Buying items on eBay is no different from buying items at a department store.  If you want an exchange or a refund, you have to return the original item to the place you bought it.  Apparently, some people seem to think that they can just say, “Hey, that thing you sold me broke.” and without any sort of proof whatsoever, the eBay seller will just send them a new one.  This is neither reasonable nor logical.  NO REFUNDS OR EXCHANGES WILL BE MADE UNLESS THE ORIGINAL ITEM IS RETURNED!  Having recently run into one of these bizarre requests, I’ve decided the return policy needs some clarification, and it has therefore been revised as follows.

Return Policy (effective March 7, 2009)

All returned/exchanged items must conform to the conditions set forth below. By bidding on my auctions or buying from the store, you are agreeing to these terms.  If you are unable to agree with our return policy, please do not bid on our items, thank you.

• 15-day inspection period (begins upon your receipt of item).
• We accept both refunds and exchanges as explained below.

Items Returned for Reasons Other Than Defective (i.e., you decide you just don’t like it)

Refund requested: If you wish to receive a refund for your item, the following rules apply.

• The initial shipping fee will not be refunded. (Placing your bid indicates that you have agreed to the shipping charges; therefore, please do not request a refund of any shipping charges.)
• Buyer must first send the item back, and the refund will be done within 10 business days of our receipt of the item (and probably much, much sooner, the 10-day span is to cover the possibility of us being away on vacation or some such thing).

• The buyer will responsible for all return shipping charges. The fees for registered mail in the US are ridiculously high, and it is your choice whether you wish to pay that fee.  We will not refund any fees for registering a package or for insuring it.  If you do not return the item via registered mail with a tracking number, and if that item never arrives in Taiwan, we are not responsible to give you a refund.
• Buyer will be refunded the amount of the winning bid placed MINUS the Final Value Fee and Listing Fee charged by eBay for the transaction.

Exchange requested: If you wish to exchange your item for a similar one of different color or style and identical price, the following rules apply.

• All exchanges must be pre-approved by contacting me in advance with your request to verify the item you wish to receive in exchange is currently in stock.
• Buyer must send the original item back, and the exchange will be processed within 10 business days of our receipt of the item (and probably much, much sooner, the 10-day span is to cover the possibility of us being away on vacation or some such thing). A return shipping fee of US$5.00 in cash must be enclosed in the package with the item returned.
• Buyer will responsible for all shipping charges – that means the initial charge to send it to you, the charge for you to return it to Taiwan, and the charge to send you a different one.  PLEASE BE SURE YOU WANT THE ITEM YOU’RE BIDDING ON, BECAUSE IF YOU WANT TO EXCHANGE IT FOR SOMETHING ELSE AFTERWARDS, YOU WILL END UP PAYING MORE!
• The fees for registered mail in the US are ridiculously high, and it is your choice whether you wish to pay that fee.  We will not refund any fees for registering a package or for insuring it.  If you do not return the item via registered mail with a tracking number, and if that item never arrives in Taiwan, we are not responsible to provide an item in exchange.

Items Returned Because They Are Defective

If you receive a defective item, we prefer to exchange that for a new item; however, you may also request a refund.  The item you return must have obvious defects in order to qualify for a refund.  Our items are all very carefully inspected before being shipped, and it is rare that defective merchandise slips by this scrutiny, but occasionally it happens.  If the item is broken when you receive it, it was likely damaged during shipping, not before it was shipped (but still qualifies for return).  

Refund requested:

·         The initial shipping fee will be refunded.  It is not your fault the merchandise is defective, and we don’t expect you to pay for shipping in that case.

·         Buyer must first send the item back via first-class mail, and the refund will be done within 10 business days of our receipt of the item (and probably much, much sooner, the 10-day span is to cover the possibility of us being away on vacation or some such thing).

• The buyer will pay for all return shipping charges, and the actual postage (NOT fees for insurance or registration) will be refunded upon receipt of the item, if the item is determined to truly be defective.
• The fees for registered mail in the US are ridiculously high, and it is your choice whether you wish to pay that fee.  We will not refund any fees for registering a package or for insuring it.  If you do not return the item via registered mail with a tracking number, and if that item does not arrive in Taiwan, we are not responsible to give a refund.
• If the item is determined to be defective, the Buyer will be refunded the full amount of the winning bid placed without any deduction for fees charged by eBay.
• If no obvious defect can be found on the item, then you will be refunded under the terms stated above for exchanges, with all eBay fees deducted from that refund, and no reimbursement for your return shipping charges.  So please, make sure there is an obvious defect before sending something back.

Exchange requested: If you wish to exchange your defective item for an identical one (without the defect, of course!), the following rules apply.

• Buyer must send the original item back via first-class mail, and the exchange will be processed within 10 business days of our receipt of the item (and probably much, much sooner, the 10-day span is to cover the possibility of us being away on vacation or some such thing).
• The buyer will pay for all return shipping charges, and the actual postage (NOT fees for insurance or registration) will be refunded upon receipt of the item, if the item is determined to truly be defective.
• The fees for registered mail in the US are ridiculously high, and it is your choice whether you wish to pay that fee.  We will not refund any fees for registering a package or for insuring it.  If you do not return the item via registered mail with a tracking number, and if that item does not arrive in Taiwan, we are not responsible to provide an item in exchange.