Choose the item above to start resolving a return. You can also use the Resolution Center, or open up your Returns dashboard and select View return details from beside the item.
You'll be able to see the buyer's reason for requesting the return, the date you need to respond by, and any additional comments or photos provided by the buyer.
Your options for responding to a buyer's request depend on the reason they're returning the item and the return policy you stated in your listing.
The buyer received the wrong item, it arrived damaged, or it doesn't match the listing description
If a buyer received the wrong item, it arrived damaged, or it doesn't match the listing description, they can return it to you, even if your return policy states you don't accept returns.
Here are your response options:
Accept the return: The buyer will send the item back to you for a full refund, including the original shipping cost. You'll also be responsible for covering return shipping costs. If the item is returned used or damaged, you may qualify to issue a partial refund. See Partial refund guidelines.
How to accept a return
Give a full refund: You'll issue a full refund to the buyer, including original shipping costs, and they'll keep the item. This is a good option for low-value items.
How to issue a refund
Offer a partial refund: You'll issue a partial refund to the buyer, and they'll keep the item. This can be useful when the buyer isn't completely satisfied with their purchase. For example, if an item arrived with a minor scratch, but the buyer is happy to keep it.
How to issue a partial refund
Send the buyer a message: If you have any questions regarding the buyer's request, you can contact them directly. We may refund the buyer and seek reimbursement from you without requiring the buyer to ship the item back if you do not respond to the return request. If you responded to the request but didn't come to an agreement with the buyer after 3 business days the buyer can ask us to step in and help.
If we're asked to step in to help, we will ask the buyer to return the item to you. If the item is returned used or damaged, you will no longer be able to issue a partial refund to the buyer even if you qualify to issue partial refunds under our seller protections.
How to send the buyer a message
Offer a replacement or exchange if you're a non-managed payments seller: You may offer a replacement (another of the same item) or exchange (a different, but similar item) instead of a return if you are not a managed payments seller.
How to offer a replacement or exchange
You accept returns in your policy, and the buyer changed their mind about a purchase
If you stated in your listing's return policy that you accept returns, your buyer can return the item to you, even if they've changed their mind.
Here are your response options:
Accept the return: The buyer will send the item back to you for a full refund. If you offered free shipping, you'll need to refund the buyer the full amount of the item, including the original shipping cost. You can’t deduct the original shipping cost from any refund amount.
If you stated in the listing that you'll cover return shipping charges, choose how you'll arrange for the item to be returned.
Based on your returns policy, spandooly may automatically accept the return and provide a return shipping label to the buyer on your behalf.
If the item is returned used or damaged, you may qualify to issue the buyer a partial refund. See Partial refund guidelines.
How to accept a return
Give a full refund: You'll issue a full refund to the buyer, and they'll keep the item. Depending on your returns policy, this may or may not include the original shipping cost. This is a good option for low-value items.
How to issue a full refund
Send the buyer a message: If you have any questions regarding the buyer's request, you can contact them directly. The buyer can ask us to step in and help if you can’t agree on a resolution after 3 business days.
If we're asked to step in to help, we'll ask the buyer to return the item to you. If the item is returned used or damaged, you will no longer be able to issue a partial refund to the buyer even if you qualify to issue partial refunds under our seller protections.
How to send the buyer a message
You don't accept returns in your policy, and the buyer changed their mind about a purchase
If you stated in your listing that you don't accept returns when a buyer changes their mind, you're not obliged to accept their return request. However, if you do, you'll provide a great customer experience that encourages the buyer to purchase from you in the future.
Here are your response options:
Accept the return: The buyer will send the item back to you for a full refund (this may or may not include the original shipping costs).
If you offered free shipping, you'll need to refund the buyer the full amount that they paid.
You can advise the buyer that they'll be responsible for covering return shipping costs, or you can provide a label.
If the item is returned used or damaged, you may qualify to issue the buyer a partial refund. See our partial refund guidelines.
How to accept a return
Give a full refund: You'll issue a full refund to the buyer, and they'll keep the item. Depending on your return policy, this may or may not include the original shipping cost. This is a good option for low-value items.
