Buyer's Responsibility
Unpack and inspect all shipments as soon as possible. Notify the seller right away--within three days at the most--if you wish to return the item, and state why. Be sure to review the seller's return policy and comply with it. It's not right to return an item simply because you changed your mind about buying it. Request a return only if the item isn't what the auction description represented, or if it isn't in the expected condition. Decide whether you want a refund or an exchange, or if you wish to return the item for a better-quality one at an additional cost.

Once the seller agrees to accept the return, pack the item as carefully as if you were sending it to a customer. After all, you plan to receive money in return, so be sure it reaches its destination intact. Don't expect immediate recognition, especially if you're dealing with a high-volume seller. Include with the item all of the information about the transaction: the auction number, the item, the amount of the sale, and your name and address. This helps speed up the return process.

Who Pays Postage?
That depends on who made the error. If the seller graciously agrees to accept the return of an item accurately described in the auction description, then the buyer should pay all shipping costs involved with the return. If the auction description wasn't accurate or the item is incomplete or not working, then the seller should pay the postage.

Whoever ships the package is responsible for its safe arrival. Note that the post office can take 30 days or longer to reimburse for a lost shipment or to resolve an insurance claim. Some sellers prefer to refund a buyer's money out of their own pocket and settle with the post office in due time. This is a good-faith measure--certainly not an obligation.

What About Feedback?
As with any situation, posting or denying user feedback is a personal choice at most online auction sites. If the return is handled amicably and all parties are satisfied with the outcome, they can exchange positive feedback and move on. It's a lot better to reverse the transaction in an agreeable way than to have both parties leaving each other damaging reports.

While sellers must protect themselves against unsavory tactics, buyers should always read auction descriptions carefully. Contact the seller with questions about the item or about his or her operating practices before you consider bidding. If you don't get the information you need, pass on that auction. A similar item is bound come up again, hopefully in an auction run by a seller with clear policies.

Understanding Feedback Avoiding the Buy and Switch New Inventory Sources