There's an epidemic of buyers not reading the conditions/item specifics. What's going on?

[alwaysauthentic1]

I would say that nearly 50% of my items that are being sold under For Parts or Not Working are returned because the buyer claims that they thought they were working. And the buyer files a return putting in defective or missing parts, etc, everytime.

Does anyone know what's going on?

Are the buyers truly not seeing this or is it just a scam so they can check out and/or pick over the item and if it's not a simple fix (even though I'm typically overly thorough as to what the problem is), lie and say that they didn't know that it wasn't working?

The same thing happen with items I have listed that are working, but are missing an accessory or something that I explain in the condition/item specifics.

And each time this happens this costs me shipping both ways. I'm not a huge seller or anything, but I'm losing about $200 a month for the last 3 months because of this.

Is anyone else running into this? And does anyone have any theories as to what's going on. And is there any way I can get my shipping costs back when this happens. I offer free returns, but there's no way in hell it should be covered due to people buying items without reading the condition/item specifics

I even tried putting various issues in the titles, but then eBay pulled a listing and sent me a warning not to do that. So what are my options... only sell new items without condition/item specifics and find some other place to sell any New Other/used/fixing or for parts/missing accessory items? 

[castlemagicmemories]

A wise idea, so it is seen up front and center.

[abfabvintage]

@tunicaslot

Hi, I rarely if ever critique an OPs listings. My comment has to do with what Madison said about the Mobile process. Doesn't matter what the seller has in their description, whether right or wrong, if it isn't coming through on Mobile with information the buyer should read? I read the entire thread. I get it.

[coffeebean832]

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@castlemagicmemories wrote:

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Re: MOBILE VIEW

And if there is a description, I understand the link is obscure and at the bottom of the page, so many just don't click to view it.

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That's not true.

[coffeebean832]

@softersilk, that's true and a lot of that information about format was addressed in the eBay podcast.

@alwaysauthentic1, you should listen to this and go to the part about mobile listings:

https://community.ebay.com/t5/Season-1/Episode-7-Fashion-Brands-Optimizing-Mobile-Listings-eBay-s-Ne...

[castlemagicmemories]

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@coffeebean832 wrote:

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@castlemagicmemories wrote:

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Re: MOBILE VIEW

And if there is a description, I understand the link is obscure and at the bottom of the page, so many just don't click to view it.

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That's not true.

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That is what I read.

[coffeebean832]

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@castlemagicmemories wrote:

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@coffeebean832 wrote:

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@castlemagicmemories wrote:

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Re: MOBILE VIEW

And if there is a description, I understand the link is obscure and at the bottom of the page, so many just don't click to view it.

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That's not true.

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That is what I read.

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If it's written on the internet it must be true.

[castlemagicmemories]

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@coffeebean832 wrote:

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@castlemagicmemories wrote:

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@coffeebean832 wrote:

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@castlemagicmemories wrote:

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Re: MOBILE VIEW

And if there is a description, I understand the link is obscure and at the bottom of the page, so many just don't click to view it.

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That's not true.

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That is what I read.

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If it's written on the internet it must be true.

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Never said that and I know better.  It's been posted on this Board.

[coffeebean832]

There's a lot posted on this board that isn't true. Someone reads one thing, puts their own interpretation on it and it starts to spread as if it's fact.

I'm looking at a listing on a mobile device right now - the description is not at the bottom and the read more link is not obscure.

You don't have to believe me. Look on a mobile device for yourself.

[the*dog*ate*my*tablecloth]

puffery is not compatible with as/is for parts or not working listings.

AS IS means AS DESCRIBED IN THE LISTING. If you put that the item looks like it was never used then that overrides the as is. The buyer will expect something that looks like it was never used.

[castlemagicmemories]

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@coffeebean832 wrote:

There's a lot posted on this board that isn't true. Someone reads one thing, puts their own interpretation on it and it starts to spread as if it's fact.

I'm looking at a listing on a mobile device right now - the description is not at the bottom and the read more link is not obscure.

You don't have to believe me. Look on a mobile device for yourself.

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I research further after your post and found, so it said, that buyers have to swipe across to see the description.  I don't know if the previous information was not true, or there was a change but suffice it to say, this is what I found now.

Sorry, I don't use mobile devices.

[gracieallen01]

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@castlemagicmemories wrote:

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@coffeebean832 wrote:

There's a lot posted on this board that isn't true. Someone reads one thing, puts their own interpretation on it and it starts to spread as if it's fact.

I'm looking at a listing on a mobile device right now - the description is not at the bottom and the read more link is not obscure.

You don't have to believe me. Look on a mobile device for yourself.

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I research further after your post and found, so it said, that buyers have to swipe across to see the description.  I don't know if the previous information was not true, or there was a change but suffice it to say, this is what I found now.

Sorry, I don't use mobile devices.

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What's a 'mobile device'?     

[castlemagicmemories]

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@gracieallen01 wrote:

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@castlemagicmemories wrote:

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@coffeebean832 wrote:

There's a lot posted on this board that isn't true. Someone reads one thing, puts their own interpretation on it and it starts to spread as if it's fact.

I'm looking at a listing on a mobile device right now - the description is not at the bottom and the read more link is not obscure.

You don't have to believe me. Look on a mobile device for yourself.

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I research further after your post and found, so it said, that buyers have to swipe across to see the description.  I don't know if the previous information was not true, or there was a change but suffice it to say, this is what I found now.

Sorry, I don't use mobile devices.

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What's a 'mobile device'?     

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At least you are not incredulous that I posted that!  

[castlemagicmemories]

As you know, there is no logic in having a lengthy TOS but a minimal description, yet this is seen all the time.

[castlemagicmemories]

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@the*dog*ate*my*tablecloth wrote:

puffery is not compatible with as/is for parts or not working listings.

AS IS means AS DESCRIBED IN THE LISTING. If you put that the item looks like it was never used then that overrides the as is. The buyer will expect something that looks like it was never used.

Yes, they will.  Imagine that!  

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[alwaysauthentic1]

You can usually get away with it, but eBay doesn't want sellers to put that information in the title. I did it for a while, until I received a suspension warning about doing it, so now I don't.