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Improper listing fees charged to seller due to error in eBay's selling platform
Our eBay account was improperly charged multiple listing fees for auctions we conducted on eBay. This was due to a glitch, error or delayed information on our eBay seller page regarding the number of remaining listing fee-free auctions. The seller page did not update in the amount of time it took us to check it twice, thereby displaying an inaccurate number of remaining listing fee-free auctions. We then used this inaccurate information to list more auctions, thereby ultimately causing dozens of listing fees to be charged to our account. We would like to hear from other sellers that have also encountered this problem with eBay's selling platform. Following this, we spoke with different customer service reps multiple times regarding this issue to no avail. They uniformly refused to acknowledge that an error on eBay's selling platform was the cause. And at least one of these customer service reps tried to tell us that the charges were due to OUR auto-relisting of auctions. This was demonstrably not the case and we explained to the rep that we do not auto-list auctions precisely to avoid outcomes such as this. The rep did not have an answer to our statement of fact. Another of these customer service reps refused to let us speak with someone with more authority to properly address this problem, claiming the charges were valid and correct, and again, completely avoided acknowledging the cause of the issue as a failure or glitch on the eBay platform. We also requested information on where we might file a complaint with eBay. The rep said they would file a complaint for us. (Who knows if they did, and if they did, was their presentation of our complaint accurate? Based on our experiences with eBay’s customer service, we have serious doubts). We are utterly disgusted by this dishonest and evasive playbook eBay is apparently utilizing to avoid addressing known problems with their selling platform and to scrape improper listing fees from unsuspecting users of their selling platform. If any of this sounds familiar to you, please share your experience. We are looking into filing complaints with both the Better Business Bureau and our state's Attorney's General office, among other agencies. With enough responses that correspond to our experience, this may result in an investigation and sanctions against eBay for their outrageous failures in both their selling platform and their ineffective customer service, which apparently seeks to deny any responsibility by eBay for the problem. If we gather enough information to initiate an investigation by outside agencies, this may result in a viable class action lawsuit against eBay. So, speak up! If you have experienced similar problems and outcomes with eBay's selling platform and also their failures in the area of customer service, we want to hear from you!
rfmtm
Mentor2 years agoWe have all learned of various update delays on ebay. Some are no so much glitches as just propagation, server, indexing, or internet service delays. Regardless, any listing fees are always displayed before you actually post a listing, so there is no surprise fees imposed, as you always can back out and cancel.
robo234
OP2 years agoTo the best of my recollection, those fees did not display, apparently due to the fact that the fee-free listings still showed as more than 40. I can understand if it was a server update issue etc., and requested the fees be
dropped. The customer service people I spoke with were unable or unwilling to do so, insisted the fees were valid, and insinuated, if not outright told me, it was my fault, and seemed to completely disregard what I had just told them I had experienced. They avoided addressing the real cause of the issue, as I explained it to them, and proceeded to attempt charging me these fees multiple times. When they were unsuccessful doing so, they siphoned funds from a payout or payouts on other auctions to fulfill their dirty scheme. I was denied the opportunity to speak to a senior manager when I requested to do so. And I have still been unable to get information on where, and to whom, I may submit a written complaint. Oh, and then I received this:
"What happens if I don’t pay my fees?
Your buying and selling privileges may be limited and/or restricted, as well as your ability to communicate with other members through eBay messages." (excerpt of message from ebay)
This, after the nearly 25 years I have been on the platform, making them a lot of money in fees. Real hardball tactics, ebay should be exposed for their atrocious conduct in what may very well end up being a case of wire fraud or related charges. The only real way to get a corporation's attention in situations such as this, is to seek class action legal remedies. Fed up....
robo234
OP2 years agoBTW rfmtm,
Thank you for taking the time and consideration to respond
rfmtm
Mentor2 years agoLike you many of us have faced these types of frustrations and without screenshots or others problem reporting the same problem, it is an uphill battle and of little value talking to the online reps.
If you want to hammer on ebay further and get to someone will more knowledge and authority, who may or may not be able to look into your listing history, send a private message, which can take a day or so, but will be answered, here:
www.facebook.com/eBayForBusiness
or
www.twitter.com/eBayForBusiness
robo234
OP2 years agoThank you rfmtm,
I may just look into that. Again, you and your advice are appreciated.