Sick of the scams

[kimberly7099]

Ebay has got to do something about this. SCAMS...on all ends. From buyers to sellers and I know it happens from sellers to buyers as well. The "rules" in place are only esculating the scams.

This is the 4th time in one month that I have had a buyer try and scam me. I always fight them ,never cave in. I got lucky the last 3 times but this one is going to cost me big time. It doesn't "have" to cost me if I am willing to cave in which is what the buyer is hoping for. But I would rather be out $240 in shipping costs than to let them keep the item and continue to keep pulling this stunt on others.

1st case... person stated a cooking pot was way more used than I described and wanted to return....filed a return case as item not as described which would make me pay return shipping.  My pictures showed how clean the pot was. So I choose the option in the returns claim to message buyer. I stated pictures showed condition of pot but they were welcome to return it if they paid return shipping. Then they stated that the handle was broken completely off...well that had to of happened in shipping. So I looked up on ebay for a replacement handle (found one for $10) and messaged them back that I would file an insurance claim for the broken handle and reimburse them....or ...they could still return the item...but I needed pictures of the damage for the claim...which I do for ALL damage claims. They messaged back that they bought a new handle and threw the broken one away...wanted $18 for the cost of the replacement handle. I asked for a picture or copy of the reciept for the replacement handle... they stalled... then mailed me a copy of a completed listing which anyone can print off...not an orders detail page with their name as the buyer...just a generic completed listings print off. ...which was only $13 by the way NOT $18 lol....and sold on the very same day they received the pot but they didn't file the snad case until 3 days later ???  I told them with out some kind of proof with their name on the reciept, I couldn't file the claim. They finally gave up.

2nd person bought a New Old Stock aluminum pan set. Messaged me that the glue that was on the label "totally ruined" (exact words lol) the pan...but she wanted to keep them and get a partial refund. I had kept a set of those pans for myself and that old glue washes off and I told them so. I told her she was welcome to return the pans even if the original labels were slightly torn from her removing them but they did need to be as close to in as received condition as possible so I could resale them. She stated she wanted to keep them and was "dissappointed" that I wouldn't give her a partial refund and would leave me negative feedback if I didn't. I told her I DO NOT DO PARTIAL REFUNDS... if not completely happy with the item...return them for a full refund but she pays return shipping. Then I reported her to Ebay for buyer abuse and feedback threats. 

3rd person bought a pair of silk pants...filed snad...said they were stained and discolored. I told them I thought it was buyers remorse that they may not fit them or just not happy with them but pictures show no discoloration and they could return them for full refund if they paid shipping. They never responded.

And now...a $55 stereo that got sold to Canada. Shipping was $90.  I had a bad feeling from the get go. They get it and file a claim that it doesn't work and want to return. I said fine...return it...knowing that I'll have to pay return shipping but it's my word over theirs...I know i works... . I know that they were hoping I'd say keep it and I'll refund you..that way I wouldn't be out the extra return shipping costs...that surprised them...so then they sent a 2nd message and they offered to not ship it back to me to save me that cost and they would take it to a recycle center for disposal...umm hmm..sure you will. I said no thanks... if you want a refund...return the stereo. I have since taken International shipping off all electronics and anything over $25 or added Priority Express shipping only because it is the only way to track and International package. And even then we had an Express package get "lost" in the mail and the Post Office is giving us a huge run around on the claim because it is an expensive item. We've never had a problem with lost or damage claims until this package.

My husband has had 2 cases of scams this month...one International they said they never got and we couldn't track so another reason we have each quit selling International and one who was upset that what he bought didn't come with an accessory that is sold separately. The box stated that it did NOT come with the accessory, the pictures didn't show the accessory but ebay gave them their money back and charged us return shipping anyway. We offered a return if they paid shipping since item WAS as described but he didn't understand ad or pictures. Makes no sense to me.

