If the seller agree item purchased is not as listed,

[yayazhu315]

If the item purchased is not as described, and is partially defective, the seller agrees for a return, but who should paid for the return shipping fee? I am the buyer, who bought a lemon, should I paid for the return shipping? I have not open the case through the Ebay Resolution center yet, should I do so first? The item is a heavy used computer.

Thanks

[glenda]

There is no law - or eBay policy - that will require/force the seller to pay for the return postage.

[safetlady229 · Accepted solution]

What does your seller's return policy state? Usually, return shipping will be paid by the buyer, however a seller may either refund your shipping after the fact or send a pre-paid envelope if it's his/her fault.

The first thing you should do is file a Not As Described dispute and let eBay dictate who is at fault.

[femmefan1946]

This requires polite negotiation.

You will want to return the item with Confirmed Delivery (Signature if over $250) to meet the Paypal dispute standards.

But there is no need, yet, for a Dispute.

Your seller has agreed to refund the original payment on return? That meets the PP standard. Let her know the cost of return shipping. Ask, politely, how she wants to handle this.

She may offer to pay the full amount.

-- You win. Go for it.

She may offer to pay for return shipping, but not the premium Delivery Confirmation.

-- The Delivery Confirmation benefits you not her. The parcel will arrive safely in any case. Offer to split the cost with her. (ie: if the cost of DC shipping is $20 and of untracked shipping is $10, ask her to pay $10)

She may refuse to pay for return shipping at all.

--She's within her rights. WalMart does not pay for your gas to return something to their store, either. You can make your opinion known when you leave feedback. The most effective feedback is calm and factual.

[tenbigdogs]

Hi yaya, I agree with Femme.  There's no reason to haul off and open a dispute before you've made your best effort to work this out with your seller.  The two of you may come to a mutually agreeable compromise.  You won't know until you try.  The typical outcome of a dispute is the buyer being instructed to return the item, pay for return shipping and delivery confirmation, before a refund is issued.  So you have nothing to lose and perhaps something to gain by trying to amicably work this out with your seller without a formal dispute.  Good luck!

[reallynicestamps]

EBay and Paypal Resolution centres  require that you be able to prove that the seller has received his goods back. So it is not just that you have to return the item, you have to use a tracked/delivery confirmed service. And if you paid over $250 including shipping for the item, you will need to have Signature Confirmation.

But

The seller can refund without any of these if he is satisfied that the item is genuinely not satisfactory. Many sellers of glass and china for example are willing to accept a photo of broken items rather than go through the hassle of receiving a box of spiky garbage.

So it is important to be polite and friendly with the seller. Make him understand that you are not trying to cheat him, just to resolve a problem.

He can refund before you go to eBay/PP with a Dispute.

He can refund within the Dispute without a return.

He can insist on the return before refunding.

He can if he wishes, refund your return postage.

The error is acknowledged, you get your money back. No drama.

With any of these , he gets his selling fees back and there is no damage to his selling account. (Nor to your buying account)

Since you have been made whole, you should leave positive appropriate feedback and Detailed Seller Ratings.

If he refuses the refund, PP will instruct you to return the item with tracking and PP will refund your original payment, but not the return shipping.

If the item is imported, you can also reclaim your tax and duty (but not brokerage fees) from Canadian Border Services Agency.