Sellers that don't follow the rules

[user4110]

Now that I'm a seller and have become familiar with eBay seller rules, I am even more annoyed than I used to be at the large number of sellers that list new or pre-owned items and state that there are defects but then they post only stock photo (s), or one photo the item with no views of the defects.  Now I know this is against the rules.  But some really big sellers of women's clothing and shoes do this with the majority of their listings.  It is extremely common, if not pervasive. Why does eBay allow this?  Compounding this problem is that some sellers that indicate free returns deduct the cost of return shipping when you return an item.  (I had that problem with 5 sellers last year, and even though I reported each of them, eBay did not help me and I never did get my money back.)  Should I be reporting the sellers I see breaking the rules like this?  And will it do any good?  When sellers generate large revenues for eBay, are they not required to follow the eBay seller rules?

[janet9988 · Accepted solution]

Its not worth your time. I have reported far worse..such as illegal items and they ares still up and running.

[bonjourami]

Do you have a link for the 'rule' that photos must show the defects on an item? Ive been here a long time, have never heard of such a rule. In snad cases, Ebay usually goes by the description, if the photo shows a defect, and its not mentioned in the description, the buyer wins.If you were charged for return shipping, were these remorse returns, doesnt fit, dont like it, etc.? And Ebay has no way to claw back money from the seller once a buyer pays for the return.

[stainlessenginecovers]

Why does eBay allow it?

Because there are Millions of listings listed every day and NONE of them are 'personally looked at' by anyone. Would be a physical impossibility to hire 10's of 1000's of people, each needing to be an 'expert' on everything under the sun.

This place is a system. That system uses Bots. Bots look for 'listing WORDS' that are against policy.

Plus, I don't believe that it is against any rules for being 'inept. Where does it state that people can't be inept? If they have a 1-of item in condition anything less than 'brand new' and are too inept to take a picture of the item, then they will either not sell the item or get a return if it doesn't match the picture. Then maybe that seller will learn a lesson. 

Also, they removed the 'report listing' on the listings because they cannot hire enough people to look at the thousands that got reported a day. 

[onefootflipper2]

The majority of ebay sellers are part timers who are aggressively bad at ebay. And a lot of the big boys either actually have ebay as a side part of their own website or developed bad practices because they were still managing to be profitable with them. 

I can't imagine how many returns you must do if you ran into the same return issue with 5 separate sellers just in the last year. I think in the last decade I have returned 3 things, all amazon 2 of them arrived broken and the other one got delayed by a lot and missed the birthday party it was supposed to get used at. 

Now that you are a seller your goal is to be better than all the bad ones. Have better prices and practices and do the best.

[bonjourami]

Yes I can just imagine Ebay hiring enough people to vet 1.5 billion listings worldwide.

[stainlessenginecovers]

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@bonjourami wrote:

Yes I can just imagine Ebay hiring enough people to vet 1.5 billion listings worldwide.

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...and not just people; EXPERTS for that item and/or category.....

[bonjourami]

Ha ha..yes..and to make their decisions based on pictures yet..wowser!

[bonjourami]

While Im not selling right now, I never worried about anybody else's listings but my own.Never searched listings to report them..maybe its just me.

[chevymontecarlo88]

I think you are referring to this policy.  Link to Photo Rules on Ebay 

What is the policy?
The following are not allowed:

Photos that don't accurately represent the item
Placeholder images used to convey messages
Stock photos for used, damaged, or defective items
Photos with added borders
Photos with added text, artwork or marketing material
Watermarks of any type, including those used for ownership attributions

I feel your frustration and suggest to report them (which if everyone did, it might have an impact).

There is technology already in place to identify stock photos through AI and photo recognizing software. There is no need to hire more employees as modern tech software already accomplishes this. 

You have a legitimate question and concern.

Why have a policy that is selectively enforced or not at all?

Personally i see these all of the time when comp'ing sales but pay no mind to them.  Spend your energy on your own listings will only make them better. Just my opinion.

As far as your older purchases that you had a difficult time with, it might be how you disputed the sales that had the overall outcome. There are many protections for buyers but how you file a dispute is key to make sure you were covered. 

Good luck with your future sales and purchases. 

[meme6253]

Those are Sellers I would not purchase from!, As Far As Reporting them, Good Luck, & Every Seller should follow the same rules, But That Is Should VS Do They.

[aeparts1]

The best, & most effective way to report & punish buyers you feel are  breaking the rules is to not buy their items.

"Vote" or report, with your wallet.