@rattnroll90 wrote:It's really frustrating that buyer's can just simply say "item doesn't match description" and ebay says "ok return it" with no other supporting evidence even though I'm not a business and do not accept returns.
The buyer sent me a pic that is clearly not the item that I sent. People suck and ebay should not accept them at their word. The buyer is NOT always right!
Buyer's haven't always had protection from scams - when mail order first started, you could never be sure just exactly what you were going to get. So the Feds stepped in and the FTC made it illegal for an entity that delivers their goods via common carrier to not deliver the goods as described. It's been on the books for a very very long time - pre-dates the Internet, pre-dates BBSes, pre-dates electronic transmissions of nearly every kind (might not pre-date telegraph). It's not new - it "ancient school".
That's why retailers have become so lenient (IMHO) with buyer returns -- they'll take anything back, no questions asked, and give a full refund. Mail order/Online sales especially, but even B&M stores do it -- just watch the WalMart Customer Service desk if you don't believe me!
The thing we sellers don't have is facial recognition and internal security. You defraud WalMart enough times and they'll tag you when you come in the door and escort you out, peacefully or kicking & screaming - your choice. Amazon has the same - they track IP addresses (assigned by your ISP to your specific internet connection), they track MAC addresses (unique to the device you connect to the web with), and several other personally identifiable datum. If they kick you off, you are off -- the automated systems will check and you will not be allowed back.
eBay's security appears to be much more relaxed, likely due to the much lower sales volume (when compared to Amazon or WalMart), meaning less funds to invest in actual experienced software developers who can create these systems and security professionals who can design them.
The buyer will always be right -- the FTC says so, B&M retailers say so, and online venues say so. You want to tell the buyer they are wrong - create your own site, set your own rules, and see if you can make a go of it. If you do, come back and let us all know -- we'd all love to find a place to sell, with traffic and selection and seller protections... but just remember that you can't fully vet everyone, and sooner or later (generally sooner) a scammer is going to join your pool party and make a mess of everything. Once your reputation is gone, it's gone. There are too many other options - you won't get a chance to earn it back.
I'm all for free enterprise -- If you have the solution, create your own venue, make it work, and get every disgruntled and NARU'd eBay & Amazon seller to join your party. Who knows what you'll learn along the way!
-Bob.
