eBay

sandytexas1961 · ‎08-29-2017

I just had a return request from someone who I think may have filed SNAD. As you can see, I responded by showing her that the listing did indeed note the expiration dates. But is this enough for customer service? Should I just go ahead and pay for the label and let her return this without any further action, or should I call customer service and explain that while I accept returns, it should be on the buyer's dime, not mine. Note: my message is first, hers follows.
Any advice welcome!

Here's what happened

Aug 28

You sent a message

Message

HI, I received your request for a return due to a problem with the item. Here is the exact wording from the listing: Two bottles of Hydroderm Original age-defying wrinkle serum. both sealed. Each is 1 fluid ounce or 30 ml. The bottom of one box is torn. One expired 1/2017. One expired 2/2017. This clearly states that both are expired, so this is not a return for a defective product. I did not deceive you in any way (you can go to the original listing and read this for yourself if you like). I do have a policy that accepts returns for any reason (or no reason at all), but that return policy says that the responsibility of the buyer to pay return postage and to return the product in the same condition in which they were mailed. (sealed). Do you plan to return these items?

Aug 28

The buyer (4everlookn) created a return (5063353551)

Reason for return

Doesn't work or defective

Comments

these items are beyond their expiration date. I did not realize his until I opened the boxes, to put the items in my vanity. Clearly printed by manufacturer, on the bottom of one is exp 0117 and the other exp 0217. Had she posted this information I might have bid, not sure, as there was another bottle for sale by another seller that truthfully noted their hydroderm was expired and there were 0 bids on that item. I would never have paid this price for these had the seller noted that they were expired.

castlemagicmemories · ‎08-29-2017

Not allowed

Expired over-the-counter medications, supplements, health and beauty items

From Ebay Help Pages.

Hope this helps!!!

hidy-hoo · ‎08-29-2017

@castlemagicmemories wrote:
Not allowed
Expired over-the-counter medications, supplements, health and beauty items

From Ebay Help Pages.

Hope this helps!!!

castle, I googled the above which you state is from the eBay Help Pages...and you are correct, the only problem is that the statement is from a 2015 eBay policy and is no longer in the current policy, which is here:

https://pages.ebay.com/help/policies/prescriptions.html

Why eBay decided to change the wording is anyone's guess, but I feel that when replying to a question and you quote eBay policy that it should be followed up with a link to that policy which is found in the "current" help pages. Doing a google search has gotten me in trouble also, so I now take the time to search the current policy pages.

While I agree with both emerald and castle that it is not a good idea to sell expired cosmetics, I try to be careful when answering a question that I don't input my "own opinion" into the answer. If my posts seemed like a "gotcha" I apologize as that was not my intent ~ I was just trying to separate opinions from eBay fact.

How much better life would be, if a liar's pants really did catch fire!

yuzuha · ‎08-29-2017

@hidy-hoo wrote:
@castlemagicmemories wrote:
Not allowed
Expired over-the-counter medications, supplements, health and beauty items

From Ebay Help Pages.

Hope this helps!!!
castle, I googled the above which you state is from the eBay Help Pages...and you are correct, the only problem is that the statement is from a 2015 eBay policy and is no longer in the current policy, which is here:

https://pages.ebay.com/help/policies/prescriptions.html

Why eBay decided to change the wording is anyone's guess, but I feel that when replying to a question and you quote eBay policy that it should be followed up with a link to that policy which is found in the "current" help pages. Doing a google search has gotten me in trouble also, so I now take the time to search the current policy pages.

While I agree with both emerald and castle that it is not a good idea to sell expired cosmetics, I try to be careful when answering a question that I don't input my "own opinion" into the answer. If my posts seemed like a "gotcha" I apologize as that was not my intent ~ I was just trying to separate opinions from eBay fact.

