How do I return an item for a refund on eBay?

Just because eBay is an online auction site, doesn't mean you can't return an item that you purchased. But you need to know how to do it in order to guarantee your money is returns. Here's how to do it.

Jul 10, 2019

Online shopping always holds a risk of not meeting your expectations, and eBay is no exception to this rule. Whether you are unhappy with the quality of your item, changed your mind, or received a faulty item, you may be able to return the item for a refund. Follow the below simple steps to find out which solution best fits your situation.

Returning an Item for Refund

If you receive an item that is faulty, damaged or doesn't match the product description, you are covered by the eBay Money Back Guarantee. You will be able to return the item even if the seller's return policy states they don't accept returns.

  1. Go to www.ebay.com

  2. Sign into your account.

  3. Once you have signed in, go to your eBay 'Purchase History,' select the item you wish to return.

  4. Start a request to return your item by selecting 'Return this item' in your purchase history. You will be asked to provide details on why you're returning the item. If the product is damaged, broken or faulty, you'll be able to add up to 10 pictures to prove your claims.

  5. Select 'Send.'

  6. The seller will then have three business days to respond to you. The response will be different depending on the issue with your product.

  7. If, you've received the wrong item, or it arrived broken and damaged. Some of the options the seller may offer you include:

    1. Accept your return request and offer a full refund. The seller will also pay for return shipping, and you will be refunded the original shipping costs.

    2. Offer you a partial refund and let you keep the item.

    3. Offer you a replacement or exchange.

    4. Send you a message. The seller may wish to receive more pictures or details about the reason for the refund request and may send you a message.

  8. If, you've changed your mind about the item. Some of the options the seller may offer you include:

    1. Accept your return request and offer a full refund. The seller will also pay for return shipping, and you will be refunded the original shipping costs.

    2. Offer you a partial refund and let you keep the item.

    3. Offer you a replacement or exchange.

    4. Decine your request. Some sellers have a no-refunds policy, in which case they are allowed to deny your return request.

    5. Send you a message. The seller may wish to receive more pictures or details about the reason for the refund request and may send you a message.

  9. Once you have moved onto the refund stage, you'll be able to check the status of your refund by signing into your account, selecting the item, and clicking on 'Check your return status.'

  10. When the seller has approved your return, you will receive an email instructing you to return the item. You have five business days to send it back. The party paying for the cost of shipping will depend on the return.

    1. Note that you will need to send the item back in the same condition you received it.

    2. It's recommended that you get tracking on the parcel in the event that it's lost. Return labels provided by eBay already include tracking.

  11. When the seller has received your return or approved your refund (without a return), they will have two business days to issue a refund. You will be notified by email when you have received your refund, however, it can take another three to five days for PayPal to process the refund and credit card companies can take up to 30 days. You will receive credit onto the same method you used to pay for the item.

Note that if the seller does not respond within three business days to your refund request, it's recommended you reach out to the eBay Customer Support team for help. You have 21 days from the day you opened the request to notify eBay about the issue.

For any other issues during the refund process, reach out to the eBay Customer Support team for assistance.

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Christian has been writing about long hold times and customer service call center experiences since 2010. He's been featured in Bloomberg, the Wall Street Journal and the Boston Globe.
How do I return an item for a refund on eBay?

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