Ebay so unfair to sellers
So I try and make sure that my listings have plenty of photos and show from all angles and closeups of any issues and describe the items accurately. I do not take returns, I am not a business, just selling my collectibles and my moms stuff as she was moved into a assisted living facility. So it is exactly as described but obviously the buyer did not bother to look at the closeup photos, got them, said because one of the bowls had some fading in one area that she didn't want them. I do not take returns unless it gets broken in shipping, etc. Ebay approved the return, sent her the refund, forced me to take them back. So I am out the money shipping to her, shipping back, plus ebay fees on the sale which they do NOT return and the quarter tank of gas to go to town to get the bowls (I live in the country). I cannot resell the bowls for enough to make up for my losses. How is this fair. Theft is what it is. They took money from me on a sale that did not go through. If buyer is returned their money, I should get my fees back. Also when I take best offer, they charge fees based on the original asking price, not the price I accepted. Again, theft. One item accidently got broken when I was packing it, so was never sent and the sale was cancelled, again they did not return the fee. Again, theft. Ebay steals from sellers, even charging fees on Shipping and taxes. So if it cost $15 to ship and I collect $15, they take a fee out of that and now I no longer have the $15 so part of the shipping comes out of my pocket. And fees on taxes they collect? I never see that money but they charge me a seller fee on the taxes?? Yes its time to look for different venues to sell. I am tired of ebay stealing from me. Meanwhile if you manage to get someone on the phone, english is not their first language and they just repeat the same thing ....too bad, thats our policy. Seems to me that a good class action lawsuit would start making sure they aren't stealing "fees" from us on money we didn't get. They do not have the right to collect a fee if the sale was not completed, and should only be able to collect fees on the actual cost of the sale, not the listing price, not the shipping costs, not the taxes. This cannot be legal for them to collect fees on sales we did not get paid for. Surely I am not the only one tired of this.
farmalljr
·1 year agoAnother hilarious thread. Some sellers don't get it, and want to blame eBay and buyers. You'd think if selling online were so "tough" and they felt so mistreated, they would be having yard sales to rid themselves of the "stuff" they want sold. Or maybe they would run in town and rent retail space.
All sellers want to make online platforms a "cash cow" for their wallet, but some of them think they have all the "say so" about everything. The OP here, is on the border of being shown a permanent ban. They don't seem to know the rules, don't care about them, and think if they sell someplace else, it's probably going to be easier/better.
The "wild west" days are gone. It's not a thing anymore and romanticizing about it is a waste of time. Just like we are not going to turn back to horse and buggy for all of us to get places again, neither will eBay return to the "wild west" days and reinstate things of the past.
luckythewinner
·1 year agoOne item accidently got broken when I was packing it, so was never sent and the sale was cancelled, again they did not return the fee.
eBay wants to foster a reputation as a reliable site where sellers deliver what they promised. When you fail to deliver what you promise, it degrades the reputation of the site - which negatively affects all sellers.
Again, theft.
The penalty for being an unreliable seller who cannot deliver what was promised is the loss of fees. That is not theft - it is clearly spelled out in policy, and it is intended to either force you to become a better seller, or get you to leave.
Seems to me that a good class action lawsuit would start making sure they aren't stealing "fees" from us on money we didn't get.
eBay's fee structure is spelled out clearly, and you agreed to it when you used the site. A successful class action lawsuit requires a solid basis for the claim, and in this case there is none.
autobotdarkknight217
·1 year agoSorry ebay has ups and downs and better or worse not a perfect world if it's not our day nobody's fault were not responsible sure they can help or not this is all l can go but for the future let see what happens to all of us l'm not the only one too but others as well if most sellers from ebay don't take responsibility and understand this they must be held accountable and other punishments make sure one moment at a time.
mustang707
·1 year agoI looked at your other Pyrex dishes for sale. The problem I see with those photos is that I cannot get a good look at the 2 green dishes. They seem to be nested with the others or partially hidden when displaying them together. Also, I don't see photos of the bottoms which can show wear. You might want to stop using the impractical AI descriptions. For example, if these are used, most collectors want to know if there are any "usage marks" on the inside of the dish along with any fading, paint loss. scratches or chips. I don't need to know that they are a "practical and decorative addition to any kitchen or dining room."
an-57470
·1 year agoSend the photos to the FBI lab for clarification of details.
