returns and purchase protection
one of the key reasons I buy stuff on Ebay is because I think I have some protection from scammers and selling fraud. A recent incident showed me that the Ebay buyer protection just isn't what it used to be. I purchased a lens for my Nikon z camera on April 20. When the lens arrived, I discovered that the seller had sent me a lens for a Sony e-mount camera; a completely different system not compatible with my camera. The seller had excluded returns, but I filed a return request with Ebay, trusting in the purchase protection. I stated that the item I purchased did not fit my camera. This is where it gets strange: For reasons, beyond my understanding, Ebay classified my return as "buyers remorse", not eligible for purchase protection??!? From my verious conversations with Ebay, it would seem that I ticked the wrong box as return reason "...does not fit..." is automatically considered to be buyer remorse by the allmighty Ebay bot, and no amount of explanation can change that. And once a return is started, even if it is erroneous, their policy prohibits any corrections. The seller knew exactly what he was doing and scammed me. I am surprised and concerned that Ebay would side with the scammer. Of course the seller never even responded to my multiple requests to rectify the situation. I have been a loyal Ebay user for over 20 years and purchased thousands of dollars worth of products; this is really unacceptable. My only recourse now is to try and sell this useless lens at a loss. I have canceled all other buying activities on Ebay (I had a pending offer for the correct lens!) and I guess I have no choice but to make future purchases on Amazon or Mercari; at least they stand behind their promise of protection.
an-57470
·1 year agoIt's too bad this happened to you. You state you've been an Ebay user for 20 years and are just now finding out how to properly navigate the return system?
kathiec
·1 year agoI've been an eBay user for 28 years, and if I hadn't been been frequenting these forums for the past nearly 20 years I doubt I would know that eBay always considers 'doesn't fit' to be a remorse return. This isn't a case of not knowing "how to properly navigate the return system". It's a case of poor communication on eBay's part. But I guess it's easy to hide behind a created-yesterday ID and criticize. 🙄
an-57470
·1 year agoIt seems as if you are a seller and "hide behind" your posting ID. Why does it matter when a posting ID is created?
I figured out how to navigate returns within my first month or two by reading the MBG and checking these forums. I've only had 2 and had no problems in far less time than 20 years.
I just find it hard to believe someone with 20 years experience buying has never run into this scenario or heard anything about it is all.
kathiec
·1 year agoThis isn't a posting ID, as should be obvious by its age and number of feedback. Or do you not know the definition of the term?
And I find it very hard to believe that you, or anyone else, would somehow psychically know that 'doesn't fit' is always considered a remorse return when eBay doesn't publish that information anywhere. I guess us mere mortals don't have access to your crystal ball vendor.
an-57470
·1 year agoWell I see you don't have anything listed for sale so point taken.
Maybe you don't you have to fear retribution because of this but others who do have items listed are wise to have a different posting ID.
No crystal ball. Just research by the MBG and these forums. There are constant posts here about this very subject.
20 years and not doing research on returns in all that time?
It's the first subject I looked into before purchasing on Ebay. First through Google that led me straight to these forums. It's not hard to find out the options on returns.
kathiec
·1 year agoTwenty years ago the Money Back Guarantee didn't exist. There was minimal buyer protection, and it only applied in limited circumstances. So whatever research the OP might have done before first purchasing on eBay certainly would have revealed nothing remotely resembling what applies today. EBay and the internet were very different back then. So your experience isn't applicable to everyone, believe it or not.
ed8108
·1 year agoSometimes it's not only the economy that leads to fewer sales.
eBay has been in business long enough to realize good paying buyers may not always be easily replaceable
mudshark61369
·1 year ago@actionhans,
"The seller knew exactly what he was doing and scammed me. I am surprised and concerned that Ebay would side with the scammer. Of course the seller never even responded to my multiple requests to rectify the situation".
Hopefully, when contacting the seller you didn't accuse them of trying to defraud you. How do you know the seller sent the wrong item intentionally? They may have simply put the wrong lens in the box, or the wrong label on the pre boxed Sony lens package. Mistakes do happen after all.
You should know how to do an advanced search of the seller's sold items or current listings, to see if they have or had both lenses for sale. It could be that another buyer has received the Nikon lens which will not work with their camera.
actionhans
OP1 year agoOf course I did not attack the seller and accuse him (her) of anything. I did however tell the seller that I had received the wrong lens and asked the seller to rectify the situation, 3 times. Never got a peep out of the seller. Some comments from other buyers of this seller show similar issues "sent the wrong item", or "item too small", or similar. Also, the seller does not have multiple lenses available in their product offering; this was the only one. So he could not have sent the correct lens anyway. His post was modeled around the dealers offering multiple versions of the same lens, but it turns out he is not a lens dealer. And after the sale, that lens has disappeared from the sellers product offering. Could I have done better research on this seller before making the purchase? Absolutely!! So this is really a lot my fault. I do tend to get exited about an item that I really like that looks like a bargain. My post just shows my frustration after piecing together information after days and days of multiple contacts with Ebay's customer service. In every discussion, a little bit more information would slip out. I think I would have been less **bleep** off if Ebay had just clearly stated the situation; I would have been able to move on. My case is still "open, awaiting confirmation from seller". Of course I now know that after the 30 day wait period, the case will be closed without resolution. I wonder if I should actually close the case before I launch a case with PayPal? I am not sure if Ebay requires this or not.
bonjourami
·1 year agoYes, Ebay would require you to close the case with them before opening one at PP,otherwise they would close it when you open one at PP.
az93
·1 year agoI would contact the seller and ask them what you should do since you received the wrong item and bumbled the return. Seller may be happy to work with you to avoid a chargeback on a credit card. Worth a try.
soh.maryl
·1 year agoHard to picture this actually happening with a seller who has successfully avoided having to give a refund just because the buyer chose the wrong reason for wanting to return the item.
And what I read on here quite frequently is that there are many buyers who are unaware of the doing a chargeback on the credit card option.
soh.maryl
·1 year agoWhy would the buyer need to contact the seller and ask what to do?
soh.maryl
·1 year agoFor some unknown reason, it seems like eBay always equates "doesn't fit" like it applies to clothing.
Wish they'd strongly advise people who are opening return cases to ALWAYS use "not as described" as the reason.
kathiec
·1 year agoExcept not all return cases are not as described. I would guess that as many, if not more, returns are of clothing that just doesn't fit. Why should the seller get stuck with return shipping because eBay told the buyer to use not as described as the reason?
A better solution would be for eBay to attach explanations to the list of return reasons that cautions buyers to not use doesn't fit if an error on the part of the seller caused the fit issue.
soh.maryl
·1 year agoYou make a very good point.
house*of*paws
·1 year agoHi @actionhans
I agree that either the seller or buyer can be at fault for an item 'not fitting'. eBay has decided that it always is a 'Buyer's remorse' reason. Fortunately, a buyer will make the inadvertent mistake of choosing that reason only once.
That said, you can still request a refund from your credit or debit card company if you don't want to sell it. [You may be required to pay the return shipping.] Good luck!
kensgiftshop
·1 year ago@actionhans
Ebay has good buyer protection but you have to select the correct reason for the return to get it.
Contact your payment source and see about doing a charge back, but choose the correct reason, the item doesn't match the description.
bonjourami
·1 year agoYes, lots of buyers make that mistake, filing 'it doesnt fit', rather than 'item not as described'. That makes it a remorse return, and since the seller had a no return policy,he was able to deny the refund. If you paid with Paypal, you have a thirty day buyer protection option there, just be sure to use the correct reason. If that doesnt work and you used a cc, try them for a chargeback. Good luck.