Ebay Vent

[It'sWDW4me]

Is Craig's List an option? We sold furniture there, and had an easy experience. Although the scammers there are quite high, and our first contact was from someone working a scam.

For eBay is there anything preventing you from selling an item of low value, such as a sock, and "include for free" the high priced item you are really intending to sell? Then if anything goes wrong, they are returning the very over priced sock they bought. The "free" item included in the box was not for sale and can't be disputed.

But wouldn't this backfire on the seller big-time? They bought a sock and got a free (oh let's use the OP's item) LV wallet. They claim they don't like said sock - it clashes with their wardrobe/not as advertised/whatever. Now they return sock for full refund and get to keep the "free" LV wallet.

 

[bonoriffic]

But wouldn't this backfire on the seller big-time? They bought a sock and got a free (oh let's use the OP's item) LV wallet. They claim they don't like said sock - it clashes with their wardrobe/not as advertised/whatever. Now they return sock for full refund and get to keep the "free" LV wallet.

I was assuming this was an all sales final type situation, and the only valid returns would be if the product came which was not as described, broken, etc. Picking a sock or something that is impossible to not be exactly as described (and impossible to break) was the goal.

If eBay lets anyone return anything for any reason, well I can't see why people would actually use that service as a seller. Don't they charge you a fee to list/sell there? Are you out that fee even with a return?

 

[Luv2Scrap]

I was assuming this was an all sales final type situation, and the only valid returns would be if the product came which was not as described, broken, etc. Picking a sock or something that is impossible to not be exactly as described (and impossible to break) was the goal.

If eBay lets anyone return anything for any reason, well I can't see why people would actually use that service as a seller. Don't they charge you a fee to list/sell there? Are you out that fee even with a return?

All sales final means absolutely nothing to Ebay. They will simply remove the money from your Paypal account and give it back to the buyer. Refund completed.

Until very recently, I was buying and selling Cricut machines on Ebay, some used and some new. I sold just under 200 machines in the past two years, parting out the cartridges and selling them separately.

Every used machine was very thoroughly tested and very well packaged, and advertised as such. I always disclosed any issues the machine might have. For the most part, I've had many happy buyers, but there have been a few that wanted to use the machine for a while (sometimes 5-6 weeks later...) and then return it (or sometimes get a refund and keep the machine! ) because it suddenly "doesn't work". Usually referring them to the company's CS helpline is enough, but I have been forced into giving a couple of refunds that I didn't feel were deserved at all.

 

[horseshowmom]

You see here is the basic problem. You are 100% convinced that the buyer is trying to scam out of a purchase just based on what you have heard from one party but you can't see that the buyer may have shown the item to other people who are just as convinced that the item is fake. Now put yourself in the shoes of an Ebay rep who doesn't know either party.

I understand what you're saying, but where ebay's concerned, the buyer must beware. If the buyer had a question (particulalry when buying an upscale brand name like LV), they should have taken it and had it checked before they damaged it and before so much time elapsed. It's just not fair to the seller to have to look over their shoulder for such a long period of time.

As far as the ebay rep goes, I would have to ask whether the item was being returned in the same condition it was sent in. In this case, it obviously isn't, and that should be the end of it IMHO.

Several years ago I sold a used show saddle for close to $1000. It was a very recognizable upscale brand (at least in the horse show world ). With today's market, I doubt very seriously that I would take that chance anymore. I couldn't gamble on losing the money and getting a damaged saddle in return (if indeed I got the same saddle back, and how do I provide
enough proof that it's not which could result in my losing both my money and my saddle ).

It just seems to me that ebay is running out sellers like myself. In many ways, they're also curtailing buyers like me who go/went to ebay for great deals not to shop in large ebay stores necessarily. JMHO

 

[penn19]

So it's ok if you are new and trying to build up you reputaion but when it gets to a certain point you couldn't be bothered? I also don't need it but since I always leave it for the seller it would just seem to be a common courtesy of doing business on Ebay.



And you wonder why they eliminated negs for sellers



Regular businesses have to worry about that also, as well as shoplifters, vandals, paying rent whether or not business is good, etc. It would be a wonderful world if you could only get the benefits of selling without the bad stuff.

