TL,DR: I sold an item to a buyer, an intake manifold for a vehicle, around two weeks ago that wound up turning into multiple false accusations against me, a lost payment dispute, and subsequently an unexpected and unwanted return of the item in a permanently damaged state. I am sick to my stomach over this, have been running around in circles with eBay support, and I’m looking for any advice or insight.
Here it goes: In my listing I made sure to specify which vehicles my item fit by use of a part number taken directly off of my item, and through eBay’s vehicle compatibility finder (drop down boxes that let you enter your vehicle year, make, model, sub-model, and engine size to verify compatibility). After purchasing my item and receiving it, the buyer took a photo of the item that he purchased from me next to what he intended to replace, and stated that it didn’t fit and he’d need to return it. My listing stated no returns, and that paired with the fact that I left multiple ways to verify fit/compatibility, I declined the return. After declining the return, the buyer exploded on me in frustration and immediately began to accuse me of sending him an item that didn’t match what I listed, claimed that I was dishonest and rude, and swore up and down that I stated it fit his vehicle (a Ford F150), despite me never stating that it fit ANY Ford F150 (I had to triple check my listing when he said this just to be sure, and sure enough, I was right).
Next, the buyer went directly to their bank and disputed the charges, which led to a payment dispute case against me in which the buyer claimed I cheated and scammed them. I provided proof and stated my claim in the counter dispute, but evidently, it wasn’t enough; the buyer’s bank sided with them and I wound up being on the hook for the entire amount plus a $20 dispute fee ($354.42).
Before the payment dispute outcome was made by the buyer's bank, a box showed up at my door, and it was the intake manifold sent back by the buyer despite me being clear about no returns. Upon opening the box, I discovered that the item was permanently damaged, as if the buyer had attempted to install it or it was damaged during return shipping. I can no longer sell or use this item due to the damage, and once this is all settled, I will have to throw it away.
I called eBay and reported the buyer multiple times to no avail. I explained the situation to an eBay rep, who said that while eBay determined that I was right and well within my right as a seller to decline the return, there was nothing further that they could do besides waive the $20 dispute fee, as the buyer skipped eBay and went straight to their bank to dispute the charges. I’m at a loss here and I’m sick over this. Any advice or help would be greatly appreciated.
Never in all my years of buying and selling on eBay have I encountered something like this.
