eBay

rochelle.503 · ‎04-18-2023

I am a seller of 14 yrs, over 200 followers, 100% feedback, have sold way more than 15,000 items on here. A buyer purchased an expensive gold and diamond necklace, when she received it she advised repeatedly that she didn't like it, she had requested information on it's width prior to purchasing it, she didn't like it being so wide. She repeatedly messaged that she didn't like it and could she return it even though the listing (my stated policy is no returns). She offered to accept $250 less but demanded I open a Venmo account. After having 5 credit cards opened in my name last month even not doing online banking, (big thanks to Norton for noticing and alerting me) I refused. I live in a nice middle class neighborhood, since 1989...packages and mail are now being stolen, found on the roads, found floating in the creek, porch pirates and mail box robbers. Came home one day to find my outgoing orders had been stolen and cars across the street broken into, an opened package from an Esty seller in London sent to a buyer 16 miles away was in my box, contents stolen, the mailman informs me this is becoming quite common .... I informed the buyer and several eBay representatives included the resolution department I would be away and not to ship until the 14th, I told her to request a return stating she didn't like it and I would refund less shipping costs. I shipped fully insured FedEx. I advised I would be visiting a friend with a bad medical situation with cancer (I lost my 46 yr friend who was my housemate for many yrs to cancer last May, I didn't want to not see my friend and should not have been forced to cancel my visit because a buyer would ship while I was gone. I asked eBay to notify her to not ship while I was gone, big JOKE eBay doesn't care !! She sent a not as described request, she took clear photos that showed the necklace as described. I called and asked for assistance from eBay, she contacted eBay again and asked to have her complaint of not as described revised to didn't like the item. A case cannot be changed only followed through on or dropped.

There is nothing that a buyer can now do to a seller on eBay and there is ZERO SELLER PROTECTION anymore. Since a high dollar item eBay decided to issue a return label, They sent it signature required but DID NOT fully insure the necklace.

I had repeatedly asked eBay if I was required to cancel my trip...my friend and we should possibly never see each other gain, cancer is deadly...she is going to try yet another cancer surgery but there are 9 tumors...I was asked by eBay if someone was staying in my home that could sign, I clearly repeatedly told eBay there was no one besides me in the home and no one else could sign for the package. I notified my bank, credit cards, had mail held left a huge sign taped to my door that no packages are to be delivered unless I personally sign for them...

The package of course arrived while I was gone, I was certain the buyer would deliberately ship while I was not here.

The post office left a claim tag since signature was required, eBay wanted to know why I didn't go to pickup the package on the next day when I was home, they apparently are in command of USPS, and decided what the post office must do, like classifications of mail and delivery time NOW do not care that the entire USPS office system is CLOSED on Saturdays.

I went to pickup the package Monday with the claim ticket in hand. I am terrified that the necklace might not be in the package or that she has damaged it mashing it flat to take her photos, a wide necklace likely would be damaged...so I asked for the post office station manager and told him of my fears and asked if he would please watch me open the package while I took photos of every step in case the package did not contain the necklace. I also planned to stop at a jeweler to check to see if she had replaced the diamonds with some garbage, This manager and another employee searched for the package but could not find it. I just called today and another worker again searched for the package, he got it's photo off their system and it is nowhere to be found. eBay decided is seems to not insure this expensive necklace

I got notice from eBay this morning that the buyer shows that the package has been delivered to me and they immediately refunded $1726. to her. I called yet again and the resolution department looked and read me the tracking showing that the package was never delivered, never signed for, eBay just charged the balance to my credit card, I have called the bank and as soon as the transaction goes through they will dispute the charge for me, with the proof that I never received the package but I still will lose over $500

Bad feedback can never be left for a dangerous buyer, feedback is simply in many cases a way for buyers who have learned about eBay practices and have learned to steal and lie or as blackmail so sellers will pay them off. This is unfair and unbelievable...although after being a seller for 14 years I have repeatedly learned that eBay is out to get sellers !!!

dryophelia · ‎04-18-2023

@rochelle.503

Sellers aren’t allowed to leave negative comments for a buyer. When the feedback is removed, the seller receives a ding on their metrics.

reallynicestamps · ‎04-18-2023

You sold a necklace.

The buyer did not like it.

She wanted a partial refund of $250.

You told her to open a return request.

She opened a Not As Described dispute.

You told her (and an eBay phone clerk?) that she should not return it until the 14th.

You told her you would not refund the shipping cost.

EBay sent her a return shipping label with Signature Confirmation.

The package was delivered while you were away but only a Notice/claim tag was left.

When you went to claim the package, USPS could not find it.

Because the package was Delivered, eBay refunded the customer.

You likely have a Defect because you did not promptly send a Return Shipping Label.

If you had, you could have added insurance against loss in transit.

It is possible that USPS will still be able to find your returned package.

It's business not personal.

Business losses are tax-deductible.

rochelle.503 · ‎04-18-2023

The package was not delivered. I did not not receive the package. The post office now cannot find the package. Resolution department acknowledges that I did not not receive the package. Buyer was refunded but eBay knows I did not get the item back!!!!

pcobra93 · ‎04-18-2023

Make sure you file a "missing mail" search with the USPS. It is likely that it accidentally was sent to Atlanta where they try to recover items with missing labels and damaged packages. If they have pics of it from their revenue assurance cameras, then they should be able to find it. Maybe talk with the route carrier and ask them what they did with it, It could be sitting in their truck....I have seen that before.

rochelle.503 · ‎04-18-2023

I just received notice from ebay appeals dept. that since I was not home to sign for the package, package was not delivered, that signature was not required anymore. It does not matter that the package was not received. Ebay considers it as delivered and the buyer has been given the money and tough luck that you didn't get your item back. The money was charged to my credit card. Oh well they don't care if not received or empty package or damaged item. It was apparently insured for up to $500 of the $1700. I can't imagine you would want to have this happen to you

mtgraves7984 · ‎04-18-2023

Oh well they don't care if not received or empty package or damaged item. It was apparently insured for up to $500 of the $1700.

