eBay hates sellers
I recently sold an item on eBay for $600, with an additional $100 for shipping cost. The item was in perfect condition, but I also marked as "seller does not accept returns." I properly packaged it up, and shipped it out. After the item was delivered and eBay took out its fees, I was paid $516.
A few days later, the buyer started by leaving me negative feedback saying the item was damaged during shipping beyond repair, then opened up a return claim for "item not as described." eBay then sent this -
"The item the buyer wants to return is covered by our eBay Money Back Guarantee. This allows the buyer to request a return for items they say don't match the listing description. As you may know, sellers must honor the eBay Money Back Guarantee even if they state that they do not accept returns." They then gave me four days to arrange return shipping for the buyer.
I reached out to eBay for help, and instead was rudely told that I had to click on an accept return and provide a shipping label in order to start a return dispute. The same individual told me that I could dispute the negative feedback.
I obliged, and started a dispute for the negative feedback. The next day, I was told by eBay that the negative review would remain on my profile, and is to "help buyers." Then I got another email from eBay saying they were going to "step in help resolve the return." A few days later, I was notified that eBay had refunded the buyer and would deduct $700 from my bank account. I contacted eBay again and tried to dispute the outcome, but they decided to keep the original outcome and gave me a generic "For future selling of items on eBay, here's a link on how to sell items.." This has left me without any returned items, a negative review, and now $700 total loss from my bank account.
Has anyone else experienced something like this? How was it resolved?
dbfolks166mt
·2 years agoI have not experienced the exact same issue but I did sell a framed print once. The print was rather large about 36" x 24", double matted and framed behind plexiglass. I package the item well double boxed, labeled all over as fragile, this end up, ship on edge........ but yet USPS managed to somehow break the plexiglass in transit.
I received a message from the buyer about it arriving damaged along with some pictures. I told him to open a NAD claim with eBay and I would immediately refund him in full which I did. I also asked him to retain the damaged item and the original packing, asked him for his personal email and told him I was going to open a damage claim with USPS and may need his assistance.
He was kind enough to assist me while I went through a several month battle with USPS over the damage claim. He ultimately had to take the damaged print and packing into his local post office for inspection and once the postmaster examined the item and packing she authorized the claim and I was refunded from USPS for the item. I had to file a separate claim to recover the shipping cost. I was lucky enough to get the support of my buyer something that has not always happened with the insurance claims I have filed with USPS.
Not sure what the damage was in your case or if you can get your buyers assistance but you should at least try to file a claim with USPS.
gamersbaystore
·2 years agoIn the future, I would insure anything of considerable value when shipping. Then if something gets damaged in transit, you can just ask the buyer to take it to their local post office to have the package inspected, then refund them. You get paid back from the insurance proceeds, the buyer doesnt have to return anything, and everyone is happy.
Although, UPS and USPS will typically not allow you to insure the actual shipping costs, that part you typically lose on; but its better than losing the entire sale.
Likewise, there is no such thing as no returns here. Its best to accept returns and issue a return label. If not, ebay will just refund the buyer and you will lose your product.
As for feedback, ebay will not remove negative feedback for a transaction where there is an open case. You need to resolve the case first, then ask to have the negative feedback removed.
lakefor94
·2 years agozoeyzozo1
·2 years agoI had the same experience. It has been awful. A buyer scammed me. I asked EBay for help. They never contacted me. Instead they went into my bank account and paid the fraudulent buyer three times whatI had made from the sale!!!! The fraudulent buyer wins and the honest seller gets screwed. It is not getting resolved because EBay refuses to investigate my side of the issue. There is no way to talk to anyone at EBay. It’s disgusting. I’m leaving EBay!
toomuchstuffagain35
·2 years agoFrom the FB it appears that only 2 of the 4 were damaged. If you had responded promptly to the dispute you could have perhaps arranged with the buyer for them to accept a partial refund, rather than lose the full amount, or you could have sent a return label and received them back with at least 2 being resellable.
You can file a damaged items claim with the carrier but I doubt they'll pay up.
dqdistribution
·2 years agoDo you honestly think just because you click the button that says 'doesn't accept returns' buyers should be stuck with broken items delivered to them?
That isn't how online sales work. Try a local platform if you want As is.
nyr134
·2 years agoUSPS Priority Mail offers up to $100 insurance. Consider making a claim via the post office.
inhawaii
·2 years agoI understand you're upset, but just because you had a return and received a negative feedback does not mean that ebay "hates" sellers.