Maybe eBay should come up with a Policy that requires this for all collectable items so it can be proven that the tiny scratch on the item is actually a result of the manufacturing process and not mishandling, and therefore doesn't affect the value.
soh.maryl
·1 year agoThe FBI lab? Surely you don't believe that they have so little to do that they'd welcome photos from some eBay issue? Or was that a joke?
an-57470
·1 year ago@soh.maryl
I think (hope) that was an attempt at sarcasm.
an-57470
·1 year agoIt wasn't an attempt ... it was, to show how stupid it can get here!
albertabrightalberta
·1 year agoBut I don't think it was sarcasm. I think @shadowraptor was serious and that's sad.
an-57470
·1 year agoYuk Yuk These are the jokes folks ... laugh it up (if you can see the humour here, which some obviously can't).
Again, if it's museum quality items you are looking for, and you're nervous about hitting the buy button because there might be a 'hidden' scratch somewhere or the seller's camera was sick that day, you shouldn't be on eBay. As others have mentioned, the only way to verify if the item is to actually see it (or send it to the FBI for verification).
jonathanbrightlight
·1 year agoIt's sellers who can't describe and photograph their items clearly and thoroughly that probably shouldn't be on eBay. Buyers have a guarantee (the eBay Money Back Guarantee) that what they order is what they will get, in every aspect of the item, including the condition. Sellers need to be aware of that and be proactive to make sure they are not setting themselves up for failure.
And the FBI does not do anything like what you're saying. You know that.
an-57470
·1 year ago@Anonymous
But those “manufacturing flaws†absolutely DO affect value.
Ask any collector of ceramics, glassware, or dare I mention, baseball cards…
an-57470
·1 year agoAgreed.
If I was a collector of high value items, where a small scratch or a trading card picture isn't perfectly centred can affect value, I wouldn't be looking on eBay.
mustang707
·1 year ago@Anonymous Occasionally I sell Pyrex and other glass collectibles so I know what collectors are looking for. And I always point out any defects and show close-up photos including manufacturing defects. That’s what sellers are supposed to do. If you are at a garage sale or flea market you can inspect the items in great detail. A major flaw of online markets is not having the ability to physically inspect so sellers must do their best in describing everything that is pertinent to the item. You, apparently, do not care about a little defect here and there but many buyers do care.
simply-the-best-for-you
·1 year agoI think it would be in your best interest to read the Money Back Guarantee policy & understand that anyone can return anything, pretty much for any reason. Yes, sometimes buyers lie about the reason, it doesn't matter, eBay will allow the return, so as a No Returns Seller myself, I fully understand that that ONLY means that I can decline returns that were opened with a Remorse reason. That's it. That's all I have control of except I also have control over how I handle a SNAD. It is in the best interest of your account for YOU to resolve that, so eBay doesn't have to get involved.
As for all that nonsense about eBay stealing fees, NONE of that is true! Not one word of it. Do you actually look at your account daily or weekly? Do you look at your invoice? Unless you didn't properly do the refund or didn't do it all, your fees ARE returned. It even shows it to you right on the screen when you do the refund. Also, Best Offer fees ARE on the actual amount. IDK where you're getting all this stuff, but you need to review your invoice & if you don't understand it, have your accountant explain it to you.
stuff4divas
·1 year ago@debs1082 i did not read your wall of text without paragraphs, but no matter how 'perfect' a seller thinks their listing is or how a buyer can not see that perfection, the buyer is always right and the seller has to refund once the item is returned.
monroe67
·1 year ago"I do not take returns, I am not a business, just selling my collectibles and my moms stuff as she was moved into a assisted living facility." (Yeah: Been there, done that, still doing that. Fourteen years after moving mine into Assisted Living, I'm continuing to list some of her stuff on eBay.)
For your complaints here, it doesn't matter whether you or the IRS or anybody else calls you a business.
These facts are certain: YOU are trying to sell things on eBay. That makes YOU an eBay User.
That makes YOU subject to eBay's User Agreement. (Just like everybody else.)
Everything you're complaining about is spelled out in eBay's User Agreement.
IF you're accessing eBay on a desktop or laptop computer, you can open eBay's User Agreement by scrolling down to the bottom of every/any page to the small print. Click anywhere within the hyperlink ( User Agreement ), and it will open up for you to study.
"They do not have the right to collect a fee if the sale was not completed, and should only be able to collect fees on the actual cost of the sale, not the listing price, not the shipping costs, not the taxes. This cannot be legal for them to collect fees on sales we did not get paid for."
But they do. eBay does have that right. See Item 6, Fees and Taxes, in the User Agreement.
