It is one of the most common messages on Depop: a buyer says there is a small issue, but instead of returning the item they want some money back to keep it. My answer is always no. No partial refunds – if something is wrong, the item comes back and the buyer gets a full refund.
Why partial refunds are a bad deal for sellers
A partial refund turns your price into a starting point. Once buyers learn that a complaint gets them money back while they keep the item, you start attracting people who were never really unhappy – they just wanted a lower price.
- The item is usually fine. Most of these requests are about a vague or tiny “issue” that is hard to prove.
- It rewards complaining. Every partial you give makes the next request more likely.
- It costs you real money on sales that should have been final.
Requiring the return cuts returns by about 40%
When I tell a buyer they need to send the item back for a refund, roughly 40% of them never actually ship it. The request was a shot at a discount, and once they have to pack it up and drop it off, the problem goes away. With a partial refund, I would have paid every one of them.
How to respond
Keep it short and kind. Say you are sorry it is not working out and that you are happy to issue a full refund once the item is returned. Do not argue about the flaw and do not counter with a smaller amount. If they push, or hint at a bad review unless you pay, the answer stays the same: return it for a full refund.
Keep it clean and documented
Handle it through Depop’s official flow and keep the conversation in the app so there is a record. Accurate listings are your best protection here, because most refund requests trace back to a buyer expectation that did not match reality.
Nifty helps you keep listings accurate and consistent across Depop and every marketplace you sell on, so fewer surprises reach the buyer and fewer refund requests reach you. Good descriptions up front are the cheapest refund insurance there is.
Bottom line
Do not offer partial refunds on Depop. A buyer with a real problem returns the item and gets their money back. The ones who just wanted a lower price usually never send it, and you keep your full price.
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