eBay

cy_technologies · ‎07-06-2018

I've had over three items in one month fall victim to 1st time buyers 0 feedback score who purchase an item. They then ask for a refund and either ship back litteral garbage or the tracking number takes some odd path and I never get the item.

I sell unboxed electronics mostly or overpurchases. My margin is pretty thin. Anyone know of a better venue than ebay? I am done with them.

goodluckselling · ‎07-06-2018

I do not know of a better venue to sell your items than eBay.

Good Luck Selling!

lewisburggold · ‎07-06-2018

Truly sorry to hear what you having to deal with. We think some simple fixes would make this site great again. Best regards

orangehound · ‎07-06-2018

@cy_technologies wrote:
I've had over three items in one month fall victim to 1st time buyers 0 feedback score who purchase an item. They then ask for a refund and either ship back litteral garbage or the tracking number takes some odd path and I never get the item.

I sell unboxed electronics mostly or overpurchases. My margin is pretty thin. Anyone know of a better venue than ebay? I am done with them.

Unfortunately, the stuff you are selling attracts thieves ... and, eBay has three big problems with criminal activity.

eBay Policies enable crime. eBay's policies have loopholes in them that allow thieves to steal items without consequence.
Sellers can be punished for protecting themselves from crime. eBay does not give permission to sellers to cancel sales that we suspect might be fraudulent ... we will be punished by eBay if we see a risky sale and cancel the sale. (The punishment will not happen if eBay customer service agrees that the sale looks like a crime).
eBay does not give sellers any tools to screen buyers - they've actually removed some tools - and they clearly do not have internal tools in place to adequately identify bad buyers (eBay can't even get rid of obviously bad sellers, so we know that they aren't doing any better with bad buyers).

eBay has no incentive to change because they do not lose money when a crime such as you are describing occurs. They have zero risk. Thieves know this, and they are an infestation here.

And you know what is interesting? I know of no other company other than eBay that actually makes money when crimes are committed within their business.

gemsandgadgets · ‎07-10-2018

Any expensive item should be listed with "Make an Offer" (increase your price a bit). Then you can weed out those who have set up an account that day, have zero feedback, or they generally leave/receive bad feedback... you just don't accept their offer. It has worked for me on a number of occasions.

luckythewinner · ‎07-10-2018

@gemsandgadgets wrote:
Any expensive item should be listed with "Make an Offer" (increase your price a bit). Then you can weed out those who have set up an account that day, have zero feedback, or they generally leave/receive bad feedback... you just don't accept their offer. It has worked for me on a number of occasions.

This can help, but a buyer who is intent on fraud does not need to make an offer because he knows he can get a refund anyway.

dtexley3 · ‎07-10-2018

@cy_technologies wrote:
I've had over three items in one month fall victim to 1st time buyers 0 feedback score who purchase an item. They then ask for a refund and either ship back litteral garbage or the tracking number takes some odd path and I never get the item.

I sell unboxed electronics mostly or overpurchases. My margin is pretty thin. Anyone know of a better venue than ebay? I am done with them.

I'm sorry to hear you are dealing with these buyers.

Unfortunately eBay currently leaves it up to the seller to protect themselves as much as possible.

For the items that were not delivered back to you, you should not have been forced to refund until the item showed delivered and that delivery must be within your zipcode. Otherwise you should not have been required to refund.

If you have a return that shows delivered but you did not receive it you have to call CS and have them review the return. If the return wasn't sent you your zipcode, eBay policies state that you do not have to refund. Be prepared to point this out repeatedly.

If the return shows delivered to your zipcode, go to the PO and get a detailed tracking report including the GPS coordinates of the dropoff, and file a lost package report as well. If the return address was not you, call CS and upload the information showing the buyer deliberately altered the return address and you should not have to refund. If the package was not mis-delivered lost follow the fraud instructions below.

When you received back an empty box or garbage this is mail fraud. 1) File a mail fraud complaint with the USPS. 2) File a fraud complaint with ic3.gov and 3) File a police report with your local police and have it forwarded to the fraudsters local PD. Call eBay and supply this documentation that the item was stolen. This may not do you any good on this sale, but the PO and the FBI take Mail Fraud seriously and it doesn't take many reports for action to be taken.

Member of the Grumpy Old Man crew

cy_technologies · ‎07-10-2018

Ebay absolutely rewarded them the refund without a valid tracking number on the return. I did file a fraud claim for the item that sent me garbage. The ebay phone support is horrid. At this point, I'm looking for better solutions and I think I have found a few. When a seller has no complaints in 6 years of membership and hundreds of sales vs. an account that was created the same day as a bid and never buys again. Ebay should start to take notice. I'm seriously sickened by the lack of care eBay gives to it's members. True you need sellers, but if there isn't anything worth buying....eBay will die.

lvliquidations · ‎07-10-2018

If there was no tracking number you need to appeal.

gracieallen01 · ‎07-10-2018

Unfortunately, it appears from all outward appearances, ebay figures that there are - or will be - plenty of new sellers to replace you or me and they only need worry about getting 'the buyers in the door'.

ebay catering to the buyers - the good, the bad, and the not-so-pretty.

Not saying 'NO' doesn't mean 'YES'.

The foolishness of one's actions or words is determined by the number of witnesses.

Perhaps if Brains were described as an APP, many people would use them more often.

Respect, like money, is only of 'worth' when it is earned - with all due respect, it can not be ordained, legislated or coerced. Anonymous

dtexley3 · ‎07-10-2018

@cy_technologies wrote:
Ebay absolutely rewarded them the refund without a valid tracking number on the return. I did file a fraud claim for the item that sent me garbage. The ebay phone support is horrid. At this point, I'm looking for better solutions and I think I have found a few. When a seller has no complaints in 6 years of membership and hundreds of sales vs. an account that was created the same day as a bid and never buys again. Ebay should start to take notice. I'm seriously sickened by the lack of care eBay gives to it's members. True you need sellers, but if there isn't anything worth buying....eBay will die.

As stated, you need to appeal those with no tracking number on the return. Persistance is required in the face of incompetance.

Member of the Grumpy Old Man crew