A warning for sellers of high value items, don't loose thousands of dollars like me.
Back Story
I sold a precision electronic device worth around $4000, after receiving the item the buyer discovered that it wasn't fully functional and asked for a refund. After talking with the buyer about the problem I agreed to refund him. I knew I could send the item to the manufacturer and have it repaired, resell it, and still make a profit.
Actual Issue
Because of the high price of the item I was required to purchase signature verification for delivery. But when the buyer shipped it back ebay did not require him to get signature verification for delivery. And because there was no signature verification when the item was delivered it was left by the front door and sat out in the rain for about 5 hours. The box was soaked through and the item was wet which damaged it beyond repair.
eBays Response
#1
You knew the delivery time and should have been there to receive it.
- Someone was there but without signature verification, the carrier just left it by the front door.
#2
It's not covered for damages during shipping because it was delivered.
#3
You issued a refund so the case is closed.
- I only issued a refund because you have 2 days to do so after it's delivered or they just take the money from you. And I didn't want it to reflect negatively on my seller rating.
End Result
The item having spent a few hours exposed to the elements is not something eBay is authorized to compensate or assume responsibility for.
If eBay had required signature verification for the return this would have never happened. An obvious flaw in their return policy but they will never admit to it. So in the end I have no recourse and I'm out thousands of dollars, this goes to show that eBay really doesn't care about its small-time sellers, very disappointing.
jklfindings
·2 years agoThis is why I have a UPS mailbox. They sign for and hold everything for me. After a USPS driver screwing up several deliveries, it was cheaper to pay for a box than rely on them.
joeb5281
·2 years agohello, i SOLD AN iPHONE ON EBAY TO A BUYER ADDRESSED TO 3601 CAPITAL TRAIL WILMINGTON DE.19808 WHICH EBAY KNOWS THIS IS A SCAMMERS PARADISE, SO BUYER TELLS EBAY HE WANTS TO RETURN IT, EBAY SENDS HIM A RETURN LABEL,WHICH HE DID NOT USE, WENT ON USPS MADE HIS OWN,SUPPLIED EBAY AND MYSELF W TRACKIN NUMBER HOWEVER HE USES A DIFFERENT MAILING ADDRESS WITH EBAY COMMERCE NAME , I NEVER REC'D THE PHONE, i GOT ALL THE INFO FROM USPS WITH HIS TRACK # IT SHOWS A DIFFERENT ADDRESS , I THEN SEND IT TO EBAY & THEY CLOSE THE CASE IN MY FAVOR -THEN THE NEXT DAY BUYER REOPENS IT AND EBAY REFUNDS HIM BECAUSE EBAY SAYS IT CAME TO MY CITY & ZIP,,THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF HOMES IN THIS ZIP CODE, HE NEVER LOOKED AT MY PROOF FROM USPS, ,,NOW EBAY WANTS ME TO PAY FOR THEIR MISTAKE, EBAY WILL NOT STAND BEHIND SELLERS, IVE BEEN WITH THEM FOR OVER 17 YRS, I LOOK ON HERE AND ALOT OF PEOPLE ARE GETTING SCAMMED AND EBAY IS NOT STANDING BEHIND US,, IM GOING TO REPORT ALL THIS TO ATTORNEY GENERALS OFFICE AND PUT PRESSURE ON THEM, THIS IS BAD BUSINESS AND VERY SHADY. EBAY NEEDS TO FIX THIS SCAMMING AND PROTECT US IF THEY WANT SELLERS,
vintagecraze50
·2 years agoConversely, If I am a seller with a buyer who just bought a 1 grand purchase. I am going to make darn sure that package gets there safely with it insured to the max AND signature tracking.
joeb5281
·2 years agojust beware if he wants to return it for any reason, eBay will back him up and refund him, and you'll be out the money. hopefully that won't happen and if it does, contact the BBB to expose eBay. my buyer flew the coop and eBay wants me to pay for their mistakes. no seller protection. scammers are on here.
rider9751
OP2 years agoI agree, eBay's seller protections are more to protect them than the seller and they will always find a way to not accept any responsibility. You should have seen the list of excuses they were giving me as to why they couldn't do anything. Even after I would disprove their excuses they just had more.
lakefor94
·2 years ago@rider9751
Very experienced sellers have provided excellent procedures for handling returns.
The bottom line is the seller is responsible for making sure the return is handled as they wish. Not eBay.
vintagecraze50
·2 years agoIF I , the buyer and with over 1 grand purchase. As a Buyer I am going to contact that seller and ask them to send it safely and securely AND I will pay for it to be sure of it AND not expect THE SELLER to flip the bill.
house*of*paws
·2 years agoHi @rider9751
In case it hasn’t occurred to you yet … this may be a good time to consider either a PO Box or a water proof receptacle to put near your door for packages.
