eBay

musicyouneed · ‎07-20-2025

What is the process for return requests when buyer doesn't like the item? I knew this would happen. She ordered 2 of the same item and I emailed her a few times and she never responded and so I mailed both out to her. Both were delivered Jun 30 to Utah. She stated she wanted to return the item because she didn't like it. The return has been approved by ebay and she has until Aug 11 to return the item to my address in Canada, which is both on file and on the Canada Post label. Now this is where I don't know the process? Does she mail it back with tracking? It was only $10 CDN or a little over $7 USD. Do you know the process that she has to follow? Does ebay tell her what to do?

easoss · ‎07-20-2025

Everybody will have a different approach. Personally because this happens so rarely for me (10 times maybe in 25 years on eBay) and the item doesn't have great value I'd simply suck the loss refund the money and tell them to keep the item. For me it's not worth the expense and headache of a return so small in value.

brettjet38 · ‎07-20-2025

Buyer Remorse is the return

When a buyer requests a return for remorse reasons, the seller must honour their return policy as specified in the listing

https://www.ebay.ca/help/policies/ebay-money-back-guarantee-policy/ebay-money-back-guarantee-policy?...

Return shipping

Depending on the reason for the return, the seller or the buyer may be responsible for arranging and paying for a suitable return method.

Reason for return

Who is responsible for return shipping

Items that don't match the listing

Seller

"Remorse" or "change of mind" returns

Per the seller's return policy in the listing
("free returns" or "buyer pays")

byto253 · ‎07-20-2025

Yes, they have to return it back to you with tracking, and ebay tells her exactly what to do. You have nothing to do but wait while the process plays out and there is no need to contact the buyer. After no returns for a year and a half I had 2 recently. Neither contacted me, they just went ahead and put the return request in.

One was a lower value item, and my first thought was that they are in for a shock when they see the cost to ship it back to me. Ends up that they never did ship it back, so when the ship by date passed ebay auto closed the return. I never communicated with the buyer at all.

The 2nd one was for a $70 item and it has been shipped back. Once I have it back I will do the refund. If I don't I expect ebay will do it after a bit but I don't know if that is a strike or not. Again, as they opened the return without contacting me I did not contact them, I don't see any point since the return process is under way.

There is a theme through the whole process that you can just go ahead and refund them to close the return and everything is awesome... The lates is "You can give the buyer a refund now or wait for the item to arrive." Just ignore those and refund once it is back in your hands.

musicyouneed · ‎07-20-2025

Thanks byto, I'm not going to refund them until I get the item back. I emailed her several times and she never responded. I kinda think that when she goes to the PO to get postage she will abandon the return, it was about $7 USD and shipping will be at least $4 (I tried looking and it was really expensive, a lot more than $4) and she has to go through a lot of hassle.

If she still proceeds with the return and I get it back, I will refund for the cost of the item only, not shipping to her or back. I have had it both ways. Once the refund was less than the person paid for postage for returning the item and this will be about the same.

byto253 · ‎07-21-2025

I went back and checked the last completed return a while ago, and my refund was for the purchase price only, no refund on the shipping fees. If I recall correctly that was the amount ebay said to refund the buyer - but it has been a while. The current return should be delivered in the next day or two so I will get a refresher experience!

musicyouneed · ‎07-21-2025

I just checked USPS and ebay.com and I think that the cost of shipping a CD back may end up costing her $10.94 at least that is what sellers are using as the cost. If she returns it she will only get back $7 and it will cost her close to $11 to return it.

lotzofuniquegoodies · ‎07-21-2025

@byto253 wrote:
I went back and checked the last completed return a while ago, and my refund was for the purchase price only, no refund on the shipping fees. If I recall correctly that was the amount ebay said to refund the buyer - but it has been a while. The current return should be delivered in the next day or two so I will get a refresher experience!

On the general subject of US and Intl returns has anyone ever come across an economical method for returning goods? Guessing there is limited in the way of any discounting happening for USA to Canada returns.

The major takeaway I am observing for Intl returns the largest portion of the remorse falls on the Canadian seller. Rarely if ever see anything on the subject of a Canadian buyer returning to a US seller.

flipistics · ‎07-21-2025

@lotzofuniquegoodies wrote:
On the general subject of US and Intl returns has anyone ever come across an economical method for returning goods? Guessing there is limited in the way of any discounting happening for USA to Canada returns.

Pirate Ship Simple Export Rate is probably the cheapest I know of, but even then it'll likely be $10 or $11 USD. I'm pretty sure Easy Ship and Shippo both let you buy labels as well. If you live near the border you can ship it to a number of different companies and go across and pick it up (not sure that's the best idea in the current climate). Shippsy could be another option, especially if you live near a Stallion Express branch and have an import license and HST number. You could even look into Amazon Shipping, although I don't think they do international for 3rd parties in the USA yet.