Be as vague as possible when listing items

[pikeman2210]

Having received a returns request (an unjustified one in my opinion) I have been informed by eBay that I have to fund the return postage. This seems most unjust in my opinion. I took lots of photos from all angles showing the item. I stated I don't accept returns & that the photos show the condition of the item. I also state in my advert that if any questions or for more photos then ask. The buyer received the exact item as shown in the advert. They obviously thought they would buy it to see what it looked like & decided it isn't what they wanted. Yet I have to pay the return postage. I don't mind giving a refund on the initial payment but to force me to pay for the return postage is tantamount to theft in my opinion. 

I described the item in the title (Make, model & colour) The buyer claims the colour listed in the title does not match that received, yet the colour is shon in the photos. Seems if I had just stated the make I would have been ok. So the motto of my story is be vague. 

What are people's thoughts? 

Regards 

Stephen

[donsdetour]

My thought are you may not get back what you sent. But that may be we on the boards read and hear the worst of eBay.

As a user and seller on eBay you agree to the eBay's buyers guarantee:

https://www.ebay.com/help/policies/ebay-money-back-guarantee-policy/ebay-money-back-guarantee-policy... 

Thus you can get an item not as described for about anything, or any reason; and eBay will have to go along with it.

[alcoforever]

Colours are not always displayed accurately on computer screens and there is no amount of words that can accurately depict colour.  So you can always expect returns where colour is an issue.

No returns means nothing on ebay.   If a buyer just says not as described, then the item is not as descriped.   Period.   You don't have to accept a return but you do have to refund the buyer.

As for vague descriptions,   I think you are just increasing the number of returns you will be getting.

[toysaver]

The color can appear different depending the device it's viewed on.  

It doesn't matter if you accept retruns or not, eBay has a money back guarantee that supercedes your policy.  Some buyers just look at the shrunken gallery picture and buy from there, they don't even read the description.  

[iart]

Buyers can return items, pretty much, for any reason (though they might have to fib a little). 

I think sellers should accept this and work it into their business model. If your profits are so thin that you're uncomfortable with this, you shouldn't be selling here.

I think the real problem here is listing items with 'no returns'. It pushes some buyers away and it certainly lessens your search visibility.

I don't like returns. I don't like non-payers. But these are part of selling on-line and it's best to accept it.

[fashunu4eeuh]

Hi, i see you are in the UK, where the rules may differ from those here,  but i can say being vague in a listing is asking for trouble. It is best to be crystal clear in describing what one is selling to avoid Not As Described cases. 

Sadly there will always be those few buyers who won’t do their due diligence, who won’t read or examine the photos. There will be returns regardless of how well an item is described. 

But savvy sellers will always include all important details about their items in the listing. It is just good customer service to do so. To be vague, and do so consciously, will not protect a seller on eBay. 

[m60driver]

It doesn't matter what your photos show.  It doesn't matter what you place in your description.  It doesn't matter that "you" don't accept returns.   In the current online market place, whether Ebay,  Amazon, or elsewhere,  you will have to pay for any return for any reason, justified or not.  If your business model can't handle this cost of selling online then my thought is that online retail not for you.

[ryanrobyn]

A few weeks ago a seller claimed some of the flowers in a scarf looked more orange than red. Sure enough she filed a NAD claim. Without even telling me Ebay refunded her money and even let her KEEP the scarf.

[caldreamer]

Anytime you list with NO RETURNS you force the customer to claim "not as described" and you get stuck paying all postage.    Better to offer returns that way customer pays for return postage.  Nobody likes returns...but that's all part of selling on EBAY.

[alcoforever]

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@pikeman2210 wrote:

So the motto of my story is be vague. 

What are people's thoughts? 

Regards 

Stephen

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I think that is a great way to save a huge amount of time creating listings.   Taken to its logical extreme all you need is one word:  "item"

As for photos,  you may refer to my current 3 listings for examples of how to take great photos.

[kollectorz-korner2222]

It doesn't matter if you are vague, or so detailed like an encyclopedia, if a scammer wants to scam you, 

the loop hole is there.   Half the time people don't read the descriptions anyway.  

This free returns thing is killing us sellers.  

Returns on ebay needs to be revamped into a fair and honest procedure.  

And ebay needs to be transparent with this, including a way to know if a buyer

is a habitual return scammer.  As it is now, they do not hold buyers accountable for

the scams they attempt.   they say they do....but there is no transparency. 

If I can't see it, then it doesn't exist.  

[annadryl]

"Be vague" is possibly the worst listing advice I've ever heard. Anyone else would advise the opposite: be very precise.

[johnrj1226]

You need to expand your listings for a left  handed monkey wrench needed to install  those muffler bearings or the proper wear for going on a snipe hunt.

[synoptic12]

To be vague, is being deceitful.

[comics-scifi-collectibles]

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@alcoforever wrote:

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@pikeman2210 wrote:

So the motto of my story is be vague. 

What are people's thoughts? 

Regards 

Stephen

---

I think that is a great way to save a huge amount of time creating listings.   Taken to its logical extreme all you need is one word:  "item"

As for photos,  you may refer to my current 3 listings for examples of how to take great photos.

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@alcoforever   😂  "My cat smokes while she packs your item."