What is the best way to return an item that is not as described/not working to the seller?

[burge.ca2015]

It was listed and described as used, but working. When it was delivered to me it did not function properly. Specifically, it would turn on when power was supplied to it but the core functions would not work. It is a digital tape cassette recorder. When the tape is inserted you can hear the motor run for a second then stop. It will not play, record, rewind, etc. This type of recorder uses a VCR type mechanism except it's smaller - just so you have an idea of what it is and how essential those parts are to it working properly.

It arrived Thur. Apr.30 though I didn't know that until this morning (Fri. May 1) After unpacking and inspecting/testing it I realized it's true condition. I sent the seller a request to return it and get a refund and in his reply he said to send it back and he would refund me. I will note at this point that he had listed as "seller does not accept returns". Hopefully this will help me because it is in writing now that he would refund me, right?  I sent a message back saying that I will send it back today or tomorrow but because it's the weekend it probably wouldn't move much in the system until Monday. I also said that because the condition is not as described / not working that I should be refunded for the shipping as well. From my reading of ebay's policy/protection, I am correct on this. Did I read it correctly?

Before packing and sending it back, I'm going to record a video of me trying to get it to work because in this case pictures are useless as proof.  I will be making sure that it is sent with delivery confirmation / tracking. I don't know if the seller printed the original shipping label himself or not, but it is also my understanding that he could do this for the return label and therefore send / email me the label to print myself and put on the box. That way I would not have to pay the cost to return it. Am I correct on this as well? Are there any other steps I should take to help ensure that I get refunded for what I am entitled to?

Any help is greatly appreciated. I'm still new to ebay (just under 2 months) and this was a $210 total cost for me that is now making me feel sick. I assume that everybody feels like this the first time it happens to them. By the way this was a purchase from the states and the GSP was used if that matters.

Thank you.

[pjcdn2005]

If a gsp purchase is damaged in shipping then they don't require an item to be returned but in this case it sounds as if the shipping was fine but the seller was at fault when he described the item.  Unfortunately, that and the fact that it is a gsp purchase makes things a little more complicated.

I assume that when you put in the request return, you used the reason as item not as described?  In a not as described case the seller is responsible to pay for return shipping. Because the seller is in the U.S., they cannot access Canada Post and cannot sent you a label like they would if you were both in the same country.  ebay hasn't set up 'rules' for this but they do recommend  that you arrange with the seller how you are going to get your return shipping reimbursed so the first step would be to contact the seller and ask him about it. 

When a gsp seller is paid, they receive the domestic part of the shipping you paid but the international part is paid to the gsp provider so my guess is that the seller is going to say that because it is a gsp item, then he isn't responsible for the international portion of the shipping. That's not correct because it is a not as described case. If that is what happens, you should phone ebay and describe the situation to them.  When the seller told you to send back the item, I think that you were given a certain amount of time to do that so you do want to deal with this now.

I have heard (but can't confirm) that if you ask ebay to 'step in' they will help with the label problem but I don't know if you can ask them to step in once the seller tells you to return the item.

Sorry if I'm long winded here but there really isn't a set way to deal with gsp returns so I'm winging it. Please let us know what happens or if you have any more questions.

Perhaps someone else who has dealt with a similar situation can giveyou some advice.

[reallynicestamps]

Above all, keep the communication polite and friendly. Especially if the seller has to arrange to reimburse you for return shipping, good manners and understanding that not everything will go easily will go a long way to encouraging the seller to cooperate.

[burge.ca2015]

Don't worry about being long-winded , the more info the better. Outer box was fine as well as the smaller inner box that the recorder was in. Recorder itself seemed to be sufficiently packaged in inner box along with some tapes. The larger box that it was then placed in had no padding at all. Nothing whatsoever. Just shaking around loose in there. Sticker on outer box says it was resealed by ebay GSP. I assume the GSP received  that way. Don't know if damaged during shipping but seller did have a negative feedback in the last 12 months that a buyer had received a non functioning item(laptop computer). thought I had checked the feedback before bidding but now not sure. Seller has not responded yet to my second message about the return shipping issue. I know I can check to see if he is online or off line , just trying to remember how to do it.

I had selected reason for return:  it's defective or doesn't work   Did I just screw myself by not selecting the "not as described" reason?  Is it going to make that much of a difference because both reasons are correct- I had to pick the one that I thought best fit, could only pick one of them. Don't know if I'm allowed to mention the sellers ebay name/ID (not his actual name) so I won't but the response to that previously mentioned negative feedback buyer was awful and it's still there. Said that she just didn't want it and returned it (she had to open a case against him). He calls her a "cucking funt". If It's not obvious , switch the the first letters of that. Get it?  That's exactly what is on there for his response to her neg. feedback. Had I seen that, I never would have bid on anything  he has.

[burge.ca2015]

Just saw the reply from reallynicestamps.

This is what I sent him 1st one and then 2nd one.

1.  powers on but mechanism will not do anything. It will NOT play, rewind, fast forward, record. When you put a tape in you can hear the motor run for a second but it does nothing else. It s like any VCR or cassette deck in the sense that if the motor or mechanism doesn t work then it is useless. I paid for a WORKING recorder and what I received DOES NOT. 

2. already checked and the "hold" switch is off. At the moment I don't have the ability to make a video to show it's not working. I will try to send it back today or tomorrow but because it's Friday and service here is limited and slow on the weekend, it may not actually leave until Monday. I will still to try to make that video before sending it back if I can. I will make sure that it has the delivery confirmation / tracking for it to prove that I sent it back. I need you to confirm the return address. Is this the correct info:  (I self edited out this info for the purpose of posting on this community help area) Because this arrived as not as described/not working, the return shipping cost should be refunded to me as well. This was no fault of mine. If you do not agree with this then explain why not. I would like to settle it without having to ask ebay to step in any further, but will ask them if necessary.

I thought that I should show that I'm not going to be pushed around and will stand up for myself to get what is duly owed to me.

Thought that this was the best approach because if he knowingly sold a broken as not broken....

 I can't change it now. I've been screwed over and taken advantage of too much in my life. to ....I'm not going to finish writing that sentence.

[pjcdn2005]

I had selected reason for return:  it's defective or doesn't work   Did I just screw myself by not selecting the "not as described" reason?

Unless the item was sold for parts, not working,  defective/doesn't work is the same thing as not as described.

Outer box was fine as well as the smaller inner box that the recorder was in. Recorder itself seemed to be sufficiently packaged in inner box along with some tapes.The larger box that it was then placed in had no padding at all. Nothing whatsoever. Just shaking around loose in there. Sticker on outer box says it was resealed by ebay GSP. I assume the GSP received  that way. Don't know if damaged during shipping

You can tell which box the seller sent it in by looking to see where the label is that they used to send the item to the gsp depot in Kentucky.(the gsp sticker might be on top of it)  If it is on the outer box then you might want to ask the seller how they shipped the box. If there is a chance that the gsp took out padding inside of the outer box which was around the inner box to protect it, then the damage could have been done in the shipping process because of the gsp repacking it. In that case, you shouldn't have to send it back as the gsp would refund you in full. But if the seller isn't going to cooperate with you, then  I don't know if I would worry about that part of it or not.

btw - If you ever receive a feedback reply that is swearing...disgusting etc...you can get it removed. Although....the fact that it is still there does say a lot about how the seller handles customer service so maybe it is good that the other buyer didn't get it removed.