Ebay Issue

[chevblazer02]

I've been using Ebay for a while and haven't had an issue until now, I mainly sell sports memorabilia and I had just sold a Phil Rizzuto certified autograph card. I shipped out as usual and once the buyer received it they stated it was damaged. Bent corner as if someone dropped it 2"-3". A second message came almost immediately stating "Let me just leave negative feedback and let Ebay handle this". I replied saying I am willing to work this out but please send me a photo of the card so I may see the damage and compare it to my numerous pictures I have of the item. I know I don't really have a leg to stand on since Ebay always seems to back the buyer, I just wanted to see the damage that I know wasn't there when I sent it. I got a reply saying "I'm done with you, I will leave the feedback and you can talk to Ebay now!".

I responded the next day stating that I am more than willing to work with you and I'd appreciate the chance to make this right. I also said that if he felt the need to leave negative feedback and open a claim with Ebay to go ahead. I have no issue dealing with Ebay.....

I basically felt this was a just a threat to get me to budge. I hadn't heard from him for a few days so I sent him a message basically asking where we stood on all of this.....

At this point I still haven't gotten a picture of the damage. I guess I feel like if the damage was as stated a picture could and would have been sent if they are taking all of this time going back and forth with me....

The response was I will consider this for 48 hrs and will let you know.
Well the time has come and I got a response saying refund me 10 dollars and I will leave no feedback and be done with this, as I don't have the time to deal with you. Or refund me the cost, plus shipping both ways and I will send the card back. If neither of these work I will make the time to go thru ebay.

What would you do? Where do I stand if Ebay gets involved? Anyone think I should go thru Ebay and report the buyer for what seemed to me as a threat? Idk what to do at this point....

 

[Gorechick]

I'd call EBay CS. Sounds like he's trying to bully you into a refund. They will be able to look at the transaction and see all your correspondence. They can also see if the buyer has done this sort of thing before.

 

[mel&me]

You have two choices, go thru ebay and let them handle this to what seems as someone just trying to get something for nothing. or just give the 10 bucks and walk away. chalk it up as a loss and dont waste anymore time with this person. Time is money.

 

[chevblazer02]

Besides knowing the damage was not there when I sent it, the $10 is not an issue. Its the fact that even once I do refund the $10 he wants to leave no feedback which leaves me open for negative feedback still and a case opened against me....

 

[tnklvr]

I would offer the 10 dollars if he sends sends or texts a pic to you of the damage. I bought something one time that was damaged and had no issue sending a picture in order to prove the damage. If no pic let ebay know and see what happens.

 

[jaybirdsmommy]

I haven't sold in a while, so someone with more recent experience may come along and correct me on this - but if he's making threats of negative feedback if you don't give him a partial refund, you used to be able to report buyers for that. Can't remember what it was called - feedback threats or something like that.

At this point, I wouldn't contact him any more, let him make the next move. He probably doesn't want to file a claim since Ebay will make him ship the card back. He doesn't want to provide a picture of the damage for the partial refund because there probably isn't any. He's just trying to bully you into giving him a discount.

 

[froggibabey]

Yeah, I'd report him for threatening negative feedback, he can't do that.

There's no way I'd refund without a picture of the damage, and even if he does and paypal makes him send it back, he'll have to pay to ship it back.

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

Unfortunately, sports memorabilia is an extremely high fraud area of eBay. I wouldn't go anywhere near it, as a buyer or seller.

 

[tzeitel]

If Ebay gets involved and they take the buyers side you will have to do a refund but they are responsible for shipping it back (at their cost). Personally, I would not give him a partial refund. I rather have to do a refund than let them get away with (what sounds like) a scam. I would report them to Ebay for feedback extortion and if he wants to open a case just let Ebay know that you have tried to work with this person and they refuse to send proof of the damage.

 

[peg110]

I agree with most folks here. I am not sure what your feedback rating is, and while no one wants a negative rating, it sometimes happens. You cannot please all the people all the time, and in the case of a possible scam..... Well, he is just trying to get one result.