[Recipients are always responsible for having a safe place for delivery of items. It is never the sender’s or shipping company’s responsibility.]
vintagecraze50
·2 years agoRight for sure. I certainly cannot be babysitting peoples packages on here. BE RESPONSIBLE BUYER.
lakefor94
·2 years agoAs @vintagecraze50 said, there is a option within your return settings to choose RMA returns. If using RMA, the seller is provided the opportunity to supply their own shipping label to the return case and add an RMA number for their record keeping.
I buy some of my return labels from PirateShip and upload to the return case rather than using the eBay provided USPS label. I can add signature required if I care to do that.
vintagecraze50
·2 years agoYeah, I forgot about that. I forgot becuase I have auto accept.
lakefor94
·2 years agoI have all auto accepted returns with Free Returns. The return is already accepted but the buyer does not get access to a return shipping label until I give the go ahead.
rider9751
OP2 years agoI did see the RMA option but don't have it on. Are you suggesting choosing to use the RMA would be a better option? This was only the 2nd item I have had returned so any advice is appreciated.
lakefor94
·2 years agoIf using the RMA option, the seller is provided the opportunity to supply their own shipping label to the return case and add an RMA number for their record keeping.
I buy some of my return labels from PirateShip and upload to the return case rather than using the eBay provided USPS label. I can add signature required if I care to do that.
You get a choice, either use the eBay label or supply your own label.
vintagecraze50
·2 years agoIf you have a high value item and you want to be certain it get’s back safely, then yes turn on the RMA AND put INSURANCE AND THE SIGNATURE TRACKING IN IT.
kitschy*loot
·2 years agoThis is a very unfortunate case but it does seem like since you were responsible for the return shipping, the label needing signature confirmation falls on you. I know it's all moot but if you were aware the package was arriving at some point; tracking it would have been a good idea. Usually that won't help you know exactly when it arrives unless you have a carrier who delivers at the same time everyday, but it's better than nothing and can help minimize time spent in the elements. Most delivery people don't ring the bells for my things anymore, so I have to keep a watchful eye or tell anyone inside the home to do so.
rider9751
OP2 years agoI agree with the point you are making but if I were responsible for the return shipping shouldn't I have gotten the option to choose the shipping option which would have included adding signature verification? Because I was never given any of those options.
I was tracking the package but the information was quite limited, it said "package arriving sometime before 9 pm" and I was operating under the assumption that the person at the house would have to sign for it which is also why I made sure someone was there.
dare-2046
·2 years agoBuyers are required to return with signature confirmation @rider9751 if the money paid was $750 or more.
But the issue might have been that you were responsible for return shipping
- because "it wasn't fully functional" as the buyer discovered
- but you didn't buy the signature confirmation.
rider9751
OP2 years agoI was not involved in buying the return shipping, I'm assuming if I had been responsible for it I would have received some kind of invoice or notification where I could have chosen the shipping options.
I'm guessing you copied and pasted the "Requirements for Returns" right from eBay's policies. Thank you for bringing that to my attention. Unfortunately, that kind of makes it even worse because I sent emails back and forth with eBay's High-Value Clames department and even talked with someone on the phone and they never said anything about that.
vintagecraze50
·2 years agoThe seller is required to pay for the return shipping if item is not as described. I have never had this happen with a return valued at the signature confirmation threshold but I am assuming that if you ave returns automatically approved by ebay they would include that in the auto return. If your listings are not set up for auto approve all returns then you have to choose the shipping method back and add the signature tracking to the label you pay for and give to the customer. Customers on their own are not going to do that obviously .
rider9751
OP2 years agoI just rechecked my return settings and I do not have auto approve all returns on. I was never given the option to choose the shipping method or to add signature verification or anything like that. EBay just accepted the return and let the customer ship it back however they wanted to.
kensgiftshop
·2 years agoIf someone was there, why did it set out in the rain for 5 hours?
rider9751
OP2 years agoBecause it was pouring down rain and she was taking care of our two kids. So she had no reason to go outside.
momtoabeautifuldaughter
·2 years agoIf it was right by front door as you said then for $4000 you'd think she could have stepped out real quick in that 5 hours.
rider9751
OP2 years agoShe was keeping an eye out for the delivery but we have a 4-year-old and a 1-year-old that keep her pretty busy, i would in no way put the blame on her for not seeing the package sooner because she was taking care of the kids. To my original point, all this could have been avoided if eBay had required the buyer to include signature verification when returning the item.