Buyer is abusing eBay's protections, and is forcing me to accept a return on a non-returnable item.

[michaelbrgmn]

I sold a smartwatch. The item was listed as non-returnable. The seller opened a return claim against me, saying that the item shipped without a band and a charging cable.

The description in the item listing clearly states that the watch does not include a band. After explicitly stating that no band is included, the description goes on to say that the sale includes the watch and a charger. In fact, all of the pictures in the item listing, except one, show the watch without the band. The one picture in the listing that shows the band has a superimposed caption that literally reads "band not included".

Not only was the description abundantly clear about the sale including just the watch and charger, the claim that there was no included cable is false; I did include a cable. Either way, the description made no mention of a cable.

The message the buyer attached to the return claim is equally absurd:

"Missing the cable and band. I am happy to get 21 dollars from you, to test the watch - verify it is working."

What?? What does that even mean? If he thinks he's going to ransom $21 out of me, he's got another think coming. And what the hell is twenty-one dollars, why not 20? So odd.

My reply:

"Hi, thanks for reaching out. The sale included the watch and original charger. No band was included. A generic cable did ship with the watch. I've attached 2 screenshots of the original listing for reference."

He has not responded yet.

I reported the buyer to eBay, but the case is still open.

The eBay rep I spoke to on the phone was completely sympathetic but said that they could not close the return. If he decides to return the item, I'll be forced to give him a refund.

If you're interested, I've included some relevant screenshots.

The Item Description

Of all the pictures in the listing, only 1 had a band. And it also has a caption.

Thanks for taking a look at this post. I'd like to hear what you guys think. Maybe I'm nuts.

[michaelbrgmn]

Thank you!

[inhawaii]

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@michaelbrgmn wrote:

You make a valid point re the condition being "new-other". The reason I listed it as such was because it was hardly used and had no signs of wear at all. 

If i went to buy a car that was hardly used and had no signs of wear, would i find that on the new car lot or on the used car lot?

[michaelbrgmn]

You would look at the car before buying it.

[castlemagicmemories]

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@michaelbrgmn wrote:
You would look at the car before buying it.

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With all due respect, that wasn't the question.

If i went to buy a car that was hardly used and had no signs of wear, would i find that on the new car lot or on the used car lot?

I think inhawaii was making the point that used is used.

[robot-hands]

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@inhawaii wrote:

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@michaelbrgmn wrote:

You make a valid point re the condition being "new-other". The reason I listed it as such was because it was hardly used and had no signs of wear at all. 

If i went to buy a car that was hardly used and had no signs of wear, would i find that on the new car lot or on the used car lot?

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Dedends on what the car lot owners website coding team decided to enable condition wise for this car brand and type.

[lintbrush*]

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@michaelbrgmn wrote:

• The buyer never responded to my message. I considered letting it sit until the deadline, confident that I would emerge victorious from an escalation. The ebay reps I spoke with all recommended that I do so. But I'm a college student. I cannot afford to have my money sitting in limbo during a month-long process. A few hours ago, I accepted the return. Of course, I still haven't heard from the imbecile. He doesn't give a **bleep** about the fact that he is taking up someone's time that could be spent on more productive things. He may very well end up keeping the item. But he won't close the return . He'll make me wait until it closes itself. Because "to hell with the other person that isn't me". I just want to not deal with this anymore .Either close the **bleep** claim or return the item ASAP so I can relist and sell it to a functional human being and get my freaking money .

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Not sure what you're trying to say here.  You just accepted the return a few hours ago.   The buyer isn't supposed to close the return because you accepted the return.  

The procedure:  Buyer has 5 days to get it in the mail.  Once returned, you have 2 days to refund.

Then the case closes automatically and your selling fees are credited.

If the buyer fails to mail it within 5 days you can call eBay and have it closed in your favor.

[dabunk2000]

Just like we want buyers to read and understand the rules, sellers need to do the same thing. There is no longer such a thing on ebay as no refunds or returns. Buyers rule and there is no way to stop returns period end of story!

[justagirl12]

The reason I listed it as such was because it was hardly used and had no signs of wear at all. 

Hardly used = used.

[castlemagicmemories]

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@michaelbrgmn wrote:

• The buyer never responded to my message. I considered letting it sit until the deadline, confident that I would emerge victorious from an escalation. The ebay reps I spoke with all recommended that I do so. But I'm a college student. I cannot afford to have my money sitting in limbo during a month-long process. A few hours ago, I accepted the return. Of course, I still haven't heard from the imbecile. He doesn't give a **bleep** about the fact that he is taking up someone's time that could be spent on more productive things. He may very well end up keeping the item. But he won't close the return . He'll make me wait until it closes itself. Because "to hell with the other person that isn't me". I just want to not deal with this anymore .Either close the **bleep** claim or return the item ASAP so I can relist and sell it to a functional human being and get my freaking money .

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With all due respect, the listing did show a band, when you later stated that would not come with the watch.  It been posted over and over on this Board to not picture anything that isn't included in the listing~in fact, that has been posted in your thread.  This a a buyer that does not have English as his first language.  I understand that now you want this over but two wrongs don't make a right.

[fab_finds4u]

This is why you accept the return and provide a return label if you want the item back.  eBay says

When an item isn't returned to the seller

In some instances, we may not require that an item be returned to the seller. In these situations, we refund the buyer and may seek reimbursement from the seller, for example if:

• The seller chooses not to accept a return request or provide a return shipping label
• The item location was misrepresented
• It's hazardous to ship back the item
• The item no longer has a value (for instance, a ticket for a cancelled event)

[albertabrightalberta]

OP, I hope you included a prepaid shipping label when you accepted the return. If you didn't purchase a label, the buyer won't be returning it and will just get a refund.

(See the underlined portion of the post above.)

[michaelbrgmn]

I did, thanks. I chose eBay's service, where they'll charge me if he uses it. So far he's not returned it. He has until the 20th, after which I understand I'll get my money back if he doesn't return it. 

[michaelbrgmn]

The buyer has 10 days to make a return. If he doesn't plan on returning it I'd like him to close the return so that I can get my money.

[smileytown18]

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@michaelbrgmn wrote:
The buyer has 10 days to make a return. If he doesn't plan on returning it I'd like him to close the return so that I can get my money.

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You can request that it be closed at that point. You don't have to involve the buyer

[michaelbrgmn]

I know that, I'm expressing my frustration at the fact that he doesn't seem to want to return it, and is just letting all of this happen while my money sits in limbo. If he intends to keep it I wish he's close the return now before the deadline.