Well let me put it to you this way. Say the OP sells her LV wallet. The buyer pays, everything is fine, because well, the buyer paid, right? So the OP leaves positive feedback, GREAT BUYER. PROMPT PAYMENT etc......So now 5 weeks later the buyer pulls this. Still think she is a great buyer?
I understand the cost of doing business. But for a regular, part time Ebayer, which is what it used to be made up of before all the new rules, it wasn't really a business, as much as a place to earn some extra cash. I am not saying I would never leave feedback, but I always waited untill either the buyer left a positive, or enough time had passed that I wouldn't be held hostage to my feedback. I would hate to have left a positive, the buyer who may or may not be dishonest, sees that and and now says, well do this for me, or do this for me or I will leave a neg. Now my hands are tied because I have already left a positive. And as a buyer, I never asked anyone to leave me feedback. If they did they did, and if they didn't they didn't.

 

[dclfun]

Ugh. OP- so sorry for what you've gone through. While Ebay treats sellers as business owners, most of us are just trying to earn a bit of extra spending money by ridding ourselves of things we no longer want. If I'd wanted to deal with shoplifters and scammers I'd have opened a store...but as it is I feel Ebay should protect us the same way they protect buyers as they are the storefront. I have to wonder how their policy in this case is legal? How long do they give a buyer to return something? Weeks, months, years? Is there a cut-off date in writing? How do they determine who is in the right? Do they examine receipts, photos, etc. or just take the buyer's word that an item is fake and that they returned it in the same condition as it was sent? Although they own Paypal, what gives them the right to take funds from a seller if there's a dispute, without giving the seller a chance to fight the allegation? Who makes the determinations in the case of a dispute and is the buyer always innocent until proven wrong? Sellers are no longer able to advise in a listing that returns are not accepted- a buyer may return an item for ANY reason and now Ebay has notice on their site that the buyer will also be reimbursed for the shipping charges. So, if a buyer decides months later that they no longer need what they bought, they can screw the seller out of both the bid amount AND the shipping- and the seller paid Ebay fees for all of the above to start with. Are sellers then refunded for Ebay and Paypal fees they've already paid? I don't sell alot on Ebay but the recent changes make me more hesitant to do so. I feel that the new policies have been a written invitation for scammers to become buyers. Meanwhile Ebay isn't out one single dime.---Kathy

 

[DianeV]

The point is that if the buyer thought it was fake and was 'waiting' til they could get to a LV store to find out..how did it get in such poor condition in the meantime? She obviously was using it even though its 'fake' huh? I cant stand those who sit here and constantly defend buyers on ebay..especially ones like this

 

[Purseval]

Purseval, I have never sold a thing on Ebay only bought. The instant I read this my red flag went up and I am not a seller. I think what this buyer did was uncalled for and wrong, end of story. Your extreme defense of this person makes me wonder what kind of stunts you pull on Ebay.

Because you think what this buyer did was uncalled for and wrong and I don't that makes me suspect? So what kind of stunts do you think I pull, besides the obvious crime of not thinking like you?

 

[nunzia]

Ugh. OP- so sorry for what you've gone through. While Ebay treats sellers as business owners, most of us are just trying to earn a bit of extra spending money by ridding ourselves of things we no longer want. If I'd wanted to deal with shoplifters and scammers I'd have opened a store...but as it is I feel Ebay should protect us the same way they protect buyers as they are the storefront. I have to wonder how their policy in this case is legal? How long do they give a buyer to return something? Weeks, months, years? Is there a cut-off date in writing? How do they determine who is in the right? Do they examine receipts, photos, etc. or just take the buyer's word that an item is fake and that they returned it in the same condition as it was sent? Although they own Paypal, what gives them the right to take funds from a seller if there's a dispute, without giving the seller a chance to fight the allegation? Who makes the determinations in the case of a dispute and is the buyer always innocent until proven wrong? Sellers are no longer able to advise in a listing that returns are not accepted- a buyer may return an item for ANY reason and now Ebay has notice on their site that the buyer will also be reimbursed for the shipping charges. So, if a buyer decides months later that they no longer need what they bought, they can screw the seller out of both the bid amount AND the shipping- and the seller paid Ebay fees for all of the above to start with. Are sellers then refunded for Ebay and Paypal fees they've already paid? I don't sell alot on Ebay but the recent changes make me more hesitant to do so. I feel that the new policies have been a written invitation for scammers to become buyers. Meanwhile Ebay isn't out one single dime.---Kathy

Yes, you are refunded fees...you are out the original shipping..probably because so many scammers would charge 99 cents for an item and 20.00 for shipping to circumvent Ebay fees...It has certainly gotten rougher..but it's the only game in town.