Does ebay have any bit of protection for occasional seller?

[yu-hzhan0]

I sold a used table tennis robot that I used less than 10 hours that worked perfectly fine. The buyer requested for return with a reason of description mismatch. I agreed for the buyer to return and sent them the return label. But the buyer changed their mind, kept the product, and closed the case. After the 30 day return window, the buyer initiated a dispute with their credit institution with the same reason of description mismatch. The institution ruled in the buyer's favor of full refund. I appealed through ebay but was denied. So I ended up being charged full refund without having any chance to get the product returned to me. I called ebay, I was told that I SHOULD initiate the return by sending the buyer the return label. There is no such a process from ebay for me to initiate a return after the return window. Plus, how would the hell the buyer return the product when they have already received the full refund? What should I do? Does ebay have any bit of protection of the seller?

[heckofagame]

Did you reply to the credit card dispute?

[lamber9347]

@yu-hzhan0 I'm sorry to tell you that you have no options now. If it's any consolation you actually handled this correctly on your part. You accepted the return and sent the return label, that is what you were supposed to do. You also appealed the decision, which is what you needed to do. Credit cards will always favor their client so pretty much no way to win those. It's unfortunate that you came across a bogus buyer that kind of scammed you. There is no way to force that person to return your item and as you've figured out why would they now? Phoning eBay only takes you to a call center where they tell you what you want to hear in order to end the call and mark it as successful. 

You can always take the buyer to small claims court because you have their info from the sale. It would have to be a sale where you would recoup enough to pay your fees and go through the trouble but that is an option for you. Courts are now virtual so you don't need to live nearby anymore. Just know you handled this correctly and did your part but came across a scammer in a way. Best of luck to you....

[yu-hzhan0]

Thank you lamber9347 for your informative comments. It's a $130 some sell, not worthy of small claim court. But that's an option I've not thought of. It's a scam for sure.

[monster-deals]

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@yu-hzhan0 wrote:

Does ebay have any bit of protection of the seller?

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For a new or caz seller?

Almost none at all.

[yu-hzhan0]

I did. I provided all evidence of my efforts of accommodating the buyer including sending the return label. It's not a surprise that the buyers institution stands on buyer's favor, regardless the evidence. What upset me was ebay's zero interest to protect the seller. I rarely sell anything. I just try to cut my loss by selling at a discount price but at least someone would use it.

[dbfolks166mt]

     EBay does have some seller protection against chargebacks but your situation is a bit unique. You may want to read through the following especially this notation in the policy. 

https://www.ebay.com/help/policies/selling-policies/payment-dispute-seller-protections?id=5293 

[ittybitnot]

I was told that I SHOULD initiate the return by sending the buyer the return label.

@yu-hzhan0 

Yes, you already did that once.  eBay does not require the buyer to return merchandise in order to get their refund for a Payment Dispute (aka chargeback).  At least we know they didn't file with PayPal (they are called Payment Disputes as well), because PayPal requires the buyer to return it on their own dime before they get their money back.  eBay will not help you.  It is an automated process with very predictable results. 

You could message the buyer ONCE and request that they pay for their item or return it.  If you are ignored, the next thing you send them is a copy of the Postal Inspectors fraud report case number that you file against them. That proves effective sometimes so long as the buyer is in the US. 

You will soon learn NOT to rely on any advice or information you get from the regular customer service agents you get on a call back or chat.  You may end up with non-sensical information, or advice that makes your situation worse.  eBay does not back up what they tell you either. 

[yu-hzhan0]

"Postal Inspectors fraud report", that's interesting option. Thanks 

[yu-hzhan0]

I think those listed "protections" are all there for the purpose of "demonstration", show eBay does have seller protections. But after going through each and every step of the "protection", I realized that every ebay agent just finishes their step with a checkmark of being done, with zero incentive to get it really resolved. 

[yu-hzhan0]

That's what it is