Acceptable to ask seller for option to return a component?

certainly agree there is no harm in asking...

There is harm in asking in that I believe many sellers would not sell to you.  If I describe the component as it truly is and safely ship it to a buyer, then the transaction has concluded.  No do overs.  It protects me because I have no idea (or control) as to what happened to the component after it arrived at the buyer's residence.  I guess I could charge you for the return option, but realistically why should I even bother.  Some people might not have the problem I with you asking, but I think most will.

Sure it is OK to ask. It is just as OK to decline.

Thanks everyone for the great replies, which seem to reflect both sides of the meter - OK to ask and not OK to ask, although most seem to favor asking. In my particular case, I did offer to pay for the return shipment, but did not consider a sellers concern for potential damage to a unit, as onhwy61 points out.

So far, my take-away from responses is its OK to ask, but most sellers will likely say no, so if you move forward make sure you use a protected payment in case of dispute, and know the resale value of the component if all goes awry.