I am done with eBay after 24 years.

[cybsara]

The time has come where I have removed my listings and closed my shop. I had a buyer misuse returns, I had alerted eBay from day one she was. Received the return on the 8th (Sat), RECORDED me opening it on the 9th (Sunday), contacted eBay TUES the 11th, only to see the return complete on the 13th. Called CS again, they forwarded it to the care dept. I get a response in an hour, only to tell me I had to contact them within 2 business days and I didn't. Funny? I have the email in my inbox asking to rate "how did we do" on Feb 11th @ 3pm after I had called and spoke with Anna, who btw had a rooster crowing in the background. But they also suggested I have free returns on my listings as this will increase sales. UHHHHH, All my listings have this, including the one in question. (which just makes me feel like they are giving generic responses and not doing their job.)

The buyer returned the item damaged, put the earrings UNDER the cotton of the jewelry box, so they shifted around on the carboard, scratching the surface. One of the earrings was missing a battery. Both earrings were turned on to engage the led feature and the safety tabs were not included.

I reply back explaining that I did contact on the 11th and even rated my experience with the agent. Only for them to reply that I did not contact them.

I have pulled ALL my listings, I have closed my shop and will withdraw everything. I'm done. I've also rated them on BBB and filed a complaint about their service.

Ebay was never like this. I can't even say as a seller they are failing, they failed me as a buyer too. And in all my years, this is the 2nd time ever I have ever have a buyer misuse returns, but eBay is catering to their bad behavior as well. (Seller said it was XL, got it, the size was wrong, contacted seller, they said I should have asked for measurements prior to buying. -**bleep**?- Open return, seller closed it out. Call eBay and they said I should have called them as now there's nothing they could do. Huh? **bleep** if you ask me and I was out $150. (I don't know why it was bleeped. I didn't swear but maybe used acronyms?)

When I had expressed they would be charged a restock fee, as they had used the product, they became upset and said if I do, they would leave me a neg feedback, that is extortion, clear as day, and anytime I have encountered that, ebay pulled the review. This time? Nope. Leaving it but it won't count against me.

Also, this buyer has sold 400 items and doesn't have one review from a buyer, but you can see her feedback she left reviews for buyers.

Either way, I just hope it was worth it for them. I have 2K followers just on FB alone that I haven't made a post about this. My Dad and my oldest daughter will be pulling their shops as well. My following is growing on Bluesky, but am waiting till I hit 1K to make a post, which should be in a few days.

I imagine I am not the only seller they are mistreating and not doing their due diligence to research what has transpired on my account. eBay is on the fast track to crashing and burning. And if they are doing this to me, only a matter of time before it happens to you.

It makes me sad that this is how it ends after 24 years, but I simply can not support a company that is this terrible when it comes to support. (while this account says 16 years, I had another account I had used previously that was my buying turned into selling account, but created this one to keep them separate, but last several years I don't bother with the other account and solely use this one. Other account had at least 2k feedback. I will find that other account and pull it too.)

I'm also feeling I should reach out to my local news. As the BBB asked me if I am ok with being contacted by news media and I said Yes, this really needs to be brought attention to.

BYYYEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!

[albertabrightalberta]

@cybsara 

The buyer returned the item damaged, put the earrings UNDER the cotton of the jewelry box, so they shifted around on the carboard, scratching the surface.

Respectfully, whether the buyer claimed that the earrings didn't fit right or not, it really doesn't matter because you have 30-days free returns. You had to accept the return. And because of your free return policy, you could have just deducted 50% from the refund if they were damaged. 

And in all my years, this is the 2nd time ever I have ever have a buyer misuse returns

How fortunate you are to have only had 2 buyers that you claimed "misused" returns. Again, with a free return policy, buyers can return items for ANY reason or for NO reason. There's no "misuse" with a return policy.

they failed me as a buyer too. *snip* (Seller said it was XL, got it, the size was wrong, contacted seller, they said I should have asked for measurements prior to buying. -**bleep**?- Open return, seller closed it out. Call eBay and they said I should have called them as now there's nothing they could do.

