How do I provide a refund yet make sure the item is returned to me

[coreyf311]

I sold an item that it turned out could not be used by the seller.  Honest mistake on my part that I want to make right by giving a full refund.  However, how do I ensure that I get the item back?  Will the refund be held till I receive the item back or will they have access to the funds and be able to just keep the item if they decide to not play nice?

[kernowlass]

@coreyf311 

In the event of a dispute paypal normally requires the buyer to return the item back to the seller first before a refund is issued.

If it was your mistake then offer to pay the buyers return postage costs after receipt of item?

[coreyf311]

I planned to pay for the return postage.  Is that not an option as part of the refund procedure?

[kernowlass]

@coreyf311 

How you work it is entirely between you and the buyer, all I can tell is how paypal would work it if the buyer opened a paypal dispute.

However if you offer a full refund in the 'dispute' part of the claim before it is escalated then you can offer the buyer whatever you want. If they accept that's fine, if not they can escalate to a claim.

IF they won a claim for item received but not as described (and that is not always guaranteed) then the buyer normally has to return the item back to the seller (trackable to prove delivery) before they get a refund.