eBay

pythium · ‎11-02-2020

Hello, Because ebay screws sellers through their policies, I have a customer returning a new item that they used. It's an appliance part for a dryer. Because there are many parts that can go wrong on a dryer, you really need to diagnose the problem correctly for repair. Most people think that they can buy a part, plug it in, and everything should work. So now, I have a new item being returned to me that works, but because the buyer was dimwitted, I have no recourse. So my question, how do I sell the item as "brand new" after the customer used it, scared it, and returned it?

pythium · ‎11-02-2020

Thanks everyone for your replies. I learned a lot.

Ebay is probably listed as an ESG companey because they are "saving items from the landfill", but the truth is it's just another lie. Just like plastic is recyclable, tobacco won't give you cancer, and fossil fuels aren't bad for the environment.

The "one size fits all" policies and the "we will make decisions case by case" don't really fit the marketplace. Heck, major retailers don't even do this. Sure, I could be selling junk, but in any deal, the buyer also has responsibilities to act appropriately and ebay lets them do whatever. Sure, they need buyers, but there is a cost to upsetting little sellers. That cost is larger landfills and the lie of ESG.

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pburn · ‎11-02-2020

Should that title be "Buyer is returning a new item after it's been used?" You're the seller, right?

I'm not sure how the buyer "scared it," but the item will not be able to be sold as "brand new" because, well, it isn't "brand new" anymore.

blueapples_22 · ‎11-02-2020

So, we sell makeup and skin care products and once in a while someone will open a sealed product, try it out, not like it and return it. You have to accept the return....however....when you get it back, inspect it, clean it, get it as mint as possible, then resell it as "used" for a little cheaper. Explain exactly what happened in the description and say "I'VE HIGHLY DISCOUNTED THE PRICE" or something like that. 99 times out of 100 for me, the item ends up selling right away because people are always looking for a deal. Good luck!

pythium · ‎11-02-2020

Yes you are correct. Can't change it now. Thanks.

pythium · ‎11-02-2020

Very helpful thanks. With a dryer timer, it reduced the value a lot. Why doesn't ebay eat the value of the damaged product? isn't there seller protections?

pburn · ‎11-02-2020

@blueapples_22 wrote:
So, we sell makeup and skin care products and once in a while someone will open a sealed product, try it out, not like it and return it. You have to accept the return....however....when you get it back, inspect it, clean it, get it as mint as possible, then resell it as "used" for a little cheaper. Explain exactly what happened in the description and say "I'VE HIGHLY DISCOUNTED THE PRICE" or something like that. 99 times out of 100 for me, the item ends up selling right away because people are always looking for a deal. Good luck!

That's against eBay policy. Selling used cosmetics is not allowed.

Cosmetics policy

"Listings for used cosmetics, sponges, or applicators are not allowed. This includes products such as skin moisturizers, sunscreens, perfumes, lipsticks, fingernail polishes, eye and facial makeup preparations, shampoos, permanent waves, hair colors, toothpastes, and deodorants."

1grandmashope_1 · ‎11-02-2020

You can't. It has been used, as you stated. Unfortunately, it is what may happen when you sell new. It has to be opened.

I'm sorry for the loss. It is part of selling items online on any format.

To your future sales going forward.

Happy Almost Thanksgiving,

Grandma

corvettestainless · ‎11-02-2020

Seller protections are for 'top rated sellers' that 'allow returns' and what is does is this: you can deduct up to 50% of the refund if the item is returned to you in a condition now allowing it to be resold or to be resold at a lesser value. Note that it is expected that this is NOT a common occurrence and you won't be covered too many items. Also know that most times buyers then complain to ebay and ebay pays them back (to keep them coming back and buying)

Overall, selling any 'replacement parts' is a proposition that you need to self insure. Buyers are covered under 30 day MBG, regardless what you may think, want to think or even put in writing in your listings.

Lastly, to expect the website that YOU chose to list on- to now 'cover you'- just not going to happen. They didn't knock on your door and ask you to list it.

pythium · ‎11-02-2020

True, but the prices I'm selling these for, aren't worth it. it's cutting into ebay's livelihood. After I dump all these parts, I'm done with ebay. I now know to toss things out instead of using ebay. Isn't that the wrong direction ebay is trying to go?

pburn · ‎11-02-2020

@pythium wrote:
True, but the prices I'm selling these for, aren't worth it. it's cutting into ebay's livelihood. After I dump all these parts, I'm done with ebay. I now know to toss things out instead of using ebay. Isn't that the wrong direction ebay is trying to go?

This is an illustration of the adage, "cutting off your nose to spite your face."

eBay will not be in the least affected if you stop selling here; however, you will not have whatever income you could have made from your listings.

Throwing things away instead of listing them hurts you, not eBay. If it makes you feel better, go ahead and do that, but eBay won't even be aware of it, so don't get the impression you're teaching them some kind of lesson.

blueapples_22 · ‎11-02-2020

I should have been more clear...we do not sell the used ones, only ones that have been removed from the package and not used.

pythium · ‎11-02-2020

You are entitled to your opinion, but your logic has me lost. I thought ebay would want more items for sale, more sellers, more products sold, and therefore more revenue. I didn't realized that ebay was trying to be a poor man's amazon to help businesses start out. I thought that they would want to encourage more sellers through better policies, but i'm not getting that impression. Best buy has limits on electronics and so does Costco, but ebay screws the little guy to keep the buyers buying. Sure, they won't lose money from a little guy like me, but they aren't really maximizing their business by shunning the little guy. We should both be able to agree that time is money, and if i'm not making enough for my time, then other people aren't as well. Therefore, ebay is losing a lot of little sellers to the landfill, which I will be using more of instead of wasting my time to help them earn a fee.

pburn · ‎11-02-2020

No offense, but you have 42 items listed, and you've left feedback for 40 transactions in the last year. That's not even a blip on eBay's radar.

There are a thousand sellers to replace you.

pburn · ‎11-02-2020

@blueapples_22 wrote:

I should have been more clear...we do not sell the used ones, only ones that have been removed from the package and not used.

Oh, gees! My bad--I must have totally misunderstood this statement:

"So, we sell makeup and skin care products and once in a while someone will open a sealed product, try it out, not like it and return it."

Guess I interpreted "try it out" to mean "used."

corvettestainless · ‎11-02-2020

This is a website that puts buyers/sellers together. If a seller decides to make this a business, good for them. But, everyone on the planet is selling via the internet, nothing is special and to have 500,000 Black size 8 women's shoes makes it not really matter if 100,000 of you left. Ebay makes the same as buyers still buy and will always find what they need.

Regarding your attitude towards it all- how does anyone know who you are? if you selling broken but doesn't appear to be broken junk? This site has to protect 1 side or the other and any site that 'sells' something (which is all sites) is no different than any B&M Store- reputation is everything. "No returns! you returning junk! your stupid!" all the things you want to say about YOUR customers, you wouldn't be around long. Same in the internet world. Ebay HAS to protect the buyers as without buyers, they make no $$. The adage is always the same:

The customer is always right. That's never changed and NEVER will.