UPDATE on 'Nightmare Seller'

[sunflowers652016]

I don't know where my initial post went, but just wanted to update on this issue.

Seller refused to take responsibility for poorly packed damaged item, told me to deal with USPS because it was insured. (I sell also and I had no plans to fight with the carrier for my money back, I've seen insurance claims take 4 weeks). Communication by seller always ended with 'have a nice day',  in other words go away.

 I requested a return, what else could I do. Seller 'accepted' return on the last day he could. I returned item and left him negative feedback stating he wouldn't accept responsibility for damaged item. Seller reciprocated by leaving me a false positive. 

I contact ebay to report the false positive and was told by a very clueless claims rep that the false positive cannot be removed until case is complete and seller can NOT file the insurance claim, buyer has to. I mentioned that carrier probably would not cover it, and was told that the carrier MUST cover any damaged item because sender paid for insurance?? Since when, is this something new? You can just throw something in the mail with no cares as to how it is packaged? They Must cover it? This is straight out of a claim rep's mouth.

Seller finally refunded on the very last day he could. Yesterday, although the false positive for me remains, the negative I left him is gone. In his listing it states 'Free 30 day Returns', and in His description he states in big bold capital letters RETURNS NOT ACCEPTED. Even goes as far as to say if an item is GROSSLY MISREPRESENTED, he will accept return and refund selling price ONLY. 

He gets all the seller percs of a seller that offers free returns, the reason for the negative feedback being removed.

I called ebay this morning and was able to get the false positive on my account removed but it doesn't really help me because it says 'feedback removed by ebay', and my response still remains. Looks just as bad on my feedback page. The neg I left him is gone completely, no trace of anything.

I have counted TEN false positives this seller has left for buyers just in the past 12 months. Can you imagine how many negatives he had removed on his account? ONE remains, that's it.

I will no longer be buying from sellers that offer 30 day returns and actually this experience has slowed down my buying.

Thank-you to all that have helped me with this. 🙂

[fossil_diver]

"...I will no longer be buying from sellers that offer 30 day returns..."

Do you want more return time or less? If you pay with paypal you have 180 days to return fir a refund. 

[sunflowers652016]

That's not the point, I am saying that sellers that offer (even falsely) the 'free 30 day returns', get special  perks including getting negative feedback removed, even when it's warranted. I saw it firsthand.

My return was not even associated with the 'FREE 30 RETURNS', as it was a SNAD, but he still was able to get the negative feedback removed because his listing states 'FREE 30 DAY RETURNS'.

Also, sellers that offer the free returns can give partial refunds on a returned item (even if there's no reason to).

Hence, I will not be shopping anymore with 'free returns' sellers, I've learned my lesson there.

Also, sure, I can file with Paypal but I will have to pay return shipping on the item, even being a SNAD. 

[buyselljack2016]

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@sunflowers652016 wrote:

That's not the point, I am saying that sellers that offer (even falsely) the 'free 30 day returns', get special  perks including getting negative feedback removed, even when it's warranted. I saw it firsthand.

My return was not even associated with the 'FREE 30 RETURNS', as it was a SNAD, but he still was able to get the negative feedback removed because his listing states 'FREE 30 DAY RETURNS'.

Also, sellers that offer the free returns can give partial refunds on a returned item (even if there's no reason to).

Hence, I will not be shopping anymore with 'free returns' sellers, I've learned my lesson there.

Also, sure, I can file with Paypal but I will have to pay return shipping on the item, even being a SNAD. 

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On PP you can sign up for PP to cover the return shipping. It is free, but you must sign up before doing the return. I believe there is per item limit, and annual limit, but seems it will be enough for many returns.

And yup, scrubbed feedback perk for "30 day free returns" sellers. Makes no sense, but eBay is going the "extra mile" for those sellers that go the "extra mile" for eBay.

[ed8108]

Wonder if it is now an unwritten policy that the first ebay CS rep that you speak with to present an issue is to refuse to be accomodating, & turn you away.

When you call cs again and present the same issue & facts to a different rep that rep will acknowledge that the prior rep was simply wrong in not undertaking the appropriate action for you and undertakes the appropriate response.

