Got SCAMMED on eBay, and eBay is unresponsive and has given me the complete run around

[tonestar1821]

Ill try to keep this short:

From the beginning, I sold an iPhone 11 PRO Max Unlocked Phone. This phone is still to this day is under factory warranty. A month ago, I sold it to a buyer with very low feedback. They were responsive at first, they asked me to verify the IMEI/ serial numbers on the phone which obviously I did. After verification by the buyer that it was good to go, I shipped the phone out. 

A day or two the seller decided to open a case, stating the phone had a black screen and wouldn't power on. I emailed the buyer 6 days in a row to please give me further details because the phone is covered under warranty through Apple and they could just go to the store and get a new one. No response, for weeks. I starting opening cases with eBay on my end so I can give the money unfrozen. I called eBay roughly 15-20 times in response to this case and the answers were different almost every time I called. 

So the case was put on hold as they were reviewing the details, I randomly received an email from eBay saying to ship the phone back, I called eBay and a nice gentleman from the UK it sounded like on their customer service team said the email didnt make sense and to just "sit tight" until the case was put off hold. 

Listening to the eBay rep, I waited until October 30th when the case was put off hold, I called in eBay- explained everything to a nice lady and she put the decided case in my favor. (meanwhile I was emailing the buyer daily, still no response at all) 

Not even 30 minutes after the case was ruled in my favor, the buyer must have called in and said I never sent him a return label (this wasnt an option and I didnt send him one because the eBay rep told me to hold off) They reversed the case, ruled it in the buyers favor as he still has my phone. 

Ive been in contact through email about this with eBay on numerous occasions and im getting the run around. I've sold over $100,000 worth of items on eBay in my lifetime with little to no issues (nothing major).

They ruled in favor of a 3 feedback buyer who was obviously scamming.

a week ago I was promised my $760 in a new case where another ebay department said that it wasn't fair and "guaranteed" me eBay would give me a refund. Well guess what? no refund. I've bought and sold on eBay for many years, but will not be giving them anymore business until this is handled correctly and I'm refunded my money. I've spent over 10 hours on the phone and emailing eBay with no help just "other department will call you back" 

this is truly unbelievable, and I'm looking for advice and I want to make sure everybody is aware of this.

[donsdetour]

Well looks like the original poster (seller)  is not getting there item or money back as the seller:

Hmmmmm, still thinking on all of this: questions questions keep a turning in me head....

Brian thanks you for the time and response.

[laplume1]

Report your phone stolen and your phone service will shut down this phone, to where they can't use it AT ALL!!!

[dun-8184]

eBay done the same thing to me on a different account they told me the exact same thing and after I lost the appeal they told me if I had of sent a return label that they where enough proof he tampered with the item since he posted PHOTOS in the return of the item took apart they would have decided in my favor over the buyer but since I didn't send a label they had no choice even after I was told the day the case was opened to not send a label or refund then a few days later a buyer done the same thing with a gold necklace i sold and I accepted the return immediately and sent label same day and ebay decided in there favor and I appealed the case and submitted a police report along with before and after photos and the appeal was decided in my favor

[marie185antiques]

I, too, have sold thousands of dollars worth of merchandise in the past with very few issues.  However, times have drastically changed and fraud has become inevitable and/or unavoidable with no recourse from e-bay.  Obviously, the scammers are well aware of how to play this game and milk the system.  E-bay is making a fortune in fees at the expense of their sellers and will continue to do so.  It sure helps their bottom-line.

[tonestar1821]

This is a lie. eBay records the conversations- they can specifically find the conversation where the eBay rep(when i called in) informed me that he thought the email about returning the item was in error since the case was on hold.

also, that same rep from eBay told me he also sees how there is no option to offer the buyer a return label as well. I told the eBay rep on the phone that i would gladly give them a return label and take the phone back.

obviously eBay doesn’t have the sellers back and their reps have no idea how to handle these situations. All of the facts are there for eBay to look at but they refuse. It’s truly pathetic. 

Brian@ebay

[ittybitnot]

This is a lie. eBay records the conversations- they can specifically find the conversation where the eBay rep(when i called in) informed me that he thought the email about returning the item was in error since the case was on hold.

Unfortunately, ebay does not care what an ebay CS told you.  Recorded conversations  will have no effect on the pre-determined  outcome of any SNAD return.  Yes, they will say the ebay CS "misspoke" (LIED) but it will have no effect on the outcome of any case submitted by the buyer.  The seller loses.  The seller loses as soon as the "not as described" button is selected by the buyer.   

How much a seller is 'willing to lose' or take the chance of losing is the only control a seller may have.   

[tonestar1821]

brian@ebay 

PLEASE REMEMBER a key factor you keep missing out on.

Per my phone conversation in the middle of all of this with an eBay rep. When I called in it says my calls are recorded. So why has eBay not checked my recorded phone calls from early on in this case?

Its very specific. I called ebay, was told to disregard the email about returning the phone. the rep told me since they were ASKING the buyer for details about the issue they had, they said HOLD OFF on the return since the case was on hold.

WHILE THE CASE WAS ON HOLD ... EBAYS SYSTEM DID NOT ALLOW ME TO OFFER A RETURN LABEL. The Rep said they notated this on my account as well, Im guessing that is a lie? 

This is ALL on eBay and not one bit on me as I went with eBays ADVICE.

PLEASE GO LISTEN TO THE PHONE CONVERSATIONS I HAD WITH YOUR REPS.

Thank you

[hdc-hiteck]

eBay is all about their money. Not yours! 

eBay treats your sales as though it was theirs and makes you refund when you know **bleep** good and well you are being scammed/ripped-off, but eBay tells you to refund and does not want to hear it. eBay is a One way street. It is all about eBay. Seller protection is a JOKE. never comes up in any conversation. Then they never give up their own money. eBay has had been known for scammers. Today I saw the news talk about how PS5 Gougers were on  eBay asking 300% more for PS5. Well guess what respectable platforms will not allow GOUGERS. Well I have been selling my items here for over 20 years and eBay could not care less. There is absolutely no Loyalty anymore. Amazon is going to take over the world anyway. Get out while you can. This Christmas will be my last with eBay or any other platform.

[donsdetour]

Well it seems to me recording the conversation on the callers end is needed, and should be done.

[tonestar1821]

JUST A REMINDER FOR ALL.. I WILL PUMP THIS POST FOR YEARS (OR UNTIL EBAY MAKES THIS RIGHT) .... 

SELL YOUR STUFF ELSEWHERE.

[wrong66]

Great! Another one. 

[lakefor94]

LOL. We certainly do appreciate your stopping by. 

[tonestar1821]

Keeping this bumped up for years, to let people know how eBay handles their sellers

[bonjourami]

Its too bad that in the six years you've been selling here, that you didnt learn to never believe what a csr tells you. They just want you off the phone to get to the next call, as was mentioned earlier.Now you know with your next return case, to accept it, provide a return label, and refund after return.

[frodobagginskennedy]

The first rule of e bay fight club is to never list something you cannot afford to give away.  IMO, anyone who lists phones, gaming systems or computers is a fool soon parted with their money and item.