I am a SAHM who hasn't sold on ebay for a few years (I have bought, but quit selling due to the crazy fees from both ebay and paypal). I made a decision to sell a lot of used cloth diapers (I had a business where I made and sold cloth diapers and these were the ones I had made/used for my child). I posted about 8 pictures and put detailed descriptions w/ each picture explaining any flaws or damage. After the auction ended, I sent a "congrats, you won, item will ship after payment" type email. Very nice, polite email. No response, no payment. 24hrs later, I sent an email saying that payment is expected w/in 24hrs so as to not delay shipping...a very professional, polite way of reminding them to pay. 48hrs later, I reminded them that they had not paid and unless I hear from them or receive payment I will assume they don't plan to pay. Still VERY professional, but firm. I am not a store that allows 3,5, or 7 days to pay. I feel it's rude to take forever to pay for something. I understand if the auction ends during the day and the buyer pays that night (I usually give 24hrs because as a buyer mostly myself, I feel this is very doable and considerate to the seller), but to have no contact or payment after 48 hrs is rude. So, sure enough I get a response saying that this lady hasn't gotten paid for items she is selling but once she does she will pay????!!! Since when do you bid on an item if you can't afford to pay for? Isn't this against ebay policy? She claims she will get paid that day, so instead of canceling the auction and having to relist and hope they sell, I told her I would wait. She pays w/in a couple hrs. Great, I think... So I ship immediately through paypal w/ tracking. I did everything by the "book".
The very DAY she received the diapers she immediately emails me saying that "some of them are unuseable due to elastic issues" (this was described in the auction) and I didn't describe the item accurately and she wants a full refund! Then, not even bestowing the same courtesy I gave her, she immediately opens a claim instead of giving me a chance to respond! Well, due to the nature of these items, I don't know if she has used them on her child, and if so, it now represents sanitary issues and I don't feel comfortable reselling. So, I told her no, I would not refund them, AS STATED IN THE AUCTION. She files the claim w/ customer service. Fine. I feel she didn't want to pay in the first place (and even said she didn't have the money in an email...which I kept) and so she had planned all along to file for a refund once she got them.
This is what I found in ebay's "seller protection" (what a joke!):
"For item not as described cases, sellers may protect themselves from losing a case if they provide clear documentation that the item was described accurately and consistently throughout the listing and all associated communication. For example, cases may be resolved in the seller's favor when the seller provides documentation that:
the buyer complains that the item is used, not new, and the listing and all associated communication clearly and consistently describes the item as used, or
a defect in the item was correctly described by the seller, or
the item was properly described, but the buyer didn't want it after they received it, or
the item was properly described but did not meet the buyer's expectations, or
the item has minor scratches and was listed as in used condition."
I did all these things. Yet, w/in a few hrs ebay decided in favor of the buyer, who did not provide ANY proof that they were not as described. She in fact emailed me and said that "some were unusable due to elastic issues" and then turned around in her claim and said the "diapers were destroyed and completely unusable"!! LIES!!! Yet, it seems as though ebay didn't look at the auction (to see ALL THE DETAILS REGARDING THE USED DIAPERS) or the emails between the buyer and myself (which are in my ebay messages)! When I called to appeal I am told that they couldn't make a decision as to who is at fault so they decided for her! Then stupid ebay needs to refund her!! They have told her to return the items for a full refund including shipping. I paid for shipping and so is USPS going to refund that $ to me...??? no, so why do I refund her shipping? So, now I have to pay her the full refund plus extra money I am out to ship to her and I get back some cloth diapers that I am not unsure of where they have been. They could have been near pets, on other childrens' bums, etc and I can't resell them w/o knowing. If someone were to buy them and their child, like mine, has severe allergies to pets, I've just caused harm to the child. Or if she used them and her child had a rash or infection, which isn't uncommon in babies, I can't sell them and potentially cause risk of infection to someone else!
I am soooo frustrated because they completely overlooked my "evidence" and went w/ this buyer. I feel it's because she has like 500+ transactions w/ 100% (mostly from selling) and I have 36 at 100%. Obviously hers looks better than mine 😞 Ebay puts out this information as to how sellers can protect themselves and yet when it's followed they STILL choose the buyer! And I get no customer service when I call! If anyone knows how I can get this re-reviewed, I would appreciate it, as they won't let me appeal until I receive the items back (although the lady on the phone pretty much told me it wouldn't make a difference and I would have to show a lot of "proof" that the diapers were not in whatever condition when I sent them as when I got them back).
Sorry for the super long vent...I am just sooo upset about this.
...so, are you poo pooing this thread?
...not to mention the age of this thread would make the "baby" about 4 years old now and hopefully no need for diapers!