So Ebay...tell me how this is all good for your business when so many of us are now not selling International which has driven sales down and  the continued scams, increased fees, increased hassles and everything else is driving away sellers. My husband has been able to go from 90% sales on ebay to about 25% on ebay and the other 75% on other sites. I am trying to do the same so I am not so dependant on ebay.

[retrose1]

I am also sick of scams and the solution is to not list anything on ebay that is high dollar, high demand or high scam.

But I am doing great selling those items on other sites and venues with little to no problems.

[kimberly7099]

Thank you retrose1. That gave me a little pick me up just being "heard" 🙂 And hoping ebay staff reads this stuff...especially what you said...Ebay used to be THE place to list high dollar high demand items...now it's only for low risk low dollar stuff. I hope it makes them realize they are ruining what used to be a great great site.

I noticed on one return where the buyer was honest and filed it as buyers remorse...I wasn't forced to pay the original shipping costs when I refunded them...but I did just because they were honest. Made me think the only reason ebay may have made that change is several of their big box chains were sick of being out so much money for buyers remorse and threatened to pull out so ebay changed things for THEM...not us small fry sellers.

That's what my husband is doing...other venues where the scams are harder to pull. I'm headed that way too, just been selling on ebay for 12 years and hate change.

[retrose1]

Back at ya kimberly. 

Some sellers make their choices black and white - sell on ebay, don't sell on ebay, but the reality is that they should be fluid and expand or contract the number of sales accordingly.

I specialize in vintage items and clothing, and used to do well with it on ebay.  After getting many problems, I analyzed the problems, what could be causing them and came up with the solution to fix the problem.  In the case of vintage items, it was realizing that the type of buyer on ebay had changed from collectors to mall shoppers, and that the mall shoppers do not understand the differences between the stuff they can get at the mall and vintage items.  So I moved the vintage to other sites and venues.

In the case of high dollar, high scam items, ebay's policies are such that they favor the buyer with no means of justice or appeal for sellers, the the solution is simple, don't list them on ebay.  By the way, you might want to read a few other threads on the boards, some ebay employees are making some surprising statements about ebay policies that has posters reaching for their suitcases.

But even without high dollar and vintage, that still leaves a lot of stuff that I can make money on and so I make smaller amounts on ebay, but it is money that I wouldn't be making if I just got mad and left.  The whole point of selling online is making some money and getting rid of stuff, but if you prepare for scammers and list and act accordingly, you can make extra money on ebay and have few problems.

[vintagecraze50]

Just have to say that you did a great job on diverting a few of those possible scam partial refund bugs. 

[vintagecraze50]

It is such that selling on Ebay for everyone, small seller and large seller are expected to conduct business like most other retail internet sites, meaning you will offer at least 30 day returns, and now the push to offer free return shipping on all items. It is the trend Ebay is following to compete and it is going full force in that direction. On NPR radio I heard an interview with someone regarding the direction of internet sales in general. The trend for all is the free ship back. Mall stores are closing at an alarming rate. They can sell so much more online with fewer operating costs, especially for drop shipped items, that they have no investment in until they sell. They reason they can afford free ship back this way. Although an analysis of rate of return and adding the cost to the product percentage wise is probably the smarter alternative to recoup ship charges back. 

[luckythewinner]

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@retrose1 wrote:

Some sellers make their choices black and white - sell on ebay, don't sell on ebay, but the reality is that they should be fluid and expand or contract the number of sales accordingly. 

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And in addition to being fluid with the number of listings, I think many are adjusting their business model as well. 

I have "fraud fund" that has a minimum of $250 in it, and I put 50 cents from every transaction. Whenever it grows to $500, I claim $250 as mine and draw it back down to $250. Doing this disciplines me to account for fraud in my business model, but also reminds me how little fraud I actually encounter when I regularly get that "extra" $250. 

