EBAY ABUSES IT'S SELLERS - Perfectly good items returned

[lonest_1456]

In the last 45 days I've had 2 returns that were over $400 dollars.  The first issue is Ebay forcing me to seller to buyers with ZERO Rating.  And before anyone comments that all buyers started at zero.  Every business has the right to refuse customers. 

Both items were returned in working condition. 

Now, I've lost money on return shipping that I cannot get back.  If I raise the price then it puts the items over what a new one costs.  If I keep the price I sell it for an even bigger loss. 

I'm new to selling but I hate Ebay.  I've started selling on other sites already because of Ebay's outright abuse and lack of any kind of protection for sellers. 

As a company I thought Ebay was good and provided a good service over amazon.  But after being on the seller side I realize Ebay is a terrible company and terrible brand.  I don't buy stuff on Ebay anymore and tell people to avoid it as well.  They don't care about doing damage to their own brand.  Just baffling.

[dariudaudery_0]

Why 0 feedback buyers return perfectly good items? 

Reason is quite simple - if they return something else or empty box they could potentially face legal action and problems.

Now what if they buy item and open return request? What happens if seller does not accept return and buyer escalates the case? They get to KEEP both item and the money. 

From what i have been seeing and reading this is what is happening and not only with 0 feedback buyer. They either open case just to try and get a freebie because sellers don't want to accept returns or take too long accepting such. Literally abuse of how eBay return system works.

[jrsstuff]

This is about balance.  Tipping the scales as far as they have tipped towards the buyer opens the door for less than honest buyers who abuse the system.  I don't care if other sites are worse.  Ebay shouldn't set their goals looking downward at what's worse.  They need to build a process that is more equitable & fair.

[southern*sweet*tea]

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@ittybitnot wrote:

Add a small amount to every asking or shipping price (a few pennies or a dime) to cover the occasional transaction that goes pear-shaped.

Put those virtual dimes in a virtual Cookie Jar.

@reallynicestamps 

I have heard that "cookie jar" stuff here for years.  I never really could grasp the concept.  For example, my first "hit" here was for $795.00.

Using your formula, at  ten cents, I would need to have 7,950 sales just to break even from the fraudulent claim.  At a more generous fifty cents, however, I would only need to have 1,590 sales with no more of such drama.  It never seemed practical. 

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I've always put 5% of every sale, since the first day I started selling online way back when. (I did it when I sold offline, too).  I've had a handful of losses over the years that were totally paid for by previous buyers. It also helps if, when you start out, you have some working capital. The first $50 in my cookie jar was my own.  It's insurance plain and simple, and I figure why pay someone else for loss/fraud insurance when I can do it myself. 

[lonest_1456]

Thank you for the advice. I'll look into that.

[lonest_1456]

Thank you for your perspective

[lonest_1456]

Yep. That's they way it is. Completely backwards. 

[dentalrprtek2012]

Lets all sit back and let the buyers do  and say whatever they want and then we can refund them and as Ebay asks Give them a pleasant experience. Ebay is geared to the buyers and even claiming Seller Protection that they do not provide. They do not care about sellers only to protect the buyers

[lonest_1456]

Thank you for taking the time to respond. I appreciate you sharing your insight from your years of experience.

[lonest_1456]

Thanks for the thoughts.

[lonest_1456]

Thanks for the message

[lonest_1456]

Thank you for the perspective and responses. 

[lonest_1456]

While I don't agree with you I appreciate your time and perspective. I'll consider how I can prove an item works in the postings.

[lonest_1456]

Thanks!

[jeansjewelry]

I'm guessing that sellers outnumber buyers.  Or listings outnumber sales. 

Ebay can afford to lose sellers because there are so many of us.  I'm sure they look at the stats and favor buyers over sellers or vice versa.   It is whatever makes them the most money.

If the day ever comes when demand (purchases) exceed supply (sellers) then they will be nice to us.

[stainlessenginecovers]

There's really nothing to agree about or not; it is the fact. Selling sites, just like any B&M Store, need to take care of the buyers before the sellers. Give the sellers too much control and all the fraud starts on the other side. 

Seller protection is you can deduct 50% of the refund amount if you offer 30 days returns. You cannot abuse this.

Lastly- there is no 'proof' of anything 'working' or not. Anything that is used can quit working at anytime, including the moment you put it in a box. There is no proof that what you are 'video taping' is the item that you sent. 

The 'proof' is only to a non fraudulent buyer- you are standing behind your item having 'returns'. 

Have you ever sold something electric (vacuum, power drill) at a neighborhood garage sale? Customer buys, you prove it works, he goes home and it dies. He brings it back. You plug it in, it's dead. Do you refund? I do.