Advice please.

[ericdow_0]

The last 3 items shipped out were brand new items. One of them was a PS2 game that had been played once and didn't have a scratch on it. The buyer asked for pictures of the disk and said it looked perfect. He gets it and is saying it doesn't work, when it does. The other item was a brand new expresso machine that had never been opened. The buyer kept it for 30 days and on day 30 claimed it would not turn on so he could get a refund, which I had to give. The last order was a brand new book that I took pictures of and made sure it was good before shipping out. The buyer is saying it's damaged. Buyers have figured out that all they have to do is say something is broke or doesn't work and get their money back. Where is the protection for sellers? I have lost $150.00 this month. I'm getting frustrated. Any sellers have advice for this issue? 

[stainlessenginecovers]

A 'BRAND NEW' item means it's NEVER been opened or used. It was played, so not only is it NOT brand new; it's not even 'new'.

It's used. 

For the other stuff, hard to say but since you believe used stuff is new, I think you are making your own bed. 

[ccomic]

Maybe take a break from selling until eBay gets their ducks in a row. Eventually it will get bad enough that eBay will have to do something about it.

[funfactorychannel]

---

@stainlessenginecovers wrote:

A 'BRAND NEW' item means it's NEVER been opened or used. It was played, so not only is it NOT brand new; it's not even 'new'.

It's used. 

For the other stuff, hard to say but since you believe used stuff is new, I think you are making your own bed. 

---

Gamestop says otherwise. 😄

The protection for sellers is return for refund.

[jonathanbrightlight]

Did you refund those buyers before or after you received the returned items? The way you are describing the situation sounds like you’re refunding without returns. That’s not required.

[stuff4divas]

@ericdow_0  make sure the item(s) are returned back to you BEFORE you refund,

offer free returns and then u can deduct up to 50% of the selling price if the item is not returned back in the same condition as sent, but u don't get ur selling fees back if this is done, here is the link info>

https://www.ebay.com/help/policies/selling-policies/seller-protection?id=4345&st=12&pos=2&query=Sell...

[inhawaii]

FYI "Played once" is not brand new, it's used.

How did you lose money?

The buyer returns the item.

When you get it back you issue a refund.

You re-list the item.

[kensgiftshop]

---

@ericdow_0 wrote:

The last order was a brand new book that I took pictures of and made sure it was good before shipping out.

---

Was it brand new or like new, as your description says?

[tarotfindsandmore]

It looks like the vultures may be taking advantage of the fact that you have very few pics, few sales, and low(ish) feedback.  That combination is an open invitation to the worst kind of "buyers".  They prey on your inexperience.

I would recommend you 1) limit the number of higher ticket items you list until your feedback is quite a bit higher, 2) go back and add real pics (do not use stock photos unless it's in conjunction with at least 4-5 of your own), and 3) get very familiar with item condition specs for the categories you sell in.

https://www.ebay.com/help/selling/listings/creating-managing-listings/item-conditions-category?id=47...

What counts as "brand new" varies across categories, so rather than let yourself get muddled in the debate here regarding what counts as brand new for the items you're selling, check out that list.  Posters on this page do the best they can with the information they have, but if they're not selling in your categories, you may not get the most accurate info.

[kibble-net]

---

@ericdow_0 wrote:

The last 3 items shipped out were brand new items. One of them was a PS2 game that had been played once and didn't have a scratch on it. The buyer asked for pictures of the disk and said it looked perfect. He gets it and is saying it doesn't work, when it does. The other item was a brand new expresso machine that had never been opened. The buyer kept it for 30 days and on day 30 claimed it would not turn on so he could get a refund, which I had to give. The last order was a brand new book that I took pictures of and made sure it was good before shipping out. The buyer is saying it's damaged. Buyers have figured out that all they have to do is say something is broke or doesn't work and get their money back. Where is the protection for sellers? I have lost $150.00 this month. I'm getting frustrated. Any sellers have advice for this issue? 

---

My advice for you is to find another way to make a living, because selling online isn't for you.

[luckythewinner]

---

@ccomic wrote:

Maybe take a break from selling until eBay gets their ducks in a row. Eventually it will get bad enough that eBay will have to do something about it.

---

ROTFL. 

eBay has had a Money Back Gurantee for buyers since 2008. 

And since 2008, buyers have been able to file fraudulent disputes. 

Yet here we  are almost 20 years later, and eBay has 18 million sellers, 1.5 billion listings, and moves $80 billion a year. 

[bonanza125]

When selling items on Ebay buyers are given 30 days to return items. There are seller protections when it comes to delivery of the item and buyer making claims of not receiving. You are basically taking a risk. You are considered a business. If the item doesn't work or damaged the buyer can return within 30 days. After the 30 days then you can decline. When you say you lost $150 this month are you refer to sales or actual shipping cost loss? You do realize that when a buyer files a return case make sure you get the item in hand before issue a refund. If you issue a refund before then yes you will lose the item and the money. That would be on you the seller then. 

[pls-consignments]

Lots of good advice mentioned. This is what happens when consequence enforcement becomes too expensive to implement for fraudulent buyers, or sellers for that matter. Like many billion dollar companies today, eBay assessed their loss/gain risks and determined that a "wild, wild west" strategy is best for the bottom line, and best for keeping investors happy.