Scammers always win with Ebay

[vettenut2]

Why is it that scammers ALWAYS win with ebay.  There are scammers out there that have bad condition toys or other items and they wait to find a new one to buy.  When they get it they take pictures of their old crap and send the pictures to ebay wanting a refund.  Ebay, in my experience ALWAYS sides with the scammers so the scammers get my new product and their money back.  Very frustrating when I have been with ebay since the beginning and have 100% positive feedback and they still go with the scammers.

[isaiah53-57]

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@vettenut2 wrote:

Why is it that scammers ALWAYS win with ebay.  There are scammers out there that have bad condition toys or other items and they wait to find a new one to buy.  When they get it they take pictures of their old crap and send the pictures to ebay wanting a refund.  Ebay, in my experience ALWAYS sides with the scammers so the scammers get my new product and their money back.  Very frustrating when I have been with ebay since the beginning and have 100% positive feedback and they still go with the scammers.

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2 things:

1st, I think they want to put forth the least amount of effort and service possible for the money they take in.

2nd. Given the choice, my guess is they would rather have a site full of scamming buyers than a site full of scamming sellers...

Add those two things together and you get the "MONEY BACK GUARANTEE"...yay

[ten_o_nine]

What are your stats for scammers vs. honest buyers? Mine is less than .001% scammers

[seattlemower]

You are more likely to encounter these issues if you do not offer refunds. You have more control over the refund when you do offer them from the get-go. Then you can call their bluff. Don't just refund them, have them send the item back after opening a return. When you get the wrong item back you can report this to eBay or even the local police if it is a very expensive item. I recommend offering refunds and bet you'll see a drop in this activity. 

[inhawaii]

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@ten_o_nine wrote:

What are your stats for scammers vs. honest buyers? Mine is less than .001% scammers

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I'm with you.

Scammers make up less than 1% of my customers.

[isaiah53-57]

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@inhawaii wrote:

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@ten_o_nine wrote:

What are your stats for scammers vs. honest buyers? Mine is less than .001% scammers

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I'm with you.

Scammers make up less than 1% of my customers.

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@ten_o_nine  @inhawaii

Wow - given that both you guys have the kinda of items listed that scammers really focus in on, you have both made me so much more comfortable about listing my $500 to $10,000 collectibles and electronics - THANKS!

[broto_64]

No, scammers do not always win.

[xrk195]

Scamming is sadly going to be a thing when you have a 'estate garage sale' marketing model worse when it's digital and you can't 'test' the equipment to make sure it doesn't explode or smoke nor inspect for leaky compaciters.etc   Furthermore with a society that doesn't care about right/wrong anymore.  Digital marketplaces in general both on and offline reflect the will and morals of said society that flock to them.  

Your always taking a chance/gamble with used stuff but in the past going to a physical store you could have some sort of guarantee it would last you at least a year and maybe test the equipment by turning it on though no matter what your risking your wallet by buying used. If it works out for you then yay and cherish the moment but it's no guarantee for future buying.  Lemons are more common. 

[mam98031]

When this happens to you, why not only refund them 50% when you get the item back.  The buyer may not like it, but you can do that for the item not being in the condition it was when you sent it.  I do understand that they are likely switching the items.  But at least this way you don't lose all your money.

Your feedback has nothing to do with this process.  And FB has not been used in seller evals for a few years now.  Besides buyers also have 100% positive FB.  Granted it is the only kind we can post.

[xrk195]

Then people won't buy with less confidence they will not receive broken junk.  That's like saying that all customers are thieves so I don't want to sell. I can't think of any marketing system/policy more asinine. Honestly.  You want to attract MORE confident customers that don't feel afraid from buying from you. 

If someone is that afraid of thieves don't open a store then. Honestly there is always a risk involved no matter what you do in life. Your/our own home has a it's own dangers and your more likely to get hurt falling down the stairs/slipping in the bathtub then getting hit by another car.    I saw an interesting statistics once that surprised me how many dangers we tend to ignore in the supposed safety of our own home. 

[xrk195]

I quite agree. As I said in my other post if you offer refunds it provides a bit more of a guarantee you care about the products you sell and an extra blanket you are not as likely to get ripped off as a buyer.   No refunds to me is a shady deal and if you judge the responses in the email privately they are usually like 'Ummm I don't know anything about the product so I can't help you'.   Like that's suppose to be encouraging.

  There are actual stores here on Ebay which helps a bit with honesty as they have some reputation on the line but still nothing beats going to their physical store if they have one and you can get there. Physical stores will always win even if society wants to pretend otherwise and physical stores can't sell as much quantity.  Physical stores are most definitely NOT a get rich quick scheme but is better long term.

[ten_o_nine]

@isaiah53-57 

Wow - given that both you guys have the kinda of items listed that scammers really focus in on, you have both made me so much more comfortable about listing my $500 to $10,000 collectibles and electronics

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Yeah, right!

I was speaking from a small seller point, but it might be different for multi Millon dollar sellers. I never was in your shoes.

[soh.maryl]

Had to ask:  You DO know that a seller's "No Refunds" claim has no standing if/when a buyer opens an item not as described case, right?  

[vettenut2]

Unfortunately, Yes I know that.  I don't have many scammers but have had a few and know others that have had way more than myself.  The buying scammers always win from what I have seen and others I know have told me.

[vettenut2]

Good thought.  I don't have lots of scammers but they can upset me once in a while when it's so bad.  It's not the money for me, I just have lots to sell and don't want to just give it away but do sell at low prices.