"Seems to me that a good class action lawsuit would start making sure they aren't stealing "fees" from us on money we didn't get."
While you've got the User Agreement open, set aside a few quiet minutes to read Item 19, Legal Disputes.
Here's a quote that's short enough that I will copy-and-paste it, with a little highlighting:
[Start of Quote]
3. Waiver of Class and Representative Actions and Non-Individualized Relief
EACH OF US MAY BRING CLAIMS AGAINST THE OTHER ONLY ON AN INDIVIDUAL BASIS AND NOT ON A CLASS, REPRESENTATIVE, OR COLLECTIVE BASIS, AND THE PARTIES HEREBY WAIVE ALL RIGHTS TO HAVE ANY DISPUTE BE BROUGHT, HEARD, ADMINISTERED, RESOLVED, OR ARBITRATED ON A CLASS, COLLECTIVE, OR REPRESENTATIVE BASIS. ONLY INDIVIDUAL RELIEF IS AVAILABLE.
[End of Quote]
Welcome to the party.
bonanza125
·1 year agoI would say make sure you read the policy on fees taken out and also returns policies that Ebay provides before listing an item. Selling stuff off on Ebay is still considered a business. You are making business transactions and profiting off stuff you sell for yourself and mother even though you do it from home. This is not a yard sale where you put things up for sale at bargain prices to get rid of them at a loss you have an inventory of stuff you are looking to sell off for market value. That's a business.
pickapaper
·1 year ago@debs1082
I know you think pictures are enough but you also needed to mention the fading in your description. You have to describe as if there are no pictures and show pictures like there is no written description; in other words, cover all the bases. I looked at your pictures and honestly, even though I was purposefully looking for fading, I couldn't see anything that jumped out at me so I don't think your pictures showed the damage clearly. I can see how a buyer could overlook anything that was supposed to be there.
You seem to have made up your mind that eBay is "a thief" and is no longer a good place for you to sell. Perhaps you are right. There are other venues out there that may be more to your liking, but rest assured, you will come across problems on those other sites too, maybe not the same, but problems nonetheless. You will also find that the fees on those other sites will be comparable to eBay's but you won't have the exposure that eBay offers.
debs1082
OP1 year agoIts minor fading its true, but thats why I took photos from two different angles to show it. It is clear, its just the farmers legs at the bottom. But yes, I guess you are right and in the future I will have to make sure its spelled out in a dozen different ways for those occasional special people who want to assume something is perfect, even though it does not state it is mint, and do not bother to ask if they aren't sure.
Ebay charges fees on money you do not earn...for example if you list something at $200 but take a best offer of $175, they still charge the fee on $200. So yes, that is stealing, charging a fee on money that was not part of the selling price. Its not every time, but they do it enough so that it annoys me, and then when they do not return the fee when they do a return....kind of just really frustrated me as that is not fair, or right. And yes I know life is not fair, but its not right that they take money on a sale that was not made.
Yes, looking at other venues, some of them have much cheaper fees.....it doesn't sound like a lot but paying say 10% as one offers instead of the fees ebay charges adds up, especially when some of the items are higher dollar items. Thank you for your thoughts
monroe67
·1 year ago"Ebay charges fees on money you do not earn...for example if you list something at $200 but take a best offer of $175, they still charge the fee on $200. So yes, that is stealing, charging a fee on money that was not part of the selling price."
As several people have tried patiently and sincerely to explain to you,
eBay's Final Value Fee percentage is charged on the Total Amount of the Sale.
Another way to understand that amount is the Total Amount Paid by your Buyer.
Here's the quote from the User Agreement, again with pertinent phrases highlighted:
[Start of Quote]
Final value fees
We charge one final value fee when your item sells, and you don't have to worry about third-party payment processing fees. This fee is calculated as a percentage of the total amount of the sale, plus a per order fee. For orders $10.00 or less the per order fee is $0.30, for orders over $10.00 the per order fee is $0.40.
The total amount of the sale includes the item price, any handling charges, any shipping costs collected from the buyer (some exceptions apply), sales tax , and any other applicable fees.
An order is defined as any number of items purchased by the same buyer at checkout with the same shipping method.
If you need to refund the buyer or cancel the sale, you may be eligible for fee credits as per our fee credits policy.
[End of Quote]
"Its not every time, but they do it enough so that it annoys me, and then when they do not return the fee when they do a return....kind of just really frustrated me as that is not fair, or right. And yes I know life is not fair, but its not right that they take money on a sale that was not made."
