Selling problems not supported by ebay

[kathyandeve33]

Over the past month i have lost over $50. due to returns that were obviously unfair to me. I have never received the support from ebay when asked for assistance. I am starting to feel like the buyers are just taking advantage of eBay's return policies. I have been selling for some years and am very careful to describe what i sell. I have even been slandered and never was addressed. And before i even have a chance to see the returned item is as it should be ebay takes the $ out of my account and charges me return shipping . I appealed because i said no returns and described the item appropriately. Ebay is 100% siding with the buyers from what i see. It has gotten progressively worse for the sellers. Anyone else having these problems?

[bonjourami]

You've been here long enough to know there is no such thing as no returns on Ebay.That policy only refers to remorse returns,such as changed my mind, dont like it, doesnt fit, etc. As for snad returns Ebay will always side with the buyer.If you are not getting your item returned its because you are not responding to the cases with a return label, and refund after return.When that happens, you also get a major defect.And there is no appeal with those unresolved cases.

[12345jamesstamps]

I went from "no returns" to "returns" and it has helped me. Plus I don't have buyers asking for partial returns.

Buyer has to repackage item plus ship it with tape, box or whatever...plus mail it. That turns a lot of buyers from returning something...thus not asking for a refund. Us sellers know what its like to ship something. But a buyer does not have the experience of shipping something . Buyer has to do the tracking of item being returned and such. Sellers with "no returns" are the ones getting hit because it saids "no returns" and buyer still gets a refund.

[reallynicestamps]

Even with a No Returns policy you can demand the return before refunding.

You may have to pay for return shipping, but if the buyer does not return it, the cost of the label is returned to you, and you will the dispute.

Slander?

It's business, not personal.

Have you heard the Good News about Cookie Jar Insurance?

Basically this means you add a few cents into each asking price as a sort of insurance premium against disputes.

When an unhappy customer demands a refund, you buy the return shipping label from your Cookie Jar. When a parcel gets lost in transit, you refund from the Cookie Jar.

If you are having more than the industry standard of one percent failed transactions, look at your own Terms of Sale and listings to see if there is a problem.
I recently had to change over a thousand listings when a customer politely pointed out that I told my Canadian customers that our sales taxes would not be charged, which was true up until July when Canada, like the USA, started charging an Internet Sales Tax.  Oops.

[luckythewinner]

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@kathyandeve33 wrote:

 Ebay is 100% siding with the buyers from what i see. It has gotten progressively worse for the sellers. Anyone else having these problems?

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eBay has been siding with buyers in unfair returns ever since they introduced the Money Back Guarantee in 2008. 

[joseh1445]

Couple of questions,

1.   How many returns have you gotten back?

2.  What was the reasons for the returns?

[lamber9347]

The money back guarantee has been in place for over ten years now.  Can't understand how some sellers don't understand this trumps their own no refunds claims.... 

[ms.rodriguez*]

Returns are the cost of doing business.  Macy's , Kohls and all other stores take lots of returns. It costs them money.  So they raise the price on some items.  Remember, your customers pay ALL of your fees.. That is what you do.  Next,  you need to take better photos.  If you take better photos, customers will see the item better and can make a better decision on whether to buy or not.  Your photo of the small porcelain figure is very, very out of focus.  I can't tell if the paint job is good or if it has chips.( I didn't read your description.)  But if you had taken nice, clear and FOCUSED pictures, I can judge for myself.    You need to find a spot in your home and take photos showing just the item. Buyers do NOT want to see your sofa or your doilly or whatever that lacey thing is in the center of the table. Remember, you are selling an item.  ALL focus should be on that item.  Your green paints with the pant splatter looked like you laid them on your bed or a bunch of other clothing items.   That is gross if that is your bed.   Go to Dollar Tree or other discount store and buy a few white foam boards.  Lay your pants on these boards.  The focus will be on the pants and NOT the other items under it.   I also use those foam boards as a background when I take my photos.  This way, buyers only see the white board background and not my stuff on the table.  I also use light color paper as a base for shooting photos.  ( I sell mainly loose diecast cars and action figures.)    Get a decent camera. I shoot my photos with an ipad.   None of my auctions will start if the photos are decent.  With decent photos, you have a better chance of a bid or multiple bids.    When I shoot a photo of an item on a hanger , I use a light colored wall.  I see that you have a dark wall.  Go get a wrapping paper and cut a piece and tape it to the wall showing the WHITE side and use that as your back wall.    Anyway,  feel free to email me directly and I can probably give your more tips.  I will say that selling clothing too is hard.   No matter what you write, sometimes an item will just not fit right.  I , for one, can not buy clothing online.  I realized that decades ago.  I need to try on the items.  Go luck w/ your sales.