I have also evolved my product line to items that are primarily able to ship for $4 or less (media mail or 1 pound First Class). In the OP's case, I would never risk $90 to make $50 - heck, I wouldn't even risk spending what it would cost to mail it to the USA. 

[myboardid]

Insisting on return for refund is your best option for preventing fraud, but the scammer/buyer could still send back a rock instead of your item and ebay would force you to refund.  You were very lucky with those potential scams that you have described.

It does seems to depend on what you sell.  I don't sell international at all and never will, so I don't have that problem, but I would say that I have less than one  of that same type of scam attempt in a year, out of thousands of sales.  And the last time I was threatened with bad feedback for refusing a partial refund (maybe three years ago), I received a neg for doing so.  It was written well enough that I couldn't get it removed.   

[mg152]

Supposedly, we are supposed to have more seller protection in the coming months but I don't know if I'll be around here to see if it works. Too stressful & at my age, I don't need more stress.
You handled everything correctly!

[deep-garnet-red]

Sorry you have had so much trouble.  Other than clothing I never get any false SNADs.  For vintage items I've only had one return in all these years. I used to do international shipping but decided against it this time around. BTW, Express is not the only service with Delivery Confirmation.

[ersatz_sobriquet]

The scammers have increased and the remorse buyers are 99% claiming snad to get free shipping. Ebay knew this would happen and they basically promoted it, then they can next update say well things have gone this way for awhile now so we are just going to make it policy. It's that frog in the boiling water effect, seller by the time ebay makes the policy mandatory of free return shipping is by that time used to it with all the false snad claims. 

I used to ship $500 items overseas without hesitation. Now I no longer sell internationally. The word is out, ebay has switched to free shipping, free return shipping, buyer remorse free returns, get the item at the price you want no matter what the seller wants to sell it for. Next step--force the seller to sell at the price the buyer wants to pay LOL! It's not so funny though, but it's all that is left--force best offer on sellers (they have started that) and then force the seller to accept the best offer or take an out of stock defect. 

[pikabo-icu]

HOLY MOLY!

You are a ROCK in a sea of chaos!

I don't know if I couldv'e kept it together through all that.

You did an outstanding job of handling each one- BUT it's extremely sad to know sellers have to be that well versed in fighting scams. Know what I mean.... 

I sincerely hope things will improve for a while.. Seems like you've had more than your share of grit, it's time for some gravy!! 

CHEERS

[vintagecraze50]

In the long run, using free return shipping will be a good choice. As long as the cost of this perk is figured into your business model. And,  everyone , big retailer, small seller, who uses free shipping to and free shipping back surely get their profits out of it or they just do not sell it .  It's like everything else that looks like a bargain , smells like a bargain. It's the perception of the bargain for the buyer that counts, while the seller still happily makes a profit.

[kimberly7099]

Love you're fraud fund idea. Either a mistake on my part or a scammer refund used to only happen once or twice a year and I didn't let it get to me, price of doing business. And I used to have a physical store with high overhead so I've always told my husband that ebay is still cheaper and easier than the physical store but year by year and now month by month that is changing.

I watched Small Business Revolution where the guy from Shark Tank and another person picked one town and helped several businesses. The main improvement for each was marketing. My husband and I have tried some of the suggestions and have seen an increase in his sales on several sites and Facebook Market Place has been doing great. The other main suggestion was changing with the times...which is where I am stuck 🙂 But I'm making that start and have high hopes for the future...off ebay.

[kimberly7099]

I just now added the 30 day return because of the new policy changes. I was one of those who didn't fall in line the 1st go around so they forced my hand.

Our International sales used to make up about 40% of our sales. With Postal Rate increases that went down and then with the 10% fee on shipping costs, that went down more. I hate punishing the 95% good International buyers for the 5% scammers but it's just too much a roll of the dice these days. So since ebay won't handle it, we just decided to stop International sales on anything high dollar, high risk or high ship. International now only makes up about 1/2% of my sales. That's a lot of revenue loss for me...and ebay.