eBay sent me a message morning to inform me a buyer was returning something I sold them. It’s a ’47 Brand New York Yankees Clean Up adjustable hat. I offer free returns on eBay, so it doesn’t matter why the buyer was returning it. That said, eBay still requires a buyer making a return to explain why. They told eBay, “Just didn’t like it.”
When Used Is Actually New
I sold this hat as used, but in every practical sense, it’s a new hat. I bought it a while back on the ’47 Brand website when they had a lot of their hats on an extreme sale. Unfortunately, this hat turned out to be just a little too small for my big melon head. I tried it on once, discovered it was too small, and tossed it into the plastic tote of unwanted hats.
The weird thing is, this is the second time someone is returned this same exact hat. I sold it once before. That first buyer returned it because they changed their mind and they had “second thoughts.”
The current buyer sent it back. When I receive it, I don’t know what to do with it. I feel like the universe has spoken. This hat is bad news. I feel I would be amiss if I listed it on eBay again.
I’m either going to destroy it or leave it somewhere for a homeless person to find.
Why I Always Offer Free eBay Returns
I offer free returns because if a buyer has second thoughts or they don’t want what they bought from you, they can always fiddle around and get a free return. They can always alter it or perform some kind of nefarious act to it and claim that’s how you sent it to them.
For example, they can drop it in a public porta potty, fish it out, and ask for a refund because it smells poopy and gross. Not only would they get a free return, my ebay account would take an Item Not As Described (INAD) hit. In eBay’s eyes, I failed to disclose the item smelled bad and was stained. It makes more sense to just offer free returns. It helps keep people honest and it normally results in getting your item back in the same condition it was when you sent it.