eBay

michadum2013 · ‎08-09-2023

I bought motor parts on ebay and there was no core charge up front, but they do claim I need to send the cores back or there will be a charge plus fees after 21 days. Here is their words:

“We do require the core to be returned within 21 DAYS, starting from the date of delivery, and provide you with a prepaid return label at NO ADDITIONAL COST. Please ensure to drop the package off at FedEx and request a receipt for your records. Should the core not be returned, a $250 core fee would apply (per cylinder head), along with the Prepaid Label cost, plus a 35% COLLECTION FEE. We accept the cores in any condition, so long as all the parts are included. If you do not have a core, please let us know as soon as possible so that we may work with you.”

Since they aren’t charging me up front for the core, is there any way for them to charge me if I don’t send the core in like they claim I need to? I was told this is just a scare tactic used so they can make money off returned parts.

safan80 · ‎08-10-2023

First try asking your question in the ebay motors section.
https://community.ebay.com/t5/Motors/bd-p/220

There may be allowances for core charges I'm not sure. When I buy car parts online I always make sure the seller does NOT do a core charge. What I would do if I was you is contact ebay's live chat support and see what they tell, if you have the time setup a callback and see what they answer you get over the phone is.

@michadum2013 wrote:
I bought motor parts on ebay and there was no core charge up front, but they do claim I need to send the cores back or there will be a charge plus fees after 21 days. Here is their words:

“We do require the core to be returned within 21 DAYS, starting from the date of delivery, and provide you with a prepaid return label at NO ADDITIONAL COST. Please ensure to drop the package off at FedEx and request a receipt for your records. Should the core not be returned, a $250 core fee would apply (per cylinder head), along with the Prepaid Label cost, plus a 35% COLLECTION FEE. We accept the cores in any condition, so long as all the parts are included. If you do not have a core, please let us know as soon as possible so that we may work with you.”

Since they aren’t charging me up front for the core, is there any way for them to charge me if I don’t send the core in like they claim I need to? I was told this is just a scare tactic used so they can make money off returned parts.

whattheactualfox · ‎08-10-2023

So I did a LOT of research on this, becuase I was curious

As far as I know, there is nothing on eBay that states anything about core charges or enforcement of the such, I am also unsure of how the company would issue a refund, I would hope check and not eBay's platform

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safan80 · ‎08-10-2023

@whattheactualfox
Apparently there is a way for sellers to setup of core charges as I found an old post about a seller complaining that a buyer was not charged a core charge.
https://community.ebay.com/t5/Ask-a-Mentor/I-have-a-core-charge-on-an-item-but-buyer-was-not-charged...

At one point was possible for sellers to charge a core charge. I can't find anything on the policy change though. That's why my wording in my first reply is the way it is. I can't confirm if sellers can still charge core charges or not, at least not without try to talk to an ebay rep. I don't want to talk to one that right now. I do want to know an answer and hopefully a policy i can point to.

@whattheactualfox wrote:
So I did a LOT of research on this, becuase I was curious

As far as I know, there is nothing on eBay that states anything about core charges or enforcement of the such, I am also unsure of how the company would issue a refund, I would hope check and not eBay's platform

krazzykats · ‎08-10-2023

Why wouldn't you want to send the core back?

KrazzyKats • Volunteer Community Member • Buyer/Seller since 1998

safan80 · ‎08-10-2023

Having to pay the shipping cost. Cylinder heads are heavy and the cost to ship just one let along two that the average vehicle has would make buying from a seller charging a core charge not worth it.

@krazzykats wrote:
Why wouldn't you want to send the core back?

mudshark61369 · ‎08-10-2023

@safan80,

You replied to Krazzykats:

"Having to pay the shipping cost. Cylinder heads are heavy and the cost to ship just one let along two that the average vehicle has would make buying from a seller charging a core charge not worth it".

Did you not read the following in the original post where the seller stated:

"We do require the core to be returned within 21 DAYS, starting from the date of delivery, and provide you with a prepaid return label at NO ADDITIONAL COST".