I doubt you can show anybody any "time" when eBay did not apply their fees in precisely the way the User Agreement describes.
eBay consistently and equitably ("fair") applies their policies and procedures to all eBay sellers.
dhbookds
·1 year ago..for example if you list something at $200 but take a best offer of $175, they still charge the fee on $200. So yes, that is stealing, charging a fee on money that was not part of the selling price. Its not every time, but they do it enough so that it annoys me,
You keep saying this..........can you show us an example of it happening.........
I've been here since 2004, sold over 3.3K of items..........NEVER had it happen.......
fern*wood
·1 year agoYou are going to have to prove that to me. Many have already told you that isn't correct, but you ignore them. I've been here a long time and have never been charged fees on full price if I sold the item for less.
albertabrightalberta
·1 year agoPost #1,641 suggesting a class action lawsuit!
@debs1082 Let us know when you find an attorney willing to take the case. I want to follow it.
albertabrightalberta
·1 year ago@debs1082
If that buyer reports the feedback you left for them, it'll be removed AND you'll have another violation on your record. Sellers cannot leave non-positive feedback and comments for buyers.
bonjourami
·1 year agoYikes, just saw that, calling the buyer a liar, this is really extreme behavior, and hopefully the buyer will report it.
debs1082
OP1 year agoThank you. Yes, a buyer can leave a negative feedback that is false, but you cannot leave a feedback for them...thats the entire problem on here. Ebay ONLY cares about the buyers. You used to be able do both back in the days when I was collecting long long ago and bought lots of things on ebay. Now they have changed it to favor only the buyers.
albertabrightalberta
·1 year agoYup, and the reason they changed the feedback policy was because of sellers who did exactly as you did -- they retaliated against buyers by negging the buyers, who often did nothing wrong!
dhbookds
·1 year agojust a suggestion......in order to try to help.........get the chip off your shoulder and understand IF you want to sell here....you better pay attention to the condition of the item and disclose it in the description. Toddlers or adults don't matter.........it is to YOUR benefit that you do it.......it protects YOU from buyers who don't look at pictures.
Secondly, Ebay charges fees based on the total the buyer pays........so if an item is marked down or an offer is accepted.......that is the what the fees are based on...........they don't "steal" money from you.
mtgraves7984
·1 year ago@debs1082
I'm scrolling through your listings and see loads of great stuff. I'm among those who might say that this is a great venue for what you've got. I had a blast just walking up and down your aisles! 👀
Since you've already gotten past onboarding with Managed Payments and don't mind the hold until you're an established seller... I'd offer that you sit tight. Read through the fee policies again and consider revisiting your 'No Returns' policy. You've got items that not only sell... they'll sell a second time. The next time you get a Return request, approve it. When the item comes back, re-price and relist... it'll sell again.
Heads up on a couple of things to (be proactive) and revise. 1) VERSUS by Versace Sunglasses... lose the pic with 2 pairs showing and the description line about the red pair. 2) The Erector Set, the 14" Mermaid Lamp, the Harley Davidson Women's Boots, nearly all of your larger Figurine-Statue thingys... double-check your shipping costs. Properly packaged (bubble wrap, double boxed, etc.), your listed prices might be too low.
I wish you good luck here, and I sure wish those HD boots were my size... but I digress. Hang in there.
debs1082
OP1 year agoThank you so much. I am just so frustrated. On returns, I still lose the money because I still have to pay for shipping to and returning from the seller. You figure for example on this item. Sold for $69 now Ive just lost $20 on them. Now even if I sell them for $69 again, I will really only be getting $49 minus the new ebay fee for selling them. Plus the 1/4 tank of gas to go into town to mail them (live in the mountains, no place to mail a package here, have a 2hr drive) ...then of course at the end of the year I have IRS to pay...so yeah, not really making a killing on these lol.
As for shipping, oh yeah, I know my shipping costs are too low....but people will not pay the higher shipping costs unless you lower the price of the item, so if one goes up the other goes down but it ends up the same either way. I do not know how a lot of these sellers are giving free shipping. I guess I am not savvy enough to know the ins and outs of getting the cheaper shipping. I am just trying to empty two houses worth of stuff lol.
Luckily most buyers are awesome and I do have some repeat buyers....but once in awhile one of these kinds of people come along and just got to be special. Just looking at some of the other sites, their fees are cheaper too... If I can start selling on those instead, I will start listing more on those sites and cross listing the stuff I have on here on those sites.
