eBay

laseafe_44 · ‎04-15-2022

I sold an akai tape deck for parts/repair for $1200. The buyer claimed it was damaged during transit, but sent photos showing it disassembled and not damaged. I asked numerous times for photos of actual damage, he claimed USPS went forth with his insurance claim without photos of damage, so why do I need them? He also demanded a $500 partial refund.

At this point I called ebay, expalained the situation and the customer service rep said it definitely looked bad on the buyers part filing a claim in two ways and demanding a partial refund, but not to worry and just let him return it and if it is in different condition, they will handle it after. I did this, he returned it literally beat with a hammer. USPS sent a letter asking me to bring the item in, I did. They laughed at the items damage and box and told me absolutely did not happen during transit, then when putting everything in the system she noticed a claim was already made on the item so they can not pay out, I called ebay again explaining this and they refused to do anything..

I sold an item in intact condition, the guy bought it, filed a claim with USPS, ebay allowed him to extend his return window be 4 days so he could show the item and get a check through USPS. So this guy has been paid back twice and I am left with a destroyed unsalable tape deck.

How many sellers deal with crap like this before leaving ebay for good??

m60driver · ‎04-15-2022

@laseafe_44 wrote:

How many sellers deal with crap like this before leaving ebay for good??

Many. But for every seller who leaves there are ten new ones willing to take the risk and most sell less risky items, that is less expensive items. And thus Ebay does little to combat the epidemic of fraud on such items and they are ably assisted by the credit card issuers and their tolerance of scam chargebacks.

beautifullybeyond · ‎04-15-2022

I have sold on eBay for about 10 years! They ALWAYS side with the buyer. Even if they have 0 feedback, just joined and I have 99.7% great feedback they always believe the buyer. I’m sick of it. But it’s like that on all platforms. I’m sorry this happened to you! I have lost a lot of money due to scammers.

duffy4444 · ‎04-15-2022

I'll say it again for it seems at least the hundredth time, for the benefit of all sellers who use this forum:

NEVER, EVER sell, and especially ship, a higher-value item online that you and your business model are not prepared to lose - along with your payment for it on a forced eBay or CC chargeback refund as a double insult when it's obviously on the opposite side of common sense.

Instead, use a local venue like Craigslist or local classifieds. That way you can require cash, there's NO shipping scams, the buyer shows up in person to accept the item as is, NO credit card chargebacks, the sale completes successfully with a handshake, and NO Customer-No-Service Reps to lie to you or tell you anything just to get you off the phone.

I've got a LOT of items worth hundreds of dollars that I'd really like to sell on eBay with my existing successful infrastructure here, but I won't until eBay gets back to real seller protections with teeth in them, and Customer Service Reps that speak proper, understandable English and have the authority to intervene in a situation and solve it with common sense.

Case in point: About 20 years ago I sold a properly and honestly described and fully photo-documented item with "no returns or refunds". The buyer didn't like it for a contrived, stupid reason, and filed a case with eBay. The eBay rep looked at the case, saw the full and honest documentation in my listing, and in about 2 minutes told the buyer, and I quote, "If the terms noted in the item description were not acceptable to you, you should have not purchased the item to begin with". Case closed thru the use of common sense.

Compare that with today... So until eBay gets back to common sense, reliable CS reps and equitable seller protections, it is best to not use online selling for high-value items. That is, unless you don't care about the loss of your item in addition to hundreds or even thousands of dollars when your payment is returned to the buyer. There has been a quickly increasing rise in scammers and vindictive buyers who know this and would just as soon send a box of rocks in return or destroy your item with a hammer before returning it.

Cheers, Duffy

laseafe_44 · ‎04-15-2022

The entire situation is just depressing. I will be reporting him for fraud as well as taking him to small claims and possible eBay as well depending how they handle the situation. Until the USPS investigation is over they can not give me any paperwork stating the damage did not happen during transit, and that he filed a double claim. Once I have that paper I can prove his actions in court. But unfortunately it won't help with the crazy amounts of scamming on ebay, I have been burned many many times but usually $50- $100 so I just move along. This is over $1300, I am not just going to sit aside and let it happen.

Ebay needs to find a happy medium between sellers and buyers, best bet would be a return service similar to global shipping program, returns go to a third party to be examined before they get to the seller so any negligence is documented. And if an item has been used or broken then the return should be cancelled and the item sent back to the buyer. Ebay is going to be neck up once another company gets as much attention and use as they do, it will happen eventually. And everyone will hop off the titanic (ebay).

While I am in a rant, how about percentages? Are percentages not used in a business to combat inflation?? So as prices go up so does their income?? Then why do percentages keep going up??

donsdetour · ‎04-15-2022

@laseafe_44 wrote:
I sold an akai tape deck for parts/repair for $1200. The buyer claimed it was damaged during transit, but sent photos showing it disassembled and not damaged. I asked numerous times for photos of actual damage, he claimed USPS went forth with his insurance claim without photos of damage, so why do I need them? He also demanded a $500 partial refund.

