Ebay isn’t following the rules or the rules have changed.

[bridgett372]

To my knowledge, it has always been, if you sell an electronic item, the buyer  doesn’t contact you for 3 weeks the item doesn’t work, but instead admits in the eBay messages they took it to the shop to try and repair for 3 days, that the item would no longer available for return for refund, because it isn’t coming back in the same condition.  This was a vintage amplifier and there is no way to know if fuses haven’t been changed or switched, or electrical boards soldered, etc. The buyer had to have removed the original security tape to get in the amplifier to repair it. eBay said I have to accept the return and when I get it, I need to send pictures of the item not being returned in its original condition. If I the eBay investigation proves it’s not in the original condition, we can dispute the refund. Lolol. How in the heck would we do that? How would we know or would ebay know what fuses or boards were switched without a magician. Then they told me, I could submit the eBay messages as proof the item isn’t coming back in the original condition. I said, you already have that, so it’s clear someone already found in favor of the buyer. The item was also sold as-is.  I can never sell another electronic item if the customer is allowed to open up the item and make changes. Who could? Anyone else experience this obvious new change in the rules. Before today, if this ever happened, the case was closed in the sellers favor and we didn’t have to accept the return. 

[carlmarxx]

I agree with you ,after  I thought  more  about  it. 

[lakefor94]

@bridgett372 

You are a Top Rated Seller.  All you had to do on the original listing is Accept Returns and you could have done a 50% refund on the return of the amp and would have been done with it. No contacting the buyer, no contacting eBay for hours on end. 

50% is the best you can do in a situation like this. As a TRS, just accept returns and no messing with the buyer or eBay. A few clicks, a photograph, report the buyer and done.

The buyer can then beg eBay for the other 50% that would come out of eBay's pocket.

[bonanza125]

EBay agents have no way of really knowing and they side with the buyer on a refund.  Buyers lie just to get what the want is there money back. Unfortunately EBay is not like a regular store where if you say that if you remove security tape there is no refund. EBay still grants it. 

[carlmarxx]

For  keep 50%  You have to be a TRS plus   with 1  day/Handling  and offer  30 day free return   shipping  and refunds  after getting  the item back .

[inhawaii]

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@carlmarxx wrote:

How  can the buyer file snad  after they tampered  with it  ?    

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By initiating a return and clicking on "not as described".

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@carlmarxx wrote:

also  would   the  snad be considered suspected  when said buyer waited 3 weeks to complain  about it?             

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The buyer has 30 days to file a snad.

[carlmarxx]

Thanks  for the information. 

[lakefor94]

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@carlmarxx wrote:

For  keep 50%  You have to be a TRS plus   with 1  day/Handling  and offer  30 day free return   shipping  and refunds  after getting  the item back .

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Not exactly @carlmarxx 

Handling time and TRS+ are not mandatory.

TRS with 30-day returns accepted qualifies.

Above Standard with Free Returns qualifies.

[wastingtime101]

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@carlmarxx wrote:

For  keep 50%  You have to be a TRS plus   with 1  day/Handling  and offer  30 day free return   shipping  and refunds  after getting  the item back .

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That's not accurate at all. Review the policy page here:

https://www.ebay.com/help/policies/selling-policies/seller-protections?id=4345

Note there are 2 different sections.

One is protections for all sellers which means all sellers get added protections for offering free returns even if they're not TRS, but they have to be Above Standard or better.

The other is protection for TRS which does not require free returns, 1 day shipping, listing plus status, or any of that. It requires a 30 day returns policy (buyer paid works) for most categories, and certain levels of seller metrics.

[carlmarxx]

Thanks, I didn't know that.

[carlmarxx]

Thanks , I didn't know  that .  I guess I  just haven't kept up with the policy  change's.    

[wastingtime101]

There are way too many changes around here for any of us to know all of them.

[billk21093]

I had the exact same thing happen last week, buyer admitted to taking a for-parts laptop apart, attempting to repair it, and wanted to return it to me because he failed.

The worst part was the eBay customer service told me on three different occasions that I would be covered because the buyer admitted in eBay messages to altering it, but of course they were wrong.

And since it was a for-parts listing, customarily listed as no returns, I had to give the guy back 100% percent. 

[carlmarxx]

WoW!    What I have noticed  is that  ebay     has hired  people   with  no  buying and selling experience  as phone reps  .  

[johnrj1226]

It  looks like you  sold it as "pre-owned" or "used".  Which means  it is fully functional  can  have external blemishes and  it needs to be functional at the time of delivery  There is no condition "as is"  only "not working / for parts".  In your description you use the term "as-is" but it  is not recognized by eBay - just those conditions in the link below =.Buyer wins

Read this link:

https://www.ebay.com/help/selling/listings/creating-managing-listings/item-conditions-category?id=47...

Looks  like the aren't following your rules.

[jimmy1000000]

Make a police report. eBay commits fraud everyday all day. I have a recorded conversation with United States Post Office from today where they literally called ebay "evil"'. I am seriously thinking about putting it up on YouTube, It's comical The US post office advice to me in dealing with "evil eBay" is they recommend I use a different platform to sell on. Lol She said this because she's been inundated with similar like complaints about ebay committing postal fraud.

That is literally how they are surviving right now. On profiting on fraudulent return requests and return labels even if they're not necessary when the item is fully injured. Today they just defrauded me out of over $450. They told there buyer not to give the item to the post office for the insurance inspection. United States Post Office is going to investigate them for postal fraud Since eBay violated their contract with the post office on their shipping label and additional insurance charge. 

Going through some of the same ridiculousness that you are going through. I have recorded phone calls of them promising that I would be protected and they would not do what they did as soon as they escalated it to a case they even place it on a five business they hold it originally to protect me from the buyer but after the buyer called them all of a sudden the hold went away and I no longer was being protected and they told the buyer not to follow the United States Post Office guidelines. so I have to request the uploader, upload to them the post office investigation into them the proof of fraud they committed to me which was verified by the post office today. 

I will Also probably need to make a police report on ebay and the buyer and upload that to ebay through their uploader as well and keep being persistent. Worst part is I have recording after recording of them promising me I would be protected even told me to ignore the buyer and to block them.

I have a bit of an advantage though because I sent my letter in the legal department many many many years ago opting out of their mitigation. They're real piece of **bleep** company. Never give them any respect. Treat them exactly the way they treat you.  And while you're at it tell them that they need to have a real trust and safety department again because they've quickly become the most unethical company based out of the United States surviving solely on fraud and returns at this point.