I beg you Ebay, please FIX Seller Protection and have our backs once in awhile!

[oldmanfancystore]

Hello Fellow Ebay's,

This seemed like a nice place to get something off my chest as I ponder next moves. 

Seller Protection: What Is That? Due Process? Doesn't seem to happen. 

I sell higher end and vintage menswear, been an Ebay member since 2002 and tend to do alright (Although past few years a huge decline for me.) I had a buyer purchase a gorgeous Junya Watanabe/Vanson leather motorcycle jacket for close to $600. He told me there was a small tear on the back and wanted to return the jacket. Didn't really think much of it, probably a small tear I didn't see, it happens. When I got the jacket back there was a HUGE 8" tear the size of an apple. NO WAY I MISS THAT. 

I contacted buyer and told him that there's no way I sent it like that and emailed photos from the listing showing the jacket was perfect. He then replied that it didn't fit anyway so would I be willing to deduct $100 from the refund price for the cost of HIS MISTAKE. Obviously I said no. 

I ended up reporting him to Ebay (Never heard back) and then he opened the dreaded case. Here's the timeline:

655am: Case opened by buyer

714am: Refund sent to buyer with no due process and automated response. 

715am: Case closed by Ebay

He was refunded before the case was even closed! I then appealed the decision b/c of CoVID there are no live agents to speak too. 

945am: Appealed decision

947am: Received email stating they reviewed all the evidence (Which Ebay never asked for yet) and decided to stick with initial outcome. 

Look Ebay, this is ridiculous and needs to be corrected. This happens to all of us longtime sellers and it feels like you're punching us in the gut when we have no due process (Which is illegal when holding money and property btw.) 

So I'm gonna keep fighting it, what else am I gonna do. I lost my job at a NYC hotel and can't buy any new inventory so money is tight. Very tight. I'll most likely try and get a police report written up and do whatever I can to rectify this injustice. But more than anything, this is about self respect and pride. There are some cases that need a more focused attention when obvious rules were broken...long time sellers AT LEAST deserve this. All we're asking for is an actual review of the evidence. Or stagger your emails so it's not so obvious that NO ONE actually took the time to review the case. 

Without a proper response from Ebay I'm afraid 18 years of business will be over and I'll migrate over to Grailed.com. Please rectify. 

Everyone stay safe and keep your head up 

[oldmanfancystore]

{{I wish there was more that I could do here. I'm not trying to accuse you of anything, I'm just saying we don't know when the rip happened. You are a phenomenal seller on eBay and I don't want you to think that we think otherwise. Our hands are just tied with this certain scenario. Only having to deal with this once out of your 18 years of selling is amazing and that speaks volumes on you as a seller. I am deeply sorry about all of this. ~Diane}}

{{This is NOT over. What you've done to Long-Time sellers on Ebay disgusts just about everyone. You're one-sided approach to customer service has ruined what was a vibrant, fun community. I'll never understand the rationing behind this policy. The only person who wins in all this is the fraudulent buyer. I'm out $600 PLUS ALL THE FEES AND SHIPPING. I have to unfortunately leave Ebay after 18 years and go to Grailed. Ebay no longer will get my $5-10K in fees every year. Really, no one wins except this punk ass kid in Denver. Good riddance.}}

I'm out Ebay. Thanks for nothing ~ Old Man Fancy

[gramophone-georg]

Fix seller protection? How can a fantasy that never existed be fixed? All eBay has ever done about protecting sellers is talk.

[mtgraves7984]

"My next option would be to credit the fees related to these transaction and to deduct $150 off your eBay invoice. How does that sound? I see that currently you have $XXX.XX balance in your ebay account. We can deduct it front here instead. Please let me know if you want to proceed."

@oldmanfancystore… I sure hope you jump on Rhea's offer. It's been the best on the table I've seen in awhile...

[oldmanfancystore]

It's a slimy, large, sour pill to swallow but I may have to take whatever I can get and move on...From Ebay for sure. I'm done with them after this last week of sales. I'm just glad menswear has a solid alternative to sell. Not always the case for all of us.