Buyer opened a return on an item listed with no returns
Can anyone offer some advice on what I should/can do in this situation?
Buyer purchased box full of video games that I listed with no returns. In the description I stated that they are all untested (because I don't have the system necessary) and that they must understand they are untested and there are no returns before bidding.
fast forward to today the buyer sent me a message asking for a partial refund because some of the games don't work. I replied by saying "I understand your frustration but I described that they were untested and the bidder must understand there are no returns."
Obviously, this guy knows how to work the system because his reply was "I understand but we both know EBay forces returns. I can’t be stuck with this many games that don’t work. I can just file a claim."
I called ebay and they told me there is a 3 day hold before they can take any action and told me to call back in on the 21st.....however the return says I must refund or accept the return by the 20th.
Am I screwed here? I feel like I was very transparent and did nothing wrong and this sale should be final... Is it just going to automatically accept the return on the 20th before I have time to call back in on the 21st to discuss it with a rep? is there any "seller protection" at all?
Any help would be greatly appreciated....thank you
grand-and-glorious-purpose
·6 months agoAll "no returns" on ebay means is you don't want the item back when you have to refund.
You need to sit down and read the MBG front to back and back to front and understand what it means to you as the seller.
broto_64
·6 months agoLOL... Buy a 2600 console, you may need an additional "adapter" to connect to modern LED monitors...
Test each and every game, heck play a few for a time, doesn't matter but test them all.
Then sell the entire thing, console, adapter, and all working games as a lot.
I'd even be willing to wager there are more working games than not.
Of course if more games aren't working than are then you may be in for a losing proposition.
kalyoth
·6 months agoUnless the category you listed under is defined by ebay policy as no returns - all listings have returns eligible under the ebay money back guarantee. What the seller lists for a return policy is simply a guideline for ebay to use situationally for depending upon the reason chosen for the return.
kensgiftshop
·6 months agoYes, pretty much.
When a buyer files an INAD and you get Ebay involved, it never turns out good for the seller.
If you want them returned before refunding, accept the return and provide a shipping label.
tobaccocardyahoo
·6 months agoUnfortunately, your feelings are not consistent with Ebay policies which were developed to remedy untested and as is lots which were actually tested and 100% defective.
Honest and well meaning sellers are hurt every day by rules which were developed because of seller abuse.
Your situation is probably slightly less common than the fate of sellers who fail to describe faults in their items which are visible in photos in words in the listing.
Any contract between buyer and seller through Ebay, is subject to Federal and State consumer protection laws. Buyers are more equal than sellers under consumer protection laws.
Either insist on a 100% of the item return (and hope to get it all) or cut a deal with the buyer.
12345jamesstamps
·6 months ago'to discuss it with a rep?'...they might and usually give not the best advice.
Do the return...you have to...before the due date...forget a rep to chit chat with.
Here's an interesting thing...buyer wants it but a partial refund.
That sounds like buyer won't return it even if you do a return label.
And if return label is not used you are not charged for it.
And easy on the emails with this buyer.
An open claim...accept it and request a return...and end emails back and forth with buyer.
wastingtime101
·6 months ago"Untested" means nothing - it was trumped by the item condition you selected of preowned which means all product is fully working.
To list "untested" and have any type of seller protections, the correct item condition is for parts, not working.
By selecting preowned you said the items were working, even if that wasn't your intention, and eBay will side with the buyer per the eBay Money Back Guarantee.
If the buyer files a return eBay expects you to accept the return and if you don't eBay will force it. Whatever you do, do not ask eBay to step in after 3 days. The return will be forced, refund pulled from your account, your fees will be forfeit, and you'll get an unresolved case defect. By voluntarily accepting the return your fees will be credited and you won't get an account defect.
gazrok
OP6 months agounfortunate, but seemingly good advice...
but why do they put this in the condition field "See the seller’s listing for full details and description of any imperfections."
I was under the impression this meant the description trumped the condition?
house*of*paws
·6 months agoHi @gazrok
There’s a massive amount of information that a seller must read & grasp in order to fully understand all the nuances of listing items.
eBay has banned ‘Mystery (or ‘Chance) Listings’ for quite some time …wanting buyers to know beforehand exactly what they will receiving before they commit to purchasing an item.
In this situation, a buyer must be told whether or not each and every game ‘works’. If a seller cannot provide that information about the items they sell … then they simply cannot list them on eBay as ‘Used’, which is defined as ‘fully operational’ and ‘functions as expected’. They must be listed for ‘Parts or not working’.
I’m very sorry for the confusion. Follow @wastingtime101‘s excellent advice on how to proceed with the return process.
gazrok
OP6 months agoThanks for the input. I plan on it.
wastingtime101
·6 months agoImperfections are not the same as non-working.
Description does not trump condition. Written description terms are generally unenforceable when they do not comply with the rest of the listing and with eBay policy. It's also part of eBay policy that you can't have conflicting info in the listing.
Here's the page with a rundown of item conditions.
https://www.ebay.com/help/selling/listings/creating-managing-listings/item-conditions-category?id=4765
I don't even see a "for parts, not working" condition for video games like many categories have, because eBay doesn't want video games sold if they're not working. Kind of makes sense since they generally can't be parted out or repaired. Potentially there's a "Collectibles" category that would have been a good enough fit and offered the "for parts, not working" condition?
Even if your games were fully operational, they were listed with the wrong condition of "good" since they were missing the original boxes. Fully working they would have been "acceptable" at best. Even "acceptable" condition requires the item to be fully operational with only cosmetic flaws or missing packaging.
In future, an item like that is best listed locally for pickup on a venue that lets you do a "final sale." On eBay local pickup items are still subject to the eMBG. Another option with games like that is advertising locally and seeing if someone has a console you can borrow to test the games. Not sure if your region has anything like that, but I know a lot of small towns do.
Sorry for the unfortunate situation. Sounds like your buyer may have been willing to accept a few games not working for the price paid, but his comment that "this many games" weren't working is why he wants to work out either a partial refund or a return for a full refund.
Come back if you need more help with the process.
gazrok
OP6 months agoThanks so much for taking the time to check into all of this (including my listing!) and provide the information you did. I'm just going to accept the return and be done with it. It's already caused me an evening of annoyance I shouldn't have put myself through.
Given the messages my buyer sent I think it's much more likely he found a handful of the games that didn't work and used it as leverage to attempt a 50% refund extortion. Wouldn't be the first time i've seen it.
Maybe i'll get lucky and he won't return the item anyways.
Have a great evening and thanks again
wastingtime101
·6 months agoYou're welcome. I'd also go with a return here rather than a partial refund. At least then you get the games back, can find a way to test them, then resell once you've confirmed which ones are working.
If the buyer returns a package, but doesn't return all the games, come back for more help.
Hopefully there are enough games working that the buyer decides to keep everything and return nothing because they got a good enough deal. 🙂