At this point I called ebay, expalained the situation and the customer service rep said it definitely looked bad on the buyers part filing a claim in two ways and demanding a partial refund, but not to worry and just let him return it and if it is in different condition, they will handle it after. I did this, he returned it literally beat with a hammer. USPS sent a letter asking me to bring the item in, I did. They laughed at the items damage and box and told me absolutely did not happen during transit, then when putting everything in the system she noticed a claim was already made on the item so they can not pay out, I called ebay again explaining this and they refused to do anything..

        I sold an item in intact condition, the guy bought it, filed a claim with USPS, ebay allowed him to extend his return window be 4 days so he could show the item and get a check through USPS. So this guy has been paid back twice and I am left with a destroyed unsalable tape deck.

   How many sellers deal with crap like this before leaving ebay for good??

Well the partial refund may be your best option as you still might make a buck:

This type of fraud and theft is all to common with folks scavenging parts for their stuff.

Wen will folks leave due to such: when the bottom line starts to be negative instead of positive...

laseafe_44 · ‎04-15-2022

I get what you mean, and I appreciate the input. But the issue for me is I make money based upon local prices vs what these items sell for in other areas. Example, I paid $200 for the tape deck here in CT. I could of probably sold it for $400 or so local, but I sold it for $1200 on ebay. I buy local for cheap and sell on ebay for profit. So selling local unfortunately is not an option. I am going to check other online venues if ebay does not help resolve in the last appeal of their decision. I think I may be stuck using an assortment of forums for each type of item I sell. Very discouraging, I usually sell on average 8-12k per month on here, to do that with any other venue will be nearly impossible. Lately I am averaging 5k a month in sales as I entertain other money making ideas as well as other places to sell.

donsdetour · ‎04-15-2022

@laseafe_44 wrote:
I get what you mean, and I appreciate the input. But the issue for me is I make money based upon local prices vs what these items sell for in other areas. Example, I paid $200 for the tape deck here in CT. I could of probably sold it for $400 or so local, but I sold it for $1200 on ebay. I buy local for cheap and sell on ebay for profit. So selling local unfortunately is not an option. I am going to check other online venues if ebay does not help resolve in the last appeal of their decision. I think I may be stuck using an assortment of forums for each type of item I sell. Very discouraging, I usually sell on average 8-12k per month on here, to do that with any other venue will be nearly impossible. Lately I am averaging 5k a month in sales as I entertain other money making ideas as well as other places to sell.

Diversity is very advisable this day an age.

Short of taking such scammers to court: not much recourse.

Of course such situations as you describe on this topic: one should file fraud and theft with feds, Postal and local law enforcement: as such scammers just keep doing such..

Dont forget to put em on your blocked bidders list...

erkosuniverse · ‎04-15-2022

This is a shame here,

There is another post under selling from a seller that was jilted,the buyer kept the item and received payment refund

Now the seller is out both; their item and payment

These scenario's have been going on too long and happening too much to good people like yourself just trying to sell some things

Its a disgrace and is wrong

1tuna · ‎04-15-2022

if I were yo I woud go to the police and make a claim for malicous destruction of returned item

if you did not send it with hammer marks then someone is lying and the police need to make note of it in a report

there is a special ebay email for reports when you are ready to contest the decision

hammer marks are taking the lie too far, its not like its a broken $2 CD of greatest hits

its worth a try

Germantown proud Germantown strong
up the whiskey hickon
moving right along
19144

blh478 · ‎04-15-2022

I had been successfully selling on eBay for around 15 years when all of a sudden the scamming started. I took two $1200 losses back to back, and threw in the towel. eBay has proven to be completely useless in protecting sellers so I walked away about 2 years ago. I have tons of stuff that I’d like to sell, but I refuse to just give it away. eBay has turned into the “Wild West”, and they apparently just don’t care.

dbfolks166mt · ‎04-15-2022

Having filed a couple of insurance claims I can tell you for certain that USPS will NOT process a claim without pictures and there is almost a 99.99% probability that the buyer is going to have to take the item into the post office along with the original package for inspection prior to USPS paying the claim. If they agree the item was damaged in shipping USPS is going to keep the item along wth the original packing before they process the claim.

Buyer is attempting a partial refund scam. If they open a NAD case you have a couple of options but if you agree to the refund upon return of the item his USPS claim is dead. If he defrauds the USPS you can report it to the USPS IG and trust me they will be all over it. Penalties are steep for mail fraud and theft. If you need the USPS IG website let me know.

inhawaii · ‎04-15-2022

You having ebay step in was the kiss of death.

You have sealed your own faith.

There is a good chance that the buyer will be refunded (with your money) and get to keep the item.

You should have treated this like a regular return.

Accept the return / pay the return shipping / refund the buyer when you get the item back.

At least you would have got the item back.

Highway Patrol - Junior Brown

mandisattictoyz · ‎04-15-2022

Actually if you tell a supervisor the customer is double dipping with an insurance claim and wants a refund at the same time they will defend the seller here. eBay won’t allow such illegal activities to happen