eBay

iart · ‎11-28-2020

Sellers are accusing buyers of scamming. Buyers accusing sellers of the same. This does no good for eBay’s reputation and all of our sales!

A buyer paying slow or a seller shipping slow are not scammers. People with family emergencies are not scammers. Slow mail, lost packages are not from scams. Making a mistake, poor packing, bad communication are not necessarily, or even usually, scams.

We were accused of being scammers a couple days ago. Why? Because the %$#%& wasn’t smart enough to read the description – just looked at the pretty pictures.

A scammer is someone who purposely misleads in order to steal your money. As the economy tanks their numbers may be growing but they are far outnumbered by good, legitimate buyers and sellers.

Watch what happens when everyone ‘knows’ that eBay is only a place for scams. You think sales are slow now?

luckythewinner · ‎11-28-2020

The OP never suggested that scams do not happen.

The OP never suggested that someone who file false SNAD should not be called a scammer.

The OP never suggested that sellers should take a beating and stay quiet about it.

The OP pointed out that there seems to be a tendancy for eBay users on both sides to inflate every problem they have (slow payers, slow shippers, lost packages, mistakes, poor packaging, bad communication) into a "scam".

I have witnessed this on these boards.

I have seen posts where a buyer is called a scammer because he left a negative without contacting the seller first. ("Must be scammer! He knows I will have to send him a partial to get him to change the feedback!")

I have seen posts where a buyer is called a scammer because he asked to have a package shipped to a different address. ("Must be scammer! He knows I would lose my seller protection!")

I have seen posts where a buyer is called a scammer because he has zero feedback or had just registered his account. ("Must be scammer! He registered the same day he bought - who does that? ")

I have seen posts where a buyer is called a scammer because he asked the seller how the seller wanted to handle a damaged item instead of filing a case ("Must be a scammer! Fishing for a partial refund! Why didn't he just file a case?")

I have seen posts where a buyer is called a scammer because he filed a case instead of asking the seller how the seller wanted to handle a damaged item ("Must be a scammer! Planning to return an emptybox! Why didn't he just contact me first?")

I have seen posts where a buyer is called a scammer because he inquired about a package that had not been delivered yet ("Must be a scammer! He must already have the package and is planning to file an INR!")

I don;t think the OP was in any way denying that scams happen, or minimizing their imapct.

I think the OP was just pointing that some people here seem to see a scammer behind every roll of packing tape.

View Best Answer in original post

monster-deals · ‎11-28-2020

@iart wrote:
Sellers are accusing buyers of scamming. Buyers accusing sellers of the same. This does no good for eBay’s reputation and all of our sales!

A buyer paying slow or a seller shipping slow are not scammers. People with family emergencies are not scammers. Slow mail, lost packages are not from scams. Making a mistake, poor packing, bad communication are not necessarily, or even usually, scams.

We were accused of being scammers a couple days ago. Why? Because the %$#%& wasn’t smart enough to read the description – just looked at the pretty pictures.

A scammer is someone who purposely misleads in order to steal your money. As the economy tanks their numbers may be growing but they are far outnumbered by good, legitimate buyers and sellers.

Watch what happens when everyone ‘knows’ that eBay is only a place for scams. You think sales are slow now?

I get scammed with fake SNADs all the time.

No one should sit back and take a beating and stay quiet about it.

floridainjection · ‎11-28-2020

The sad truth is that a good portion of my sales in 2019-2020 were from clowns that either returned the bad part they removed from their car or tried a part I sold them to see if that was the problem. When it wasn't, they returned it too. All at my expense. I got so sick of it I quit selling on ebay.

So in my experience, yes a high percentage of buyers are scammers.

gracieallen01 · ‎11-28-2020

It seems to be one of the characteristics of a forum of this type - one doesn't generally get the buyer coming here to complain about someone NOT being a scammer. Neither do they come here if they aren't suspicious or if there aren't 'red flags'.

Truth be known, no matter how many people try to spin it otherwise, there really are a LOT of people out there who would prefer getting something for nothing - let alone those who think it is OWED them.

Not saying 'NO' doesn't mean 'YES'.

The foolishness of one's actions or words is determined by the number of witnesses.

Perhaps if Brains were described as an APP, many people would use them more often.

Respect, like money, is only of 'worth' when it is earned - with all due respect, it can not be ordained, legislated or coerced. Anonymous

lqdtechoutlet · ‎11-28-2020

Exactly. Buyers are constantly opening SNAD cases which results in higher fees for me through the service metrics system.

