eBay

sternaholic03 · ‎12-10-2019

I am really starting to get tired of these buy and try buyers on eBay. In 17 years I never had a problem until recent memory. Twice in the last year now. I sold an item recently which stated No Returns. I put many photographs, wrote a description noting the "wear and tear" on the item bc of its age, and in this particular case, had a back and forth with the buyer in private messages for days before the sale. I also sent them many additional photos. The buyer made me feel a little uneasy that he may have been a "buy and try" kind of guy, then abuse the eBay buyer protection policy, but in any event, I shipped it out for the $20 it costs to do so (buyer paid)

Buyer receives item and suddenly EVERYTHING is wrong with it and "not as described". They are noting this and that, all clearly exaggeration and all of it covered in my description and my private messages anyway. The return request was open and I messaged them saying I am not accepting returns. I have been on Ebay for 17 years with 100% positive feedback. So what's going to happen here? I am going to get screwed out of paying $20 return shipping for this clown once this gets "escalated"?

eleanor*rigby · ‎12-10-2019

@sternaholic03 wrote:
So what's going to happen here? I am going to get screwed out of paying $20 return shipping for this clown once this gets "escalated"?

If you don't accept the return, provide a return mailing label, and refund the buyer when you receive the returned item, eBay will do all that for you. eBay prefers you, as a seller, deal with this without them having to step in, so it will be reflected on your account.

sternaholic03 · ‎12-10-2019

So this buyer can be completely full of it, which they are, yet no matter what eBay is taking their side and will subsequently screw me if I don't comply, even with No Returns on the listing and the endless evidence to back up that the item was sent as described.

earlyant-77 · ‎12-10-2019

@sternaholic03 wrote:
So this buyer can be completely full of it, which they are, yet no matter what eBay is taking their side and will subsequently screw me if I don't comply, even with No Returns on the listing and the endless evidence to back up that the item was sent as described.

Short answer - yes.

Long answer - yes they can.

eleanor*rigby · ‎12-10-2019

Yes.

1. Your "No Returns" policy applies only to "remorse returns," like "Item didn't fit," or "Item makes me look fat," or "My partner doesn't like the color." Any reasons like "Item doesn't match description," or "Item was damaged in shipping," etc., are covered by eBay's Money Back Guarantee. eBay's MBG trumps your "No Returns."

eBay will not accept your "endless evidence." They will side with the buyer. Period.

ittybitnot · ‎12-10-2019

yet no matter what eBay is taking their side and will subsequently screw me if I don't comply,

You would be correct. Worst case: eBay will refund the buyer from your proceeds and let them keep the merchandise for free while awarding a nasty service metric ding to your account for not willingly allowing buyer fraud.

corvettestainless · ‎12-10-2019

With all the other excellent and truthful posts, the moral of the story is:

There is no such thing as 'no returns', so don't even bother to list that way. Accept returns, with "Buyer pays Shipping" and at least buyers won't be 'forced' to use 'not as described' to get you to take the item back.

papermoneyforme · ‎12-10-2019

@sternaholic03 wrote:
I am really starting to get tired of these buy and try buyers on eBay. In 17 years I never had a problem until recent memory. Twice in the last year now. I sold an item recently which stated No Returns. I put many photographs, wrote a description noting the "wear and tear" on the item bc of its age, and in this particular case, had a back and forth with the buyer in private messages for days before the sale. I also sent them many additional photos. The buyer made me feel a little uneasy that he may have been a "buy and try" kind of guy, then abuse the eBay buyer protection policy, but in any event, I shipped it out for the $20 it costs to do so (buyer paid)

Buyer receives item and suddenly EVERYTHING is wrong with it and "not as described". They are noting this and that, all clearly exaggeration and all of it covered in my description and my private messages anyway. The return request was open and I messaged them saying I am not accepting returns. I have been on Ebay for 17 years with 100% positive feedback. So what's going to happen here? I am going to get screwed out of paying $20 return shipping for this clown once this gets "escalated"?

I agree with everything said but on a side note:

If a buyer gives you that much grief before the sale, did you expect anything different.

Buyers like this should be blocked before the sale to save you grief and money after the sale.

eleanor*rigby · ‎12-10-2019

@corvettestainless wrote:
With all the other excellent and truthful posts, the moral of the story is:

There is no such thing as 'no returns', so don't even bother to list that way. Accept returns, with "Buyer pays Shipping" and at least buyers won't be 'forced' to use 'not as described' to get you to take the item back.

@corvettestainless

I wish I could agree, and I do, for the most part.

But, sadly, I also think those buyers won't want to pay return shipping ever, no matter how long they have to return it--even with a six-month return policy, they're going to try to figure out how to get out of paying for return shipping. That's when the "false" SNADs enter the picture.

sternaholic03 · ‎12-10-2019

I agree and as I noted I felt uneasy about the buyer with their seemingly endless (and i DO mean endless) questions and photo requests. Never again.

sternaholic03 · ‎12-14-2019

Well, after calling everyday to plead my case and demanding the buyer send eBay photos to prove he's lying and getting no response, eBay has suddenly decided in the buyers favor. Oh, and I have to pay the whopping $20 return shipping as well. I called eBay to demand an appeal and was told I cannot do that until the item is back in my possession. I was also told regardless of the condition of the item the refund will be automatically generated to the buyer. What a disgrace.

buyselljack2016 · ‎12-14-2019

Sorry this happened to you, but on the bright side, you have been an extremely fortunate seller to have gone for 17 years, and just now learning how eBay return/refund policies work. Many sellers get banged by a numpty buyer much earlier in their selling career.

Chalk it up as a learning experience.

I hope your item returns in good condition to be sold again.

Write it off. Put it behind you, and think of the positive sales that you have had.

Maybe karma will repay the buyer.

sternaholic03 · ‎12-14-2019

I know how the policies work but just didn't think it went this far, where I was basically treated as a nobody in all of this while dealing with a buyer who was just blatantly lying. They did not even force the buyer to send photos for proof! And how am I supposed to suddenly relist the item without it having an asterisk next to it? The item had 10 watchers and over 500 views before it was sold. This also damages the items reputation as potential buyers will wonder what happened as it was showed as sold previously.