eBay

obtanium_enterprises · ‎04-10-2019

If any of your listing photos contain more than one piece of the item, and your listing is for fewer pieces, clever buyers are filing SNAD claims insisting that, regardless of text in the listing stating otherwise, they should have received the quantity shown in the photo(s) and thus your listing is deceptive, fraudulent, whatever, and they have been scammed. eBay is siding with the buyer in these cases.

For example, if the widget you're offering comes in five colors and your photo contains one of each color, then you're exposed to this scam, and eBay will side with the buyer that your listing is deceptive. That you've written in your listing description the listing is for "ONE (1) PIECE" or whatever is irrelevant. For another example, if your photo includes a few pieces arranged so that printing or markings on or around the item can be visible in one photo rather than in several, then you're also exposed to this scam.

However, if your listing is for, say 10 pieces, and your photo includes 3, then you're probably OK. BUT, if your listing is for 10 pieces and your photo contains a pile, package, boxfull, whatever, of more than 10 pieces, then you're exposed to the scam.

Time to re-do photos and listings.

loveyourimagination49 · ‎04-10-2019

It’s not a scam. Your pictures should only be for the item that is being sold.

Everyone has options. Just be sure the best option is right for you.

fern*wood · ‎04-10-2019

It has always been advised to only show in your photos (especially the gallery) what will be sold in that listing. Some categories allow variations where additional photos for other colors, etc can be shown.

Ebay has posted that the photo, title, specs, and description need to all match.

obtanium_enterprises · ‎04-10-2019

Apparently what I wrote was as clear as mud...

The items in the photos ARE what is being offered in the listing. The issue is with the QUANTITY of that item; reading isn't optional; there IS a difference between "what" and "how many." A quick browsing of listings on eBay turns up plenty of listings with photos containing more the one piece of the item being offered, while the listing is for a quantity of one.

obtanium_enterprises · ‎04-10-2019

PS- I forgot to include that eBay's suggested "solution" is to add text into the photo(s) indicating the lot quantity of the listing, because specifying lot quantity in the listing, whether in the item description or in the lot quantity field, is insufficient.

fern*wood · ‎04-10-2019

My definition for what is being sold includes quantity. You also mentioned different colors, which also falls under "what". Clarity is the key.

Sure, lots of sellers do this, but it can always bite them you know where.

obtanium_enterprises · ‎04-10-2019

Which is the whole point of my posting, to warn unaware sellers of this issue. AND, that now both the item description and lot quantity field are considered insufficient to indicate lot quantity. Any and all photos must ALSO reflect lot quantity or you're exposed.

In other words: Don't use a photo of your stack of 20 widgets in your quantity-20-available listing unless you want to ship all 20 to a buyer of one piece!

ekmadonna · ‎04-10-2019

"Clever buyers are filing SNAD claims", I wouldn't call them clever , I would call them thieves! Personally I have never and will never put ANYTHING in the listing other than what is actually being sold (other than a ruler) because there are thieves crawling this site!

obtanium_enterprises · ‎04-10-2019

@fern*wood wrote:
You also mentioned different colors...

One of the listings I saw offered the item in a choice of five colors. The listing included several photos, each photo containing one of each color, five "items" in total, taken at different angles. The variations selection drop-down offered the color choice. The listing was for ONE (1) PIECE of the chosen color. That listing is EXPOSED to the scam because the photos contain more than one piece. Though it would SEEM to be harder to argue the scam, it fits the "model" of quantity shown in the photos not matching the lot size, which is the issue.

obtanium_enterprises · ‎04-10-2019

@ekmadonna wrote:
I have never and will never put ANYTHING in the listing other than what is actually being sold (other than a ruler)

I had a listing for electronic multimeters in which I included a photo of one powered up and connected to a precision resistor to demonstrate the accuracy... One [censored] buyer threw a hissy-fit because he didn't also receive the resistor with his meter. Apparently, even if I had included in the listing description that the resistor wasn't included, that the photo was for demonstration purposes only, that would have been insufficient. So, unless you want to ship a ruler with your item, maybe it's best to not include the ruler in the photo.

PS- I wonder if this is eventually going to extend to the table the item was on when you took the photo.

drusalina · ‎04-10-2019

If a ruler or coin is used to show scale, in the listing text, make sure that the listing says that the items used as photo props, nickel, dime, etc., or ruler or fabric is not included.

So sick of the scams. People ask questions after they buy! DUH!

Change the channel!

this*old*attic · ‎04-10-2019

How is that a scam? You are putting up confusing listings. Of course Ebay sides with the buyer!

the*dog*ate*my*tablecloth · ‎04-10-2019

Your FIRST picture in the bad feedback listing is of multiple items. Maybe it's not a scam, maybe it's that your listing is confusing. Some people view listings on their phone and rely on pictures to be accurate. Most purchases on Ebay are from the mobile platform. That requires clear simple pictures AND descriptions.

You also have a LOT of confusing text in your listings. When your terms of sale are longer than your item description, that is a bad sign.

Furthermore your ranting replies to bad feedback will scare away good buyers. When good buyers leave you end up with more bad buyers. Instead of comforting future buyers you chose to slap the old.

this*old*attic · ‎04-10-2019

Look, just because someone else does it doesn’t make it a good practice.

obtanium_enterprises · ‎04-10-2019

@drusalina wrote:
If a ruler or coin is used to show scale, in the listing text, make sure that the listing says that the items used as photo props, nickel, dime, etc., or ruler or fabric is not included.

Well, that's the problem... Even writing that in the description is insufficient; you'll at least need to include a text overlay on your photos stating that they are not included so that your photos match your description.