Pre-Paid Postage Label From Ebay Seller.

[windywillow]

I think this is the wrong category - apologies, I don't know where it should go.

I am hoping to receive a pre-paid postage label from an eBay seller - I want to return an item that is not as described. Can the seller create a postage label and email it to me, for me to print off, or will the seller print it off and post it to me? If the latter, won't the label show the date of printing, which will show the wrong date for when I actually post the parcel?

Thanks for any replies.

[bednobs]

why will it have to show a date at all?

[hc4361]

It should be emailed to you

[windywillow]

Hi Bednobs, it's a Royal Mail requirement, I've copied and pasted their instructions below:

//You need to post your Royal Mail items by the end of the working day after the day you purchased the label, otherwise it won't be valid. The 'Post by' date on the label shows the last day on which the label will be valid for posting.//

[EDDIE51]

If the item is 'not as described' the seller has to refund you the return postage cost anyway. On the few times I have had to return an item I have just paid the postage and got a refund of the total including return postage. Or the seller can pay the return postage cost into your PayPal and confirm to eBay that they have done so, I find that's a lot easier than sending a postage label .

[windywillow]

Thanks HC, this morning I received an email from the seller saying she is not a business seller and she doesn't have a pre-paid label, nor does she know how to get one.

She's asked me to send the parcel back to her 2nd class and she'll refund me once it has been received. I'm not sure how that would work either.

Any advice about this please?

[EDDIE51]

Have you reported the item as not as described and asked to return it on the eBay sale page?
Once you do that eBay will contact the seller and start a 'return' , they will tell the seller to send the postal label or refund the postage via paypal.

[hc4361]

That is the quite usual procedure. You pay to send it back and she will refund you by PayPal. It's straightforward.

[windywillow]

Thanks Eddie. Your answer appeared while I was still typing.

So the best thing to do is just pay the postage myself, and let her refund me once she receives the item back? It's just that I asked eBay yesterday, and they told me to request a pre-paid label.

[windywillow]

Eddie, no, I didn't open a case, I thought it better to email her first and see what she had to say about the matter. I thought it a bit harsh to not give her a chance to explain.

Regarding her comment about her not having a pre-paid label because she's not a business seller - can private sellers create a pre-paid label and email it to the buyer? I must admit I've never done anything like this before and I haven't a clue how to go about it.

[EDDIE51]

crossed post.
Go on the eBay sale page for the item and click on 'solve a problem' then select 'Not as described' and request a return.
eBay will then start the return process and tell the seller to either refund the return postage or agree to refund the cost once they get the item back. Once you start the 'Not as described' process via eBay they will take the purchase price and the postage you paid out of the seller's paypal account and put it on 'hold' until the return is complete.
This makes sure the seller does the refund, as unless they do eBay will refund you by using the money they have put on 'Hold' from the sellers account.

[EDDIE51]

Unless you make the 'not as described' report to eBay you are not covered by the money back guarantee. The seller could just say they have not had it returned.
Just do it the official way and let eBay handle it, once the return is complete eBay will message the seller thanking them for handling the return correctly , this actually adds to the seller's eBay reputation as it shows they can respond correctly to a problem.

[windywillow]

Eddie, I was going to return it 'signed for' but will go down the route you have suggested and report it to eBay.

Thanks Eddie and all for your help.

[EDDIE51]

You still have to return it by 'signed for delivery' or the seller can claim they never got it back. But doing it via eBay guarantees you get a refund as long as you follow the set down procedure.

[windywillow]

Thanks Eddie. I'm a bit worried because the seller doesn't agree with me, she feels the item is as described.

However I'm hopeful I'll get my money back.