eBay

link_tothe_future · ‎01-14-2022

I'm turning hear for help as eBay customer service has been abysmal. I had a buyer initiate a refund because I made a mistake in the title of my post. Ok, fair. I accepted the return and waited patiently for the item to arrive. When the item arrived I found that the buyer had not sent me back the original item but an old, damaged, dingey copy of the game that did not include any of the original manuals and documentation that mine had. The copy I sent was near mint, had all original manuals, the case was prisitine, no dirt or damage.

Original listing: https://www.ebay.com/itm/185220590828

Photos of returned item:

I immediately reported this to ebay and included clear photos of the returned item which did not match the pictures on the original post (because they weren't the same item). Now within 30 minutes of me reporting this scam some Ebay rep closed the case for the buyer because the package was shown to be delivered. I have now appealed that decision and attached even more photos showing that the item I received as a return was not the same item I sent. The buyer will not respond to any of my messages and now thinks they got away with it.

What are my options? if the appeal is closed for the buyer again am I just out of luck and this scammer gets a CIB copy of the game for free? I am so livid and have removed all my listings off of Ebay and will probably not use it to sell anymore. The money doesnt even matter at this point but the fact that Ebay is aiding scammers in there bull**bleep** makes me furious.

link_tothe_future · ‎01-15-2022

Thanks for all the informative responses everyone. I got the email late last night that the appeal was settled in my favor amazingly! So it seems as though all has been set right in my world lol. I feel as though I got lucky on this one and going to use it as a learning experience on double checking listing details and keeping clear records of the items I sell.

Thanks again and take care all

View Best Answer in original post

stainlessenginecovers · ‎01-14-2022

There are no options.

Pictures and NOT excepted as any evidence and are NOT even looked at for the 2 simple reasons that 1.) they can be altered 2.) They could NOT even be the item you originally sent.

Bottom line: customer pays money, you ship, customer returns and you have to refund, as you found out.

Now, granted; the buyer is doing what many have done and are learning on Youtube etc. of how EASY it is to get stuff for free on the internet (not just ebay); At least this buyer sent you back the same item. Some get a box of rocks and again, because tracking shows it was returned, you either voluntarily perform the refund or ebay will do if for you should you ignore (and then you get dinged..and you don't want many of those)

If you are Top Rated Seller and allow 30 day returns, you can deduct up to 50% of the refund for receiving the item back in 'not the same condition' as originally sent.

richards*collection · ‎01-14-2022

I want to respond, you have not waited long enough, these things take time. But please keep us posted, I have always wanted to know what happens when this happens, thank you for posting, and bty, this has never happened to me.

klhmdg · ‎01-14-2022

Sorry to say this is how eBay operates.

There is little to no seller protections.

Once an item is returned the seller has to refund. It doesnt matter what the "buyer" returned to the seller.

If eBay gets involved the seller gets a "ding" on their account and loses all FVFs.

The appeal will not do anything for you.

CS will blow smoke and you are just wasting time.

Do not sell anything that you cannot afford to give away.

Do not sell high scam items.

klhmdg • Volunteer Community Mentor

debk255 · ‎01-14-2022

welcome to the new ebay, where all that matters is sucking up to the customers, no matter how badly they screw over the sellers. I agree, ebay's idea of "help" is beyond bad. They simply don't care. I too am debating leaving ebay because of a similar experience, in which the buyer lied about how I described the listing (he didn't read the description) Returned the merchandise totally trashed and I got charged the price of the refund PLUS his express shipping that HE insisted on getting. I am now out nearly 100 dollars, and in spite of reporting this buyer every single step of the way and sending photos to ebay of the ruined merchandise, they informed me "the case is closed" This is NOT the ebay I started selling on 17 yrs ago and its gone downhill so bad that I will be leaving.

wrong66 · ‎01-14-2022

You can leave, but be aware that this can happen on any platform.