Frustrating when it usually requires two or more calls to CS to get a matter properly resolved.

Discourages buying

[sunflowers652016]

The first rep I talked to was completely useless, and they called her a 'claims specialist'. The rep I talked to today was at least sympathetic, and tried to be helpful but in the end the negative feedback I had left the seller could not be reinstated, and although he removed the seller's dishonest feedback for me, it still shows as a feedback removal (never looks good). Why is it that the entire thing can't be removed for me, but the entire comment and every trace of it was removed from his feedback?? Does anybody have an answer for that? Because I find that interesting?

This rep today told me he will 'open an investigation' into this seller's policies and how it contradicts the '30 day free returns' he signed up for. Why the heck should he get all the seller perks (including negatives removed) when he clearly is telling buyers that he DOES NOT accept returns? So dishonest and sneaky.

Granted, if it's in his listing he will be made to accept returns & pay return shipping, BUT he clearly does not want to, so what will he do when he's made to? Partial refund after return probably. 

I'll be steering clear of sellers that offer 'free returns'.

[mudshark61369]

@sunflowers652016,

  "I don't know where my initial post went, but just wanted to update on this issue."

I think because the topic was last posted to about 10 days ago, it is now on page 3 or 4.  You can find your way back to topics you have posted by scrolling up this page to where your username?ID is in bold lettering. Clicking on it and select Profile. On that page is a list of topics you have posted, and replied to. You can click on topic titles which will take you right to them.

Below is a link back to it, and you have a reply from an ebay employee.

https://community.ebay.com/t5/Buying/Nightmare-seller/td-p/30162523

  "I contact ebay to report the false positive and was told by a very clueless claims rep that the false positive cannot be removed until case is complete and seller can NOT file the insurance claim, buyer has to. I mentioned that carrier probably would not cover it, and was told that the carrier MUST cover any damaged item because sender paid for insurance?? Since when, is this something new? You can just throw something in the mail with no cares as to how it is packaged? They Must cover it? This is straight out of a claim rep's mouth".

The Customer service rep you spoke to gave you inaccurate information.  If an item is damaged in shipping the sender has to open a claim to get a refund, not the buyer or received of the item. The uSPS did not change their rules.  Unfortunately, ebay's CSR reps often tell people what they want to hear, or give them false info if a situation is not covered in their playbook.    Buyers can help the seller by sending photos of any package and/or item damage.  

Even though the negative you gave the seller is gone, so is the false positive. The seller received a policy defect for doing that, and may have received another because of the problems with the way they handled the return.

In the future before opening any kind of request or dispute contact the seller first. If they don't give you a hassle, then proceed with a Return Request. If they refuse to be helpful then Use the drop down menu on your purchase history page, or the Resolution Center, and open a Dispute, for Item Not As Described.  When you do file a request or dispute you can then skip the Contact the seller part if you have already done that.

[soh.maryl]

When I click on the OP's ID here, I am taken to a page where I can see all his posts.

His original post was on 09/02/19.  

[airplaneguy1234]

I would write a letter to EBay Corporate Headquarters in California. Some times letters get to people who care. I don't know how they look at it now but years ago Corporate Headquarters of major corporations hated to get letters from consumers.  I just sent one in regards to being able to block sellers when you do a search for an item. Do you want to buy again from this seller? Of course not.  Should you have to look at their item because they just happen to have one ? Nope.  Your not going to buy from this individual  when you realize who they are. You should have the right to filter out or block this seller from search results.

If you don't like shopping at Walmart and your looking to buy a tv how would you like it if you were forced to visit the Walmart store and look at their tv's? We would normally just not go to Walmart correct. Don't have this option with eBay. I have to keep a list of the sellers I don't like.  

[mudshark61369]

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@soh.maryl wrote:

When I click on the OP's ID here, I am taken to a page where I can see all his posts.

His original post was on 09/02/19.  

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@soh.maryl,

Your post is absolutely correct. However, when a member cannot find their way back to a post with their username on it, the only way back to their board profile with their previous topics or replies is the one I gave.