I've been here 17 years - and I am afraid to list items for sale on eBay.

[wpsports_bargain_bin]

So I was thinking about selling my Xbox 360 S 250GB console on eBay. I did my research and since you have to pay enormous fees to sell it you know where. I found myself going "ok, I can just list it on eBay."

But then I paused. I thought about the past 5 years or so. I thought about the past 5 years and how ever since sellers could not leave negative feedback for buyers, my returns and what amounts to theft of items by bogus "not as described" claims have skyrocketed to nearly 50-60% of all the items I list when I literally had zero for the first 10 years I was here. I think about my seller return policies not being honored. I think about my listing descriptions not being read. I think about the fact that buyers expect free 2 day shipping. I think about paying an additional shipping charge to have someone "return" an item due to buyer's remorse, or intentionally breaking it or dropping their book in a puddle, or eaten by a dog - after already proving them free shipping. I think about this past holiday, when I sold a brand-new never used tablet I got on Black Friday for cheap and flipped it. Only to have the buyer come back in the middle of January and stating it was broken after he admitted he gifted it and it changed hands three times. It was received on 12/17/16. I lost that buyer case. I wound up winning because once the buyer was actually asked to return it - he never did.  My most recent incident was a drone that I basically stated it was listed for parts. The shipping was almost $13 and the item sold for $20. Whatever, ok I don't care. The buyer comes back and tells me it is broken. Did not read. Nothing. I told him I would refund his money because it's actually less costly to me for him to keep it rather than pay a $26.00 combined shipping for a $20.00 item. He then opens up a return case less than 24 hours after I told him I would refund his money. 

This variety of incident where we, as long time small sellers have been suffering. I know the eBay game well, know the rules and the angles. For me it wasn't about making $3 on the drone - it was just getting rid of it. I guess I accomplished that, right?

The point of this thread is that I am afraid to sell on here anymore. Afraid that my items will be stolen. How many of you out there have had this problem en masse in the last 5 years? Has to be countless.

So I decided not to list my Xbox 360 on eBay. It's probably better off I keep it and eventually give it to someone for free. At least then I won't lose money on it by selling it on eBay.

[megadestroyers]

Can hardly blame you.

For selling an Xbox, look into the benefits of doing a local pick up only/cash in hand kinda deal.  Might work for you.  

[bonjourami]

Probably for the best...then you wont have to lay awake nights worrying about it. I sold fine jewelry here for many years,wouldnt touch that with a ten foot pole now. I stick to selling inexpensive stuff,not much profit, but I can sleep nights.

[liq1000]

When no returns means no returns, when sold as is for parts means what it says, maybe sellers will not think eBay is a bad place to sell.......

eBay is as sound as the Titanic was, sail at your own risk......

[wpsports_bargain_bin]

Amen

[castlemagicmemories]

@wpsports_bargain_bin

Sorry you feel this way but I understand.

People don't realize that there are consequences for their actions.  They just see the immediate.   As more sellers come to your conclusion, there will be less variety, less items, less sellers to buy from.  

When they are looking for something, they may not find it.  If they have numerous bid retractions, cases, cancellations, and violation reports, they may have their account suspended.  Or be blocked.

I know that there are new sellers taking the place of those who drop out, but what will they be listing?  Will they be patient with the ebay learning curve?

Just some thoughts.  

[wpsports_bargain_bin]

Yeah thats what this account is for. Non tracked low $ items. Everyone loves those and never complains - even with no tracking! Back when I cared about being a TRS and all. Remember when that mattered?

[wpsports_bargain_bin]

I've actually seen a few suspended buyers over the years believe it or not. A few (two to be exact) eBay actually removed negatives and updated my seller dashboard for (although the transactions were just about a year old.)

New sellers here will find a niche and maybe profit in the short term (see those finger spinner things), but the long term, sustainability and ability to start up from zero like we used to is probably a thing of the past.

Remember the old eBay commericals and how us dedicated sellers were to see them ? The family cleaning out the attic and then holding a pile of cash.

Today they would have both an empty attic and an empty bank account.

[bonjourami]

LOL..I sure do.

[luckythewinner]

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@wpsports_bargain_bin wrote:

The point of this thread is that I am afraid to sell on here anymore. Afraid that my items will be stolen. How many of you out there have had this problem en masse in the last 5 years? Has to be countless.

---

Whenever I list an item for sale anywhere, I always assess the risk vs. reward.

If it is an online venue that accepts PayPal, then considering the possibility of a PayPal claim is part of the risk assessment - whether the venue is eBay or anywhere else because PayPal's policies are as bad as eBay's. 

I am not afraid to sell on eBay exactly because I do that risk / reward analysis. 

[kathieskorner]

I would never sell anything electronic on ebay or anywhere else on the internet for that matter.    There is no guarantee the buyer is smart enough to get the device to work (and I would include myself in that category)  - much less read all the fine print of the listing or instructions.   My grandson, on the other hand, buys a lot of used electronics on ebay, but he can fix just about anything. 

[wpsports_bargain_bin]

That's a common sense solution indeed. And your point is valid. As is my thought process in analyzing my risk/reward - the risk of selling anything over $10 here outweighs the reward.

[ittybitnot]

The point of this thread is that I am afraid to sell on here anymore. Afraid that my items will be stolen. How many of you out there have had this problem en masse in the last 5 years? Has to be countless.

There are reports of similar issues here everyday.  The mantra is "do not post anything for sale on ebay that you are not willing to lose."  It is a sad thing for me as well.  I do not have the financial means to take high dollar losses anylonger.  Some may be in a better postition to play ebay roulette.  That is the game that selling here feels like now. 

[wpsports_bargain_bin]

"Brand New In Manufacturer's Original Packaging - Never Opened" = the tablet description.

"Does not function properly - great for parts" = the drone description.

Rocket science it does not take to read those sentences in a listing.

But intelligence it does take to abuse the return policy and steal items.

It's borderline criminal. And, it probably should be.

[wpsports_bargain_bin]

I've never heard that mantra but it applies perfectly. You are 110% correct. Guess that's the common angle in 2017 eBay. Actually since, probably 2012 but who is counting.