Speaking of the service metrics system, I actually just reported ebay to the Better Business Bureua last night for this fraudulent system which is a scam.

evry1nositswindy · ‎11-28-2020

Many of these scams (real scams) are from outside sources. Cragslist, etc listings advertising that they will be sold through eBay. This is an ongoing problem that needs more attention because people fall for this every day. It makes eBay look bad even though the perpetrator is on another site.

evry1nositswindy • seller since 2013
Volunteer Community Mentor

powell-memorabilia · ‎11-28-2020

Not everything is well suited to be sold on eBay. If you have a high percentage of scammers, that item isn't right for this marketplace. Me, I've had zero scammers - and only maybe 0.3% of purchases that I'd deem as difficult - maybe a small-scale scammer, maybe just a difficult customer. Other than that, eBay buyers are great to me.

1tuna · ‎11-28-2020

..........general reply..........

I get about 20 returns a year and dont really worry about why its being returned.I do not consider someone who makes up a false reason for a return to be a scammer..........its in vouge if you ask me.............its a current trend for buyers to feel empowered with and it works.

I want buyers to return to ebay and other sellers again and again.

scammers are the ones who are devious and try to get something for nothing besides free shipping or a free return

I dont run into scams much anymore...........timewasters and returners are not scammers,just fickle buyers

Germantown proud Germantown strong
up the whiskey hickon
moving right along
19144

powell-memorabilia · ‎11-28-2020

If, in your opinion, eBay is a scam, I suspect that you have already pulled all of your listings, and are now either selling on other sites or no long selling. Am I right?

jewelbiz · ‎11-28-2020

I had a real violent criminal crooked psychopath scammer this year & I’m altered as a person & as a decades long eBay seller.

They are out there & do damage, cause intentional problems...

buyselljack2016 · ‎11-28-2020

@lqdtechoutlet wrote:
Exactly. Buyers are constantly opening SNAD cases which results in higher fees for me through the service metrics system.

Speaking of the service metrics system, I actually just reported ebay to the Better Business Bureua last night for this fraudulent system which is a scam.

If your fees are higher as a result of the service metrics it may be time to look at your business to determine why your stats differ enough from your "peers" to result in the increased fees.

Your "peers" must meet the same standards that are set for you.

1grandmashope_1 · ‎11-28-2020

My belief is that it is good to hear about the different possible "scams" that are prevalent so that we all can be informed of the new and deceitful ways that these individuals can affect us.

With that said, I think everyone here needs to keep in mind that what you are seeing and reading on the boards is such a small percentage of actual eBay users. Also, it is not just on eBay, it is on all sites as well. It is a sad time that so many are so lost and act so ugly. $$ is a powerful incentive for those that have no morals.

I like to know what is happening so that I can walk with my eyes wide open as well as my heart.

Grandma

caldreamer · ‎11-28-2020

Sorry your customer called you "a scammer" when they neglected to read the description. People should learn to be more civil to one another.

Unfortunately, some customers abuse the "return policy" or try to extort money from sellers. I had a customer that bought a 2-piece suit and demanded $25 because 1-piece didn't fit (and she wanted to keep both items). I have also had customer lie and say "not as described" so I would get stuck with return shipping.

The big problem is there is NO seller protection anymore.

wrong66 · ‎11-28-2020

Most fake SNADS are the result of buyers knowing they won't have to pay for return shipping if they file one. And they know that because eBay basically advertises it. I don't call them scammers. I call them something else.

sextons-sweet-deals · ‎11-28-2020

There are some bad sellers, but a buyer can view photos, ask questions, and read all feedback given before making purchase.

eBay seems to not employ people to review cases (read the complaint, review the listing, review any photos, review e-mails between buyer and seller, review both parties status and feedback comments) when escalated. It seems to be automatic programing now to always make the buyer the winner of the case.

It also use to be that eBay wouldn't refund a buyer until the seller has received the item back and confirmed the same item was received back . Once the return is scanned by USPS or other delivery service, eBay "automatically" refunds. The seller has not even had a chance to open the package and respond.

I have read posts about buyers sending back an empty box or envelope with the the return label that eBay provides the buyer, a broken item, an opened item that was sold "NEW", or a totally different item.

eBay has the money to employ people to handle this like before. There needs to a balance like there use to be.