Locked
Discussions in this board are limited to the original poster and Community Mentors
Buyer in Hawaii abused return process on As-Is item and eBay charging me nearly $200 for reshipping
Summary: sovamind discussed an issue with eBay where a buyer in Hawaii allegedly abused the return process for an 'As-Is' item. As a result, eBay is charging sovamind nearly $200 for reshipping. lady_madonna participated in the discussion, contributing their thoughts on the situation. The conversation revolves around handling such issues with eBay and the implications of buyer actions on seller costs.
I had a luxury home theater audio amplifier for sale which was very clearly listed in both condition and description as being As-Is and the listing was also set with "No returns". In the description for the listing it also clearly said, "Any claims that item is not as described that are sent back, buyer is responsible for any return shipping."
The buyer bought the item with Buy Now, then likely at checkout saw that the shipping to Hawaii was going to be $175. They immediately tried to back out of the sale, but since I was away on vacation, didn't see their messages. I had already started packaging the item and bought the shipping, so I went to send it out, but then the buyer had filed for a refund of the sale saying I had taken too long to ship it and it wouldn't arrive in time. I declined the refund request, provided the tracking, and explained that I have no control over the shipping over seas to Hawaii, and that the item clearly was listed as no returns.
When the item arrived they immediately filed to for a return and refund claiming it wasn't packaged properly and it didn't work, and was "not in condition described". I declined the return request, but then they filed with eBay for Buyer's Protection. eBay took THREE WEEKS without a decision but apparently gave the buyer a return shipping label as the item came back, but this time bouncing around in a single box with peanuts, taking major damage. However, electrically all that channels still worked, just now I wouldn't be able to sell it due to the cosmetic damage.
I kept trying to get eBay to step in, completing their forms for item returned damaged and reporting the buyer for abusing the return process. Another week goes buy and eBay charges my checking account for return shipping for $185 + the payout amount of the sale. My bank's fraud department is great and stopped the ACH transactions. So then eBay charged my credit card on file for the same amounts. All of these were done without any communication from eBay and I never got a decision on my request under the Seller's Protection program.
I've now flagged these credit card transactions as not authorized, so the charges were reversed but eBay has now locked my account and still has no way to contact anyone for assistance.
What is the purpose of the "as-is", no refunds, and Seller Protection program if eBay won't honor or support any of them? My eBay account was opened in 1994, so I don't want to close it, but it seems like the account may be locked forever now.
lady_madonna
Mentor4 months agoThere is no "As-is" condition on Ebay, regardless if it is stated in the title and/or description. You should have listed is as "For parts or non-working".
Ebay's Money Back Guarantee overrides your "No returns" policy. You would be responsible for the return shipping costs since the buyer had a valid reason per the Ebay MBG. Whatever you stated in the description would be contrary to the Ebay MBG.
When you declined the return request, the buyer was able to ask Ebay to step in to help them since they had a valid reason per the Ebay MBG, so Ebay provided them with the return shipping label, charging your account. What was the reason for you declining the buyer's return request?
This would not be covered under Ebay's Seller Protection. As stated, there is no "as-is" condition on Ebay and no "No refunds" per the Ebay Money Back Guarantee for buyers.
sovamind
OP4 months agoYou're right, I misspoke, the item was listed as for-parts not as-is, and no returns.
sovamind
OP4 months agoOh, and I was never given an opportunity to leave a review of the buyer and they gave me a negative review (first ever) which tanked my percent postive sales rating because I haven't sold anything on here in a long time and apparently the weighting is based on only recent feedback now, not lifetime feedback.
lady_madonna
Mentor4 months agoFeedback receive percentage is based on the past 12 months of feedback.
You had 60 days to leave feedback for the buyer, which could only be positive feedback rating.
sovamind
OP4 months agoI had not sold anything on eBay in a long time and so the only feedback I have has been massively swayed by this one frustulent buyer. eBay didn't remove their feedback either. If eBay no longer allows negative feedback for buyers and doesn't follow their Seller Protections then I guess I'm done with eBay as there are so many other platforms.