eBay

bbingo · ‎07-31-2018

Help! Please! This is the second time I've had this issue. The buyer purchased a 2.5 lb. lot of untested gold and silver jewelry. The buyer drive the bidding price up to over $100. The auction clearly states, "Huge lot of all gold and silver tone jewelry, findings, etc... Pre-owned condition. Testing, repair, harvest, and craft lot. Lots of little pieces - jump rings, clasps, broken chains, etc... None of these items have been tested for silver or gold content??? I do not know if there is precious metal in this lot or not. There may be, there may not be. Please bid accordingly. I do not know how to test jewelry. Please view all photos, this is the exact lot you will receive. Due to the nature of this jewelry auction, there are no returns on this lot."

The buyer received the lot, likely tested it to remove valuable gold and silver, then immediately started a return. He stated, "didn't like it." The lot contains lots of broken chains, clasps, findings, etc. I don't have a way to inventory the lots prior to shipping. As for weight, the buyer could easily replace with something else. Help!

What can I do to protect myself as a seller on these lots? Can Ebay help at all? Advice, please. I've already added this bidder to my blocked bidder list, but have faced this one other time. Thanks for the help!Photo of lot at purchase

sm870298 · ‎07-31-2018

Stop listening untested Lots. You hinted strongly that there was gold and silver in the lot, to me that borders on fraud.

orangehound · ‎07-31-2018

In general, there's no protection on eBay against theft or buyer dishonesty (with one exception ... see my comment at the end). In the adjudication process here on eBay, neither seller nor buyer is really trusted (and photographs, video, and witnesses can not be trusted as evidence in one's case). The benefit of the doubt nearly always goes to the buyer ... this happens even when the seller has been on here 20 years and the buyer has a new account.

Simply put, the policies on eBay are perhaps the most buyer-friendly in the nation. There are stories of buyers returning a box of rocks to a seller (instead of the valuable item originally purchased), and eBay forcing the refund.

The good news is that there are still way more honest buyers than thieves on eBay. Your strategy as a seller is to make sure you are selling things that don't catch the eyes of the thieves ... for the thieves like to prey on those selling iPhones, designer bags and shoes, expensive jewelry and watches, etc.

@bbingo wrote:
Due to the nature of this jewelry auction, there are no returns on this lot."

There is no such thing on eBay as "no returns". All a buyer has to state is something is not as described, and they can return it. Now, if instead of "no returns", you list the lot as "free returns", then you can deduct up to 50% off of your refund if a buyer removes items from the lot.

retrose1 · ‎07-31-2018

There is nothing you can do to protect yourself. That is the risk of selling on ebay.

(*Bleep*)

fern*wood · ‎07-31-2018

Your listing offered a 30 day return policy, so you can't then state no returns in the listing.

mr_lincoln · ‎07-31-2018

@bbingo Anything sold can be returned for any reason the Buyer selects and if SNAD you would be forced to pay shipping and the Buyer can return whatever they want even if its not the item they purchased and there is nothing you or eBay can or will do about it.

THAT is exactly how the venue works ...

Regards,
Mr. Lincoln - Community Mentor

hillbillymedia · ‎07-31-2018

@sm870298 wrote:
Stop listening untested Lots. You hinted strongly that there was gold and silver in the lot, to me that borders on fraud.

That`s not the way I read the ad according to what the OP posted but to each his/her own. Looks like more of a buyer beware auction to me. One thing I can almost guarantee....if there WAS any real gold or silver in the lot when shipped, there probably won`t be once it`s returned. That`s the kicker when selling on ebay...there is no such thing as "buyer beware".

OP-In my opinion you`d be better off learning how to test for precious metals yourself and selling what you find to someone local and reputable for scrap.

"There`s always barber college" - Dalton - Road House

sidemouse · ‎07-31-2018

If you have not inventoried what is in the lot prior to sale then you have no real recourse, however you do have a 30-day returns policy (on that lot) and thus the application will work in your favor if you reply simply:

Dear Buyer,

I am sorry if you are not satisfied with your purchase, please return for a full refund.

Thank you,

Seller

You should also if I may suggest, approve / accept the return once the buyer opens it.

kensgiftshop · ‎07-31-2018

@bbingo wrote:

I don't have a way to inventory the lots prior to shipping.

How you gonna know if anything is missing if you don't know what was in it?

Have a great day.

duggmills · ‎07-31-2018

It is not my intent to be insulting.

The help you seek can only come from you.

Garbage Sent, Garbage Returned or Garbage Out, Garbage In.

You might want to learn how to test the stuff you offer or stop offering it. Your statement about not knowing how to test is a poor substitute for not offering something of value.

Judging by your accumulation of Neutral and Negative Feed Backs, this most recent return should be a learning moment for you.

"Fly the Big Ones"

fern*wood · ‎07-31-2018

Okay, I need someone to please 'splain to me what "NOW ESTATE" means.

Thanks.

fashunu4eeuh · ‎07-31-2018

When selling on eBay, one must state exactly what is being sold. It is against policy to suggest there might be, or might not be, something in the listing. Even if you listed it as a grab bag or mystery box, a seller still must accurately list the contents.

On top of this, some buyers fail to read descriptions, adding another layer of getting a potential SNAD.

turquoisetulips · ‎07-31-2018

@sm870298 wrote:
Stop listening untested Lots. You hinted strongly that there was gold and silver in the lot, to me that borders on fraud. to op ----------------- unquote --------------------------------

Fraud ? come on ! The op clearly wrote in the listing they they did not know if there was real gold or silver in the lot . There was no promise there . Buyers take their chances with these types of listings . Tulips

castlemagicmemories · ‎07-31-2018

@fern*wood wrote:
Okay, I need someone to please 'splain to me what "NOW ESTATE" means.
Thanks.

Just a guess here, but looking at the listings, in context, it said, VINTAGE NOW ESTATE, and there are others lots there with the similiar NOW in the title, so I think it means here, it WAS vintage and NOW it is estate jewelry. It's still vintage, though, so not sure about the was as that didn't change. But that's the best I can do here. Possibly the OP will explain what she means. OTOH, it could be a typo and it could mean NEW not NOW, thus VINTAGE NEW ESTATE, meaning vintage jewelry from a new estate.

I give up.

Just taking a stab at it, though, your guess is as good as mine.