about to expire anyway so I closed it. That was a mistake because the seller did not issue the refund. When I contacted them about it the replies were "I'll have to ask my boss about that" or "I'm new here. How much refund should I give you?" after which I replied and then heard nothing until I tried again a couple of days later.

 

I have reported them to eBay. Since I closed the case they can't help with my refund but they are investigating the seller and they transferred my call to PayPal who have opened a "significantly not as described" dispute and immediately escalated it to a claim.

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Seller authorized return but wants to refund instead. What should I do?

With a PayPal claim, you have to pay the cost of Return postage if you want to see a Refund.

Never ever close your eBay case until you get a refund. Escalate it instead.
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Seller authorized return but wants to refund instead. What should I do?

And now I start getting email notifications.....

 

Yeah. I told them at PayPal that the cost of return postage would be more than the items were worth. They told me to hang onto them for now in case proof is needed but that they would get me the refund and I won't have to send them back.

 

At this point I'll just have to see what happens.

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Seller authorized return but wants to refund instead. What should I do?

The next morning I received an email from PayPal that said I had to return the lights. I phoned PayPal support and explained the situation one more time, including that the seller had promised a refund and had reneged and that the cost for me to return them would be about 40% more than the original purchase price. While we were talking about it I mentioned that, while I can't use them where I had intended to I could find uses for them elsewhere and I would happily accept a 50% refund. The PayPal rep said "OK. I can do that for you right now" and while we were still talking the refund appeared in my account.

 

I am very happy with this outcome. It is basically what I asked the seller for in the first place.

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