Fraudulent return

[erinchris99]

As a seller, I recently had a return from a buyer. It was for a home stereo receiver. The buyer claimed the item was damaged and requested a return. He did not say what the damage was. He took pictures of it still in the box also without a picture of any damage. EBay approved is returned. I received it back in the same box. It is not damaged nor is the box even damaged. It is working just fine and I took pictures. EBay settled the claim in his favor. All I wanted was my return shipping cost back which was denied. Unbelievable. Now how is it possible for eBay to settle something in his favor which is clearly a fraudulent return without any evidence of damage whatsoever? Furthermore, it cost me $38 to ship it to him via UPS, and eBay gave him a label at my cost to send it back to me via USPS, for $84. Which is also wrong. So now I am out $84. Do I have any more options here?

[stainlessenginecovers]

Because there is no 'proof' of anything (pictures can be modified, of something similar but something else etc.) they are NOT used for any type of proof. 

You can 'report' the buyer for 'using returns wrong' (or whatever the terminology is) but know that it will NOT do anything for you; but if more sellers report, that buyer may not be able to 'return' anything anymore. 

[kensgiftshop]

You're lucky you got your item back undamaged.

Some sellers haven't been so lucky and still have to refund.

[erinchris99]

I understand about the photos, but he did not even describe any damage. All he said was “damage”.  That was it. The item was not damaged. I have it back and it’s fine. And what right does eBay have to charge me $84 for a return label when it only cost me $38 to ship it in the 1st place. As a seller, I am an eBay customer too. I have done nothing wrong here.  I feel Ebay owes me $84. 

[titipeo]

OP, eBay has an outstanding buyers money back guarantee, if they don't like, they can return for full refund. Your buyer probably changed its mind regarding its purchase and decided to return, used the damaged excuse in order for it not to be considered a "remorse" return. Pictures/video mean nothing for eBay as there is no proof that it is the same product in question. As for item being damaged, perhaps it was "damaged" for your buyer's use, you just can't fight that. 

I do agree that I find it odd that return label cost is 2x your original cost, but I can't say much on that. If something, at the very least you got the original item in perfect conditions back. There have been numerous stories of sellers getting trash back and missing the item and money. At the very least, you should try selling the item through a local venue, might yield lower profit, but you don't have to deal with buyers remorse and fees.

Good luck.

[lamber9347]

There are millions of individual sales on any given day. For this reason alone the return process is all automated. Here is a link for return shipping labels. A seller can purchase their own return label if they prefer and the instructions for how to do this and upload it into the return case are in the link. Moving forward if you have a heavy item that a buyer wants to return, you can now purchase your own label for less. Best of luck to you....

https://www.ebay.com/help/selling/managing-returns-refunds/return-shipping-sellers?id=4703&st=12&pos...

[downunder-61]

---

@stainlessenginecovers wrote:

Because there is no 'proof' of anything (pictures can be modified, of something similar but something else etc.) they are NOT used for any type of proof. 

You can 'report' the buyer for 'using returns wrong' (or whatever the terminology is) but know that it will NOT do anything for you; but if more sellers report, that buyer may not be able to 'return' anything anymore. 

---

Go here to report a buyer for misusing the Money Back Guarantee. https://spd.ebay.com/RBASellerHub

[lakefor94]

---

@lamber9347 wrote:

There are millions of individual sales on any given day. For this reason alone the return process is all automated. Here is a link for return shipping labels. A seller can purchase their own return label if they prefer and the instructions for how to do this and upload it into the return case are in the link. Moving forward if you have a heavy item that a buyer wants to return, you can now purchase your own label for less. Best of luck to you....

https://www.ebay.com/help/selling/managing-returns-refunds/return-shipping-sellers?id=4703&st=12&pos...

---

@erinchris99 

The above poster nailed it for you. Once a buyer opens a return case for damage, it is all about you limiting the damage to your wallet. For that return, you have to buy your own UPS label and get the buyer to use your label or eBay is automatically going to provide them with a USPS label which is costly for heavy items.

Photos mean nothing. The fact that they returned an undamaged product is a win for you. The cost of the return label is a loser.

Simple as that.

[erinchris99]

I imagine generating your own return label only applies if you choose to accept the return. If you do not choose to accept the return and the claim is escalated, then eBay will generate a return label for you. Correct?    In this case, I shipped it to the buyer originally for $38 via UPS. EBay generated a return label via USPS which cost $84. So that is what I am disputing with them. I don’t see how they have the right to choose a different shipper.

[betterpricestore]

Ebay had to generate label when you didn’t respond to the return I believe right. If you had responded the first time you could have a option to purchase by yourself. I know selling on ebay is nightmare. 

[stainlessenginecovers]

I believe all ebay generated return labels are USPS

[donsdetour]

Be glad you got your item back:

Report the buyer for return abuse....Will not aid you in your costs: but eventually will cause such buyers a problem with returns.

https://www.ebay.com/help/policies/rules-policies-buyers/abusive-buyer-policy?id=4374 

[whatmorefabric]

Returns are part of the cost of business. 

My returns last year cost me in postage and damaged merchandise around 473.00.

This gets calculated into my overhead and how much things cost.

[lakefor94]

---

@erinchris99 wrote:

I imagine generating your own return label only applies if you choose to accept the return. If you do not choose to accept the return and the claim is escalated, then eBay will generate a return label for you. Correct?    In this case, I shipped it to the buyer originally for $38 via UPS. EBay generated a return label via USPS which cost $84. So that is what I am disputing with them. I don’t see how they have the right to choose a different shipper.

---

EBay only uses USPS for return shipping.  There is nothing to dispute.

I can't tell you the exact process for the label provisions concerning  no return listings as I have Free Returns and I think eBay generates a label automatically for my Free Returns.  I always contact the buyer and instruct them to use the label I send them via messages and via message thru the return.

Anyone else want to chime in for clarification?