What do you mean by "the size was wrong?" What size was marked on the item? If it was marked as XL and you opened a return request for "fit," the no-return seller was within their rights to deny a claim for fit. (That's remorse.) However if the item was listed as XL but you received a medium, your claim should have been for NAD - not as described.

[cybsara]

Well, that's amazing you have that type of revenue, but mine is not even worth it compared to the other venues that run circles the sales I make here on eBay.

but my point is that over the course of just one year, as a buyer and a seller, the level of support I've received is horrendous and I don't need to wait for it to be one of my more expensive items.

My post is your warning. Best of luck. 

[fbusoni]

@cybsara 

Madam, eBay is not on the fast track to crashing and burning... is that why you closed your account?  Because you do not wish to be caught up in the imaginary maelstrom you seem to anticipate?

As for other sellers having the misfortune to experience eBay's dismal lack of support... yes, many have, and just as many have taken preemptive steps to ensure to the extent possible that they do not run afoul of / remain insulated from nutty buyers.  (By carefully selecting what categories we sell in, for example.)

I suspect that if the news media is responsible, they will ask why -- during a presumably successful 17 year selling run on eBay, during which you surely must have made profit sufficient to offset the loss of a cheap pair of earrings -- you were driven to the abyss by what is essentially a nothing burger.

[fbusoni]

@gurlcat 

Yes, the "dark side" ... LMAO.

Yet there is an irresistible and seeming inexplicable urge to come back here, again, and again, and again, to the place where utter failure was experienced... and then protest a bit too much about how everything is fine and dandy over on the "dark side."   Odd, is it not? 

[12345jamesstamps]

Life can be hard sometimes.

To have one buyer make me stop selling...never.

I have had a few hiccups along the road.

Not everyone will be 100% honest.

There is very very limited customer service... knew that long ago.

I say go back to selling those great items you have for sale.

[cybsara]

I said restock fee as she was wearing them and she would need to cover the cost of new batteries. When she first reached out, it was in the morning, gave her some pointers on how to position the star, she opens return stating she needed that day for an event, but her photos were at night time and showing that these pointing in an impossible direction, while in full costume. I said she could return, but she would be charged replacement batteries as she is showing she did wear them. And then she went crazy.

And upon receiving them, she returned them in bad condition, contacted ebay to tell them as the damage exceeded 50%. So they forwarded it to the care dept. but now to be told that they don't have record of me reaching out? And it shocks me you all are ok with this. What happens when this is a higher ticket item? 

The level of sales I make on eBay is not worth it. I can use the time from ebay to be spent on my other venues that are 10x's more profitable.

It's a sinking ship........

[fashunu4eeuh]

Hi @cybsara Sorry for your trouble. eBay has its downside to be sure. But that’s not all of what is going on here. It sounds like you ran afoul of the Money Back Guarantee policy. Hate to say that is not the only one affecting your account, as revealed in your narrative.

Your post is a cautionary tale on why having a foundation rooted in knowing the rules that govern the site is imperative to a seller’s success on eBay. Without it, one cannot make the most advantageous  decisions on how to  best protect one’s interests.

@cybsara wrote:

”Ebay was never like this. 

It may be that your experience here has not brought you into contact with the fact that eBay has been like this. The rules for the MBG have been essentially the same for years now.

@cybsara wrote:

”I can't even say as a seller they are failing, they failed me as a buyer too. And in all my years, this is the 2nd time ever I have ever have a buyer misuse returns,..”

Pardon me for noting that it appears it was the unfamiliarity with the MBG terms that caused the failure. Had you applied within the window of opportunity (the timeframe is outlined in the policy), you likely would have received a full refund. (You were deserving of one if the seller gave you the wrong size info.) eBay’s Money Back Guarantee is one of the most buyer-centric benefits of any online retailer, but you still have to file it according to its terms. 

FYI: Recording one’s packing or unpacking is not evidence accepted by eBay because it is not reliable. Such activity is easily manipulated, especially now with AI.

”When I had expressed they would be charged a restock fee, as they had used the product, they became upset…”

Restocking fees per se are no longer allowed on eBay, but there is a policy for items being returned in an altered state, depending on the circumstances. 

