Who should pay for return postage?

[RiverHill]

Have purchased an item, with pay pal, ($175.00 & free shipping) seller shipped the wrong item. I'm covered with Pay Pal buyer protection plan, (ya, right), shipper will refund me original price and original shipping (free) per pay pal, if I return the item sent to buyer at my expense.
In have no problem with the return (if it was my fault), except the item weight is 26 pounds, the question is who should pay the $32.00 postage for the return? Seller will then cancel order. (so I can not leave feedback nor do I get the item ordered)

Our policy at River Hill, would be to refund the return shipping if it is our error, and to send the correct one ordered if customer (buyer) so wishes to continue the sale. Open for ideas as what to do? (just burns me that I get stuck the postage , $32.00, and no item, and not my fault)

[burgyeb]

Well, can only speak from personal experience. If buyer returns item to me in general; my policy is they pay the cost of return shipment. However, if I made mistake & sent wrong item, which I have done before, I would pay for the return cost also. It is not the buyer's fault if I made the mistake.

[damian_steele]

IMO the seller should suck it up and make good. If it's their fault then it's up to them to suffer all costs involved in making it right. Alternatively they may not care about their customers or their reputation when someone they've p'd off tells everyone they can.

[kevster1]

yes without doubt if i made a mistake I would pay the postage cost
It's not the buyers fault I couldn't get it right

[Oldandintheway]

Agree with all replies to date.
As to what you can do now = not much (apart from Neg feedback) & perhaps keeping support up to date about it!
Return the item to get the bulk of the money back.

I know what would happen at that other place - some buyers would keep the item & start a claim with P'pal for item not as described & get their money back also. Plus leave neg feedback!

[rucabela]

the seller should pay up and save face (unless he doesn´t give a s+++)

[kreativebargains]

As with all the others, sellers fault, so seller should pay. I have just had an item that broke when used. Outside usual returns poilcy, but not buyers fault. I have refunded all money, including postage, buyer has returned item and I am paying his return costs. In total I will lose £4.40, but that's how it goes sometimes. though I hope not too often.

[rucabela]

absolutely right!!
I know it hurts,but it has to be,otherwise nobody would buy anything

[suesjools]

Agree with all replies to date.
As to what you can do now = not much (apart from Neg feedback) & perhaps keeping support up to date about it!
Return the item to get the bulk of the money back.

I know what would happen at that other place - some buyers would keep the item & start a claim with P'pal for item not as described & get their money back also. Plus leave neg feedback!

Agree 110%. The seller is lucky you're an honest person and should want to keep you happy and possibly returning to buy more items; unfortunately not all sellers think this way.

Never sent the wrong item meself, though I have made occasional mistakes in listings; if my mistake, my policy is to refund the buyer in full, including original shipping, they can do what they want with the item in question, maybe not the best answer, but it saves on return shipping costs.

Good luck, hope you get this sorted soon.

Best wishes for many sales to all,

[papagran40]

in this case the seller should pay for the return , no ifs or buts , they made the mistake...only problem is they also have the money...so it could be a case for cutting your losses...but then I would not use the same seller again.............papa.