Advice on refunds

[springmoone.livejournal.com]

Here's the situation:

I sold a partial fursuit (head, hands, tail) via an auction site to a buyer. They paid in installments and that was all fine, and I sent them the suit. It arrived safely, but upon inspection they decided they didn't like it because it was hot, the mouth was not as mobile as they would have liked, and the vision was not what they expected. I offered to take the suit back to work on it (make vision adjustments, fix the jaw, and add a fan) for free. They would still like a full refund, minus shipping charges.

However, I'm short the money for the refund. The payments came in in small installments and that all went right out the door to pay for printmaking class supplies (one of the reasons that I made and sold the suit in the first place). If the suit was returned I would be able to work on it and re-sell it, but there's no guarantee that I'd be able to get the same amount that it originally sold for.

Should I ask one more time to take it back for repairs/refurb or is a refund justified in this situation? Should I suck it up and borrow from a friend to pay the buyer back? I don't know how to handle this. Even if I did re-sell the suit I might still end up in the red. I can't responsibly take on more work/projects to make up for the shortfall, and I'm not having luck in my "day job" search right now.

Edit: It was a premade

Edit II: The buyer has been working on their own head and has realized they can be quite hot (especially in the summer sun). I am going to put a fan in the head (good experience for me anyway) and all will be well.

Comments

[intj-reflection.livejournal.com]

OKay, with a premade partial you would be going over and above to even make adjustments to the suit. Your commissioner was taking chances on purchasing a product in As Is condition. I honestly don't feel like you have any requirement to offer a refund, but if you're feeling pressured to do so you are within your rights to ask for the sort of payment plan that you offered to them.

[Edited to clarify derp phrasing.]