eBay

discountgrocery · ‎02-19-2020

I am a relatively new seller (over 200 feedback). My feedback is currently 100% positive, incl one that was revised by an unhappy buyer who left a negative rating instead of contacting me.

I recently sold some infant formula that was in-date, date CLEARLY MARKED. See my listing here. The last 2 cans sold on the EXP date, only because I received an offer from a lady in CA who claimed this:

Please consider my bid. This formula is great for my son. Hes drinking more so I'm needing more, I'm a single mom and it's getting expensive with everything else in California

I was immediately suspicious, since it was the day before the expiry date and I had intended to remove the listing. However, after realizing she was a newer buyer (Nov 18 of 2018), with legit purchases (6 feedback, all positive incl one for SELLING -? formula that was well within date), I decided to trust her and counter offered with a lower price to help her out. She has now started a return request (granted by eBay) for reason "Doesn't work or defective" and because "expired by the time it had arrived."

I know I walked into this... sad you can't trust folks anymore. But what should I do? The amount I'll lose is actually minimal, so I'm not too concerned if I need to refund her other than it irritates me. But I don't want to embolden this buyer to scam someone else. Should I refund and report the buyer? Or wait to see if the return comes then take action? I'm sure she has no intention of returning the item, but my resolution center message on the case says "Waiting for buyer to return item." Does that give me some immunity? I do have a 30 day return policy and this time eBay awarded the shipping - which I assume they will take out of my account.

I haven't left feedback on this so I can include a beware of buyer message with brief details when I do, even if I refund her money. I hope to avoid negative feedback on my end though and I don't want her to escalate it to eBay with the appearance that I was in the wrong. Technically yes I broke policy with it's arriving after the date only because I ASSUMED wrongly that this buyer was a reasonable American.

chinohighcowboys1963 · ‎02-19-2020

Buyer has five days to return item to you. If she doesn’t, then eBay will not force you to issue her a refund.

Nothing tastes as good as being thin feels.

epowerbargains · ‎02-19-2020

Realistically, you did "technically break policy" - by the time the formula was mailed and received the expiration date made the product out of date & thus in violation of the eBay policy that out of date products cannot be sold.

I hear you that you were trying to help out your buyer and your heart was in the right place - but often buyers do not read the description and make assumptions fair or not.

The buyer is correct - the product was beyond the use date.

You were not scammed.

The buyer is not a scammer.

There is no valid reason to report the buyer.

The listing should have been pulled a week or more before the product good by date ended.

Under eBay's money back guarantee you are required to refund the buyer including shipping and if you want the formula back you will need to refund return shipping. You assume the buyer will not return the purchase - but you don't know for sure it is possible the buyer will return it for a refund.

Under eBay rules sellers are not allowed to leave anything but positive feedback You cannot leave a "warning" or what is called a false positive ( a comment that reads like a negative).

The buyer was as you say " a reasonable American" the buyer assumed the formula would not be expired. That is very reasonable. Some people have no problems using products that are past the "use by" date - but some people such as mom's feeding their infants formula might be very uncomfortable feeding their child formula that is past the use date.

I understand your frustration - but maybe look at this as a learning experience and move forward knowing that yes a mistake was made - your intentions were good - but eBay's policies prevail.

kensgiftshop · ‎02-19-2020

@discountgrocery wrote:

I was immediately suspicious, since it was the day before the expiry date and I had intended to remove the listing.

I don't see how you were scammed, you sold an expired product.

If you knew the item was about to expire, you should have denied the offer and ended the listing.

Have a Safe and Happy Halloween.

luckythewinner · ‎02-19-2020

@discountgrocery wrote:
I know I walked into this... sad you can't trust folks anymore.
{snip}
I ASSUMED wrongly that this buyer was a reasonable American.

Or it could be that you are wrong about this buyer.

The buyer might have simply ASSUMED that you were a reasonable American who would not sell baby formula that was expiring the next day.

pburn · ‎02-19-2020

@discountgrocery wrote:
But I don't want to embolden this buyer to scam someone else.

How exactly is she scamming you?

@discountgrocery wrote:
Should I . . . report the buyer?

Report her for what? You'll be lucky if she doesn't report you.

@discountgrocery wrote:
I haven't left feedback on this so I can include a beware of buyer message with brief details when I do, even if I refund her money.

No, you can't. Sellers cannot leave negative feedback for buyers. I mean, eBay's software won't even allow it. It would also be a (yet another) violation of eBay policy to leave a negative comment within a positive feedback rating. Those kinds of comments are not only removable but also reflect much more poorly on you than they do on the buyer. No one likes a seller who does that--not pther sellers and certainly not buyers.