So the only hassle would be taking the admittedly heavy heads to a Fed-Ex store.

As anyone who works on cars regularly can tell you, Core charges have been an integral part of the retail auto parts industry, and B&M stores charge them up front. Then refund the buyer when the originals are returned. It helps keep the cost of many parts down, by allowing refurbished parts to be sold.

"THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS FOOLPROOF, BECAUSE FOOLS ARE SO DARNED INGENIOUS!" (unknown)

soh.maryl · ‎08-10-2023

Was this information not available to you before you made your purchase?

lacemaker3 · ‎08-10-2023

@safan80

That seller was mistaken. There were probably originally answers to that question which said so, but it was from 8 years ago, 2015, and the answers have been archived by the community. (They should have removed the whole thread, to avoid confusion.)

It has never been possible to add a core charge on eBay, as that seller implies, because eBay prohibits adding on extra charges, and requiring extra purchases. A core charge would have to be included in the purchase price and then refunded after the part is returned.

https://community.ebay.com/t5/Selling/How-to-add-a-core-charge-to-an-Ebay-listing/m-p/32889809#M1989...

As @mudshark61369 has said, core charges are an integral part of the pricing strategy for many used car parts, and they help to ensure that parts are refurbished and reused, instead of going into landfill.

@michadum2013, it appears that the seller had made it clear in the listing description that there was a core charge. Since you knew that going in, and since you have been purchasing a lot of parts you must be aware of core charges and how they work. This is not a scare tactic, it's an honest seller trying to save their buyers money, and operate within the normal parameters of the industry. The seller has set it up so that you can return the core(s) at no cost to you, and it's the right thing to do. Not returning the core would be dishonest, whether or not you are forced to.

lakefor94 · ‎08-10-2023

They are blowing smoke. Your transaction is complete.

Posting ID

safan80 · ‎08-10-2023

@mudshark61369
That's if the seller remembers to put the return label in the box. I've had cases where they didn't put the label in the box and then STILL charge a core charge. I'm aware how core charges work, but you don't have to buy from places that use them anymore. What you can do is refurb the part you are replacing and sell it yourself. You CAN make more money that vs dealing with a core charge.

@mudshark61369 wrote:
@safan80,

You replied to Krazzykats:
"Having to pay the shipping cost. Cylinder heads are heavy and the cost to ship just one let along two that the average vehicle has would make buying from a seller charging a core charge not worth it".

Did you not read the following in the original post where the seller stated:
"We do require the core to be returned within 21 DAYS, starting from the date of delivery, and provide you with a prepaid return label at NO ADDITIONAL COST".
So the only hassle would be taking the admittedly heavy heads to a Fed-Ex store.

As anyone who works on cars regularly can tell you, Core charges have been an integral part of the retail auto parts industry, and B&M stores charge them up front. Then refund the buyer when the originals are returned. It helps keep the cost of many parts down, by allowing refurbished parts to be sold.

safan80 · ‎08-10-2023

How would the seller go about enforcing a core in this case when they were only paid for the part and not the core? I can't see the listing so I can't tell if the core charge is baked in or not.

@lacemaker3 wrote:
[...]
That seller was mistaken. There were probably originally answers to that question which said so, but it was from 8 years ago, 2015, and the answers have been archived by the community. (They should have removed the whole thread, to avoid confusion.)

michadum2013 · ‎08-10-2023

That’s my question. If they didn’t charge me the core initially, all they can really do is go off the honor system to send my cores back, even though the parts were overpriced anyways. I just want to know if there is any way for them to bill me after the fact if I don’t return them, or send to collections if that’s even possible.

safan80 · ‎08-10-2023

The core charge could already be baked in. Can you post the item number for the listing you purchased from so we can read the terms?

@michadum2013 wrote:
That’s my question. If they didn’t charge me the core initially, all they can really do is go off the honor system to send my cores back, even though the parts were overpriced anyways. I just want to know if there is any way for them to bill me after the fact if I don’t return them, or send to collections if that’s even possible.