Sellers abusing the "reason for return" options

[comic-sutra]

One of the more disturbing aspects of eBay's return policy is that sellers who routinely get "not as described" returns are now asking buyers to open "just didn't like it" claims instead of "doesn't match description or photos" (or other "not as described" reasons)...which circumvents the reason why returns are necessary in the first place.

They do that because getting too many "not as described" claims and eBay charges them MORE MONEY because of it.

They put the buyer in a position they have no right to put the buyer in, which is "if I pick the real reason, the seller will create problems for me, and if I pick their reason, they get to skate on eBay practices while potentially declining my return."

[alcoforever]

Buyers have been abusing reason for return for years.   What goes around, comes around.

[nickelsanddimes2015]

If the item you received wasn't as described then open the return as such. I've personal never asked a customer to pick a different reason for their return as most don't contact first which I wish they would so I could try to fix the problem without getting ebay involved . Also I don't know how the seller can create problems for you other than blocking you from purchasing from them. They will be forced to issue the refund once they receive it so I don't see how that can be an issue.

[santamonicajeweler]

All Sellers need to do is fight or win, one INAD case on one listing, then INAD for same runing listing will vanish forever.

Then, there are real reasons remain to hear from Buyers which is mostly Buyer's Remorse among others

[comic-sutra]

Because there are situations in which you want to do business with the seller in the future.  They're hit or miss, and sometimes they get it right, sometimes they get it wrong. Such a seller isn't necessarily malicious, just perhaps lazy or not quite as skilled as they should be.

It ought to be treated by eBay as seriously as "off eBay purchase requests", because it's circumventing eBay's rules in quite an obvious manner.

[comic-sutra]

So, two wrongs make a right?

[forward-motion]

As a seller I never ask the buyer to change the reason for the return, however, I do ask the buyer to contact me first before opening a claim. The reason is that I can direct them to the correct reason for the claim because it may not be an INAD. Also, I can communicate with the buyer as to what they would like for the resolution. For me I can help a buyer better with a return if they contact me first rather than going through the ebay return process. 

[48hrs-clothing]

I am a seller and in my experience item not as described is practiced by vast majority of buyers to avoid paying return postage.

Buyer gets an item of clothing in size Medium and it does not fit the buyer.

Buyer states I always buy size Medium therefore item you have supplied is not as described.

You advise buyer that chest measurements are shown and buyer states yes item measures to what is shown on listing but still item does not fit me therefore is item not as described.

Buyer knows that every size Medium produced by every brand/ manufacturer does not measure/ fit the same.

Buyer claims item is not as described as listed colour is Dark Navy and they accept that item is indeed Dark Navy but buyer opens a case citing Item not as described and comment is colour looks more like Black

Some dishonest buyers do not want to pay return postage or seller does not accept remorse returns and they have this get out of jail free card which they use.

I suspect vast majority of casual sellers ( Selling what is in their garage or wardrobe) may not describe their items fully as doing this intentionally is bound to lead to problems.

Any reasonable seller will always make sure that item is described clearly and all information shown on listing is accurate.

Dishonest buyers and dishonest sellers exist and is the unpleasant part of selling on line.