It happened again - something wrong with item - but no return requested

[holubko]

I sell an item. Get message from buyer that something is wrong with item. Tell buyer to request refund and send item back. Then nothing happens.

So there are buyers out there that probably send a "something is wrong" note for every item that they buy.  Hoping that sometimes they will just get a full refund, and get the item for free.

I'm sure that Ebay can scan their data for buyers that actually file returns, and suspend those that file too many and abuse the system.

But does Ebay scan their messaging system for buyers that keep sending out these type of notes, just fishing for refunds ?

[goodluckselling]

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@holubko wrote:

I sell an item. Get message from buyer that something is wrong with item. Tell buyer to request refund and send item back. Then nothing happens.

So there are buyers out there that probably send a "something is wrong" note for every item that they buy.  Hoping that sometimes they will just get a full refund, and get the item for free.

I'm sure that Ebay can scan their data for buyers that actually file returns, and suspend those that file too many and abuse the system.

But does Ebay scan their messaging system for buyers that keep sending out these type of notes, just fishing for refunds ?

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eBay does not get involved until a request is escalated into a case.  When a buyer contacts you via eBay messages that is your opportunity to figure out the issue and try to solve like you mentioned you do.  

The direction from you should be to open a return request because the item is not as described.  This will then create a return shipping label for the buyer to use and the postage will be charged to your account.  The buyer then has 5 business days or 7 days total to get an acceptance scan showing they have started the return process.  If they do not do this you can call and have ebay close out the request.  This does not mean if they do send it back after that time that you do nothing.  Obviously just like a buyer should not get to keep the item and the payment, the seller should not get that either.

eBay does keep an eye on accounts that seem to have a high frequency of request opened and it is reported they do take action against abusers of the money back guarantee program.

I hope that helps?

Good Luck Selling!

[holubko]

Thank you - in these cases, I message back the buyer, asking them to request a return. But then the buyer goes away - there is no follow up.
(And I don't mind accepting returns - what I wish is for Ebay to find a way to scour their messages for buyers that seem to be fishing for refunds).

[goodluckselling]

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@holubko wrote:
Thank you - in these cases, I message back the buyer, asking them to request a return. But then the buyer goes away - there is no follow up.
(And I don't mind accepting returns - what I wish is for Ebay to find a way to scour their messages for buyers that seem to be fishing for refunds).

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You would be in the minority to have ebay getting involved past there terms agreement.  Be careful what you ask for.

All businesses have these occurrence.  This is not an online unique event.  It happens at brick and morter stores, restaurants, barber shops, illegal drug transactions, etc  

On eBay when the buyer does not follow through just let it go.  It truly is just part of human nature that commerce has to deal with.

Good Luck Selling!

[tamaralea]

The OP is saying that there are plenty of dishonest buyers who use this ploy.  eBay could easily find them if they checked messages.  I happen to agree, as it has happened to me several times.

[gracieallen01]

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@holubko wrote:
Thank you - in these cases, I message back the buyer, asking them to request a return. But then the buyer goes away - there is no follow up.
(And I don't mind accepting returns - what I wish is for Ebay to find a way to scour their messages for buyers that seem to be fishing for refunds).

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I think the most you can expect - and be thankful for - is that the person 'goes away'.

[lewisburggold]

There has been many cases we have had were ebay had no idea what was in the message till we asked for them to look.  It boils down too if you report a bad buyer then ebay will take a look.  Best regards

[jason_incognito]

You don't have to be dishonest.

There is something called "life" and it happens to most of us.

Some days going to the effort of returning something off eBay isn't a priority.  Many people, especially those using mobile, don't have ready access to a printer to print out a return label. Many people don't even know where their local post office is. Many people work during the hours that the post office is open and it can easily come down to "is it worth it to leave early to go to the post office"?

Ask around and see how many people have a roll of packing tape at their tiny apartment?

Why does it take so many people weeks and weeks to get a return to a brick and mortar store? I've had returns sit in my trunk for weeks while I "meant" to get over there and return it. I had one eBay return that sat in my trunk for over a month. All boxed up and a label on it. I finally just tossed it in the trash it had been so long.

Wonder if that seller decided I was a scammer just fishing for a refund? When what she sent me was total garbage.

[rolenboy01]

it's called a fishing expedition.

[ed8108]

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@jason_incognito wrote:

You don't have to be dishonest.

There is something called "life" and it happens to most of us.

Some days going to the effort of returning something off eBay isn't a priority.  Many people, especially those using mobile, don't have ready access to a printer to print out a return label. Many people don't even know where their local post office is. Many people work during the hours that the post office is open and it can easily come down to "is it worth it to leave early to go to the post office"?

Ask around and see how many people have a roll of packing tape at their tiny apartment?

Why does it take so many people weeks and weeks to get a return to a brick and mortar store? I've had returns sit in my trunk for weeks while I "meant" to get over there and return it. I had one eBay return that sat in my trunk for over a month. All boxed up and a label on it. I finally just tossed it in the trash it had been so long.

Wonder if that seller decided I was a scammer just fishing for a refund? When what she sent me was total garbage.

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This is ebay, since the item was not returned, what other belief could the seller possibly hold? 

[couldabeenworse]

But does Ebay scan their messaging system for buyers that keep sending out these type of notes, just fishing for refunds ?

I doubt it.  I also doubt they scan messages looking for sellers that receive a lot of these notes.

[buyselljack2016]

Last month I had a request for a return.

Buyer error---  "doesn't fit".

Doesn't fit because they purchaed the wrong thing !!!!!  Well, the item was properly described, and clearly stated what/where it was for.

I explained that on buyer errors I "decine" returns, but would do a partial refund(minus my loss- initial free shipping) if they wanted to return the item in good condition.  I also asked what the problem with fit was, as possibily I could assist.    Crickets.

I waited, and then declined the return.  More crickets.

This does not appear to be a scammer, as it seems they would have chosen a reason that would have "required" a full refund if that was the ploy. (unless they were an inept scammer)

I am not sure if more will come of this. More such as, it will show up, or there will be a PayPal INAD, or a C/C chargeback, but to this point no response/return.

Were they fishing? Is the return, as others have suggested just too much effort for them to deal with? Time will tell, or not.

As others suggest, eBay isn't monitoring messages such as the ones you are getting, and never will. The bots are not programmed to isolate such generic messages to do anything with them. The bots are too busy attempting to catch attempted off eBay transactions. Human eyes seldom see eBay messages.

[ed8108]

Does opening a request, followed by a failure to return, most always suggest fraudulent intent & improper motivation by the buyer ?

[jason_incognito]

I'm just amazed at sellers who know nothing about what they're selling........ sellers that buy used dvds at goodwill....... Sellers that didn't test their stuff before sending it, and if they did don't know what to look for..... jumping strait to calling the buyer a scammer when the buyer tries to watch the dvd and it doesn't work.

Sellers that never had the power cord getting upset when their buyer tells them the 50cent garage sale find is a dud and they want their $400 back that they paid for it.....

[retrose1]

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@holubko wrote:
Thank you - in these cases, I message back the buyer, asking them to request a return. But then the buyer goes away - there is no follow up.

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Which is why every single seller should tell buyers with 'problems' to return for refund rather than try to 'work with them' and compound the scammer problem by giving partials and freebies and calling it 'good customer service'.