I appreciate your comments, thank you so much for being helpful. I hope you have a great day
soh.maryl
·1 year agoAny seller who listed with free shipping is not "getting" free shipping. They are, hopefully, building the cost of shipping into the price of the item.
hartungcards
·1 year agoYou lost me at, "I am not a business."
debs1082
OP1 year agoLol yeah yeah I know, the IRS considers me a business, but Im just a person emptying two houses. I am not buying or keeping inventory, but just selling off all of the stuff no longer needed and wanted from the two houses.
chapeau-noir
·1 year agoThat doesn't matter - you're selling on a platform with international reach, not a local shop or a garage sale - that means the platform has to establish certain rules for everyone, including rules that involve money handling. You're going to run into that on any venue.
As for the photos being part of the description - yes, they are, but they're still just images. It's tough to tell a fade spot from a lighting artifact because the buyer is not holding the item in their hand. And if you sell nationwide, you're going to be dealing with the public, not just your neighbours.
Plus, even if you're just selling stuff from the house, it's important to conduct yourself professionally - as you do with your careful photography and product selection, so do it with your selling practices. It gets a lot easier, then.
debs1082
OP1 year agoI get that ....the fees....but fees should not be charged on money you aren't earning....in other words a return should automatically refund your fee. And they need to fix their site as they often charge fees on the LISTING price not the selling price which adds up.
I understand what you are saying about lighting, etc....but these are very clear photos and its obvious it is not a lighting defect since its from two different angles (which is why I did that) And why would one assume a used item is mint if not described as mint? We should not have to be babysitters to people who can not adult and look at photos or ask questions if they are not sure if its a lighting defect or not. I have had buyers ask before and always happy to provide more photos and a response as to what it is or isn't. As I said, most buyers are great....but you run into these others occasionally and it makes it frustrating. Will be glad when the stuff is gone and will not have to worry about it anymore.
soh.maryl
·1 year agoAgain, eBay's final value fee is calculated based on the total amount actually paid to the seller by the buyer. If you listed an item for $100, but accepted an offer of $80, the FVF will be charged on that amount plus the shipping fee and the state sales tax.
Can you return and show us the figures for an item you sold where the FVF was charged on the original price, not the actual price the buyer paid? You aren't figuring the FVF on the selling price alone are you?
buyselljack2016
·1 year agoIf eBay has to do the sellers job when it comes to handling a return request done within eBay policies set forth by eBay, then they are going to keep the fees for having to take such actions.
--------------------
I do not think that I have ever been charge a fee based on an amount higher than the buyer payment. I do not promote, so if that has any bearing on what the fees are charged on, I'm in the dark there.
chapeau-noir
·1 year agoAgain, it's just an image and with online sales, the buyer cannot inspect the item in person. Instead, we rely on a fairly imperfect system of devices where colours or shadows may be different from one device to another, and what we see, they may or may not.
It's why flaws need to be mentioned in the item condition as well. Simply saying "fading on XYZ shown in photo" is pretty much enough.
But again - people cannot inspect the item in person. Don't make them jump through hoops for the want of a few words of description.
As for not returning your fees - if you make eBay 'step in' and resolve the case for you, they keep the fees as a sort of penalty (as I see it) - you're expected to be able to handle CS - and give you a ding as well. This site needs buyers a whole lot more than yet more sellers, trust me on that, it's why we have to deal with this.
albertabrightalberta
·1 year agoThose fees would have been credited if you'd accepted the return.
When sellers force ebay to step in and resolve claims, they punish the sellers by retaining the fees.
powell-collectibles
·1 year agoGot it. On these boards, you would be referred to as a decluttering seller.
kensgiftshop
·1 year agoThe problem is, there was nothing in your description about any defects.
No returns, doesn't mean no refunds.
If you had accepted the return, without Ebay getting involved, your fees would have been refunded.
debs1082
OP1 year agoWell there were two photos that clearly showed the small area of fading. Photos ARE part of the description are they not? Its listed as USED. Ebays description of used is may have cosmetic defects but functions as intended. I do not say "mint" or "perfect" or "like new" I say used and that they were my mothers, they were actually used in daily life. While the other two were perfect, I took two closeups of the fading of the one that had that small area. Grownups should be able to look at photos. Why would you assume they were in brand new condition? Meanwhile ebay also charges fees on listing price and not the actual selling price. Thats wrong.
kensgiftshop
·1 year agoI looked at your photos and I couldn't see any faded area, but I didn't know where to look.
