Buyer got a free computer from me

[nruj4324]

A buyer got a free computer from me, because they disputed how I sold the item and ebay sided with them. I mentioned there was a movie in its drive that I couldnt remove in the selling information, and the buyer said they didnt know. So, the buyer got their money back and the computer I sold. $200 lost. does this usually happen? That ebay sides with the buyer no matter what? Ebay didnt even seem to hear out the details of my case, and the options for reporting were extremely limited. 

[inhawaii]

It happens when a seller disputes a return.

You must have denied the return, then ebay stepped in and refunded the buyer.

Yes, in a he said/she said situation, ebay always sides with the buyer.

If you would have accepted the return, at least you would have got your computer back.

Sorry this happened to you.

Live and learn.

[lakefor94]

Selling items that are somewhat broken or don't function correctly is risky business no matter how well you describe them.

Typically, here is how returns go on eBay. 

If the buyer opens a Item Is Not As Described type return case, you have choices.

1. You can refund the buyer now and let the buyer keep the item. eBay refunds the final value fees on the sale to you, the seller.

2. Accept the return and make sure a prepaid return label is available in the return case. The buyer returns the item and then you refund in full. eBay refunds the final value fees on the sale to you, the seller.

Seller protection:
If you are a Top Rated Seller who offers 30-day or longer returns and the buyer returns something different, opened, used, etc. the seller can deduct up to 50% of the refund to recover the decreased value of the item.

3. Do nothing or allow eBay to handle the case. eBay will close the return, refund the buyer and allow the buyer to keep the item. You also receive a serious defect on your seller account for having eBay step in and refund, thus doing your job as a seller. And, eBay keeps the final value fees for the transaction.

Here is an eBay link with just about all you need to know.
https://www.ebay.com/help/selling/managing-returns-refunds/handle-return-request-seller?id=4115

[turnpiketreasures1]

It seems that for awhile now, all the online selling sites were really siding with the buyer no matter what. That worm might be turning with the recent Amazon announcement that they're no longer going to accept returns for any reason. Once that happens, then it might be harder for buyers to do this if the seller can prove it was noted in the description. I hope so, it's really not fair for every problem that to be the sellers fault and allow a buyer to get refunded and keep the item. Scammers quickly caught on to this, if it goes away, some of the scams will go away. Good luck.

[sextons-sweet-deals]

I see you have another post. You are somewhat a new seller and a target for scam. 

I would have made the computer as pick-up only and pay then in person.

So many scammers out there!

[mr_lincoln]

Hi @nruj4324 

If you used the No returns accepted and decline a return eBay will side with the Buyer every time and you will NOT get the item back and you NOT get your money back.  

On this ID of yours I see NO computer that was sold.  Did you Sell it on a different ID????

[luckythewinner]

So, the buyer got their money back and the computer I sold. $200 lost. does this usually happen?

In general - any buyer can steal any item from any seller at any time by filing a fraudulent "Not As Described" dispute. 

does this usually happen? That ebay sides with the buyer no matter what?

If you are asking whether fraudulent disputes usually succeed, then yes. 

 Ebay didnt even seem to hear out the details of my case

Correct. eBay has absolutely no idea whether (a) the listing is accurate, (b) whether the item shipped matched the description, (c) whether the buyer is telling the truth, or (d) whether the seller is telling the truth. So they honor the Money Back Guarantee that they gave the buyer and the seller pays.

All that aside ...

If you listed the item condition as "For Parts or Not Working", then this buyer filed a fraudulent  SDNAD and you got ripped off. 

But eBay's description of "Used" requires that the item be fully functional, and your item was not fully functional by your own admission. If that is the case, your listing and your condition were contradictory and the buyer was within his rights to file a SNAD. 

[marnotom!]

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@turnpiketreasures1 wrote:

It seems that for awhile now, all the online selling sites were really siding with the buyer no matter what. That worm might be turning with the recent Amazon announcement that they're no longer going to accept returns for any reason. Once that happens, then it might be harder for buyers to do this if the seller can prove it was noted in the description.

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I’d say this is unlikely to change.  Amazon has a warehouse (warehouses?) full of returned items to deal with.  eBay doesn’t.  Amazon has its bottom line to consider, while eBay doesn’t.  

The reason why eBay has the Money Back Guarantee and handles INAD claims the way it does is to discourage credit card chargebacks, which are expensive and labour-intensive to process.  Credit card issuers don’t want to lose a good customer if they can help it.

[toomuchstuffagain35]

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@marnotom! wrote:

The reason why eBay has the Money Back Guarantee and handles INAD claims the way it does is to discourage credit card chargebacks, which are expensive and labour-intensive to process.  Credit card issuers don’t want to lose a good customer if they can help it.

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Oh please, all ebay does with a charge back is sit back with it's hands in the air saying "sorry, out of our hands".

That said, I doubt ebay will follow AMZ in this. They only seem to want to follow the leader on issues that aren't of benefit to sellers.

[marnotom!]

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@toomuchstuffagain35 wrote:

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Oh please, all ebay does with a charge back is sit back with it's hands in the air saying "sorry, out of our hands".

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Because to do more would be labour intensive and expensive.  😋   

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@toomuchstuffagain35 wrote:

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That said, I doubt ebay will follow AMZ in this. They only seem to want to follow the leader on issues that aren't of benefit to sellers.

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Seeing as eBay takes the view that its revenue is ultimately from its buyers (the buyers' payments are what are in seller fees), that shouldn't be surprising.