@rochelle.503

I hate to be 'that one', but unless the Return label is handled differently than I believe it is... it won't carry insurance. Hopefully a poster with actual experience will give you better news. Fingers crossed...

If USPS does, in fact, consider the return shipment lost... I believe you'll be covered for the amount of the Return label.

dqdistribution · ‎04-19-2023

You explained a lot of personal issues but none of them matter to the case.

A return was opened, and you had an opportunity to provide a label but didn't.

Ebay ended up having to on your behalf.

If you had you could have insured it however you wanted.

Take the L, you made quite a few mistakes and your personal circumstances don't change things.

monster-deals · ‎04-19-2023

@reallynicestamps wrote:

It's business not personal.

I am the only person on my account that personally takes care of everything so it is always personal and always business.

That is an anachronistic phrase that ebay wants us sellers to continue to believe.

Imagine ebay telling a buyer that got a damaged item they can't return it and it's only business.

oleh1234 · ‎05-15-2023

I was told by the seller that a shipping label has been sent, but I still have the items with me and a return has already started without a shipping label. I like to know what is going on. Thanks.

southwest-estate-relic-hunter · ‎08-25-2023

Thank God most of my buyers are lovely people however as I'm writting this, on 8/25/2023 I have been dragged through the mud, abused and threatened by a woman buyer who is very dishonest and manipulating eBay policies regarding returns. This eBay user has nine feedbacks for selling and THREE are NEGATIVES from buyers, questioing her ethics and honesty, not a good track record. This buyer has figured out a way to have "her way". Back on July 24th 2023, I sold a lovely pair of signed Native American sterling earrings, not a big sale a $50.00 purchase, this is not about money. The buyer changed her address at checkout to a CT. address, though her account is actually registered in AZ. using a family members address. to a CT. This buyer is not in the U.S.A. at all. That was not actually the problem, I shipped from Nevada to CT, package was delivered on 7/29. This address she is using is a "DESTINATION POINT" where this lady is having all her pages re-shipped OUTSIDE the United States, which she admited to me in her messages. This buyer received the earrings on 8/23, two days ago, 29 days after they were sold. This buyer used the "defective" excuse to initiate a return because they were not of her liking, also admited. I know there is nothing wrong with the earrings, unless they got damaged travel 5,000 miles across the world. I was shocked that this was happening one day shy of the sold date. I issued a return shipping label and then the buyer advised me that she was using this CT. address as a re-shipping address and that the earrings are out of the country and I will have to wait until the earrings arrive back in the U.S.A., then they will be shipped to me using my shipping label once they reach the esat coast, are you kidding eBay, hoe can you allow such seller abuse? This buyer bashed my Native American heritage, threatened me THREE times with negative feedback and has violated the entire return process. It will be many weeks until I finally get the merchandise back, eBay has given this person from 8/23 when she opened the request for a return to 9/14 to mail them, almost three weeks to mail them off, seriously...this is outragious and horribly frustrating, eBay has all the abusive messages and proof. I have a business and this does not sit well with me. Customer Service reps are nice people who I respect but extremely limited knowledge and no supervisors escalate these abuses and check into these cases.

dryophelia · ‎08-25-2023

@southwest-estate-relic-hunter

Its better to start your own thread.

I do not see seller abuse.
In reality, I don’t see this buyer getting a refund through eBay. Who is going to attach the shipping label you sent to the buyer, to the package.

Sellers are only responsible for the item until it reaches its USA address. The return label has the forwarders address, not the international address it was forwarded to.

qeqo_0 · ‎08-26-2023

@southwest-estate-relic-hunter wrote:
the buyer advised me that she was using this CT. address as a re-shipping address and that the earrings are out of the country

You are protected @southwest-estate-relic-hunter because your buyer admits IN WRITING that the item was reshipped after its original delivery. You can contact eBay to review that, and get their case thrown out.

-- BUT --

Unfortunately, you accepted the return and issued a return label to mail from the reshipping address -- so you re-enabled the buyer's coverages, and voluntarily relinquished your protection.

Hopefully, the buyer never returns or misses the deadline, and eBay will close the case without a refund. Even so the buyer could still get a refund with proof that the item was returned, through PayPal or their card issuer.

southwest-estate-relic-hunter · ‎08-26-2023

The buyer is shipping the earrings back to the original CT. USA address I shipped them to inside another package and then having a family member use the return label I issued to forward the earrings on to me from Conn. to Nevada. The buyer explained all this to me when I kidly asked for a speedy return.

southwest-estate-relic-hunter · ‎12-05-2023

I don't think you understood the issue. This buyer is in the UK, she uses her families address in CT. USA, when she buys from sellers who do not ship outside the US . Her family fowards all her packages to the UK. Takes about 15-20 days to arrive in the UK. Then the buyer messages me; the earrings are very nice but too small for her and she wants to return. My auctions state "all sales are final as indicated in the auction", so the buyer now opens a "not as described" return. Buyer then ships earrings back to her families address in CT., her family copies the shipping label and sends the package back to me. The entire return process took 37 days. Even though eBay has all the messages from the buyer explaining she is in the UK and she uses her parents address in CT., eBay did nothing to stand with the seller. She was refunded...