12345jamesstamps
·2 years agoShipping glass as we all know can break. Sounds like a legit negative feedback. Maybe just selling them without the glass would have been a better option.
No returns does not mean no returns when item is not as described.
Paying for the return shipping label or even maybe working with the buyer for a partial refund might have worked.
New sellers should not be selling expensive items until they learn the ropes of selling. If you sold something for ten bucks it would not have hurt so much. This is a learning experience and I wouldn't give up. You wouldn't have received the funds as well...new sellers have to wait 30+ days to receive funds of their first sold item in a 30 day month.
And I don't think "was rudely told" was what was meant. You were told the truth by eBay.
tobaccocardyahoo
·2 years agoIf the item is damaged in shipment, a US Buyer is legally entitled to be made whole for the transaction.
If you want the damaged item back, you need to provide a prepaid shipping label, following Ebay's procedures prior to the refund.
As a new seller, listing a big ticket item is unwise.
As a new seller, listing a hard to pack item is unwise.
As a new seller, failing to learn about Ebay's policies is unwise.
That is also true of an old seller, who has not had sufficient experience in sales that have gone wrong.
The only way that you could have lost less money is if Ebay paid for your failure, and it is not going to do that.
m60driver
·2 years agoWell, being a new seller and listing an item for $600 was your first mistake and yes, it has happened to many new sellers with the same disappointing outcome.
kensgiftshop
·2 years agoYes, a lot of new sellers that don't understand how the MBG works has been through it.
It's been resolved by Ebay.
You can ask the buyer if they'll return the item, if you send a prepaid shipping label.
lakefor94
·2 years agoIf the shipment was indeed damaged as you stated, what exactly did you expect as an end result?
eBay would have refunded your final value fees had you refunded on your own accord. Of course, you would still have been out the original shipping and the cost of the item.
When a seller allows eBay to refund the transaction, the seller loses it all including the final value fees.
Should you try this again at some point, pack to make sure that there is no way the shipment can be damaged and if a situation arises, come here first for advice before that situation becomes a real problem for you.
reallynicestamps
·2 years agoYou "marked as "seller does not accept returns."
EBay reminded you "As you may know, sellers must honor the eBay Money Back Guarantee even if they state that they do not accept returns."
Since you did not demand the return which is your right.
And since you did not supply the return shipping label which is your responsibility.
EBay assumed you had abandoned the item, which is not uncommon although usually when the value of the item is lower than the cost of tracked return shipping.
Don't confuse feedback which is not used by eBay to assess member accounts with Claims.
Deal with Claims promptly.
Don't use a No Returns policy unless you do plan to abandon disputed items.
Send the return shipping, get the item back, appeal later.
Reading the FB, it sounds as if a "returns accepted" policy would have led to a better outcome,by appearing more open to discussion/partial refund to the customer.
Did you ask the buyer for photographs of the damaged pictures?
Glass is very difficult to ship.
mtgraves7984
·2 years agoHas anyone else experienced something like this? How was it resolved?
@Anonymous
The short answer is that many sellers have experienced it and it's always resolved in the buyer's favor if eBay gets involved. The good news is that this usually happens to sellers just that one time, if at all. Hang in there...
bonjourami
·2 years agoDid you provide the shipping label and refund after return? Any time Ebay has to step in, they will rule in the buyers favor, and refund them. You also received a major defect to your account for being a non performing seller. Your seller days may be over here.
an-57470
OP2 years agoI provided the shipping label, but eBay issued the refund. You're probably right about my seller days being done here... but that's because I have no desire to sell here after this situation.
bonjourami
·2 years agoYou may have printed your label on Ebay, but your buyer paid $100 for shipping, and was entitled to get that back.
an-57470
OP2 years agoA few additional notes - I bought the original shipping label through eBay. I am also not mad at the buyer in any capacity and do believe their return is justified since the item did appear to be damaged very badly during the shipping process. The frustration here is the lack of help from eBay for their sellers, and how I have been charged nearly $200 more than what I was originally paid.
bonjourami
·2 years ago" The frustration here is the lack of help from eBay for their sellers, and how I have been charged nearly $200 more than what I was originally paid."
The buyer is entitled to a complete refund, doesnt matter what you were 'paid', thats immaterial.