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Return policy abuse - inad but also worked for a week of use
Sold new in box vacuum sealed item. Buyer left great review. Week later he says it stopped working. I directed him to manufacturer Amazon listing for questions/parts/etc. Buyer says I didn’t help. Starting return process.
1. If the buyer opened the sealed item, then they changed the condition of the item. (Not to mention that returning a used hearing aid is gross. If eBay doesn’t allow the sale of used socks and underwear, they shouldn’t allow the return of used hearing aids.)
2. it isn’t a faulty/defective item. It worked for a week. Idk what the buyer did in that week. He claims he didn’t do anything wrong. I WANT to believe him. But I’ve been burned by buyers before. Also, what difference does it make if I believe him or not? You can’t claim something is INAD. If it worked when you opened the box. It wasn’t faulty for a week. What YOU did in that week isn’t my business.
3. This holds up funds. Buyers abuse this all the time. So I’m already making $2/item. After fees. Promo fees. Free shipping to stay competitive. I don’t even make the money originally spent on the item. AND I pay taxes on everything. My tax person is always like… it costs you more to have me do them that to do eBay at all. where is our protection?
4. what recourse do I have besides waiting for eBay to step in? It isn’t not as described. It wasn’t immediately defective out of box. Can a buyer use something for a week, say it’s broken now, start a return and expect what? I’m not Amazon. This is my home not a warehouse. That’s MY money out the window not shareholders. I can’t resell the item. It’s a hygienic issue. I don’t have a hearing aid geek squad in the other room.
gosimus
Mentor9 months ago@oyemiraaqui
< I’ve been burned by buyers before >
So, you knew the risk before you listed the hearing aid. I hate to hear your experience, and knowing the risk doesn't excuse the buyer committing return abuse, and there's no "but" at the end of that sentence. Return abuse is contemptible – if that's what happened – maybe something really did go wrong with the instrument . . . it happens. All the above is moot, however, because eBay makes the rules, and the process is that when a buyer claims Not As Described, that's all she wrote. eBay will side with the buyer and will enforce their decision. This one fact alone is the main reason that prevents me from becoming a seller.
oyemiraaqui
OP9 months agoSo in theory… I could buy a brand new in plastic bag shirt. Unbag it. Leave great review. Wear it for a week. It snags. I then file a dispute for a return claiming the item is defective.
disneyshopper
Mentor9 months agoAccept the return and refund the buyer when the item is returned. If you wait for ebay to step in, that will record a defect on your account for an unresolved transaction. Too many defects and you can be restricted or suspended.