... the exact same text is in that current link, though. Scroll down to "Healthcare Items" and click the dropdown and it says "Not allowed: Expired over-the-counter medications, supplements, health and beauty items"

emerald40 · ‎08-29-2017

@hidy-hoo wrote:

While I agree with both emerald and castle that it is not a good idea to sell expired cosmetics, I try to be careful when answering a question that I don't input my "own opinion" into the answer. If my posts seemed like a "gotcha" I apologize as that was not my intent ~ I was just trying to separate opinions from eBay fact.
https://pages.ebay.com/help/policies/prescriptions.html

___________________________________________________________________________

Again you are going under the assumption that this is a cosmetic which is contradictory to how the FDA classifies it.

So unless you can show otherwise, you are expressing an opinion, not fact.

hidy-hoo · ‎08-29-2017

@yuzuha wrote:
@hidy-hoo wrote:
@castlemagicmemories wrote:
Not allowed
Expired over-the-counter medications, supplements, health and beauty items

From Ebay Help Pages.

Hope this helps!!!
castle, I googled the above which you state is from the eBay Help Pages...and you are correct, the only problem is that the statement is from a 2015 eBay policy and is no longer in the current policy, which is here:

https://pages.ebay.com/help/policies/prescriptions.html

Why eBay decided to change the wording is anyone's guess, but I feel that when replying to a question and you quote eBay policy that it should be followed up with a link to that policy which is found in the "current" help pages. Doing a google search has gotten me in trouble also, so I now take the time to search the current policy pages.

While I agree with both emerald and castle that it is not a good idea to sell expired cosmetics, I try to be careful when answering a question that I don't input my "own opinion" into the answer. If my posts seemed like a "gotcha" I apologize as that was not my intent ~ I was just trying to separate opinions from eBay fact.
... the exact same text is in that current link, though. Scroll down to "Healthcare Items" and click the dropdown and it says "Not allowed: Expired over-the-counter medications, supplements, health and beauty items"

...you are correct...going to the bad reader corner as we speak and I will remember from this day forward to read "all" of the policy ..and had this been posted to begin with I wouldn't have had to make such a dang fool out of myself!

OP, you are toast...refund without a return and quit selling expired health care items...better late than never!

How much better life would be, if a liar's pants really did catch fire!

yuzuha · ‎08-29-2017

@hidy-hoo wrote:
@yuzuha wrote:
@hidy-hoo wrote:
castle, I googled the above which you state is from the eBay Help Pages...and you are correct, the only problem is that the statement is from a 2015 eBay policy and is no longer in the current policy, which is here:

https://pages.ebay.com/help/policies/prescriptions.html

Why eBay decided to change the wording is anyone's guess, but I feel that when replying to a question and you quote eBay policy that it should be followed up with a link to that policy which is found in the "current" help pages. Doing a google search has gotten me in trouble also, so I now take the time to search the current policy pages.

While I agree with both emerald and castle that it is not a good idea to sell expired cosmetics, I try to be careful when answering a question that I don't input my "own opinion" into the answer. If my posts seemed like a "gotcha" I apologize as that was not my intent ~ I was just trying to separate opinions from eBay fact.
... the exact same text is in that current link, though. Scroll down to "Healthcare Items" and click the dropdown and it says "Not allowed: Expired over-the-counter medications, supplements, health and beauty items"
...you are correct...going to the bad reader corner as we speak and I will remember from this day forward to read "all" of the policy ..and had this been posted to begin with I wouldn't have had to make such a dang fool out of myself!

OP, you are toast...refund without a return and quit selling expired health care items...better late than never!

It happens! But yeah, it just makes sense that eBay doesn't want sellers selling anything that has expired. Even though most stuff is fine past its expiration date, it's just not worth the liability to eBay if something ISN'T fine.

hidy-hoo · ‎08-29-2017

@yuzuha wrote:
@hidy-hoo wrote:
@yuzuha wrote:
@hidy-hoo wrote:
castle, I googled the above which you state is from the eBay Help Pages...and you are correct, the only problem is that the statement is from a 2015 eBay policy and is no longer in the current policy, which is here:

https://pages.ebay.com/help/policies/prescriptions.html

Why eBay decided to change the wording is anyone's guess, but I feel that when replying to a question and you quote eBay policy that it should be followed up with a link to that policy which is found in the "current" help pages. Doing a google search has gotten me in trouble also, so I now take the time to search the current policy pages.