How to issue a full refund
Offer a partial refund: You'll issue a partial refund to the buyer, and they'll keep the item. This can be useful when the buyer ordered the wrong thing by accident—for example, the wrong color or size—and you'd like to offer them a gesture of goodwill.
How to issue a partial refund
Offer a replacement or exchange if you're a non-managed payments seller: You may offer a replacement (another of the same item) or exchange (a different, but similar item) instead of a return.
How to offer a replacement or exchange
Decline the return: You can decline the return request if you've stated in your listing that you don't accept returns.
How to decline a return
Send the buyer a message: If you have any questions regarding the buyer's request, you can contact them directly. If you can't agree on a resolution after 3 business days, you can always ask us to step in and help.
How to send the buyer a message
To accept a return:
We'll then ask the buyer to ship the item back to you:
Once the return is accepted, we'll provide the buyer with a date by which they should ship the item back to you. If we don't see any indicators that the item is on its way back to you, we may close the return to protect you from negative feedback. Returns cannot be closed early at the request of a seller.
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Refund instructions for managed payments sellers:
How to issue a full refund
To issue a full refund
How to issue a partial refund
To offer a partial refund:
You can only offer a partial refund once, and the buyer can choose to accept or reject your offer.
How to decline a return
You can only decline a return if the buyer is returning the item because they changed their mind, and your return policy stated you don't accept returns. Here's how:
The return request will then be closed.
How to send the buyer a message
To send the buyer a message:
How to offer a replacement or exchange
How to issue a partial refund when the item is returned in a different condition
To offer a partial refund:
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When a buyer opens a return request, please be aware that funds related to the sale may be put on hold by PayPal or spandooly. Once the issue is resolved, or we find it in your favor, the hold is lifted and the funds are available again.
If you’re a managed payments seller, once a hold is lifted, you’ll receive your funds in your next payout.
When you agree to give the buyer their money back, or once you receive the returned item, you'll need to issue their refund within 2 business days. To do this, simply go to the case in your Returns dashboard and choose Refund buyer. If you don't refund the buyer within 2 business days of receiving the item, and the buyer has uploaded return tracking, we may automatically issue a refund to them on your behalf.
When you issue a refund to the buyer, they'll be refunded through their original payment method. In most cases, the buyer will receive their money back within 3 to 5 business days. However, depending on the payment method the buyer used, it can take up to 30 days for the refund to be processed. If you’re a managed payments seller, learn how refunds work.
We'll also automatically relist your item for you. If you don't want your item to be relisted, simply uncheck the Relist item box when issuing the refund.
In most cases, you'll issue a full refund to the buyer, but if an item is returned used or damaged it may be appropriate to issue a partial refund to the buyer. Read the Seller protections policy to find out how to qualify to issue partial refunds.
See the table below for guidance on issuing a partial refund.
Refund deduction guidelines table
Condition of return
Refund deduction guidance
Excellent condition:No deductions
Good condition:5%–10% deduction
Fair condition:15%–30% deduction
Poor condition:35%–50% deduction
How to issue a partial refund after the item is returned.
Seller protections is an incentive for you to provide buyers with exceptional experiences, such as offering free returns. This feature may not be used to recoup market losses on items returned in the same condition or to recoup return shipping and restocking fees.
It may only be used to recoup losses when an item is returned used or damaged. Sellers who misuse this feature may be subject to a range of actions, such as losing access to this or other site features or losing seller protections.
When you issue a refund, your PayPal transaction fee isn't refunded. To learn more about variable and fixed transaction fees, read how to offer a full or partial refund through PayPal, see the PayPal User Agreement, or call PayPal directly with any questions.
Also, if you send a new item as part of a replacement or exchange to your buyer instead of issuing a refund, there is no change to your PayPal fees.
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We know that our sellers want to provide buyers with a great experience, but sometimes you're not able to reach an agreement. If you and the buyer haven't been able to resolve the issue within 3 business days, we're always ready to step in and help.
If asked to step in to help, we may ask the buyer to return the item to you if any of the following apply:
If we're asked to step in and help and the item is returned used or damaged, you will not be able to issue a partial refund even if you qualify to issue partial refunds under our seller protections.
Learn more about asking Spandooly for help.