Charged final value fee for sending the customer my address for local pick up

[mandalaytrading]

I got a $228 fee charged and a suspension because the seller and I exchanged contact information so we could figure out the best way to ship the large freight item listed as a local pick up.  eBay actually told me that I could not give them the item address until is was paid for.  Both of us needed the information to look for shipping quotes.  We never gave any indication that we were trying sell of of ebay, in fact the opposite is true.  How can a buyer figure out shipping costs if he does not have the seller's address? 6 weeks later, the item is still for sale and the original buyer is still trying to buy it.  I killed the listing today and will put it on another site because I am not paying the FMV again out of principal.  After decades on ebay, we are actively seeking another site for our used medical equipment, much of which is very large.

I had 5 extremely long telephone conversations with ebay reps. The first 4 told me that the fee would be removed and they would follow up with an email.  Not a single one, followed through.  On my invoice today, I saw the charge listed.  Both people today told me that once it's invoiced, it's a done deal.  If you are going to fight these charges you have to do it before they are invoiced and DO NOT count on any the reps to follow through with their promises.  For this and other reasons,  it seems eBay does not fit our needs anymore

We never have tried to skirt ebay fees and often drive other traffic to ebay for the protection of both parties.  The fee is bad enough but it's the accusation of cheating that bothers me the most.

[buyselljack2016]

@mandalaytrading 

Information can be exchanged after purchase.

The listing should show where(city) the item is located. That would give a "ballpark" cost for the shipping.

[mandalaytrading]

It's a large piece of freight freight.  We need to exchange information because both people need to know.  The quotes ranged from $700 to over $2800 because it was expedited shipping.

[oldwestgold]

I hear you.  Unfortunately, you will never win with eBay - period. 

[richard1rst]

" Both of us needed the information to look for shipping quotes"

Well, not exactly. The buyer did not need your address. You only needed to know his ZIP code which would have allowed you to get a quote. That information is available by clicking his feedback score. That will bring up a page which states what city/state he lives in. The only question remaining, if it was going by anything other than USPS,  is whether it was a residence or a commercial address and that information (but not the actual address) could have been swapped freely.

When playing with E-Dragons you must handle the bait carefully.

Also, your headline says "local pickup" but the gist of your message is about calculating freight. A contradiction.

[annadryl]

I don't know that the reps can actually reverse or cancel much that involves money (they can remove inappropriate feedback, etc. but generally can't waive fees). They might say they will, but they won't, as they did four times here. Ask for a higher-up.

[buyselljack2016]

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@annadryl wrote:

I don't know that the reps can actually reverse or cancel much that involves money (they can remove inappropriate feedback, etc. but generally can't waive fees). They might say they will, but they won't, as they did four times here. Ask for a higher-up.

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Doubt that a "higher up" will be any help.

Blues have posted on here many times that when a FVF is assessed (and a suspension) it is the result of having "human eyes" on what was going on. The "bots" send warnings. Humans apply the penalties.

[buyselljack2016]

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@richard1rst wrote:

" Both of us needed the information to look for shipping quotes"

Well, not exactly. The buyer did not need your address. You only needed to know his ZIP code which would have allowed you to get a quote. That information is available by clicking his feedback score. That will bring up a page which states what city/state he lives in. The only question remaining, if it was going by anything other than USPS,  is whether it was a residence or a commercial address and that information (but not the actual address) could have been swapped freely.

When playing with E-Dragons you must handle the bait carefully.

Also, your headline says "local pickup" but the gist of your message is about calculating freight. A contradiction.

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Really?  I have never seen that happen, and currently can not.

I can see the city, and state when a buyer asks a ?, but never by clicking on feedback.

[lasantino]

If all the information you have given us is the same information ebay has.   I would not give up.. I would call back and ask for trust and safety. once you get a usa based trust and safety,, first explain what you told us in a calm manner and ask for help because you have been told numerous times the fees would be removed and then all of the sudden you were suspended.     If they are willing to help,,   I would then have them look up the previous phone calls where you were told the fees would be credited.   You probably don't have the call reference numbers.  However,,if you have the approximate dates and you get a patient, willing trust and safety rep, they can try and pinpoint the calls where you were told the fees would be credited.. you should also insist that all 4 calls were are located..  

again, don't give up, don't get made,, state the facts.. give them the info. insist they make it right.. you didn't do anything wrong..and it will be obvious to the rep in trust and safety that shipping charges are a large part of any purchase with medical equipment.   you and the buyer were simply trying to find the least expensive option...  as long as the messages show that the buyer is in fact not located locally and was in fact trying to source lower priced shipping..  

also.. the fact that the item is and has been still for sale should be further evidence to the trust and safety rep that it was  mistake to assess you a fvf and suspend you... keep us updated.

[annadryl]

Do they still have Trust & Safety?

[wesk_36]

Topic title;

Charged final value fee for sending the customer my address for local pick up

Why would you send anything, your contact information- address and phone number are in your listings.  

[wesk_36]

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@wesk_36 wrote:

Topic title;

Charged final value fee for sending the customer my address for local pick up

Why would you send anything, your contact information- address and phone number are in your listings.  

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In fact, I don't know why ebay even allows sellers to put all that contact info in a listing, considering that ebay is hyper-vigilant on preventing off site sales.

I do understand how you feel about being falsely accused though.

[buyselljack2016]

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[richard1rst]

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@buyselljack2016 wrote:

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I can see the city, and state when a buyer asks a ?, but never by clicking on feedback.

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In which case you had enough information to calculate the shipping WITHOUT antagonizing the E-Dragon by asking for and swapping additional personal information. So, sorry, the error was still on you.