It would have helped if you circled the faded area or at least mention it in your description so buyers could look for it.
Some of the photos are not really clear enough to tell anything.
albertabrightalberta
·1 year ago"Photos ARE part of the description are they not?"
Of course they are. But most sellers aren't professional photographers and it's often hard to determine if uneven color or shadows are from lighting, flash, angle or other variable. And even if the color is perfect, different monitors and even different people see colors differently.
"Grownups should be able to look at photos."
My advice to sellers has always been to take pictures as if there's no description and describe as if there are no pictures.
"Its listed as USED. Ebays description of used is may have cosmetic defects but functions as intended. I do not say "mint" or "perfect" or "like new"
But you need to describe and show those cosmetic defects. Again, as I said above, a buyer who doesn't have the item in hand to examine can't tell if variations in color are because of a lack of photography skills or because the item actually is faded in areas.
dhbookds
·1 year agoFees are spelled out and you shouldn't list if you aren't willing to pay them......
No returns doesn't mean people can't claim Not as described and return something. I do see some fading on the turq bowls which was not described in your description.
Had you agreed to the return and refunded yourself.......you would have gotten the fees back.....
debs1082
OP1 year agoBut it was clearly photographed and posted in two of the photos. Photos ARE part of the description. Even if I had refunded voluntarily I may get the fee back but I still would have been out the cost of shipping to and returning which was the bigger cost. Its a no win situation. I am emptying a house, which is why I do not take returns. Not a business per se, just emptying a house, I do not want the items back which is why I take plenty of photos. As for fees, even if ebay returns the item, you should still get your fees back, and they also charge fees on the listing price and not the sale price, which they are not supposed to do. They are supposed to adjust it to the selling price. If I sell something for $25 less than listing price, I should not pay fees on that $25. It adds up in the end.
bonjourami
·1 year ago" As for fees, even if ebay returns the item, you should still get your fees back, and they also charge fees on the listing price and not the sale price, which they are not supposed to do. "
Had you responded to the case with a return label and refund after return, you would have been credited with the fees. Since you didnt do that, and Ebay stepped in, you dont get the fees back, and you probably got a defect too. Ebay charges the fvf on the amount that was paid, Idk where you are getting that they charge for the full price,and not the sale price?
tobaccocardyahoo
·1 year agoThere are flea markets and local auctions because one can sell there without the issues you are so unhappy with.
I and various other posters here are faced with the need to make things go away.
Your issues are not unique. What is different is your unwillingness to do what it takes to use this venue to make things go away.
You do not want to adapt. Many sellers who adapt find they get few requests for returns, and can even accept a return when they do not have to.
Do I sometimes rely on photos to show my defects and neglect to itemize them in words, yes I do. Do I accept a return when the buyer complains. Yes, I do and I apologize.
Ebay is a great place to sell many items, which include the items you are selling, but you are going to wake up one morning to find your are at Below Average Seller Level, limited in what you can list, and subject to an extra 5+% fee and unable to promote if you insist on forcing Ebay to step in before your buyers are refunded.
All of us are trying to help you make as much as you can by selling here. And we, unlike the Ebay reps who told you that your pictures were good enough to show what the condition was, are not trying to get you off of the phone. Their opinion is not reflective of Ebay's opinion and not predictive of what Ebay is going to do.
tobaccocardyahoo
·1 year agoUnfortunately, photos are often inadequate to adequately display flaws. Cameras, monitors and perspective often make it hard to see what is not right.
Had you identified the flaw with an arrow in the photo, and in the condition description the result might be better.
If these were the pyrex bowls, you need to recognize that the prices they bring are being paid by collectors. Collectors are picky about condition.
If you are not being refunded Ebay fees, it is because you are failing to refund voluntarily and you are losing the fees when you force Ebay to step in.
If the buyer claims not as described, it is not as described and will be refunded. If you are stubborn, you lose the fees.
The fact that you are not a business is irrelevant. Consumer protection laws make no exception for mail order sales from the household of a nursing home inhabitant, nor do credit card rules, nor does Ebay.