link_tothe_future · ‎01-14-2022

Ugh, While I have heard of other sellers having this happen to them this is the first its happened to me. I guess I'm lucky that it happened on such a low ticket item. I will wait for the appeal decision and update the thread when that happens but considering that everyone is saying the same thing here it seems as though I'm out of luck. I know this is a risk when selling anything online but I guess I was looking at the world through rose colored glasses when thinking it wouldn't happen to me. I will just go back to selling locally and dealing with people face to face. Thanks for all your responses and for anyone this happens to, I'm sorry, people can be so slimy, its a real sad fact.

kensgiftshop · ‎01-14-2022

@link_tothe_future

You can file mail fraud and a police report and use those reports to appeal the case.

Might not help, but you never know?

Want to wish everyone a Safe and Happy Independence Day.

ittybitnot · ‎01-14-2022

if the appeal is closed for the buyer again am I just out of luck and this scammer gets a CIB copy of the game for free?

@link_tothe_future

Short answer: YES

stephenmorgan · ‎01-14-2022

@wrong66 wrote:
You can leave, but be aware that this can happen on any platform.

I believe it can only happen on platforms who control the flow of money. There are platforms that their only purpose is advertisement of similar like items. Some are free to use and some charge a fee. With these platforms it is totally up to the seller and buyer to work out the payment methods, shipping methods and any disputes that may arise. The platform offering the advertisement has no involvement in the completion of a transaction.

aprilmoviebuf2000 · ‎01-14-2022

When you received that item back, not the item that you sold, I'm sure you were mad as a hornet. And I can't blame you. However, emotions took over and you were going to fight this case no matter what. Can't really blame you for that either, but since the case was closed by eBay and not by you, you now have a defect that will sting a lot more than losing that $15 item. I suppose that is a moot point though, since you have already made the decision to to sell on eBay anymore.

I am in no way defending the buyer here. It was wrong, and we all know it. But I think sometimes sellers let emotions take over and go into battle mode, rather than weighing the odds of successfully winning that battle. You were a top rated seller, so obviously had a good track record. In the top rated program, if you offered 30 day returns you could have done a partial refund and moved on. Not getting on you for not offering returns....with the types of items you sold I can guess you had your reasons.

At this point I'm afraid there aren't really options. eBay wants sellers to offer returns....not saying it's right or wrong, it just is. That is why they offer that partial refund option for TR sellers that do. Please don't misunderstand, this buyer would have opened a return whether you had a return policy or not, that is not what I'm saying. Just that there would have been more options for you, even though you still would have not been made whole. Hope that makes sense.

eBay is big on the positive buyer experience, while the negative seller experience is something they consider the cost of doing business. Not my opinion, but it is that of eBay. I do hope you win the appeal, but I wouldn't count on it. Sorry this happened to you.

monster-deals · ‎01-14-2022

@link_tothe_future wrote:

What are my options?

none.

Welcome to ebay, the easiest place to steal.

tools* · ‎01-14-2022

@debk255 wrote:
welcome to the new ebay, where all that matters is sucking up to the customers, no matter how badly they screw over the sellers. I agree, ebay's idea of "help" is beyond bad. They simply don't care. I too am debating leaving ebay because of a similar experience, in which the buyer lied about how I described the listing (he didn't read the description) Returned the merchandise totally trashed and I got charged the price of the refund PLUS his express shipping that HE insisted on getting. I am now out nearly 100 dollars, and in spite of reporting this buyer every single step of the way and sending photos to ebay of the ruined merchandise, they informed me "the case is closed" This is NOT the ebay I started selling on 17 yrs ago and its gone downhill so bad that I will be leaving.

I got the same garbage line from velvęt@ebąy.com on Facebook when she informed me that I was correctly charged by eBay for two "95-pound Priority Mail" package returns, as if there could even be such a thing. (They were 15-pound packages.) This theft by eBay was enough that I closed my eBay store after 20 years.