If you refund him $10 and he doesn't leave FB then you could be at mercy again. Take the negative FB if necessary, force him to open a case and send it back (His Cost) and then refund the price. If you can validate the damage did not exist before shipping and it's damaged upon return I think you are within your rights to also file a claim against him for a loss of value. I know in my auctions, I put the disclaimer that if you don't purchase the insurance, NO RETURNS for damage are accepted.

 

[SharonZ]

I'd report him, he's trying to bully you into a refund. As someone else stated, Ebay can see your conversations back and forth. Let them determine the outcome, not the buyer.

 

[tzeitel]

I know in my auctions, I put the disclaimer that if you don't purchase the insurance, NO RETURNS for damage are accepted.

Even if you put a disclaimer that you do not accept refunds (for whatever reason) Ebay's policy is that you have to accept them. All they have to say is "not as described" and you are doomed

 

[DianeV]

My opinion since he started off threatening from the beginning is that something is up. Possibly he is trying to replace one he has with a better one or as some mentioned just trying to get the one you sent him for cheaper. I would make him go through the process with ebay and make sure you request when you are able for ebay to read the messages

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

Even if you put a disclaimer that you do not accept refunds (for whatever reason) Ebay's policy is that you have to accept them. All they have to say is "not as described" and you are doomed

This is untrue. eBay does NOT require sellers to accept returns. They only require sellers to have a return policy, whether they accept returns or not.

http://pages.ebay.com/help/sell/return-policy.html

 

[supersnoop]

Even if you put a disclaimer that you do not accept refunds (for whatever reason) Ebay's policy is that you have to accept them. All they have to say is "not as described" and you are doomed

This is untrue. eBay does NOT require sellers to accept returns. They only require sellers to have a return policy, whether they accept returns or not.

http://pages.ebay.com/help/sell/return-policy.html

eBay doesn't require you to accept refunds, but they do require you to deliver the item as you described it. They regularly side with buyers in claims where the item is not as described.

 

[smokeyblue]

You have proof of extortion. How did you send this card? Was it via USPS? If so, I would tell the buyer that you are going to report their extortion attempt to the postmaster.

 

[Turk February]

You have proof of extortion. How did you send this card? Was it via USPS? If so, I would tell the buyer that you are going to report their extortion attempt to the postmaster.

It's not extortion to ask for a partial refund for a damaged item. Also this has nothing to do with USPS.

 

[Turk February]

Your best bet to avoid negative feedback is refund him 100% and get the card back. To me the buyer sounds like a problem and I don't trust that he wouldn't still leave negative feedback after getting his $10 back. And if he did leave negative feedback, the best you could do is reply to it. eBay will leave it up since it is the buyer's opinion on the transaction (unless he curses or says something false that can be proven like "never received").

eBay will not see what he is doing as threatening you. Technically, he's asking for a partial refund to remedy the situation, even though he isn't doing it nicely.

Going through eBay will only result in you refunding him anyway. Item not as described. As ****ty as it is for you, it's the truth. And unless the packaging is damaged you won't win an insurance claim...plus this buyer doesn't sound like he would even send you photos of the packaging to be able to prove that in the first place.

So yea, just refund him and get the card back. That's my opinion at least.

 

[DianeV]

I don't like to give in to bullies so I would make him go through the process

 

[Chloesmom]

Call ebay immediately and report him for feedback extortion . A buyer cannot threaten to leave negative feedback in exchange for something . Most likely he has done this before and hopefully ebay has a record of it . They will leave a note on your account and in the event he does leave feedback you can call back and have it removed .
Then I would tell him you have filed an insurance claim thru the po and need a picture of the damage . Tell him nothing can go any further without a picture . Two things will happen .. Once he hears you filed a claim it will scare him off . Scammers ( especially lame ones) hate things being filed . Then , since I suspect he can't produce a pic of damage to a card , he will most likely go away Blaise you called his bluff . Make sure all of these messages go they ebay so they can see them .
I sell 1000 items a month and I have seen it all but if you are smart you can win . I have never lost a case and have 100% feedback .