Buyer wants to return item because they no longer want it, what would you do?

[YoshiFan1]

This was through Half.com (I figured it was ok to post it here since Half.com is part of Ebay)

I sold a PS2 game to someone and I got this message today:

"I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW HOW DO I RETURN THIS TAPE FOR A REFUND? THE GAME IS STILL SEALED LIKE PURCHASED. NOTHING IS WRONG WITH IT, BUT MY NEPHEW ALREADY HAS IT. SO I WOULD LIKE TO RETURN IT FOR A REFUND. THANK YOU
"

I really don't want to take the game back because, I don't feel like selling it again and I don't think I should be obligated to take it back. They bought the game, it's there problem.

However, if I refuse to take it back, I could get a negative even though it would be undeserved.


What do you think I should do?

[hutno]

Thats a hard one, what does half.coms policy say about refunds?

[DisturbedZen]

Kick him in the nuts. You are not a corperation and u do not have to offer refunds.

[ilovemyapplesduh]

Technincly feedback is for the satus of the item, not liking it or not so you can always leave a responce to the feedback if they do taint it.

[deathcabforcutie]

hmmm.. either take it back and hope to resell it, lose your selling fees and start over.. or tell him to shaq-fu himself, then with the feedback, either deal with the negative, or else leave him one first for wanting to go back on the deal? but my favorite option is this: (sometimes does not work) offer him a PORTION of the price back (say.. 60%) if he wants a refund, tell him that is because you need to cover overhead and relisting of the item, ect. then, resell the item, and you will often end up making a little more this way..

[jmon22]

I would just tell him to put it up for auction on either half.com or ebay. It's already sold, its not your problem any more.

[DMFunk]

charge them a 10% "restocking" fee :P... Retaillers get away with it

[CheapyD]

Maybe you could resell it and have the guy ship it to the new buyer...

[YoshiFan1]

Thanks for all the suggestions


After thinking about it what I decided to do is offer them a refund (when refunded, Half.com will take back the comission so I won't money on selling fees), but I will not refund them on their shipping charge (what it cost me to ship the game to them and of course not what it costs them to send the game back).

It's not what I really what do to, but I guess I don't want to anger any buyers and although a negative wouldn't hurt me much (it would bring be down from 99.8% positive feedback to 99.6% positive feedback), I was really trying to get 100% positive feedback again (once you get to a certain amount of postives, at 99.95% postitive, it changes to 100% even if you have negatives).


I think from now on, I will put in the description ALL SALES ARE FINAL just so I don't deal with this again.

Last month a buyer bought an Xbox game from me, then a few hours later they decided they didn't want it. I refunded them since I hadn't shipped out the game yet so it wasn't a big deal but I am getting tired of buyers thinking they can just decide they don't want the item like a retail store.

[wubb]

Very decent of you, and probably what I would have done too. And yeah, no way would I have offered to refund their S&H or the S&H they have to pay to ship it back. I would deduct the S&H and any fees incurred and offer them that as their refund, payable once the game was back in my hands.

Seems pretty ridiculous that someone would actually suggest this though after they already have the game. I mean they know you are just an individual selling a few things, not a retail store. Very inconsiderate, but it doesn't really surprise me.

Oh, and I'd check the wrap and seal really well when you get it back to make sure it isn't same jackhole that's trying to scam you out of a disc.

[YoshiFan1]

Yeah, I plan to check the wrapping and everything before I issue a refund.

[slidecage]

that is why most people put NO RETURNS in their listing now

[YoshiFan1]

The buyer just e-mailed me back saying her nephew decided to keep the game. I'm glad they are keeping it but it seems weird they would keep a 2nd copy of a game he supposedly has. I wonder if they were lying and were trying to get me to take it back but once I responded that I would not refund shipping, they decided to keep it rather than lose money.

[crazytalkx]

So it all turned out good in the end.....I guess. It seems kinda fishy though...... :?

[jimbojonesjr]

Whatever, you did the good thing, and things worked out well, cheers.

[ex0]

Well, everything worked out. But like someone else said, say no returns in your descriptions from now on.

[wubb]

The buyer just e-mailed me back saying her nephew decided to keep the game. I'm glad they are keeping it but it seems weird they would keep a 2nd copy of a game he supposedly has. I wonder if they were lying and were trying to get me to take it back but once I responded that I would not refund shipping, they decided to keep it rather than lose money.

Not too surprising. I'm sure buyers will often change their mind once they realize they will have to pay to ship the game back (plus package it and take a trip to the PO) as well as lose their original S&H charge. That's why it's always a good idea to ask the buyer to ship the item back even if for some reason you wouldn't really want it back.

Not knowing the specifics, I imagine they could probably recoup more money just selling it themselves on eBay.

I imagine if you had taken a hard line with them and said something like 'Too bad, you bought the game and all sales are final.' You might have ended up cheesing her off to where she'd still be bugging you. (And even putting 'NO RETURNS' in your listing probably won't stop people from asking to return stuff. Isn't that implicit with eBay -- and half.com too I guess? If the item is as described the sale is final.)

[YoshiFan1]

Yeah, it is supposed to be all sales are final unless otherwise noted but you're right, buyers would still want to return stuff. Too many buyers think they are buying from someone who has the same policies as a retail store and they can just change their mind on wanting an item.

[Graystone]

HOW DO I RETURN THIS TAPE

I would be nice as possible he does not even know to call it.