[onefootflipper]

Another way to minimize returns is to avoid high return categories. Don't sell electronics, don't sell clothes, don't sell things that look more impressive in photographs then in person and don't sell heavily condition dependent collectibles.

One general category of items I never get return requests on are collectibles in which condition is not hugely important. Old Dungeons and Dragons books, vintage board games and things like that. I never get any complaints or returns on things like that.

[kerching!]

Yes.  I have a high rating on ebay as a seller but really discouraged about a situation that just popped up for me.  A buyer purchased a pair of earrings in May and I shipped the item out immediately.  At the time, I sent buyer an email stating the item would arrive in 3 - 5 days.  After so much time, can't find the tracking slip and item is archived.   I've had zero communication with buyer and was  never contacted about a missing item.  On  8/29 receive an "open dispute" from ebay claiming the buyer never received the earrings.  Despite no contact from buyer in 3-1/2 months (and ebay knows this), first they closed the case after I contacted them on the phone then re-opened it a few hours later when buyer contacted their bank.  I smell a scam!  After selling on ebay for 21 years, with a stellar reputation, I'm considering selling on other sites.  This still is not resolved despite three long phone conversations this week.  

[lakefor94]

You have easily sold 5000+ items over the years. Must be your turn for a few bad buyers.  Sorry to hear of the troubles.  Things will turn back around.  Hang tough. 

[rugerskick]

Another way to say it:

"Don't be a high value / high dollar item seller on ebay."

Even though thats the only kind of seller the current ebay board wants selling on the site.

See the problem here, Ebay? If you don't back your sellers in fraud cases, you won't have high value / high dollar item sellers selling here, because they can't afford your fraud-enabling and encouraging policies.

[stainlessenginecovers]

This is a selling website. Customers have ALWAYS been #1 in ALL ASPECTS of retail sales since the first store was opened.

You sell, you get the $. 

Customer is unhappy and wants to give you your item back and get their $ back.

You then have your item back and the buyer has their $ back.

How is ANY OF THAT unfair?? 

Because you simply 'want' to say 'no returns'?

What you (and anyone that thinks they can sell things and use 'no returns') is really saying to buyers is:

'tough beans, I have your $$ and whether you are unhappy with my item or not- too bad!?? 

I cannot WAIT for ebay to do away with the 'no returns'.

Then sellers will not use that crutch any longer. 

[lakefor94]

"I cannot WAIT for ebay to do away with the 'no returns'."

You know it is coming. Not if, when.

Then it will be 10+ years of sellers coming here to the boards wondering when eBay did away with "No Returns"? When did that happen. I am quitting eBay if I have to take returns. 

[mam98031]

@kathyandeve33 

When a Claim is filed, Ebay puts that money on HOLD.  It doesn't go anywhere, it is simply placed on hold so that it is there and available if the claim ends in a refund.

You shipping charges for getting the package returned to you is NOT charged to your account until the buyer actually uses the label.

You can only appeal cases in which you don't take care of the claim in the time allotted and you or the buyer asks Ebay to step in.  That you should steer clear of allowing that to happen as you get a Defect on your  Seller Dashboard.  Too many defects can cause your selling account to be demoted.

The return system as been the same since they changed it to Simplified Returns in October of 2018.

I'm sorry to hear about your attempts to get any help out of CS.  Below is a list of places you can get Customer Service on Ebay.  The two best options is Twitter and Facebook as they have the best trained CSRs there.

Here are your options for contacting Ebay Customer Service.

https://twitter.com/askebay?lang=en

https://www.facebook.com/eBayForBusiness/


If when you use the link below you can only get to the Automated Assistant, type AGENT in the box and hit enter. You will then get more options.

https://community.ebay.com/t5/Selling/How-do-I-contact-Customer-Support/m-p/32016431#M1783851

For the Payment Team
https://www.ebay.com/help/selling/getting-paid/getting-paid-items-youve-sold/payments-hold?id=4816&&...