I've been burned doing this, course not for to much money.
I'd suggest signature confirmation on the package being sent back. More then likely you'll have to send them back before getting refund, but you can always try talking to the seller and finding out if he'd refund money before doing so.

ShaneG.

First, I'd have demanded my money back, and then kept the items (not that I'd "steal" them, but offer that I should be allowed to keep them.) That has been my experience with eBay in regards to "returns." It is far safer for the seller to just let you have the items... after all, you paid for them, and they are already sent, and maintains good will for the transaction then being stiffed one way or the other. But, if you are going to return the stuff, definitely send signed confirmation that the seller received them, and try to have some sort of line of evidence that proves there was an offer for a refund, because he might just stiff you again.

If you go by the letter of eBay. You must return the item in the same condition received, before the seller is required to refund any monies owed. You are responsible for the return shipping and the seller is not required to refund the original shipping ether.

Now if the item falls into the "significantly not as described" category, you can file a claim and if eBay agrees you should be able to get all of your original purchase price back and maybe even the return shipping.

Your best bet is to go to the eBay "Answer Center" and ask this question there. Give item number and the reason for requesting the return and the various eBay members who supply the answers will give you some very good advice.

I recently had to return an item won on an ebay auction.  I utilized the seller's own return policy-send the item back at my cost and they refund the high bid amount (minus the shipping amount I had paid).

So I first filed a dispute with Paypal.  I stated via Paypal what I was doing and thus I had "proof" of my intentions to return the item and take the seller's return policy.  Then I sent the item back with delivery confirmation.

The seller was obviously not pleased someone actually used their return policy.  They took forever to answer my emails, sent me a Paypal payment for the refund (which stuck me with a fee) instead of using the refund option, and then left me negative feedback.  The funny part is that their negative was the first I have ever received on ebay since I've been a member since 1999.  It makes them look 100% worse when you look at my other feedback than if they had just left a neutral or nothing at all.

Anyways, my point is that you may want to start up an official Paypal/ebay dispute before you return the item.  If all goes well, you can just close the dispute.  Use tracking for your package and you should have enough coverage incase they try to pull something on you.

Mercenary_Roadie wrote:They don't work that way. They either agree or disagree.

Really?  Its either a 100% or nothing?  Do they still take their $25 cut as well?  In that case I would think your chances of getting anything from Ebay is much worse.

Just to clarify, do you mean Significantly Not As Described through Ebay or Paypal or are they the same thing now?