Financial institution dispute: buyer refunded and keeps item
I’m looking for advice and clarification on a situation that doesn’t seem fair to me as a seller.
I sold a jacket and the buyer opened a return request stating only that it “did not fit.†I declined the return because I do not accept returns based on fit and I clearly provide detailed measurements in the listing.
After that the buyer opened a dispute with his financial institution claiming the item was “not as described.†He never mentioned this to me before, never said there was anything wrong with the jacket and his original return reason was strictly about fit. I challenged the dispute and submitted all documentation and screenshots showing this.
About a month later I was notified that his financial institution sided with him. The funds were immediately withdrawn from my bank account and I was also charged an additional $20 dispute fee. The notice stated that the transaction did not qualify for seller protection, although I’m not sure why.
I contacted the buyer and asked him to return the item, offering to provide a return label but he is now ignoring my messages and still has both the jacket and my money.
My question is:
Is eBay or the buyer’s financial institution going to require the buyer to return the item?
If not, how is this fair to sellers when a buyer changes the reason from “doesn’t fit†to “not as described†after a return is declined?
I’m concerned this could be a form of abuse and would like to understand what protections sellers actually have in situations like this. Thanks
kandf_vintage_finds
·6 months agoSorry this happened to you.
For future maybe accept the return and this may not happen.
stainlessenginecovers
·6 months ago@yulsstuff3781 Most banks see 2 things and then side with their customer.
1.) customer filed charge back
2.) was an 'ebay' order'
Done deal; side with our customer.
They typically don't read/see nor care about what you sent them.
luckythewinner
·6 months agoI’m concerned this could be a form of abuse and would like to understand what protections sellers actually have in situations like this
When a buyer claims "not as described" in a payment dispute, you lose a great deal of seller protection. To be protected from a NAD payment dispute, you basically have to have already won a NAD eBay dispute.
Is eBay or the buyer’s financial institution going to require the buyer to return the item?
eBay cannot forec ethe seller to do anything, and the financial institution will not.
tobaccocardyahoo
·6 months agoIt is not fair, but it is the result you will have under US Consumer Protection laws unless in your response to the chargeback dispute you state that you will accept a return.
Your prior refusal to accept a return will be taken to mean that you do not want the item back. And the buyer is entitled to the refund.
Many sellers shoot themselves in the foot and lose the payment and the item.
Even if you have a no returns policy, accept returns or risk a chargeback. Do not sell anything which is going to cost you the profit on multiple sales if you have to accept a return.
Returns are a normal part of selling retail, and no retailer likes returns and refunds.
ryry-jj
·6 months agoStart accepting returns, make it easy....once you get it back and if they did file a remorse return at least you can deduct shipping charges from the return. Fair isn't a thing.....unfortunately
monica-sells
·6 months agotruer words every seller should digest........
tools*
·6 months agoMy bank allows you to dispute a checking account debit conveniently on their website.
bonanza125
·6 months agoI agree it isn't fair to the seller however you just realized what happens if you decline or refuse buyer returns. You run the risk of losing the item from the payment source. If the buyer requests a return just accept. Maybe change your return policy to 30 day returns.
kensgiftshop
·6 months agoSorry, but the buyer tried to return and you declined.
Once the buyers bank gets involved, they usually don't require the buyer to return it.
mtgraves7984
·6 months agoMy question is:
Is eBay or the buyer’s financial institution going to require the buyer to return the item?
If not, how is this fair to sellers when a buyer changes the reason from “doesn’t fit†to “not as described†after a return is declined?
I’m concerned this could be a form of abuse and would like to understand what protections sellers actually have in situations like this. Thanks
@yulsstuff3781
1) No, neither eBay or the buyer's CC will require a return of the item.
2) It isn't fair to sellers. Usually, it's best to accept remorse Returns. If an item sells once, it'll probably sell again.
3) Sadly, sellers have very little protection against this type of buyer abuse.
bonjourami
·6 months agoIts not fair, but unfortunately, it happens. Ebay is completely out of the picture once the buyer files with their cc. The cc usually always allows the buyer to keep the item, along with their refund. Theres just no protection for the seller in these cases,Ebay cant force the return of the item. Tho their have been a few posts in here from sellers who claimed they won their case against the cc, maybe one of those sellers will come in.
dnasilver
·6 months agoeBay is not out of the picture. The buyers CC cannot take funds from the seller. They have to go through eBay. Selling on eBay does not give carte blanche to anyone to access sellers funds. Saying that eBay is completely out of the picture is false. eBay/eBay's processor refunded the funds to the CC.
redmodelt
·6 months agoeBay is out of the picture as far as fighting it, but they are the provider of service for the seller and the transaction went thru them, they are making the refund from the sellers' payment source along with the $20 convenance fee. The CC is billing eBay who in turns bills the seller. Except for some rare exceptions, sellers loose.
jonathanbrightlight
·6 months agoSelling on eBay gives eBay the right to take your funds from your account if you owe money, and since eBay will determine that you owe them money if the buyer's credit card issuer/bank decides in their favor (barring narrowly defined situations where eBay protects the seller from payment disputes), they do indeed have access to your funds. eBay is out of the picture when it comes to the decision made by the card issuer/bank. All they will do is pass along the information you provide, if any.