eBay don't really care about lying sellers
I think I might give up on eBay. I've just had a back-and-forth between a seller and eBay because I received an item that was not in the condition it was listed as. Basically they charged for a new item and I received a used item. They wanted me to return the item, I just wanted a partial refund, they lowball the partial refund to an amount that what is basically the price of shipping, then when I refuse they told me to return the item so they could resell the item in the same condition listed as new when it's not. I thought eBay would help, but they basically only care about returns. I really wish it was listed in their policies that they can only do returns because then I probably wouldn't have even bought the item. So now I'm being overcharged by about $150 USD, I tried disputing it with my bank with plenty of evidence and records and the eBay seller is now saying the item condition is the fault of the shipping company (It's likely not, the item was wrapped in tons of bubble wrap and the packaging was undamaged.) there's nothing I can do from here because even if I get a second opinion its up to eBay to enforce their policies and their policy is basically just return the item or shut up. I'm frustrated, I've spent so much time on this and I feel like eBay couldn't care less. Even though I've been on eBay for more than 10 years at this point I probably won't purchase anything from this website again.
house*of*paws
·3 years agoHi @kebos91
Partial refunds are often a great idea ... BUT eBay will take no part in arranging them. The buyer and seller must come to an agreement on the amount of the refund themselves.
If the seller OR buyer disagrees with the amount of the partial refund ... the buyer's only choices are to keep the item OR wait until 3 business days pass and ask eBay to step in to the return request.
1786davycrockett
·3 years ago@kebos91
Many eBay sellers are extremely wary of buyers with very low feedback (such as yourself), who attempt to negotiate a discounted price from a seller, after receiving the item -- it's considered a form of eBay "blackmail" -- and most sellers would have simply instructed you to open a return case for an item "not as described."
You would have received a free shipping label from the seller; and, after the seller had confirmed delivery of the return, you would have received a 100% refund. End of story.
But you unwisely attempted to negotiate a partial refund with the buyer, and you didn't like the amount of the discount offered by the seller, which you describe as "an amount that what is basically the price of shipping," which you refused -- leaving the seller no choice but to request that you open a "return" case, and it sounds as if you refused to do that, as well.
As others have mentioned, you really need to familiarize yourself with the eBay "Money Back Guarantee," as you could very easily have returned the item, and been fully refunded.
But you didn't, and both eBay and your bank have found you at fault.
Solution: Never attempt to negotiate a lower price AFTER the eBay item has been delivered.
kebos91
OP3 years agoI wasn't trying to get a better deal on something or swindle the seller. I promise you this was not something I was doing maliciously. I honestly just received an item that wasn't in the condition it was listed as. I know that I overpaid for the item.
The reason I have low feedback is because I don't come on eBay very often. I'm not a regular seller or buyer. I'm just a regular schmuck who wanted to buy something I swear.
My bank does not find me at fault they are having difficulties because of eBay's policies.
They spoke with me today and they said that even with all the evidence I have if the seller isn't going to cooperate, who is now claiming that the item was "damaged in shipping" my bank says, I won't be able to go any further. (Also if they now admit the item was damaged in shipping couldn't they have just refunded me the appropriate amount and ask for a refund from the shipping company?)
Please understand, I am frustrated because the only option is to go through a seller who refuses to admit any fault or responsibility for an item they sold.
kensgiftshop
·3 years agoWhy didn't you just return it for a full refund?
Now that you got your bank involved, Ebay won't do anything to help.
kebos91
OP3 years agoI said the item was not as described, the item was just not in new condition as it was listed as it has scuffs and scratches and was definitely not "new opened - never used". I only wanted a partial refund for the item because tbh it was too much of a mess to return and find another listing and wait for the money to get refunded etc. I thought disputing it with my bank was the only option left because ebay only wanted me to return the item and I simply wanted to pay the price the item was actually worth. Its not a collectable its not a rare item it's a pretty common consumer electronic I just paid more to get the item in new condition and it ended up just being an item I overpaid for because it was misrepresented on the listing.
In the end it was stupid of me to buy the item with a stock image and full description only. But I also thought I had the eBay guarantee to help if it went wrong.
There just isn't a middle ground, at least that I can see, eBay only want you to return the item or rely on the seller for a partial refund. The seller sets the partial refund price at the end of the day, eBay don't have any say in if that price is fair or not, so it's take it or leave it. The seller told me "Ebay can’t force me to give you any money, so just send it back and save yourself the wait" so I think I was just never going to get a fair deal here.
soh.maryl
·3 years agoHave you never read the Money Back Guarantee?
You received an item that was not as described. All you needed to do was open an item not as described case with eBay. No reason or need to contact anyone.
After opening the case, you wait 96 hours for a response from the seller. No response and no action?
You return to the case and ask eBay to step in.
Nothing you can do? You are wrong about that. No policy that says "No Returns" trumps the MBG.
kebos91
OP3 years agoI understand, I did think originally the MBG would help me when I spoke to the eBay customer support. But they just told me "The only available option right now if for you to negotiate with the seller regarding the partial refund." and then later clarified again saying "If the item is not as described, we do have the return option in order for you to get the full refund. The seller will also have an option to negotiate how much partial refund they can agree with and decline if they dont what to. The only option is to send the item back for full refund if you're not satisfied with the item and if the seller declined the partial refund you're asking for." so I was stuck with whatever the seller wanted to partial refund me which was the price of shipping. I wasn't happy with this so I approached my bank as the chat agent told me to try as well saying "You can contact your payment provider as well to check for your protection." So yeah I don't know what else the MBG does other than protect you to get your money back if you return the item.
a_c_green
·3 years agoRight. Basically they're saying that if you can't work out a partial refund with the seller, your trump card is to return it for a full refund instead. It's the seller's option about whether to offer a partial refund, but it's the buyer's option about whether to return it for a full refund.
soh.maryl
·3 years agoYes, that's exactly the purpose of the MBG. When you receive an item that's not as described, you open the case, return the item and get your refund. Not sure what you'd expect beyond what's stated in the MBG.
If you want to keep the item, but get a partial refund, then that basically becomes a deal between buyer and seller.
12345jamesstamps
·3 years agoUsually with a bank dispute the buyer would win. Apparently, you did something wrong or we don't know all the details. Was this your very first time making a bank dispute? Or have you done some in the past?
kebos91
OP3 years agoAs far as I know, I have done nothing wrong. I've done everything that my bank asked for me to do. I sent all the information in that I had. I sent photos, I sent the chats I had with eBay. I sent the messages that I had between the seller and myself I sent the listing itself the condition it was listed as, as well as the price it was sold for and how much that item would've been listed as if it was in the condition I actually received it as.
This is the first bank dispute I've ever raised tbh, normally it's never been this difficult to find a solution between myself, a seller, and an e-commerce site.