You have entered into a world which differs from doing cash business, in person. If you do not adapt, you will keep losing money.
debs1082
OP1 year agoSometimes you are right, its not obvious in photos, and in those instances I go into pain staking detail about any cracks, chips, breaks, tears, etc. However, the photos showed up great and it is very clear (even the two ebay people I talked to on the phone said they could clearly see it ) and the buyer sent a photo that was almost an exact duplicate of the ones I had posted. Its just a bit of fading on the design on one of the three bowls, thus the closeups. These are listed as used. If I refund voluntarily, I am still losing money, on shipping to and returning. You loose money either way when you run into one of "those" special people on here. Thank goodness they are far and few between. The price reflected the fading, and I think thats all she saw was that it was a great price and thought she could resell for a great profit and didnt bother looking at them. Shes a reseller not a collector. It is exactly as described. Condition USED may have cosmetic defects but functions as intended. Their own description of used has the condition in it. I understand what you are saying, but as I said, I am not a store, or a business (other than IRS will qualify me as one until I sell the last piece) but merely disposing of the contents of my parents house and my own collectibles, not buying and keeping inventory. Sigh, I will start looking at different venues for selling, there are a number of other sites. Buyers can claim whatever they want but it does not make it true. It is exactly as pictured and described. This was the only person out of all of the items I have sold that claimed this and it was a false claim. I do not hide the faults if there are any, I make sure they are pictured. Most buyers are awesome, but you always run into one here and there that is just a .....well you know.
gone.c-33
·1 year agoYou can look for other places to sell, but you’ll run into the same issues in any market place that accepts credit card payments and/or offers buyer protection.
If you title anything as “vintageâ€, you’re advertising to a specific market base that will pay a premium price but you need to describe your items as if there were no pictures and take pictures as if there was no written description.
bonjourami
·1 year agoShowing damage in the photo is not enough, you must include that damage in your description. When a seller cancels a transaction with the oos option, he will receive a defect and selling fees are not credited.Ebay charges their fee on the whole amount processed, including shipping fee and taxes. Unless you'd rather dispurse all those taxes to each proper state? No returns on Ebay does not mean no refunds for not as described items.
P.S.Yes, eBay sellers can be considered businesses, especially if they are actively buying and reselling items for profit. Whether or not eBay sales are considered a business depends on factors like frequency of sales, profit motive, and whether the activity is conducted in a business-like manner. If you're regularly selling items, especially with the intent to make a profit, the IRS typically treats your activity as a business, requiring you to report income and potentially deduct expenses.
debs1082
OP1 year agoI understand the government will consider me a business.....but I am not buying things or keeping inventory to sell, merely selling what I already have. Downsizing, smaller house. But the problem with ebay is half the time they charge the fee based on listing price and not the reduced best offer sold for price. Thats not correct, that is stealing money they are not entitled to. Description...USED which states may be cosmetically damaged but still functions as intended. Um, there was a bit of fading on one bowl, it is not broken, chipped, cracked, or otherwise damaged. Its a friggin decades old bowl that was USED. I did not say it was mint or perfect or as new, I stated it was used and it was my mothers. I posted closeups of the fading so it was visible. If the buyers are too lazy to look at pictures or ask for more details, why is it my job to lead them by the nose like a toddler. Photos are part of the description and listing. It is as described.....USED. with one out of the three ites having an area of fading. If you are a grown up, it is your responsibility if you are looking for perfect to ask if it is and inspect the photos, why would you assume that something that old and used would be perfect and not bother looking at the photos or asking if it was? I understand what you are saying, but photos ARE part of the description.
bonjourami
·1 year ago" Description...USED which states may be cosmetically damaged but still functions as intended. Um, there was a bit of fading on one bowl, it is not broken, chipped, cracked, or otherwise damaged. Its a friggin decades old bowl that was USED. I did not say it was mint or perfect or as new, I stated it was used and it was my mothers. I posted closeups of the fading so it was visible. If the buyers are too lazy to look at pictures or ask for more details, why is it my job to lead them by the nose like a toddler. Photos are part of the description and listing. It is as described.....USED."
Im sorry, but you are wrong.Its not up to the buyer to closely inspect your pictures or have to ask questions about the condition.Calling buyers 'lazy' or 'toddlers' is disingenious, to put it mildy. While I do empathize with you, I dont think you understand that your listing was the problem, not the buyer.
And its not my business where you source your items to sell, but you sell an awful lot of 'new' items,that seem to be purchased to sell for profit, that makes you a business.
an-57470
·1 year agoReally ... not up to buyers to ask questions? I think it is almost mandatory, especially for things like electronics.
1. Does it work?
2. Have you tested all functions?
3. Warranty?
4. Yada, yada, yada
The word 'good' in a description is very vague and probably hard to prove item not as described if something minor function doesn't work.
I believe the term 'buyer beware' is still currently used, but these, who knows ...
