eBay

Anonymous · ‎12-19-2016

I've been an eBay seller & buyer since 2001. In the last few years the amount of "problem" buyers has skyrocketed. The marketplace is no longer fun, fair, nor a useful selling tool. Last year I had sold my iMac computer, and just short of 6 months after the buyer had received my computer, they decide to open a "chargeback" with their credit card company, which takes months to process. He said the computer started having issues, and demanded a full refund for "item not as described". Nevermind the computer was still under warranty through AppleCare. Just blame the buyer, right? SIX MONTHS after their purchase.

The next item for sale was a pair of tail lights from a VW car that I no longer needed. Person bought and paid for them, then hours later e-mailed demanding a refund because "they placed the order by mistake". When I attempted to cancel the order through eBay and issue them a refund, I wasn't able to because the buyer had already managed to open a case through PayPal for "item not received". I had to eat-up relisting costs and PayPal fees of around $24.

I am just so sick of what this place has become. eBay policies consistently side with buyers, while shafting sellers left and right, even though WE are the ones paying all the fees that keep the eBay shareholders happy. It's like the new craigslist. It's gotten too big, and too popular, and scammers and problem buyers have taken over. Because they know if they file a dispute or complaint, eBay is most likely going to side with them.

I'm done with eBay. Frustrating to deal with beyond belief.

victorjunkman55 · ‎12-19-2016

eBay makes millions from Frustration, Confusion, and Delusion. As Seasoned eBayers get fed up with eBay and leave, Newbies rush in and problems come with them. Just when sellers catch up with all the rules, policy's, and charges, eBay changes the game rules. Postage is going up once again next month across the board, Only hurting the small seller like me. You Dam near have to give your stuff away here to get a few nickles and dimes. Sorry to see you go, Please Leave the door open. Good Luck to you.

vw · ‎12-19-2016

Call eBay, I bet you can get them to reverse the FVF fee's on the transaction.

Paypal usually doesn't charge you if you do a refund but since they did it not sure but you probably won't get those fees back.

*eponymous* · ‎12-19-2016

It helps to know the policies so you can minimize your losses.

In a chargeback situation, send a call-tag for the item and enter that info into the case. If the buyer sends it back, issue a refund. If the buyer refuses, contact PayPal. You might lose, anyway, but it would be obvious that the buyer was trying to scam you by keeping the machine AND getting refunded.

When you cannot cancel a transaction through eBay because the buyer first asks you to cancel but then hot-foots iit over to PayPal and files a case, wait for the PayPal case to close (it will be closed immediately when an eBay case is pending) and cancel on eBay.

The only time eBay does not give you the fvf credit is when a buyer escalates a case, and the seller loses...or when a seller does not file and close a UPI w/in 35 (? maybe 36) days. Just call eBay and ask for your fvf.

Life shrinks or expands in proportion to one’s courage. ~ Anais Nin

pantlandia · ‎12-19-2016

@Anonymous wrote:
I've been an eBay seller & buyer since 2001. In the last few years the amount of "problem" buyers has skyrocketed.

Well, yes, you are correct. Compare the number of internet users now as opposed to in 2001. As users grow exponentially, so do problem buyers...

s2vet · ‎12-19-2016

I agree Obummer was lousy!

s2vet · ‎12-19-2016

I have a personal policy that I block all the winning bidders that come up with every excuse under the sun why they need me to cancel their purchase. Most of the time when I think about it, I leave them feedback stating that customer never paid before I add them to my blocked list or cancel the transaction. It sticks to their board, and shows a history of such activity should you have a problem with such a buyer in the future. I encourage other sellers to do the same. This millenial generation is horrible for such **bleep**. I know it offends them to be called out... but I'm old, I simply don't care. LOL I provide world class service to 1st class customers. Everyone else, just suck it up buttercup.

d-k_treasures · ‎12-19-2016

@thegroroom wrote:
Americans love scammers.
We even elected one to be our President!

Yeah, but that was 8 years ago.

_____________________________
"Nothing is obvious to the oblivious"

myboardid · ‎12-19-2016

You are violating eBay's policy by placing any negative remarks on a buyer's feedback, and if reported by the buyer, you will be seriously sanctioned. If several buyers do that, you will be blocked from selling again, permanently.

----------------------------
Successful and experienced seller since 1997, over 70,000 feedback, boardie since the boards were begun.

chuck-r · ‎12-20-2016

Not all Millennials are the same but the Gen Why Me has some of the biggest problems in 100 years. Psychological studies and commentary here: https://goo.gl/5IHzqo.

*help_no_brakes* · ‎12-20-2016

I encourage other sellers to do the same. ...............

No thanks..............I'll leave you to dig your own ex seller grave.

Encouraging others to violate policies is in itself a board violation.

SMART sellers open & close UPI's,use their BBL & have their blocks in place.

They do not add to the nonpayer's POSITIVE count by leaving false feedback which helps NO ONE !!!

If you could explain how a seller with BIN listings or with auctions that are sniped benefits from your actions I would be more than happy to listen.

I have my blocks in place & hardly ever encounter a non payer......the one's that escape the net are thanks to those sellers that do what you suggest................sheeeeesh!!!

socialsweetspot · ‎12-31-2016

Is there a blog about this (not controlled by EBAY)? I'd love to know the platforms / sales sites that fight thieves and support honest sellers and buyers.

chuck-r · ‎12-31-2016

No blog I know of, but I found this list which seems to note the honest pros and cons of various ecommerce sites, where you create your own store.

http://pastebin.com/SVCs6YJw

the*dog*ate*my*tablecloth · ‎01-01-2017

Many sellers who post on the board believe Ebay "sides with the buyer" whenever a buyer wants to return something. What they are really doing is trying to undo the transaction. Seller gets item, buyer gets money.

If sellers would stop complaining about simple returns, maybe the effect of actual scam returns would be easier to manage. It's the crying wolf thing. Same with the comments. The whole problem with sellers leaving negatively worded comments is because some sellers left them for any buyer who had the nerve to question anything about the transaction. I know there were buyers who were negged for asking if their item had been mailed two weeks after they paid. Sellers dug their own graves on this one.

Bad buyers who have a history of scam returns should be permanently removed. Buyers who just want to return things should not. Sellers should stop fighting returns especially if they allow returns in their listings.

clicking_post · ‎01-01-2017

Totally agree with you. I had 9 cases against me this holiday season, and 6 of them were for "items not received" when tracking showed delivered because USPS scanned the item in wrong. Seriously, the buyer would purchase it Monday, and USPS scanned delivered instead of received, then buyer would get message saying delivered (the next day!) and if not in their mailbox, would SET UP A CASE instead of contacting me. First, common sense says it wont make it there in a day. Second, why are buyers setting up cases instead of trying to work out with seller first? This has made me want to leave ebay. I'm on a few other selling sites, and I can't wait to be done with ebay for good!