Chatbot Loopholes & Buyer Refund Abuses Need AI Fix
As a 22-year Top Rated Seller, I’m fed up with eBay’s chatbot and return system. The bot shows a “parade†of wrong item numbers, loops with “Don’t see item†or “Are we done?â€, and often fails to connect to an agent when I type “agent.†This wastes 15–30 min per issue. Worse, a buyer kept my $50 item and got a full refund, despite my listing’s clear scent disclaimer (“Request samples before buying bulkâ€). I’m out $100 due to platform flaws! Fixes Needed:😃
- AI to verify buyer return reasons against listing disclaimers, stopping unfair refunds.
- Upgrade chatbot to pull correct item/case details and escalate to agents reliably.
- Require item return with tracking before full refunds.
1 comment
gator08041971
·11 months ago@exotic79
I'm going to quote your own listing comment here from one of your listings:
RETURNS: Please contact me before leaving negative feedback or requesting a return for tips on applying the scent. Allow it to develop on warm skin throughout the day to reveal its full complexity. If still unsatisfied, returns are accepted within 30 days in original condition (buyer covers return shipping; refund excludes shipping costs). For damaged packages, please contact the postal service directly.
This isn't going to fly with eBay policy. It might be your policy, but it doesn't line up with eBay policies at all.
Sounds to me (and this is without reviewing your feedback) that you are running into buyers using the INAD return option to avoid paying a return fee, and you are letting eBay step in and getting pinched for it, for when eBay steps in, sellers usually lose, both the item, and the funds, and you don't get back your fees, plus a mark on your account. Never let eBay step in to resolve anything.