Screwed by the "system"

[nightparts01]

Here's a situation for you - I sold an item (electronic, no less) to a customer.  Yes, it is used, and yes, I listed it as such in the ad.  Stressed the fact that it was used.  The customer received it, and then contacted eBay saying it died after an hour.  Then, they took it apart!!  Admitted it in a email that they took it apart because they were a "tech" and knew what they were doing.  Then, they got "the system" involved who ruled against me.  I appealed the decision, pointing out the fact that it worked exactly like I said in the ad (hello - used electronics does NOT have a "break down clock" on it!), and the fact that they took the **bleep** thing apart(!!!), both of which they admitted in email...... and lost the appeal!!

What more do I have to do to get a fair shot?  No wonder I stopped selling on "the system" so much, and switched to Amazon.  This is the first thing in a year or so that I have listed....and got kicked in the teeth for it.

I hope this doesn't happen to anyone else.

[stainlessenginecovers]

That's just what can happen with Electronics. They may work today, but not tomorrow and buyers have 30 days with eBay, 60 with Paypal and upwards of 120 days with the Credit Card to do a backcharge. There is little you can do about (actually nothing)- so just 'figure' a percentage (dollars in a cookie jar) for those type items that go bad. 

[fab_finds4u]

Sellers get shafted all the time. Nothing to do but roll with the punches. After you refund then appeal citing the buyer didn't return it in the condition he received it but altered it by attempting repairs as evidenced in his messages. eBay won't take the refund back from the buyer but they might give you a $6-big whoop return label voucher. 

[nightparts01]

Yeah, I understand how the system works - I think the most irritating part however was that the customer admitted it...multiple times.....and the appeal board *still* denied me.

[lakefor94]

If you are selling junk on Amazon like the laptop in your sold items, you won't last long there. Not the best suited for used electronics.

What exactly was it that you sold to the Buyer here on EBay? 

[femmefan1946]


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But the safest Condition for used items would be "As Is /for parts" without any promise that it will work.

Have you been dealing with the automatic system? It's usually not a problem for straightforward  "return for refund" cases, but you may need one of the trained eBay employees for anything complicated.

BTW, at best you will get a courtesy refund from eBay. They are not going to do anything to the "tech" buyer.

[ten_o_nine]

What system isn't screwing you? every system I know is screwing me.

[mam98031]

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@stainlessenginecovers wrote:

That's just what can happen with Electronics. They may work today, but not tomorrow and buyers have 30 days with eBay, 60 with Paypal and upwards of 120 days with the Credit Card to do a backcharge. There is little you can do about (actually nothing)- so just 'figure' a percentage (dollars in a cookie jar) for those type items that go bad. 

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Paypal changed their policy to 180 days a few years back.

[coolections]

You should have just took it back. Why worry about someone taking apart a piece of junk that you knew did not work in the first place?

[chapeau-noir]

Is this that laptop?  I sell old tech and computer parts, hundreds of units down through the years, and one thing I've learnt is not to sell a laptop or tower that you don't know anything about to anyone, at least on this site.  The world is filled with illiterate opportunists who have decided that a clearly described unit that is for parts/repair Must Work and will sling it back if it doesn't, and of course everyone is a 'tech'.  I've had good, tested, working equipment returned because the individual doesn't know how to install, and refuses to allow me to offer tech advice because they think they know better.

Having said that, you were VERY clear (if it's that laptop) in your description.

I like selling parts or repair stuff but now sell my busted but repairable machinery elsewhere.

[gamersbaystore]

The listing literally states for parts/not working. I see no logic to allowing such items to be returned at all. The buyer knew it did not work, they knew it was for parts only, ebay should've acknowledged that when making a decision.

[chapeau-noir]

Electronics is a really twitchy market.

[gamersbaystore]

The OP's listing literally states its for parts/not working, its clearly stated in the description of the listing too. The irony of a buyer whining that an item doesnt work when the listing clearly states so.

ebay is flat out wrong for siding with the buyer in my opinion.

[coolections]

@gamersbaystore 

We have had Ebay employees come here and explain several times now that just because you say for parts only does not mean a buyer has to keep the item. What if the seller said for parts only and the buyers receives an empty case but no parts even in it?

[moondogblues]

cool, 'what ifs' were not what happened.