eBay Refund Etiquette?

MrScience · April 21, 2006 7:02AM

I recently sold a coin newly holdered by ANACS on eBay. The buyer has contacted me saying that the holder is cracked (still trying to establish if it occurred during shipping or after receipt by the buyer) and asking for a refund. In particular, the buyer wants me to issue a refund via PayPal before he returns the coin to me, as he has been burned in past refund transactions. Of course, I would never do such a thing!

Anyway, my question to all of you eBay experts is whether I should hold out until I receive the coin and holder back from the seller. Does eBay or PayPal have a SOP in these instances? The total cost is less than $50, so I'm more worried about the principle than the cash involved.

Thanks in advance.

John

Fairlaneman · April 21, 2006 7:04AM

This is easy. You get the coin back and the buyer gets his refund. If the buyer does not like this tell him to pound sand.

Ken

nccoin · April 21, 2006 7:05AM

Do not issue a refund until you get the coin back, no exceptions.

UncleJoe · April 21, 2006 7:07AM

What they said.

Joe.

relayer · April 21, 2006 7:07AM

IF the coin was insured and damaged during shipment, I'd tell him to file a claim with the PO to cover reholdering.

Or you could also file the claim when you get the coin back.

But there ain't no refund until the coin is returned.

XpipedreamR · April 21, 2006 7:11AM

The buyer sent you his money and trusted you to send him the coin.

Now that the tables have turned, why not place the same trust in him?

Ha ha

Rob9874 · April 21, 2006 7:18AM

eBayer since Sept 1996 here (newbie on this board, but not on eBay). My rule is the customer is always right. If someone wants a refund, I give it to them. No reason to make someone pay for something they no longer want. And in my 10 years on eBay, it has happened very rarely. It's customer service like that which separates you from the pack.

That being said, if you decide to provide great customer service, and offer a refund without questioning if the slab was cracked in the mail, or if he did it, he has to cooperate and send the coin first. He's the one who wants the refund, so he can't make the rules. Tell him you'll give him his money back, but he has to do it your way. Otherwise, he gets nothing. Why would you give in to his demands? You're the one with the money. If he refuses, it just screams of a scam.

BobaFett72 · April 21, 2006 7:25AM

well, if you offer a refund, or stated so in your ad then do it by your terms, not his. I would advise that you get the coin in hand, inspect it etc. was their insurance on the coin? Cover your bases before you issue a refund. good luck

Leo M.

291fifth · April 21, 2006 7:43AM

May be a scammer. No refund until the coin is returned and you are sure it is the same coin.

ms70 · April 21, 2006 7:45AM

<< <i>issue a refund via PayPal before he returns the coin >>

He must be smoking crack.

Boom · April 21, 2006 7:45AM

<< <i>it just screams of a scam. >>

I second that emotion.

Russ · April 21, 2006 8:20AM

First, I wouldn't be surprised to find that the slab cracked in shipping, even if you packed it correctly. They are flimsy junk. Second, see Ken's post.

Russ, NCNE

MikeInFL · April 21, 2006 8:27AM

See Russ' post.

RBinTex · April 21, 2006 8:29AM

See Mike's post.

BAJJERFAN · April 21, 2006 8:52AM

You could always contact a couple of recent sellers that he won from [if there are any] and see if there were any "similar" problems.

thebeav · April 21, 2006 11:37AM

<< <i>
He must be smoking crack. >>

Crack is whack !

eBay Refund Etiquette?

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