eBay

yularbeauty · ‎07-18-2019

Hi all, so I just started selling on eBay last month. I have been selling beauty mystery boxes - putting makeup & skincare products in a bundle and sell them. Today I received a large transaction, around $200. The buyer has 0 feedback but has registered the account since 2015. When I asked him/her about what is his/her skin tone/shade, and skin condition (oily, dry, combination, etc). He/she replied with "What is that? I am open to any color / any shade." This is not feeling right to me. At first, I was thinking that maybe it's someone that is making a youtube video about mystery box? But how would someone don't care about the shade he/she will receive... I usually print the shipping label via PayPal, and I see that the seller protection is eligible when I ship the item. Since the item that I am selling is a mystery box, I am just wondering how does PayPal protect me? They can claim that there is nothing in the box. Should I take a photo ahead? Thanks in advance.

loveyourimagination49 · ‎07-18-2019

I believe mystery boxes are against policy. Especially in the way you show it.

Everyone has options. Just be sure the best option is right for you.

kensgiftshop · ‎07-18-2019

You can't sell mystery boxes.

Have a great day.

castlemagicmemories · ‎07-18-2019

https://community.ebay.com/t5/Archive-Selling/Mystery-Box-What-is-Ebay-Policy/td-p/28430802

Ebay did away with mystery boxes. Too much chance that the buyer will not receive good value for their money. You have to be specific at to what is being sold.

I'm not sure why you ask about Paypal protection, when the first place a buyer has a claim would be eBay. I think, if you don't specifically list what is in the box, and it seems you don't, the buyer can claim not as described. There is nothing to say otherwise. Taking a picture won't do you any good.

Yes, on ebay, you have seller protection when you ship the item. That means, if a buyer files INR, item not received, and you enter tracking that shows delivery, you are protected. That does not mean you are protected when a buyer says they did not get the items they ordered as that falls under the MBG, and the seller would be responsible for refunding, and paying for return shipping if they want the items back.

And anyone can claim a box is empty.

You could be jeopardizing your selling privileges.

fashunu4eeuh · ‎07-18-2019

Hi, congrats on the sale! I would not be overly worried about the buyer having a zero feedback number. They could be a guest account as opposed to a new member. But since we all started at zero, there is just not enough information about a buyer to determine if he is a scammer based strictly on a feedback score.

That said, you should know that any buyer at any time can defraud any seller out of anything. This is the risk of online selling on this platform as well as others. The time to ask yourself if you can tolerate this risk is before you list the item. Right now, you have an obligation to ship. If you choose not to, you can get a defect on your account. Defects downgrade seller standing. Ebay began cracking down on sellers who fail to complete the transaction recently. Only when the buyer requests a cancellation, or there is a problem with the address, can a seller safely cancel.

There are a couple of seller protections, but you cannot rely on them solely because eBay or PayPal are not here to look out for your best interests. You must do this. They are here to primarily protect the buyer, utilizing the Money Back Guarantee on eBay, and the Buyer Protection program on PayPal. You are protected in a Not Received claim by having a tracking number showing delivery. This wins you the case. But in a Not As Described case, you are pretty much at the mercy of the buyer. Now most buyers are scrupulously honest. In ten years, I have not had a single incidence of buyer fraud. But I am careful.

Buyer fraud happens. To offset some of the risk, I sell mostly Buy It Now with Immediate Payment Required. I have my Buyer Requirements set to the strictest levels. Ebay provides a Block Bidder list to prevent members you do not wish to do business with from purchasing your items. So there is some protection, but it does not take the place of you assessing your risk tolerance prior to listing.

You asked a very good question. How can you protect yourself when you are selling Mystery Boxes? Well, I hate to tell you that you cannot. It is actually against eBay policy to sell them except under strict guidelines. Currently your listings are in violation and could get removed from the site. Every item from the box in the listing must be revealed. There can be no surprises, essentially. Below is the policy regarding Mystery Boxes. So sorry to rain on the parade.

https://www.ebay.com/help/policies/prohibited-restricted-items/chance-listings-policy?id=4311

reallynicestamps · ‎07-18-2019

If a buyer says the purchase is not as described, Paypal, unlike eBay, will insist that return postage be paid by the buyer.

As with eBay, the seller is allowed to demand the return of the "unwanted" item even if the seller's policy is No Returns.

These two practices can reduce a lot of low grade scamming.

yularbeauty · ‎07-18-2019

Thanks all, I didn't know that selling mystery box is against the policy - I knew I cannot state "mystery box" but I didn't know why. Behind the scenes when a buyer purchases my mystery box, I do send them in private message about what they will expect from the box. I also take photos before I ship, and write down every item specifically in their retails values on paper and send to the buyer. I appreciate all your help and I will further enhance the description of the box. Thanks again!