posted on October 7, 2004 11:14:46 AM
I sold a pair of jeans recently. Clothing is not my main business on ebay and in fact I have not sold anything in that category for almost a year, but I know that it's been lucrative in the past for me so I cleaned out some closets, etc.
Anyhow, from my previous experience, I know to give detailed measurements because everyone always asks. So, for the jeans, I gave the ACTUAL waist and inseam measurements as they can be different from the listed size. So, I sell these jeans to someone who bids them up more than double what I expect and of course I'm happy. Now, she writes to me and says they're "HUGE" and that she wants to return them. I don't get too many return requests with the stuff I usually sell and I know how to handle them when I do, but I'm not sure what to do in this instance. I feel like they were photographed in good detail AND properly represented. Is it my fault that someone didn't figure their size out correctly? Should I be the one left holding the ball?
What do you fine, experienced e-bayers feel is the right thing to do?
posted on October 7, 2004 11:28:58 AM
It depends. When you listed the auction, did you mention that the size was different than what the tag reads, or did you put your own measurements in only?
I think one of the problems faced here is that when a clothing item has been previously worn, sizing can change drastically from shrinkage, stretching, wear, etc. Even when a piece of clothing is new, we know that sizing isn't always accurate.
If you represented the item properly and gave a full description of the correct measurements, then I would say that the bidder may have simply misread or got caught in the "fun" of bidding and realized she overpaid and has second thoughts. Maybe she lost a bunch of weight during the last week or two. At any rate, if you know in your heart that you represented it properly, I wouldn't refund it. There was nothing wrong with the item beyond that it didn't fit what she thought it should. That isn't your fault and if she had asked questions before running up the bidding, she might have ended up with exactly what she wanted.
I sell clothing almost exclusively, and I honestly cannot remember the last time I had someone ask for a return because my measurements were inaccurate. It has been about 3 years I would guess. I've had people ask to exchange items because they bought something too big or too small, but that has always been for items that were new and I carried an inventory on. Previously worn clothes are bid at your own risk, unless it was an obvious error on my part.
[ edited by rustygumbo on Oct 7, 2004 11:31 AM ]
posted on October 7, 2004 12:00:08 PM
Rusty, thanks for the response. I listed the actual measurements and the listed size and stated that the jeans were really like new, hardly worn and washed only once so there was really little shrinkage if at all. I used to work in a clothing store so I often had things given to me or purchased for such low prices and I never really got any use out of them.
I guess there could have been confusion, though my measurements were centered at the beginning of the listing so I don't think they were hard to miss. I honestly feel that they were listed accurately and the description was detailed enough. Is "bid at your own risk" sort of a given with used clothing on ebay as long as it's represented correctly? I don't want a negative from this and I also don't want to be a jerk but I don't feel that I really want to refund money either for something that was not my error.
posted on October 7, 2004 12:29:13 PM
It is hard to make a call on this as I don't know how your TOS was set up. If you don't take them back, you willcertainly get a neg. Its a tough call either way you go.
posted on October 7, 2004 01:01:30 PM
You could offer to let her return them at her own expense and then refund the purchase price only minus your listing fees. I've done that in the past and everyone was happy.
posted on October 7, 2004 01:42:57 PM
I have some Tommy and Ralph Lauren jeans that I will be listing. I will list their sizes as well as measure the jeans' thighs, waist and inseams. I will then put in BIG letters -- BE SURE TO MEASURE YOURSELF BEFORE BIDDING BECAUSE THIS IS NOT RETURNABLE!
Do you think that should cover it? Eh ... Probably not as we all know that BIDDERS DON'T READ.
