Selling and getting scammed

[zukdj]

I am definitely thinking of cancelling my account on eBay after more than 20 years as a member all over a $30 part. I sell TV parts and used a picture supplied from the manufacturer and provided all the part and revision numbers from the part for sale because my camera was broken. The part was pictured 100% what it is and eBay found that I needed to refund the buyer even though he bought it thinking it would work in his TV without checking revision numbers. They said you can't use those pictures? Why, the picture isn't what matters, the part # and revision number are way more important than the picture. I've been burned multiple times for people sending the bad parts back and getting a refund but eBay says I have to do the refund, how is that even fair to the seller? I get the broken part, the cost of shipping and if they really feel like being a jerk bad feedback. Ebay, you are ridiculous!

[ravenm.-4]

@zukdj  so you admit the photo wasn't correct? 

Edit: actually I see from your listing you stole the photos from another seller.

[lakeland_music · Accepted solution]

Selling parts that can be swapped out and returned in my opinion is a very bad area to be in on eBay.
I've had my share of customers who made unwarranted claims and bogus returns, but to be honest,
for the most part people just end up returning because of buyer's remorse, mistaken part numbers,
or they find it elsewhere cheaper.  I also found that once I started accepting returns,
I have have 90% less returns.  Sound crazy?  It's what happened.  I also take care of my customers.
The people I deal with are very picky about their equipment and the results of my products.
The few who have scammed me or just done me wrong could never replace the positive experiences
I've had with thousands of other buyers.

[zukdj]

The photo was the correct item, just not taken by me. As for "stealing" the image from another user, no I did not, they aren't copyrighted items unless they have a watermark stating they are the property of that user.

[femmefan1946]

Well actually....

It is the right of any "artist" to claim copyright on any original work including copyright.

There are a few "creative commons" uses that are exceptions, but photographs on listings are not among them.

It is fine to take a photo from a catalogue, but not from the photographer without specific permission.

More to the point.

Not every transaction will go perfectly.

This is business, not personal.

How much money did you lose on this bad deal? Is it enough to move your business from profitable to a losing proposition?

The usual "shrinkage and shoptheft"  loss rate businesses allow themselves is one percent of gross?

Was $30 one percent of your gross from eBay in the past 12 months?

[ravenm.-4]

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@zukdj wrote:

The photo was the correct item, just not taken by me. As for "stealing" the image from another user, no I did not, they aren't copyrighted items unless they have a watermark stating they are the property of that user.

[thevintagesilvershop]

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@zukdj wrote:

The photo was the correct item, just not taken by me. As for "stealing" the image from another user, no I did not, they aren't copyrighted items unless they have a watermark stating they are the property of that user.

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Say, OP, under the Federal Copyright Act of 1976, photographs are protected by copyright from the moment of creation.

[myjunqueyourtreasure]

There's another thread going where the blues state it's just fine & dandy to use other sellers' photos.

https://community.ebay.com/t5/Selling/Good-news-for-sellers/td-p/29803050/jump-to/first-unread-messa...

[equid0x]

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@femmefan1946 wrote:

Well actually....

It is the right of any "artist" to claim copyright on any original work including copyright.

There are a few "creative commons" uses that are exceptions, but photographs on listings are not among them.

It is fine to take a photo from a catalogue, but not from the photographer without specific permission.

More to the point.

Not every transaction will go perfectly.

This is business, not personal.

How much money did you lose on this bad deal? Is it enough to move your business from profitable to a losing proposition?

The usual "shrinkage and shoptheft"  loss rate businesses allow themselves is one percent of gross?

Was $30 one percent of your gross from eBay in the past 12 months?

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I show 13.06% on my FY2018 statement for returns & refunds which is essentially synonymous with theft & shrinkage. This number is very high due to my test run on "free returns" for only a single month which was roughly 500% higher than any other month of the year.