Tech Reference

How to return an item on eBay if it's defective or damaged, and meets the site's requirements

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It's easy to return an item on eBay with the Money Back Guarantee — as long as it meets the policy requirements. Shutterstock
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So that vintage T-shirt you ordered off eBay wasn't in quite so "excellent" condition after all? Or maybe the record player you bought arrived with a broken turntable. 

Luckily, you should be able to return those items with no problem.   

eBay's Money Back Guarantee ensures you will be refunded if you return an item that didn't match its description, or arrived defective or damaged. You'll likely have to request a return within 30 days of receiving the item — or longer if the seller has an extended return window. 

If you simply regret a purchase, then it's up to the seller whether or not your return will be accepted. Sellers have three days to attempt to resolve an issue before eBay gets involved. 

Either way, here's how to return an item you bought on eBay.

How to return an item on eBay

1. Log into your eBay account and click on "My eBay" at the top right corner of the screen.

2. On the dropdown menu, click "Purchase History."

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Click on "Purchase History" in the menu.  Steven John/Business Insider

3. Find the item you wish to return, then click "Return this item."

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Click on the option to return the item.  Steven John/Business Insider

4. On the next screen, type in a note about why you want to return it and select a reason from the dropdown menu.

5. Click "Request a return."

Now you have to wait until the seller decides whether or not to accept your return request. 

If they don't but you think you deserve a refund due to the condition of the item bought, you can contact eBay and request help with the return if it's within 30 days of your purchase.

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Steven John has been a freelance writer for more than a dozen years and has been a regular contributor to Business Insider since 2017. His work includes a focus on the tech world, covering companies including Apple, Microsoft, Meta, Google, and others. He also reviews restaurants, shares how-to cooking articles, and writes general interest pieces.Steven also writes for publications including Architectural Digest, The Daily Beast, Forbes, and more. In the past, he also wrote for New York Magazine, Mashed, U.S. News & World Report and other outlets. He runs his own outdoor lifestyle site, Dad Gear Review, and co-hosts the Fact Trekkers podcast with his son. He has had two novels published, Three A.M. and Outrider. He graduated from Emerson College with a degree in communications focused on filmmaking.He is an avid outdoorsman and can be frequently found in a kayak or on a mountain trail, often with his family along for the adventure.Expertise:Tech industryTech hardwareOutdoorsCookingRestaurantsDIYPopular articles:Microsoft: A history of the software giant co-founded by Bill Gates, its products and services, jobs, layoffs, and moreYouTube is a major entertainment force. Here's the platform's history, plus how to create a channel and upload videos.Inside the life and career of Bill Gates, the Microsoft co-founder, billionaire, and philanthropistTim Cook net worth: How the Apple leader earns and spends his moneyBecoming an Amazon seller is a simple process. Here's what's involved, plus how you make money and get paid.