But there is another factor.  If you offer Free Returns, you are obligated contractually to remit a full refund to the buyer. You cannot pick and choose how to refund. The buyer claimed the earrings were initially received with missing parts. Why did you refuse a return—i assume that was the catalyst for the buyer reaching out to eBay. And rightly so. 

How did the buyer misuse the return? You did not mention what the initial concern was that prompted the buyer to invoke a claim. But it is clear in the feedback that you chose to believe the buyer was lying, rather than accepting them at their word. And, again, with Free Returns (as you state you have on all your listings) there is no room for discussion or negotiation. The reason a buyer returns an item has no bearing on the amount of the refund. The buyer can return an item for any reason or no reason for a complete refund, and you offer 30-day Free Returns.

@cybsara wrote:

”I imagine I am not the only seller they are mistreating and not doing their due diligence to research what has transpired on my account.”

Due diligence was not accomplished, but it was not just eBay who failed to do so  in this case. As for mistreatment, as far as can be measured in the post, it sounds like you were treated like a responsible seller who gave their tacit consent to follow the rules set up by eBay but then did not heed them. Every seller agrees to these policies by the act of listing their first item.

Had you been aware of the rules, the consequences would have been entirely different.

[meme6253]

Enjoy your retirement!, Sometimes it's that one thing that breaks the camels back, I have come close on a few occasions, Good Luck to you!

[luckythewinner]

Ebay was never like this.

As far as returns are involved, eBay has been like this since 2008 when the introduced the Money Back Guarantee for buyers.

[vintagecraze50]

You do understand that every buyer on here including the really bad one’s have at their disposal on all website to start a chargeback. Every website has to cater to the really bad one’s and experience losses one way or another with this type of customer. Ebay has little to no control over these buyers behaviors when they run to a credit card. You will encounter probably as many of your two bad customers anywhere you go.

[silverstatetreasureboxes]

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@theteamsetguy wrote:

@onefootflipper1 ,

You couldn’t have said it better.

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I agree that was a great response. 

[vintagecraze50]

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@cybsara wrote:

I said restock fee as she was wearing them and she would need to cover the cost of new batteries. When she first reached out, it was in the morning, gave her some pointers on how to position the star, she opens return stating she needed that day for an event, but her photos were at night time and showing that these pointing in an impossible direction, while in full costume. I said she could return, but she would be charged replacement batteries as she is showing she did wear them. And then she went crazy.

And upon receiving them, she returned them in bad condition, contacted ebay to tell them as the damage exceeded 50%. So they forwarded it to the care dept. but now to be told that they don't have record of me reaching out? And it shocks me you all are ok with this. What happens when this is a higher ticket item? 

The level of sales I make on eBay is not worth it. I can use the time from ebay to be spent on my other venues that are 10x's more profitable.

It's a sinking ship........

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Never spark a GO CRAZY response from a buyer. Mostly, that happens when you light the no returns fire, the you owe me more money fire, the you are a liar fire, etc. RETURN for REFUND, NO FIRE.

[hartungcards]

And when we come back from this commercial break, a story you won't believe.  A seller on eBay has been burned for the first time ever.  Don't touch that dial.

[albertabrightalberta]

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@cybsara wrote:

Because I know how to research the message boards to look for my answer BEFORE posting. I have contributed endlessly to threads with MY input.

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Your endless contribution (other than to this thread) was one post in 2019. 

[stainlessenginecovers]

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@cybsara wrote:

That is my newer listing, as eBay made it impossible to edit the older listing that sold over 2k pairs. Which is another thing that bugs me, this is the only venue that doesn't allow you to edit listings to add variations.

The lack of support for a smaller item is proving that what could happen on a more expensive item and I do have higher value/collectible items I sell.

I have had a handful of friends leave before this, one of which I had just told her I'm done said it was about time.

I sell on Etsy and Amazon that make selling worth my time and offer support unmatched with eBay. 

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There is NO support on Amazon so please stop spreading misinformation and Scammers can get you on either of those sites, as they both offer 'returns' and buyer can 'return a rock' and nothing will be done (they won't take video/pictures as proof either as too easy to modify)