eBay

booca12 · ‎06-30-2017

I get this message from a potential buyer :

Highly interested. I know it is new but sometimes these knives come with marks, imperfections, scratches, swirls on the blade, handle, or pocket clip? Notice any of these on this one. Also do you have the original plastic bag or instructions if it came with these? I want to ensure a smooth transaction and avoid returns, etc. Look forward to hearing back. Thanks.

I simply respond:

Thank you for your message. All I can say is that these are new and unused. I do not accept returns for any reason and especially for a manufacturing mark on a new item. I feel it would be best that you do not bid or buy any of my items to avoid any disagreement. Thank you for your understanding and good luck!

Then get this:

Unfortunately, you may need to reconsider your policy. If you are listing this item as new and you do not mention defects in the description or make obvious the defects in the photos then this item will be assumed to be free of defects. Should I receive a defective item that is advertised as new and does not list defects in the description then I am protected by the EBay Money Back Guarantee. I will bid under the assumption that this is a new item and free of defects. If this item has defects than you need to update the description appropriately and update the photos to reflect these defects. I appreciate the opportunity to bid on this New Authentic Spyderco Ladybug Knife.

I Respond:

I will cancel the sale and not ship. Please do not bid on my items I will not ship them to you. Sorry

I get this:

If you cancel I will report you to E-Bay for unethical business practices and buyer discrimination. I assure you this won't go your way. I have been a member of E-Bay for 14 years. I will give you 24 hours to update your listing to disclose any defects. If the item remains listed as new without defects I will place a bid. I appreciate your understanding and willingness to be transparent and offer excellent customer service. Thank you.

So I block this guy because I feel that he is looking to return some defective item that he already has or some other nonsense. My Item is new and unused in the original packaging. Many new items may not be perfect without manufacturing defects. For example new baseball cards can be off center but are new mint and undamaged. I didn't want to deal with this guy. He seemed very aggrssive and hostile towards me and suspiciously insistant that he is going to return the item that he didn't even buy or see in person.

Any thoughts on this? other than blocking him which I already did and not responding to any further contact, which I won't. Any advice? I have almost 800 transactions and was never made so uncomfortable by a potential buyer

campesinoplastic2014 · ‎06-30-2017

Arguing with one of these crackpots is a no-no.

Block and ignore. I wouldn't be surprised if they buy, but under a different ID since their ego got bruised.

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itz_stacey · ‎06-30-2017

Yep, blocking was absolutely the right thing to do here. You should have just done that from the get go, rather than threatening to cancel etc.

The dude is right though. If you list something as NEW with no defects, and it arrives with any scratches, damaged box etc, the buyer can file a SNAD and he WILL WIN. Disclosing any and all flaws, even if they are mfg flaws, can help you better protect yourself in a SNAD claim.

Btw, you are free to decline returns. However, you are NOT free to decline REFUNDS. Point being, if you are forced to refund, why not at least get the item back? Unless it's simply not cost effective after being forced to pay for return shipping, of course.

southern*sweet*tea · ‎06-30-2017

Waaaaaaaaaaaaaaay too much talk.

If you return policy is "no returns" then that's all the buyer needs to be told. No need to back and forth with the buyer, especially when they know Ebay's MBG overrides a seller's TOS, because no returns means SPECIFICALLY no "buyer's remorse" returns - I changed my mind, etc.

As a buyer I would assume that a new item would of course, be free from defects. As a seller I would inspect items for defects before listing.

That said, a buyer can file an item not as described if they feel it's well, not as described, and you WILL be on the hook for return shipping and a full refund.

The easier you are to offend the easier you are to control.

We seem to be getting closer and closer to a situation where nobody is responsible for what they did but we are all responsible for what somebody else did. - Thomas Sowell

emerald40 · ‎06-30-2017

New items can have defects and they should be noted in the description.

And if not then they are SNAD waiting to happen.

rolenboy01 · ‎06-30-2017

I get a message like this once a week, basically they are trying to bait you into saying the item is in better condition than it really is so they can use it for a partial refund later.

emerald40 · ‎06-30-2017

@southern*sweet*tea wrote:
Waaaaaaaaaaaaaaay too much talk.

If you return policy is "no returns" then that's all the buyer needs to be told. No need to back and forth with the buyer, especially when they know Ebay's MBG overrides a seller's TOS, because no returns means SPECIFICALLY no "buyer's remorse" returns - I changed my mind, etc.

As a buyer I would assume that a new item would of course, be free from defects. As a seller I would inspect items for defects before listing.