If you don't ask questions (things not described or not clear in the pics), and the seller doesn't respond, your whining about what you got is just wasted air and contributes to the CO2 problem.
bonjourami
·1 year ago"If you don't ask questions (things not described or not clear in the pics), and the seller doesn't respond, your whining about what you got is just wasted air and contributes to the CO2 problem."
Certainly agree with that, if things are not described or clear in pics. But if a photo shows a flaw, the seller must include that flaw in the description,to protect themselves.But we are not talking about electronics here, we are talking about bowls.
debs1082
OP1 year agoThank you......But are not the photos part of the description? My understanding is that the photos are as much a part of the description as anything else. In Ebays own definition of USED it says "May have cosmetic flaws but functions as intended". Well that kind of describes it exactly. One of the three had one area of fading, which is why I took close up photos. Why would you assume a vintage bowl that is decades old is in mint condition if it is not described as mint? And why would an adult not look at the photos? Most buyers I have encountered are awesome, but I guess you are going to run into one here and there that just can't adult and look at photos or ask questions if they are not sure.
Oh well. I will just be glad when its all gone and in the meantime will look at some of the other sites to sell...I see some of the others have cheaper fees at least.
kensgiftshop
·1 year agoAnother thing to remember, a lot of buyers buy from their phones
It's hard to see any details in the little images on a phone, that's why you need a good description also.
fern*wood
·1 year agoWhy not say that in your description? You know it and you need to make sure your potential buyers know it too, so pointing it out will help a buyer to look for that in the photos. By not stating what is wrong, a buyer might not notice it in a photo or think it is just bad lighting. Not doing so obviously was a problem. You can repeat it over and over that you are right and the buyer was wrong, but it still ends up as your problem to fix. I try to learn from my mistakes so I don't have a repeat of the same issue.
an-57470
·1 year agoOk, a few typos ...
I meant to say that if you do ask questions from the seller about some part of the description or pics before placing a bid or buying it and the seller doesn't respond, move on.
debs1082
OP1 year agoI agree, ask questions!!! I always reply. I am happy to take more photos or to provide any clarification. I just didn't understand that some adults cannot be adult enough to actually look at the photos. Sigh, silly me. I should know better. That being said, most of the buyers I have encountered were awesome and some numerous repeat buyers so love most of them, but theres always one or two......
roccotacodad54
·1 year ago"Really ... not up to buyers to ask questions? I think it is almost mandatory, especially for things like electronics."
Nope. It's up to the seller to accurately photograph and describe the condition of the item. As had been suggested before..."Take pictures like there's no description and write descriptions as if there's no pictures".
Myself I rarely bother with asking sellers questions about an item unless it's VERY hard to find and their listing isn't "up to snuff". Other than that I figure the seller is most likely lazy or doesn't care. Either way a possible hassle for me if I buy.
Might be the same sellers complaining about no or slow sales.......................
an-57470
·1 year agoSo when you buy a car, rather than look at it or test drive it, and do your due diligence, it's best to just look at the pretty pictures and rely on the seller's word that it's good, as long as there'e enough pictures to show every nut, bolt, belt and piece of oil in the thing and hope that that little tiny spring in the flux capacitor isn't broken.
I still believe the buyer has the responsibility to verify the item meets his/her needs, not the seller's to prove that it does.
The main gripe I have about eBay, and it's similar to the one I had 25+ years ago - too hard to sell here with all of their Policies and Rules. But buying (from Canadians) is easy, and that's why I'm here.
hartungcards
·1 year ago"The main gripe I have about eBay, and it's similar to the one I had 25+ years ago - too hard to sell here with all of their Policies and Rules."
I totally agree, I think it should be a 100% free-for-all where anything goes, and everybody gets to make up their own rules. That would sure turn this ship around.
chapeau-noir
·1 year agoOP's current complaint could have been solved with a very short sentence.
That's it.
soh.maryl
·1 year agoSorry -- but you are in error with your statement about how eBay final value fees are calculated.
Your final value fee is always calculated on how much the item sold for, the shipping cost and the state sales tax.
And photos are part of the description, but so is an actual written description.
kensgiftshop
·1 year agoIf the information is mentioned in the description, buyers wouldn't have to ask.
Even though you have photos, any defects need to be mentioned in the descriptions.
hartungcards
·1 year agoYou lost me again at, "But the problem with ebay is half the time they charge the fee based on listing price and not the reduced best offer sold for price."
rschissler
·1 year agoHow about, to avoid those returns that you don't seem to like?