Returned shirt w/ undisclosed holes; seller only refunded 50% (?!?)
Hello eBay Community--
Hopefully someone can chime in, as I'm freaking out over this.
I purchased a vintage long-sleeve multicolor Hawaiian shirt recently for a buy-it-now of $76; no disclosed damage or issues. When it arrived, there were three small holes: two on one shoulder, and one on the other. The holes on one shoulder were inconclusive in the seller's lo-res, distant photo of that particular shoulder, but the other hole can be seen upon close inspection (I did not initially see it before purchase, as the description gave me no reason to believe there might be holes to search for in the multicolor pattern).
I sent the seller a cordial message ("I'm sure it was an inadvertent oversight on your part...) but he did not respond. As the buy-it-now page listed "returns accepted," I was instantly issued a return label through eBay. Just got home from work this evening, and I got a notification that the item arrived back to the seller but he has only issued me a 50% refund! Whaaaat? There is a sentence fragment from the seller saying "Item sealed in plastic bag opened by buyer" and nothing else.
Of course I made like a sledgehammer on the "dispute refund amount" button and reiterated that the shirt had holes, that I provided photo documentation of the holes, that one hole can be seen in the seller's auction photo, and that I would like a 100% refund. Right after I hit the escalation button, a message assured me that a decision will be made within 48 hours.
Is there really a chance that eBay will uphold the seller's bizarre decision to pocket nearly $40 of my money here? What a sham...
Thanks.
agemelee
·3 years agoCan someone or the original poster clarify this:
1) What did you open a return under? “Item not as described?†“Doesn’t fit†“Didn’t want / changed my mindâ€
To other people in this thread:
How can a seller do a 50% refund? If I accept returns, and the return is deemed not as described, I can issue a 50% refund?
agemelee
·3 years agoAnd yes I see
Up to 50% refund deduction for decreased value on used or damaged returns
When you issue a refund for an item that was returned after it was used or damaged by a buyer, and you have a track record of delivering on your service promise, we’ll give you the ability to protect yourself by deducting up to 50% of the refund to recover the decreased value of the item. If there are any issues with buyers that may negatively impact you, we’ll take care of them by removing any negative and neutral feedback, defects, and open cases in service metrics.
Does this include item not as described?
lakefor94
·3 years agoJust don't mention ANYTHING about the return case, or perhaps not the refund.
Keep it short about what you received and perhaps how the seller treated you, it might stick. My advice, just don't get too wordy.
sapphire_studio
·3 years agoIt's pretty easy to fight to get that other 50%. Ebay will pay it out of their pocket but you should get it. If your escalation doesn't work talk to the eBay customer service reps on Facebook.
Ebay will keep track of sellers who are taking off 50% to often and deal with them eventually.
raymondbitterlick
OP3 years agoThanks SS--
What a racket! The seller never even bothered to respond to me, and considering there was undisclosed damage along with the seller's mention of "returns accepted" in the ad, I had no reason to believe he would only give me back 1/2 my money once he got his shirt back. Of course I will be content so long as eBay refunds the rest of my money for this, but do you really think it will be a courtesy refund and they will let the seller slide? That's insane.
I don't know if I have ever left negative feedback but I am tempted to do so here. Need I fear a negative myself in retribution?
raymondbitterlick
OP3 years agoThat was quick--eBay notified me to say they have ruled in my favor and I can expect the full refund amount plus my shipping cost & taxes. I feel this seller has earned a negative for this one. Can I expect a negative feedback from the seller in retaliation?
nenu-5410
·3 years agoUnfortunately, no and no.
You got: A courtesy refund.
Your seller got: Away.
The seller is protected from negative feedback in this situation when they have the power to deduct 50% from your refund. And sellers have not been allowed to leave negative feedback since 2008.
raymondbitterlick
OP3 years ago"The seller is protected from negative feedback in this situation when they have the power to deduct 50% from your refund."
Hello and thank you--
Could you clarify the sentence above? He is protected from a negative feedback by virtue of the fact that he refunded 50% of the price? Though I haven't done it, it appears now that eBay will allow me to leave a negative to the seller. Will it be retracted by eBay?
wastingtime101
·3 years agoIf you received a courtesy refund and eBay backed up this seller that made use of seller protections then your neg will be automatically removed within a week.
If eBay decided seller was abusing seller protections and refunded you the balance from the seller's account then your neg should stick.
reed-sales
·3 years agoLooks like you have left about 10 negative feedbacks in the past...
Sellers can not leave negative feedback for buyers in any way. It is also against eBay policy to leave negative comments in a positive feedback