That said, a buyer can file an item not as described if they feel it's well, not as described, and you WILL be on the hook for return shipping and a full refund.

But seller is basically telling him he does not look for defects on new items.

And new items can definitely have defects through poor quality control or damage while shipping.

Seller skirted around issue so as a buyer I would have hit the back button after all the double talk.

Oh, and OP no returns are for remose only. With SNADs you either take it back and refund or ebay will do it for you with one big defect to boot.

emerald40 · ‎06-30-2017

@rolenboy01 wrote:
I get a message like this once a week, basically they are trying to bait you into saying the item is in better condition than it really is so they can use it for a partial refund later.

And that is why a smart seller underdescribes so a buyer will be pleasantly surprised rather than disappointed.

rolenboy01 · ‎06-30-2017

@emerald40 wrote:
@rolenboy01 wrote:
I get a message like this once a week, basically they are trying to bait you into saying the item is in better condition than it really is so they can use it for a partial refund later.
And that is why a smart seller underdescribes so a buyer will be pleasantly surprised rather than disappointed.

I can understand their problem with knives though a lot of them will have some minor scuffs and such even if the item is new and never taken out of the box it's just the nature of the product unfortunately, most people buying knives know this but it makes it easy for a scammer to exploit.

plumbingspecials · ‎06-30-2017

Absolutely a bad transaction waiting to happen.

Questions are ok...they tell the seller what kind of buyer it is, and the more they say, the more you know you don't want to deal with them in this situation.

BBL is our friend!!

xgoblazersx · ‎06-30-2017

I would have stopped talking and blocked after you suggested they find another seller. I've had buyers ask questions that were clearly defined in the description, and they could just look in the multiple pictures and find more answers. I've answered a few, then blocked when they started arguing and it was clear they didn;t read, or just don't trust me. This buyer mentions the MBG, and basically states in a sly way they know how to use the Resolution Center. Even though you should have said that you inspect each item, and told them to look at the listing as well, they are shady.

rolenboy01 · ‎06-30-2017

@xgoblazersx wrote:
I would have stopped talking and blocked after you suggested they find another seller. I've had buyers ask questions that were clearly defined in the description, and they could just look in the multiple pictures and find more answers. I've answered a few, then blocked when they started arguing and it was clear they didn;t read, or just don't trust me. This buyer mentions the MBG, and basically states in a sly way they know how to use the Resolution Center. Even though you should have said that you inspect each item, and told them to look at the listing as well, they are shady.

I just had this happen the other day on a sealed vhs disney movie, the person was asking all kind of questions a partial refund fisher reseller asks, I told them it's probably not what they are looking for and they thanked me for my honesty, I think blocked them, they come back harassing me calling me childish for blocking them claiming the item was for their "niece" but you could clearly see they were an exclusive disney vhs reseller niece yeah right.

timemachine777 · ‎06-30-2017

@xgoblazersx wrote:
I would have stopped talking and blocked after you suggested they find another seller. I've had buyers ask questions that were clearly defined in the description, and they could just look in the multiple pictures and find more answers. I've answered a few, then blocked when they started arguing and it was clear they didn;t read, or just don't trust me. This buyer mentions the MBG, and basically states in a sly way they know how to use the Resolution Center. Even though you should have said that you inspect each item, and told them to look at the listing as well, they are shady.

I'd block the buyer also if they started an argument. However, with eBay always messing around with the listings, and how they are viewed, plus installing the description view links that don't work half the time. I no longer know what the buyer can see.

Your ID photo looks like Amy Lee a little when she was younger.

jbbowers12012 · ‎06-30-2017

absolutely block.....however new means as if it has never been touched. without any flaws whatsoever. as your potential buyer may be trying to set you up for a partial later on down the line, he may also just be a perfectionist & wants to get what he is paying for. on the folding carbon fiber knife... you have listed as new, when enlarged we can see a few dings. / it is new but it does look to have some minor dings. (no problem for most buyers....problem for the perfectionist) often when i list a new or nos item that has any small issue i will list as used then explain under "item condition" that while it is new it has a scratch, it is dirty of whatever. seems to work out a-ok. hasnt' hurt sales a bit....BEST OF LUCK WITH EVERYTHING!!

xgoblazersx · ‎06-30-2017

I've been lucky with resellers just buying my stuff and that's the end. No feedback, no questions, nothing. That's just fine as long as they don't pull stunts like that. I remember having one person even asks if it's ok they resell something. I said sure, just as long as they pay my price. I would've loved to have your reseller and said, "so, your niece wants something you sell every day and you have to get it from me? That's a great uncle!"