Getting postage refunded?

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Soldato
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I'm sending a 4 slot Nitecore i4 battery charger back to a seller on fleabay, as it doesn't charge 4 x C batteries simultaneously, only two at a time as you can't physically fit 4 of them together. I've had a friendly and polite communication with the seller who is happy to refund me. He mentioned that the item description does say it can't take 4 x C batteries simultaneously and I apologised to him for me not noticing.

I asked if he could kindly refund me including my return postage. He said:

"Hi Friend,

Thanks for your kindly reply.

Please enclose your eBay ID in the package, and make a note of the return reason. Full refund will be issued once the package refund, but kindly please understand that the return postage should be covered at your part.
Moreover, please note that the original gift box need to be returned together as well."


I'm not sure if I'm entitled to make a big fuss about the postage since I made a mistake by not seeing the bit about not taking 4 batteries simultaneously, I just assumed it would.
However, technically, he's legally obliged to refund the postage, right? This is what the fleabay Consumer Contracts Regulations says:


Consumers have a minimum of 14 calendar days from the day after the item is received to let sellers know they’d like to return the item for a refund. Sellers can set a longer returns timeframe if they choose. Consumers then have an additional 14 calendar days from when they let sellers know they want to return the item, to actually return it, or provide proof of the return. Legally, sellers will have to refund the original delivery charges as well, to the value of the cheapest postage option.
 
The bold bit states you're allowed a refund on the original order (inc postage if applicable) but doesn't mention the returns postage, which suggests you have to lump it (iirc you get that refunded if the item is faulty, which it isn't).
 
unless it's changed recently, if they state in T&Cs that buyer is responsible for postage, then you have to pay - you are returning under the new equivalent of distance selling regs, not because the item is faulty.
 
Whether they say he should or not, why should he lose out because you didn't read the description properly.

Usually I'm all for customers making sure they get what their entitled to but in this case the sensible thing for you to do is suck it up.
 
Seems bit unreasonable expecting a refund on postage because you didn't read the item description properly.

I'd be happy with the refund and leave it at that.
 
Yes, the original delivery charges should be refunded. The cost to send it back falls on you though.

I thought it was only the case if the item is faulty... otherwise that makes no sense..

If I bought something from a rain forest shop and paid postage and then returned it because I did not like it I wouldn't get the postage back..

I am pretty sure it only relates to faulty items.
 
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