Damaged Merchandise
I have been a longtime buyer of Ebay. I just do not understand how sellers can send items inadequately packaged for mailing. This happens far too often. I am at the point where I do not want to do business anymore because of the inconvenience this presents. First I have to take pictures of the damage, then I have to email the buyer, then I have to request a refund attaching pictures, then I have to package the item(s) better than how they were sent to me using my own materials, I have take it to the post office, then I have to hold my breath that the item(s) arrive back to the seller even though my packaging is secure. All in all, this takes time. Ebay really needs to address this.
I have been reluctant to leave poor feedback when the seller acknowledges the issue and gives a full refund, but I am going to change that and the feedback will indicate poor packaging for shipping from now on.
12345jamesstamps
·10 months agoEverybody wants to be a seller on eBay...
New sellers might make an error...this is where you read seller's feedbacks and how new they are.
Doesn't matter if it was too good to pass up the cheap price...always check seller's feedbacks.
As an example...would I buy a glass vase from a new seller...probably not.
stainlessenginecovers
·10 months agoUSPS does pickups right from your door, just request the day before right from their website.
broto_64
·10 months agoI grew frustrated with several poor seller tactics some time ago, and started to leave appropriate feedback.
tobaccocardyahoo
·10 months agoEbay has few qualifications for its sellers and a high threshold for incompetent sellers who make good on their mistakes when faced with claims under the Ebay Money Back Guarantee.
Other marketplaces also do not test their sellers qualifications relative to packing, but are less tolerant of sellers, products and orders which are problem prone.
Hopefully, that results in greater choices for Ebay buyers.
There are many items offered on Ebay which would be safer and even cheaper to buy on a larger internet marketplace with higher barriers to becoming a seller.
The Ebay process to return a damaged item is a great deal more time consuming than an Amazon return. No pictures may be required, although sellers may ask for them. Many refunds are issued based on the first scan of the return. In many areas there is a choice of drop-off locations for returns, often including UPS, Whole Foods, Kohl's and Staples for Prime items. A buyer need not repack the product if dropped at Whole Foods or Kohl's.
Seller fulfilled products are equal in hassle to many Ebay returns.
redmodelt
·10 months agoIf you return something to Amazon you have to request the return, print the label or QR code, repackage, then take to a return center or request a pickup that is not free. For returns, don't see how that is any different than eBay or any other online retailer.
As far as packaging goes, yes bad packaging happens but remember many who sell on eBay are not actual retailers, they are just selling off their excess items. I agree many need instructions on packaging their items for shipping. I worked in shipping so have more practice in how to do it.
By the way, you don't have to message the seller, it is all automated.
soh.maryl
·10 months agoIt's a process, but is it vastly different from any other retailer?
Do you have any suggestions for how eBay could make this easier?
In the time I've been on eBay, have had only 1-2 occasions to return. I don't recall one of them exactly, but one was a pair of boys' shorts where the title mentioned one size, the description mentioned another and I did not notice the discrepancy. Neither one of those was the actual size. Back then you were not required to submit a picture to prove your claim. I'd be in trouble now making a return since I have neither a camera nor a cell phone. Yes, I apparently do live in a cave, thanks for asking.
biggymoe
·10 months agoI have the same concern. So many things, these days, don't take the elderly into consideration. We don't all have the fancy schmancy technology, me included.
And by the way, I live in the cave next door.
powell-collectibles
·10 months agoeBay doesn’t really care if you include a picture of the damage. You just need to upload a photo. Could be a photo you copy from the original listing, could be a screenshot of your message to the seller, etc.