Page 1 of EBay help please.

I recently sold an item on ebay. The buyer would like a refund ( for a genuine reason, totally my fault), and I`m happy to oblige.
Now what is the done thing ?
Do I refund the money, then he returns the goods ?
Does buyer return goods, then I refund money ?
Do I minus postage on refunding ?
Obviously I don`t want to be out of pocket, but I suppose neither does the buyer.
Help appreciated.

ask the what they require (within reason) :)



`I am going to live forever, or die trying`...

They would like me to refund first.
Is this normal ? or am I being overly cautious ?
I don`t want to be money less and product less, although I do accept the refund issue.
Feedback for them is 100% but only based on 5 buyers/sellers.

as a buyer seller on ebay, i don not think they are being unreasonable, however without knowing the amount £ involved, and their rating i would not commit, but as a general rule they seem unreasonable... hope this is of some help? :D



`I am going to live forever, or die trying`...

I have been in a similar situation recently (as a seller) and I made it clear to the buyer that under no circumstances would I refund without the goods being returned to me first so I could see for myself that it was damaged.

Thankfully it all went without a hitch, and I would recommend the same action in your case. Whatever the problem is you should see for yourself.

This item was edited on Saturday, 5th February 2005, 23:59

normal practice would be to recieve the item back then refund, if i where you i would ask them to send it back inc the reciept for postage then refund the money & there extra postage, i would NOT refund before the item is returned, i would also not leave feedback, simply because no transaction has been made (+ it will make the buyer less likely to neg you) if it was you`re fault as you say, i would expect the buyer to give neutral feedback.

EDIT=the postage thing means you WILL be slightly out of pocket, but if it was genuinly you`re fault then you paying his postage would be the right thing to do.

This item was edited on Saturday, 5th February 2005, 22:53

I shall ask them to return first, I think, as it was an overseas sale, and because of the low buy/sell.
The issue is over an issue number of a magazine being incorrect ( my typo ).
£40 at stake.
Thanks for your help, will let you know the outcome.

Update : Have emailed, with apologies and stated I will happily refund full amount and postage upon receipt of the goods.

This item was edited on Saturday, 5th February 2005, 23:03

Another consideration if the item is relatively expensive, is the tax collected by EBay on behalf of the money grabin chancilor, How goes that in this situation?

I think if it is your mistake you should refund first.

If it were me and I were in receipt if a faulty or mislabelled good then I would not want to send it back without receiving my money back first.

Don't forget, it is a private to private sale, not a company involved, Therefore as a buyer I would be cautious in sending a good back without receiving my money back.

It is not dissimilar to buying something and expecting the seller to send it without receiving their money. - There is no guarantee that a buyer could get there money back.

I am sure you are totally trustworthy, but look at it from a strangers (or a buyers) point of view. But if they are willing to send the good back first, then let them.