While I agree with both emerald and castle that it is not a good idea to sell expired cosmetics, I try to be careful when answering a question that I don't input my "own opinion" into the answer. If my posts seemed like a "gotcha" I apologize as that was not my intent ~ I was just trying to separate opinions from eBay fact.
... the exact same text is in that current link, though. Scroll down to "Healthcare Items" and click the dropdown and it says "Not allowed: Expired over-the-counter medications, supplements, health and beauty items"
...you are correct...going to the bad reader corner as we speak and I will remember from this day forward to read "all" of the policy ..and had this been posted to begin with I wouldn't have had to make such a dang fool out of myself!

OP, you are toast...refund without a return and quit selling expired health care items...better late than never!
It happens! But yeah, it just makes sense that eBay doesn't want sellers selling anything that has expired. Even though most stuff is fine past its expiration date, it's just not worth the liability to eBay if something ISN'T fine.

Yes, I totally agree and have said as much all along. I see now where part of the reason I went wrong and why I missed the first link...it was "quoted" within the quote line and not "under" the quote ~ anyhoo, my apologies for taking the thread on a "left turn".

How much better life would be, if a liar's pants really did catch fire!

varebelrose · ‎08-29-2017

@d-k_treasures wrote:
@emerald40 wrote:
@varebelrose wrote:
@sg51 wrote:
But is this enough for customer service?

I sell expired film (which is a bit more sellable than expired drugs).

The word Expired goes
1. in the title
2. in the condition
3. as the first line in the text.

The goal is to make sure your buyer wants expired stuff, because CS isn't going to save you based on some bad news buried down in the text.
I literally this past weekend sold some expired film (it was clearly identified as such). Some people are looking for that specifically. YMMV.
Expired film is probably a collector item. I doubt you could say the same about this product. It is something you buy to use, not collect.
Some people use the expired film. But (hopefully) they don't rub it all over their face or body.

Exactly. I would not ever sell expired consumable products, but some folks love expired film TO USE, because it can create unpredicatble and interesting effects, although most of the time it works fine.

ymmv.

castlemagicmemories · ‎08-29-2017

@hidy-hoo

Thank you and no worries! Have great respect for you, and I apologize if the wording has changed. I try to draw from Ebay's own pages, but did not know that the wording has changed.

My general thoughts were that it was not allowed, but confirmation is good, hence the research.

castlemagicmemories · ‎08-29-2017

@yuzuha

Many thanks, my friend!! I have not checked the above posted link myself so I appreciate your mentioning this.

Personally, I could not think of a reason to change the wording, but strange things can happen.

Again, thank you!!!

castlemagicmemories · ‎08-29-2017

@hidy-hoo wrote:
@yuzuha wrote:
@hidy-hoo wrote:
@castlemagicmemories wrote:
Not allowed
Expired over-the-counter medications, supplements, health and beauty items

From Ebay Help Pages.

Hope this helps!!!
castle, I googled the above which you state is from the eBay Help Pages...and you are correct, the only problem is that the statement is from a 2015 eBay policy and is no longer in the current policy, which is here:

https://pages.ebay.com/help/policies/prescriptions.html

Why eBay decided to change the wording is anyone's guess, but I feel that when replying to a question and you quote eBay policy that it should be followed up with a link to that policy which is found in the "current" help pages. Doing a google search has gotten me in trouble also, so I now take the time to search the current policy pages.

