Used Auto and Truck Part Sellers and Defects

[samsriversidehdtruckparts]

It seems to me that eBay's consideration of a seller having a defect if any product is out of stock or damaged creates an impossible situation for used auto and truck parts dealers for whom every listed item is unique. We obviously cannot replace a part with 100K Miles on it with a part with 500K Miles on it and act like they're the same thing, even if they have the same part number. Everything is the only one of that specific item in stock. Furthermore, many items are "scrap if dropped." And if you've ever worked in a parts yard or warehouse, you know that parts can be around for a very long time sitting in places where they can get damaged. Limiting what eBay considers to be defects then is a herculean task. Meeting eBay's 2% defect threshold for not getting severely harmed by seller limitations is nearly impossible, even if all of the items listed are only listed on eBay. The used parts business simply does not align with eBay's metrics. It is good business for us to immediately let a customer know that we cannot fulfill an order. But on eBay, that is catastrophically bad for the seller to do. I am assuming that others are in this boat too. Thoughts?

They keep comparing us to "peers," but our peers are not Autozone or other new parts dealers. Our peers are other used parts yards and there is no possible way that other used parts yards are finding it easy or even possible to meet a 2% defect ratio either.

[samsriversidehdtruckparts]

And that doesn't even take into account the buyers who deliberately lie about something not being as described so as to return it even when a returns policy is "No Returns Accepted," who attempt to return their busted item in place of the good one we sold them, who want to rent parts to test their equipment and then send it back at our expense... The list goes on. I'm not sure why eBay doesn't adjust the metric for used parts dealers and just let buyers know that used parts are more likely not to work, will simply not arrive looking brand new, won't be in original packaging, and that dealers may cancel orders if the unique part purchased by the buyer is out of stock or damaged, precisely because no other part can be substituted for the purchased one, because of wear and tear on the specific item purchased versus on any replacement, something which protects the buyer. This is all part of why buyers are looking to purchase from used parts dealers in the first place. It's cheaper! In the long run, other markets will develop to handle the business properly and used parts dealers will shift their business, because putting in tons of time to list items and then having eBay prevent buyers from seeing them through advertising or list rankings is a waste of time.

[buyselljack2016]

You have complete control as to "item in stock" or not. That makes cancellations for OOS a justifiable defect.

You should be able do anything that "your peers" can do to keep their metrics up.

[buyselljack2016]

You are subject to having the same "bad customers" as "your peers".  Your peers are faced with the same pitfalls. 

The "metrics" are adjusted. You are compared to your peers, not to the sellers of new items.

[chariot_badges]

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@samsriversidehdtruckparts wrote:

They keep comparing us to "peers," but our peers are not Autozone or other new parts dealers. Our peers are other used parts yards and there is no possible way that other used parts yards are finding it easy or even possible to meet a 2% defect ratio either.

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Retail Return Rate Statistics

Last updated: August 22, 2024

Highlights. eCommerce or online sales returns increased 7.22% from 2022 to 2023 while in-store returns decreased 19.3%.

• The average retail return rate is 26.4% for eCommerce.
• In 2023, consumers returned $248 billion in merchandise from online sales.
• 13.7% of eCommerce sales returns are fraudulent.

So, someone orders a Ford oval emblem, 7 inches from me.   Used.   

The picture looks good because I am encouraged to provide lots of clear pictures.

The buyer gets it, and ... doesn't like it.

Should eBay force us to force them to not be refunded?

How is that good for anybody?

For some reason, it appears that eBay does not want us small sellers any more.

Maybe it's more profitable for them to deal with five or six very large stores ... I dunno, but I feel our time here is limited.  

Nothing good lasts forever.

On line returns, for EVERYBODY, (my peers?) is way over 25%.

ONE FOURTH!

And, I get heat for having one or two ... per HUNDRED?

[kensgiftshop]

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@samsriversidehdtruckparts wrote:

And that doesn't even take into account the buyers who deliberately lie about something not being as described so as to return it even when a returns policy is "No Returns Accepted," who attempt to return their busted item in place of the good one we sold them, who want to rent parts to test their equipment and then send it back at our expense...

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That's not just the used auto parts category, that happens in all categories.

Yes, when a seller doesn't accept returns, buyers know all they have to do is file an INAD to return the item for a refund, even if they have to lie about it.

[redlinear]

@samsriversidehdtruckparts 
 Your inventory being accurate or not is on YOU.
 You say you have it and I drive 4hrs to get it, and it's not there when I get there? That's on YOU.
Now, everything you else said.  Pretty much spot on

[kensgiftshop]

You have to remember, when you buy an item in a store, you can feel and see the item before you decide if you want to purchase it or not.

Buying online, you don't have that option until you receive the item.

The item might look good in your photos, but not as good when the buyer receives the item.

[chariot_badges]

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@kensgiftshop wrote:

You have to remember, when you buy an item in a store, you can feel and see the item before you decide if you want to purchase it or not.

Buying online, you don't have that option until you receive the item.

The item might look good in your photos, but not as good when the buyer receives the item.

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That's right.

And that's my fault.   Right?

I deserve to be punished for that, right?

[inhawaii]

Don't list anything for sale unless it is in stock and ready to ship.

It doesn't get any simpler than that.

[slippinjimmy]

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@samsriversidehdtruckparts wrote:

there is no possible way that other used parts yards are finding it easy or even possible to meet a 2% defect ratio either.

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There is one absolutely easy way to avoid having a more than a 2% defect rate.........

DO NOT deny or ignore Not As Described return requests and do not list things you don't have or are damaged.

I understand the used auto parts is a tough business, return rates are high, abuse of returns is high, buyer incompetence is high but tens of thousands of used part sellers manage to do it, if they can so can you.

[stainlessenginecovers]

You are NOT selling on ebay correctly. 

1.) pull the part

2.) take pictures and 'hold it' till sold

3.) once purchased- ship it

Do NOT wait until it's sold and then go 'try' to 'take it off the car' or 'find the car' or 'find the part'. 

Have it. Then sell it.