Finally got an eBay rep to explicitly state that there's no such thing as seller protection

[redline_auto_llc]

Got to love it. I'm going to write in to try to get that recording, I'd love to have that to go with my collection of returned rocks. For some context, I called in when a buyer opened a remorse return, escalated when they found out they'd have to pay return shipping, and then somehow escalated again to force the return shipping on to me along with a nice little defect.

At least the rep was honest this time, instead of giving meaningless platitudes.

@Anonymous any comment on the fact that an escalation specialist would flat out state there's no seller protection? It's something that most of us have understood for a long time, but I've got to say, it was pretty satisfying finally hearing that from an eBay rep's mouth.

[vintagecraze50]

If people open a return,  and they are denied, they get upset, and when they are told they have to pay return shipping, they get  VERY  upset. Then their upset-ness turns into revenge and they send back a rock.

[redline_auto_llc]

Not how it's gone in my experience. Usually goes "Item is defective, therefore SNAD, therefore insta-return, then rock in a box". I don't get much in the way of revenge returns, I get more blatant fraud.

[vintagecraze50]

I had a jewelry item that the buyer had for over a month. They sent a picture with a return request with the ring snapped in back and wanted to return a damaged ring to me. Ebay denied their return request. The buyer went to PP and filed there straight ,like a second after the ebay denial. PP got screenshots from me of the transaction, all the messages, pictures, etc etc   6 pages, with me discussing with them why we would not or should not accept a broken item back. They agreed with me and released the funds.

[redline_auto_llc]

You should know that that seems to be an extremely rare case.

[vintagecraze50]

The empty box and rock return are TOUGH ONE'S. All over the internet people take advantage of the loophole of the money back policies. This is a problem for everyone selling online, not just here and hard to prove. Terrible aspect of selling online, but thankfully  most people are honest.

[vintagecraze50]

It really depends on what the buyer is trying to do. Also, some are blatantly ridiculous and some if you message the buyer right, you can get them to cough up the scam purpose, and WO--HOO YOU GOT PROOF. lol.

[redline_auto_llc]

Oh, for sure. I'm not sure that there's an easy fix. I'd love to see some third party arbitration on eBay, but that's not a realistic request. However, I challenge you to show me a major retailer, or any retailer that's not being micromanaged as part of a "managed marketplace" that will issue you a full refund when you send back a brick in place of the item you're supposed to be returning. In some of these cases, like the one I mentioned where the shipping information shows a clear discrepancy in what was sent and what was returned, it seems like it should be pretty cut and dry.

All I really want is to go back to the days where an eBay rep had the authority to look at the details of a case and make a decision. Too many times have I been told "yes, I agree that this is obviously fraud, but there's nothing I can do". eBay neutered their reps, and fraud cases have dramatically increased since then.

[vintagecraze50]

Sellers work around faulty returns by upping their prices, across a large inventory,  if they get a lot of them to compensate and write the losses off their taxes. 

[catwands]

They've been pro buyer since they changed the way sellers can leave feedback - leave positive FB or none at all.

[jennzet-0]

That is because with a major retailer it is just you and them.

You do not have a third party that does not see what is coming or going.

Yes it would be great to have someone actually look at the returns where the decision is obvious.

But with others, no one really knows for sure other than the seller and the buyer.

[redline_auto_llc]

You can only raise the prices so much before you are no longer competitive. In a marketplace like this, there will always be someone willing to set the price lower. I find it incredibly hard to believe that anyone is able to raise their prices enough to cover high fraud rates and still generate sales.

But with no sales, you get no returns, so I guess that works out?

[vintagecraze50]

They allow the buyer to return the stuff for 180 days, they do not hold funds that long--if they did everybody would be BANKRUPT EXCEPT PP. lol.

[supercharger-parts]

I tried that, I even tried to get eBay to look at the buyer's history since I do not sell the particular item I received back, that was branded with a competitor's name thinking they opened a return on the wrong purchase.  Didn't work, I still have it. 

[redline_auto_llc]

Ok, so first of all, I love the fact that eBay dictates how I run my business without having any skin in the game, but I understand the necessity of buyer protection. A little seller protection would be nice every now and again though. Why consistently side with the 0 feedback buyer who barely speaks English and has no history with eBay, rather than the seller with perfect feedback across thousands of sales and who pays tens of thousands of dollars in fees per year? Pick the one that seems more likely to randomly try to pull one over on the other.

All I want to see is fair arbitration. I have no reason to steal from a buyer. I'm a licensed business owner who makes his money by fulfilling transactions in a way that leaves the customer satisfied. On the other hand, you have a buyer who has nothing to lose and everything to gain. One of us is lying. If eBay insists on being the one to determine the outcome, it sure would be nice to have a reasonable human being look at the individual case and make an educated decision.

[jennzet-0]

I agree with what you are saying but just because someone is new and English is not his native language should not come into the decision.

However both should be able to present their case to an experienced customer service agent who should look at everything presented by each party.

The way decisions seem to be made instantaneously, I doubt a human is behind the decision as ebay blues state.