Rarely Ask For Advice, But

[bb_cool_stuff]

Just received a message form a buyer.

Wants to return the shirt because it is unworn.  ????

Clearly mentions the shirt is New, Retro & Vintage Style in the Title & Description.

Message mentions they will pay for return shipping.

Was purchased, 400319336414, & shipped on Sptember 6th.

I would think they have had the shirt for ten days minimum.

Have never heard of this previously in my travels.

I would think they would have contacted me before today if there was an issue with the shirt.

Best to refund here ?

A little concerned the shirt is coming back worn & maybe washed.

[ricarmic]

Sadly one of the PITA (pain in the....) transactions one must put up with as part of a business.

I think the answer follows from whether potential low DRS's and/or a negative are worth $30. (on the assumption it is not resellable, or you have to resell as "used" now)

What I would do if it were me is be very polite say no problems send it back, and at some point block them. (Blocking can sometimes cause problems, my last negative was a result of the buyer discovering they were blocked before things were finalized so I suggest exercising caution regarding blocking timing).

In my eyes one has to include costs around stuff like this in the "costs of goods sold"....category....

Good luck!

[pierrelebel]

"Best to refund here ?"

Not yet.

In similar situation, I advise the buyer "I am sorry the (item) was not satisfactory.  Everything I sell is always guaranteed.  Please return the (item) in its original condition and a full refund will be processed through PayPal upon receipt.  Sorry for the inconvenience."

[ricarmic]

I see in my post I didn't mention the timing, I inferred the same thing Pierre actually said, I would not refund till you have the shirt back in your hands.

[rose-dee]

---

@bb_cool_stuff wrote:

Just received a message form a buyer.

Wants to return the shirt because it is unworn.  ????

---

'bb' -- I don't mean to make light of the hassle for you in dealing with a return, but this is the weirdest, most ludicrous, and unbelievable excuse I've ever heard of from a buyer for not wanting an item.  I sell vintage items, and an unworn retro garment is a gem, in fact it's graded as being in exceptional condition.  

What was he after -- B.O. on the shirt, tears on the elbows???  If he wanted it worn, why not go play rugby in it, stamp on it with boots, then throw it in the washer and dryer and be ever so happy.  This was the real LOL for me for the day. 

Sorry you have to deal with this, but, well, if he wants his money back...

[bb_cool_stuff]

I think you are right.

I was just going to give them a refund, but i think the item should be returned.

Think I'm going to walk softly around this one.

Don't think i will push for tracking, that could set them off.

[bb_cool_stuff]

I'll be honest Rose.

It is a Vintage/Retro Style shirt & was clearly marked in the Title & Description.

Though i have many unworn Vintage/ Retro shirts from the eighties & nineties, this shirt does not match that description.

This shirt is probably five years old even though that team moved to Dallas in the nineties.

[bb_cool_stuff]

Just double checked to see if i had listed the shirt in the Vintage Category by mistake, I had not.

Was listed in the T Shirt category.

When you list in the Vintage Category there is a drop down menu with two choices True Vintage or Vintage Reproduction.

Best to avoid all confusion by just listing it in the T Shirt category.

[rose-dee]

So, 'bb', since I don't know anything about sports shirts, do you think this guy was expecting something that would be worn by some player he idolized, or what?  

I don't understand the "unworn" criticism.  All I can think of is some fetishist who wants to get his jollies by sniffing the deposits from the armpits of his favourite player and was deeply disappointed that the shirt hadn't been personally worn!! 

I'm being facetious of course, can't help it with this buyer's remark -- maybe what he meant was that it was not true vintage, he was expecting a vintage shirt to show some wear and it didn't.  If that's the case then a refund on return of the shirt is probably best.  

I also sell vintage reproductions, but I'm very clear in the listings when describing them, and I always choose the "Vintage Reproduction" category when preparing the listing.  The problem with listing your item under "T-shirts" is that you may find they'll get lost amongst the thousands and thousands of new shirts of every description.  How often have you had this particular problem with a buyer thinking he'd bought true vintage when the item was actually reproduction?   If this is the first and only one so far, it might not be prudent to change the way you list those items.  

What I did to solve the problem was add special categories to my store for the reproductions and separate categories for true vintage/true antiques. Take a look and you'll see what I mean.  So far I haven't had this particular problem, but then it's mostly women who buy my items and I think they read descriptions a bit more carefully than men.   

[bb_cool_stuff]

The shipping details mention a womens name. Could have been purchased for a SO.

Was a little confused with the unworm comment in the message also.

This has never happpened previously, so i will remain with the Retro Style Descriptions for now.

Could be a one shot concern, but should it happen again, i will definitely think about making some changes.

I have offered the buyer a full refund upon receipt of the item.

Still wondering why it took two weeks for them to notice it was unworn.

[mr.elmwood]

BB asking for advice? Stunned silence.

I have two scenarios. With the proper story I outright refund. Some things are just not worth the returning hassle. Others? Well, I get asked for a refund and I say to return it and then I will refund. Odd how some things do not come back to me.

Some folks have honest stories and others are just phishing.

[pjcdn2005]

Is it possible that the buyer wanted to return it and was telling you that it hadn't been worn yet by them?

[bb_cool_stuff]

Could be PJ.

Came home to a message thanking me for agreeing to a return.

She goes on to mention the shirt is just too big.

Funny as the measurements are in the description.

Sounds legit as the message had no attitude attached to it.

 I guess i will see what happens when the shirt is returned.

[bb_cool_stuff]

BB asking for advice?  Stunned silence.

Original message seemed a little off, but mentioned the shirt was too big in the message I came home to.

Maybe she was smoking that Columbian North Slope Trip Weed when she left the original message.

[thebarterersdog]

All I can think of is some fetishist who wants to get his jollies by sniffing the deposits from the armpits of his favourite player and was deeply disappointed that the shirt hadn't been personally worn!

ha, ha, ha.... ew!