eBay “no printer, no packing tape and no car” no problem. Full refund, keep my item leave first negative review
Summary: lincolnsqpawn expressed frustration with eBay's seller protection policies, detailing an issue where a buyer received a full refund and retained the item without returning it due to lack of printer, tape, and transportation. Despite contacting eBay customer service, the case was initially closed unfavorably. Participants, including albertabrightalberta and grand-and-glorious-purpose, offered advice on escalation and appeals. kalyoth suggested implementing a buyer capability check for returns. Eventually, lincolnsqpawn used Instagram to secure help from a real person, successfully removing the negative feedback.
Shame on eBay.
This is what “seller protection” looks like in 2026.
A buyer claimed my item arrived damaged. Fine. That’s why returns exist.
I immediately accepted the return and paid for a UPS return label.
Then the buyer said they couldn’t return it because they had no printer, no tape, and no car.
I even sent a second return label trying to make it as easy as possible.
The item was never returned.
Yet eBay still refunded the buyer 100%, reimbursed my original shipping costs, let the buyer keep my merchandise, and then added insult to injury by allowing them to leave me negative feedback for a return they refused to complete.
Read that again.
The buyer has:
My candelabra.
Their full refund.
My shipping money.
The ability to damage my reputation with negative feedback.
And I’m left with… nothing.
Apparently on eBay, a buyer doesn’t have to return an item if they don’t have a printer, tape, or transportation. Since when did those become the seller’s responsibility?
The package wasn’t crushed. The box wasn’t destroyed. This wasn’t a complicated claim. It should have been the most basic transaction imaginable:
Return the item. Receive your refund.
Instead, eBay created a system where a buyer can keep both the merchandise and the money while the seller absorbs every loss.
If this is the standard eBay is comfortable defending, every seller should be paying attention.
This isn’t buyer protection. It’s seller abandonment.
#eBay #SellerProtection #SmallBusiness #OnlineSelling #eBaySeller #ShameOnEbay
lincolnsqpawn
OPyesterday at 9:49 AMUPDATE
Upon recommendation from a few of you, I asked for assistance from eBay for sellers o IG. They were singing the same tune for a while but I eventually caved and have the feedback removed!!!! I did NOT get my money back but I am taking this as a win.
I want to thank everyone who commented. I initially posted here just to vent but you guys were super helpful and now I know never to waste my time on calls and emails.
lincolnsqpawn
OPAug 6, 2026 at 3:54 PM***FUN UPDATE***
Spoke to someone in escalations that told me that they were going to have the feedback removed! Her name was Christine. She was actually lovely. It was on a recorded call. They said to wait 24-48 hours to have it taken down. I asked for an email confirming this and she said she couldnt do that but rest assured.....48 hours later, another email from an eBay bot telling me that the feedback case has been reviewed and that there is nothing left to be done except reach out to the buyer for a revision. Sorry.
Can someone explain why this is bothering me so much? Why do I allow the eBay humans to get my hopes up? Am I out of options?
janet9988
·yesterday at 5:47 AMI do not see any negative feedback.
I am not sure why no negative feedback is still bothering you.
lincolnsqpawn
OPyesterday at 9:45 AMgot it removed last night!
Took my issue to Instagram and someone (a real person) actually helped me
kalyoth
·3 days ago · EditedIt sounds like a new metric needs to be added as a manual agree statement for every buyer prior to purchase: In the event of a return being necessary, are you capable of printing, packaging & shipping the return? The tape & packing can be purchased on amazon or any office supply web site - no excuse. Major carriers can print a label with a QR Code. With a fee, UPS & FedEx pickup up at your house. USPS you can schedule for free pickup at your house. No excuse there.
You got played.
albertabrightalberta
·4 days ago · EditedAfter accepting the return and sending the return label to the buyer, they were given a date by which to return it.
If the buyer didn't send it back, you could have gone back to the claim and asked ebay to step in, letting them know that the buyer never returned the item. This is one of the instances where ebay would have closed the case in your favor.
It sounds like you waited too long to go back to the case.
EDIT: In fact, you should appeal that finding because the feedback left by the buyer even states that "The seller provided a return shipping label. I explained that I do not have packing tape, a printer & I do not drive."
His own feedback demonstrates that you followed protocol and they should reverse the case or at least, issue you a one-time credit.
lincolnsqpawn
OP4 days ago · EditedI accepted the return. The were given a date to ship by. On that date, I received 4 messages from eBay essentially that since they haven’t shipped, eBay was taking over.
then the next message said that the buyer was unable to use the label that they received. So send another one. Problem was that they already opened a case and I was unable to send a new label at that point. So I called eBay and asked them to send one on my behalf. They said they are unable to because the case is open, so reach out to your buyer and try and work it out with them. My buyer doesn’t have the means to send anything back. He said he has no printer. He has no car and he has no packing
grand-and-glorious-purpose
·2 days agoYeah, that buyer gamed the system out of their own ineptness.
The ebay bot thinks the label is unusable because the buyer escalated the case even though they had no reason to, not that the buyer is unable to print it.
ebay was expecting you to send them money. What you should have done is escalated, I have already provided a label.
On appeal this should get taken care of quickly but who knows anymore.
lincolnsqpawn
OP2 days agoAppeals were denied. Lol.
grand-and-glorious-purpose
·2 days agoOh all the auto bot appeals are almost all denied anyway.
You need a person from IG to look at it.
I don't know if there are any Blues left in these forums but one of them could pass it on.
lincolnsqpawn
OPAug 6, 2026 at 3:49 PMHow do I get a person from IG to look at it? Still doesnt still well that the reason I am being denied my appeal and money back is because I didnt issue them a label and yet his feedback states clearly that I not only sent one label, but 2.
Seems too common sensical to just drop especially considering that after he received a full refund and the item, he also left negative feedback. Can you think of anything left to do?
adamcartwright
·Aug 6, 2026 at 4:01 PMI don't understand why eBay simply did not close the case when they did not return the item with your prepaid label.
That's how it's always happened for me -- with remorse returns, anyway.
Have you reached out through Instagram?
stephenmorgan
·Aug 6, 2026 at 6:47 PM · EditedWho is IG?
I would file a Notice of Dispute. eBay has an online form you can fill out. Go here to complete the form.
Notice_of_Dispute.pdf
Also read Section 19 of the User Agreement. Go here.
19. Legal Disputes User Agreement | eBay
I had a similar situation where the buyer could not print out a shipping label or take it to USPS because they could not leave their home. I mailed them a label and since they could not leave home I offered that I could coordinate with USPS to pick up the item.