While I agree with both emerald and castle that it is not a good idea to sell expired cosmetics, I try to be careful when answering a question that I don't input my "own opinion" into the answer. If my posts seemed like a "gotcha" I apologize as that was not my intent ~ I was just trying to separate opinions from eBay fact.
... the exact same text is in that current link, though. Scroll down to "Healthcare Items" and click the dropdown and it says "Not allowed: Expired over-the-counter medications, supplements, health and beauty items"
...you are correct...going to the bad reader corner as we speak and I will remember from this day forward to read "all" of the policy ..and had this been posted to begin with I wouldn't have had to make such a dang fool out of myself!

OP, you are toast...refund without a return and quit selling expired health care items...better late than never!

@hidy-hoo

Sorry I didn't post policy~~sometimes I do, mostly I don't, if I check it. Didn't really think it was that big a thing.

It's not that bad, hidey, you are among friends!

castlemagicmemories · ‎08-29-2017

@yuzuha

When I was researching this, I came across an article about not buying expired skin care on Ebay, Amazon, or Craigslist. You can have some real issues if you do, and they mentioned that some of those items sold are gathered through dumpster diving!

castlemagicmemories · ‎08-29-2017

@yuzuha

E

@yuzuha wrote:
@hidy-hoo wrote:
@yuzuha wrote:
@hidy-hoo wrote:
castle, I googled the above which you state is from the eBay Help Pages...and you are correct, the only problem is that the statement is from a 2015 eBay policy and is no longer in the current policy, which is here:

https://pages.ebay.com/help/policies/prescriptions.html

Why eBay decided to change the wording is anyone's guess, but I feel that when replying to a question and you quote eBay policy that it should be followed up with a link to that policy which is found in the "current" help pages. Doing a google search has gotten me in trouble also, so I now take the time to search the current policy pages.

While I agree with both emerald and castle that it is not a good idea to sell expired cosmetics, I try to be careful when answering a question that I don't input my "own opinion" into the answer. If my posts seemed like a "gotcha" I apologize as that was not my intent ~ I was just trying to separate opinions from eBay fact.
... the exact same text is in that current link, though. Scroll down to "Healthcare Items" and click the dropdown and it says "Not allowed: Expired over-the-counter medications, supplements, health and beauty items"
...you are correct...going to the bad reader corner as we speak and I will remember from this day forward to read "all" of the policy ..and had this been posted to begin with I wouldn't have had to make such a dang fool out of myself!

OP, you are toast...refund without a return and quit selling expired health care items...better late than never!
It happens! But yeah, it just makes sense that eBay doesn't want sellers selling anything that has expired. Even though most stuff is fine past its expiration date, it's just not worth the liability to eBay if something ISN'T fine.

Exactly! Thank you! That was my original thought, although I did research it further.

yuzuha · ‎08-29-2017

@castlemagicmemories wrote:
@yuzuha

Many thanks, my friend!! I have not checked the above posted link myself so I appreciate your mentioning this.

Personally, I could not think of a reason to change the wording, but strange things can happen.

Again, thank you!!!

You're welcome! I knew I'd seen it somewhere on the policy pages as I sell beauty products myself and had gone through and read all of the policies on listing them before I put any of them up.

994john · ‎08-29-2017

@castlemagicmemories wrote:
@yuzuha

When I was researching this, I came across an article about not buying expired skin care on Ebay, Amazon, or Craigslist. You can have some real issues if you do, and they mentioned that some of those items sold are gathered through dumpster diving!

The sky is not falling.

Believe none of what you hear, and only half of what you see.

Someone must be benefitting to get anyone to fall for these scare tactic stories.

Maybe we have too many experts that only want the opportunity for 5 seconds of fame so they'll make things up that sound interesting.

Ten years ago we had: don't eat salt, no caffeine, and don't eat that fat from your steak.

Today we get conflicting stories about how these things are not only beneficial, but absolutely necessary for your body and health.

A great tip for our wonderful ebay community members is, don't put your business here because there will always be a few that will gather to string you up.