Hello everyone, Something has happened that I can't just accept and move past, so I'm sharing it here. On June 30th, 2026, I sold a JBL Cinema SB580 3.1 soundbar system on eBay. The buyer initially offered $150, which I declined, and we settled on my counteroffer of $160. I shipped the item via FedEx Home Delivery from Maryland to California, and it was delivered on July 8th, 2026. I take customer service seriously and follow up on every sale. When I received the delivery notification, I reached out to the buyer to confirm the item had arrived undamaged. I also make a point of letting customers know that even though my listings don't accept returns, I will always make an exception if an order arrives damaged or if something else goes wrong outside anyone's control. This buyer completely ignored my message. Then, on July 13th, 2026—five days after delivery—the buyer opened a return request through eBay without any prior communication, citing "item not as described." I had sent this buyer a 100% brand new, complete product, yet the return request read: "Hi, I received only the soundbar. The wireless subwoofer, remote, power accessories, and other included items are missing. The listing title and photos show a complete JBL Cinema SB580 system and the description says it is new and sealed. Since I did not receive the complete product, I'd like either the missing components sent to me or a full refund." I messaged the buyer and asked why they were claiming they hadn't received the entire order. Instead of backing down, they doubled down and sent me a photo of a small box—one I never shipped—asking how the full system could possibly have fit inside it. I told them that was not the box I sent, and I pulled up the FedEx delivery photo showing the actual package, which was nearly the size of their front door. I asked them directly: why are you trying to scam me? I also pointed out that FedEx weighed the package at 23.23 lbs. According to the official JBL Cinema SB580 spec sheet, the soundbar alone weighs 5.7 lbs (2.6 kg), the wireless subwoofer weighs 12.6 lbs (5.7 kg), and the complete retail box has a total packaging weight of 22.9 lbs (10.4 kg). How could anything be missing—especially the subwoofer—when my shipment weighed 23.23 lbs? At that point, I was furious with this dishonest person. I told them plainly that I would not accept a partial return when I had shipped the complete product, and that eBay would protect me from scammers like them. Their exact response was: "ebay will always side with the buyer, buyer protection duh." I blocked them and waited for eBay to handle the case. Today, eBay decided in the buyer's favor. They are allowing the return and refunding the buyer with my money. Why doesn't eBay look at the evidence before deciding what to do with a seller's money? I earned that money fairly by sending a complete product to someone who wanted to buy it. My guess is that the buyer already owned this system, blew out their subwoofer, and figured they could scam a seller on eBay into providing a free replacement. Is there really nothing I can do about this?
michael_kelly
