RESELLER GUIDES
Two guides that turn a bad return from a silent loss into a winnable dispute — or at least a clean tax deduction.
How to win a return dispute (the photo-evidence method)
- Before shipping: photograph the item from every angle, any flaws, tags/serials, then the packed box next to the shipping label.
- Keep tracking for both the outbound and the return shipment.
- On arrival: photograph the damage or the swap immediately; for electronics add a short video.
- Stay on-platform (eBay Messages, Poshmark case, Mercari/Depop in-app) and hit every deadline — eBay's window, Poshmark's 3 days, Mercari's 24-hour photo requests.
- Attach your CLAWBACK loss figure so the platform sees a documented dollar amount, not a vibe.
How to write off forced-return losses
- Returned, damaged, or unsellable inventory can reduce your taxable income as a cost-of-goods adjustment.
- The key is documentation: after each loss, use the calculator's "copy for taxes" line and keep the one-line record.
- At year-end, total the records; that's your starting point for the deduction conversation with a tax professional.
- CLAWBACK produces the record; a tax professional confirms the treatment. We don't give tax advice.