Buyer requested return while in transit... but wait, there's more!

[northliquidator]

Sold a laptop for parts or repair, clearly identified both in the item description "Laptop does not power on" and "as is - for parts or repair ONLY" and also in the listing template "for parts or not working" and also "No returns accepted".

Once item ships, the buyer almost immediately opens up a claim, stating item not as described, and they'd like a refund. At this point, I'm thinking this is a scammer. The case then gets escalated for eBay to make a decision, which I'm absolutely positive they will vote in my favor, because my only other option at this point is to accept the refund - but I decline.

So fast forward a week and the item finally gets to the buyer, and they sign for it instead of declining the package/shipment. Ebay then closes the case, in the buyers favor!! I appeal the case with the exact same outcome! The buyer will receive a full refund, and now I'm stuck TRYING to get my item back? What the heck is going on here?! I'm so beyond myself as this was a fairly high end laptop with some good value left in it, and now I'm out shipping TO this individual, and now shipping back, which seems to be twice the original cost?! IF they are even willing to ship it back to me at this point (doesn't sound like they're required to from eBays latest message).

[lonebuck-books]

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@northliquidator wrote:

Sold a laptop for parts or repair, clearly identified both in the item description "Laptop does not power on" and "as is - for parts or repair ONLY" and also in the listing template "for parts or not working" and also "No returns accepted".

Once item ships, the buyer almost immediately opens up a claim, stating item not as described, and they'd like a refund. At this point, I'm thinking this is a scammer. The case then gets escalated for eBay to make a decision, which I'm absolutely positive they will vote in my favor, because my only other option at this point is to accept the refund - but I decline.

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This is your mistake, thinking eBay will be on your side.  eBay literally sides with buyers 99.99% of the time regardless of what the seller does.  You never want it escalated to a claim, and if it starts out as a claim you need to know that you are going to lose so do whatever you can to get the buyer to work with you.   The reason they went the claim route is because you had it set to no returns accepted.  Once you do that, buyers are left with the nuclear option of a claim only.  

Unfortunately you are most likely out of luck.  If the buyer tried to cancel after you shipped it you really should have told the buyer to refuse the shipment so it would come back to you instead of telling them the item was a no returns sale.  On eBay, there is no such thing as no returns, actually more accurately no refunds.  There are always refunds regardless of your settings.  Part of this is because eBay thinks it makes buyers feel more comfortable buying here but the other reason is there are federal trade laws that dictate buyer protections for online sales.  If the buyer hadn't gotten the claim in their favor, rest assured they would have filed a chargeback which you most likely would lose.

Next time, when a buyer wants to cancel...... cancel.  If it is shipped already give them clear instructions on how to return it for a refund.

[ebooksdiva]

You won't be getting your item back. The buyer is not required to.

Sorry but it is what it is.
Selling items that don't work parts or repair never turns out well.

Why?

Because buyers don't read descriptions until after they buy. 

When eBay is asked to step in, they will always 99.9% of the time side with the buyer. 
Sorry that happened to you, you can write it off as a loss when you file your taxes. 
IMO a laptop that doesn't work is worthless not to mention useless. 

[luckythewinner]

the buyer almost immediately opens up a claim, stating item not as described

I'm absolutely positive they will vote in my favor

but I decline.

What the heck is going on here?

Why in the world would you be "absolutely positive" that you would win an Item Not As Described case? INAD cases are the one thing that almost everyone here will tell you is a slam-dunk for the buyer. 

eBay has no idea what the buyer got. There is nothing in eBay policy that even hits that the timing of the filing and the delivery confirmation will affect the outcome "not as described" cases, if that is what you were banking on.  

[slati_2013]

You should have done an intercept on the laptop if possible the minute he filed a claim. I have had a few of these cases where the minute the item shows shipped, the buyer asks to cancel. I always immediately intercept the package. Once I was walking out of the Post Office when I got a request to cancel. I went back in a got the item back from the person at the counter I had just given it to.

Yes, you were scammed. The buyer wanted it for parts but never intended to pay for it. 

[lakefor94]

After the fact, your buyer decided that they were paying too much for something that does not work. The intercept of the shipment would have been the way to go if the item held some type of value. 

I don't know which is worse for selling online, a laptop that is junk or a high end working laptop. Both are risky business.

Selling junk is always risky.

[bashort · Accepted solution]

ebay has made the conscious decision that they want bad buyers much more than they want good sellers 

[bashort]

the only suggestions I have is to put BROKEN! or NON WORKING! in the title, I do think this helps because people do not read descriptions.

Also I believe that accepting returns possible could of made all the difference.

The buyer realized they made a mistake and quite possible they would of just asked to return it if that was a option.

[northliquidator]

Thanks for all the replies.. It appears that I made a rookie mistake and got scammed. It's also apparent that the person(s) at ebay looking into this case did not follow their own policy when deciding the outcome, or this is just "how it is". Maybe I made a rookie mistake selling salvage, but silly me thought ebay would honor their own dang policy.

[bashort]

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@ebooksdiva wrote:

You won't be getting your item back. The buyer is not required to.

Sorry but it is what it is.
Selling items that don't work parts or repair never turns out well.

Why?

Because buyers don't read descriptions until after they buy. 

When eBay is asked to step in, they will always 99.9% of the time side with the buyer. 
Sorry that happened to you, you can write it off as a loss when you file your taxes. 
IMO a laptop that doesn't work is worthless not to mention useless. 

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I have sold many items "for parts or not working with no problems, some items are much more prone to problems than others.

[bashort]

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@luckythewinner wrote:

the buyer almost immediately opens up a claim, stating item not as described

I'm absolutely positive they will vote in my favor

but I decline.

What the heck is going on here?

Why in the world would you be "absolutely positive" that you would win an Item Not As Described case? INAD cases are the one thing that almost everyone here will tell you is a slam-dunk for the buyer. 

eBay has no idea what the buyer got. There is nothing in eBay policy that even hits that the timing of the filing and the delivery confirmation will affect the outcome "not as described" cases, if that is what you were banking on.  

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actually this is one case where ebay knew exactly what the buyer had received, absolutely nothing.

Its hilarious, the buyer determined that the item was "not as described" by reading the description.

[bonjourami]

Because you declined the refund and Ebay had to step in, they will always favor the buyer. They see the seller as 'non responsive' by not accepting the return, then refunding. 

[brightlightbookseller]

I wouldn't say you got scammed.  That implies malicious intent by the buyer.  They simply requested a return, you declined it, and eBay stepped in and refunded since you didn't want your item back according to what you selected.  Not a scam.  Unfortunate for you, and a hard lesson to learn, but not a scam.

[gator08041971]

I sell laptops for parts quite often.  Have a multi-listing active right now in fact:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/186338039511

Notice the title.  ALWAYS put the fact its a parts machine IN the title!

That helps deter no-readers.   Sometimes I may even put in the title "READ DESCRIPTION".

And regarding no returns.  I now put No Returns Requested.  That clarifies that I know the MBG can override my preference of having no returns.  Not only that, I even explain about the item not as described in my returns policy. IN those cases, the item has to be returned to be refunded.  I will not do partial refund extortion.  I would rather eat the shipping, and its more likely to deter some buyers from trying to do so.

[umccars]

 I have very few issues. But I always handle them. I had a similar situation and I put in a recall with USPS. It cost me but I got my package back before it even made it to the buyer. Ebay is a good place to sell some items, but you're on your own here. I don't count on Ebay to properly handle any issues.