Just need to vent about a dishonest buyer...
Hi all! I've been buying and selling on eBay for over 20 years and I truly love the system and the community. I've occasionally come across some bad apples on both ends, and eBay has handled those circumstances very well. But one recent selling transaction has disappointed me so deeply, that I just needed to vent somewhere -- and I figured this is probably the best place to do that. 🙂
I sold a buyer a somewhat rare DVD, and they claimed it wouldn't play on their US player because it was a different region-coded disc. I thought this was odd because I only sell US Region-1 discs and clearly state that in my listings, but I agreed to swap it out with another disc I thankfully had on hand. Granted, I should have made the buyer go through the eBay return process for transparency and support... but he had over 2700 positive feedbacks, so I assumed he was approaching me with goodwill.
I emailed him a return label to send the defective disc back, and shipped him a replacement. But when I received the disc he returned... it was clearly not at all the disc I originally sent him. It was a foreign Region-4 disc with different artwork. I was absolutely furious! Mostly because I hate the feeling of being duped. Did he think I wouldn't notice? Or did he not even care?
I sent him a message conveying my disappointment, and reported him as a dishonest buyer with eBay. I don't expect either to make a shred of difference, really. It's just sad that some people out there are deliberately trying to trick you and take advantage. I'm just a hobby seller... not Best Buy or Target... so when I lose 2 costly items to some conniving **bleep**, it really hurts.
I just wish there was a way to withdraw or revise my positive feedback of his initial transaction, because who knows how many other honest sellers this guy has tried to screw over? Anyway, thank you for listening! May you all have nothing but pleasant and sincere eBay transactions from here on out!
fbusoni
·2 years agoI feel your pain and disappointment and extend my sincere sympathy.
Its not the merchandise. Its the idea that you go out of your way, well-intentioned, to be helpful. It's in our nature to trust others. Especially if one is raised right.
And then the other person treats you like you are an inanimate object.
My adult daughter is starting out her career and we have these conversations regularly. She is a kind, good-hearted soul who wouldn't hurt a fly (well, ok, maybe a fly) and she cannot comprehend how others lie, manipulate and cheat. It's not like the stakes are high.
Homo sapiens are the only species that engage in this sort of duplicitous behavior. I only talk to a small handful of them.
farmalljr
·2 years agoAs disappointed as seller are, when a buyer takes advantage of them, what about when the shoe is on the other foot? Not condoning what the buyer did.
Buyers get hosed too. It happens with way more frequency today then it did a handful of years ago. I buy a fair amount of stuff here, and can't believe how often sellers drop the ball here. Just today a pair of cutting blades came in, NOT as described. Both were supposed to be the same brand name (were not) and both were shown to be in a plastic case (neither one was). eBay does not seem to be motivated to remove sellers or buyer who hose everyone.
Old school morality are about dead. Lots of sellers who just want to make a buck, even if it's not in a totally honest and stand up way. Lots of buyers who just want to take whatever they can get away with. The PLATFORM is supposed to be neutral and be in the middle, keeping things civil. It's just not that way and likely never will be again. And don't think for a second that much of buyers taking advantage may not be because of sellers screwing over buyers. That could have a very big effect on why some people think it's ok to screw sellers (retaliation).
fbusoni
·2 years agoRespectfully, no one is interested in your whataboutism. Regards
adamcartwright
·2 years ago@farmalljr
I have been disappointed by sellers, as well. Which makes me angry, because I sell also, and bad sellers reflect on us all.
But the difference is that screwed buyers can be made whole, while screwed sellers cannot.
Plus, bad sellers get negs, while bad buyers cannot get negs.
My question is, what happens when sellers report buyers?
After so many reports, does eBay take any action at all?
tobaccocardyahoo
·2 years agoI agree with the suggestion that the Ebay MBG claim process should be used because it ties to the history on the buyer.
The only way to handle a return is Return/Refund/Reorder exchanges are only a way to increase your losses when hit by a crook. That has been the case as long as there has been an Ebay.
There were many categories of merchandise that I sold online in the past, that I do not sell now. There are those which no longer have the number of interested buyers, and those that only have interested buyers who intend to scam sellers. There are categories where an inordinate number of the buyers are either unethical or criminal. Many sellers only seem to find items to sell which attract the immoral and the criminal. Your best defense against being scammed is not Ebay or the Postal Inspectors. Your best defense is what you choose to sell.
jerseyboymusic
·2 years agoUnfortunately, that seems to be the way of the world (in general) these days. So many people have a sense of entitlement and lack of feeling for other people. This person may have not realized they were purchasing from a private seller and wanted to play the system.
In the future, best thing to do is have the buyer return the item using the Ebay MBG and refund. No trades, no exchanges.
This sort of thing used to work YEARS ago, but not any longer.
I'm sorry you went though this