eBay

product2people · ‎10-28-2025

Ebay stole money from me after a buyer made a false claim and return. Buyer claimed item did not work, but that's what it was sold as, "for parts/not working." The whole reason I sold it as such was to avoid any potential issues as the item is heavy to ship and easily damaged by buyer misuse. Customer service representatives insisted that I wait to ask ebay to step in (waited and the buyer beat me to it in the middle of the night). Then they insisted I wait until the return is received. Did that, called, then they insisted I wait for the claim to be closed. Did that, they insisted I appeal. Did that and instantly denied due to the agent that did the appeal didn't input all of the details and used the wrong primary reason. Tried to reappeal and one agent said he could do that for me, but then I get an email saying I can only appeal once? These people aren't using any reasoning, logic, common sense, and aren't comprehending anything I say to them. I could have just accepted the return and then issued a 50% refund when received, but I tried to listen to the first agent who said I would be protected.

Ultimately, I just want to be able to contact someone who can actually help and issue the refund I deserve. I'm out over $500 due to them not accepting responsibility and just stealing my money (not refunding any fees and issuing a full refund to the buyer using my funds). Ebay for Business on Facebook used to be able to provide help, but as that's no longer a thing, I am seemingly stuck with phone calls that lead nowhere and only to more waiting.

onefootflipper · ‎10-28-2025

The customer stole the money from you. Not ebay. I can't believe you have sold 11,000 items and never had this happen before.

christworks · ‎10-28-2025

There is probably not much you can do.

Buyers have 3 days from the date of delivery to open an INAD claim for items sold as parts/not working. No matter what your return policy or why you listed it under that condition, buyers can still open a INAD. When they do, your only option is to refund them without a return, or accept the return and get the item back. There is a decent chance they would have never returned it.

Once you have it back, you report the buyer for abusing the return policy, then you issue the refund. Keep the original shipping and take 50% off if you want. After you have done all that, you can call eBay to see if they can reimburse you the other half you are out or perhaps the cost of the return shipping label. That's where having it on the record that the buyer abused the return policy can help you.

Relist it and try again.

I sold a Delta faucet a couple of weeks ago. It had not been used, it was still in the box. But the box was missing the hose and the faucet had some cosmetic wear to it because it was not wrapped up well. Rather than go buy the hose for it, I listed it for parts/not working, noted the missing hose and also that it had some cosmetic issues. I put it out there at a low price and it sold within a couple of days. The buyer received it last week then messaged me demanding a $25 refund because it had some light cosmetic issues. I had no returns set up, which I do for all parts/not working listings, but I'll still take something back if they say it isn't as described. Why do I do that? Because I know that is what eBay wants, and I know the only way to have eBay back me up is to follow their rules. It is their playground, after all.

I also know that most of the people wanting partials are scammers and I suspect this was actually another reseller trying to pad their margin as the faucet was worth much more than they paid. I told the buyer to open a return and I would send them a label. I then reported them for buyer abuse because they demanded a partial refund. Didn't hear anything else from the buyer until Saturday. Again they demanded for a $25 refund. I gave them the same answer: Open a return, I'll send a label, ship it back, and you get your money back. Their 3-day window to open an INAD expired yesterday. I blocked the buyer and have moved on.

You've sold 11k items. I'm not sure why you didn't know what to do in this situation. Some of the reps are good, even the ones overseas, but some have no idea what they are doing. I had one tell me a few weeks ago I don't get any free listings for having a Basic Store.

product2people · ‎10-28-2025

1 other time with a brand new PS5 (not scalped lol). Buyer claimed it didn't work and returned an empty and opened envelope. Ebay for Business issued both me and the buyer a full refund. In this case, the buyer did return the item, though terribly packaged and was actually damaged during return shipping. Due to how expensive the return shipping is, and the type of item (expensive electronic with potentially damaged/stolen internals that I have no 100% way to test), I sold it as for parts and not working. I blame the buyer for being stupid enough to assume an item listed as not working and for less than half the price of a working unit, would work perfectly. However, ebay is the middleman here that needs to accept responsibility for allowing the return and just providing poor customer service.

It sucks. I know better. I knew they weren't going to help. Should have just accepted the return and issued the 50% refund. I've even told multiple representatives that I would be okay with a compromise- refund my original fees and half of the refund amount. But they all claim they can't do that or need to send it to a useless appeal team.

All these big companies are just so terrible and refuse to help when any real issues occur. I've had to deal with the same problem multiple times this past year- big ass companies, but not a single person to get in contact with that can do anything to help. As you can see, it's driving me insane.

product2people · ‎10-28-2025

Yeah I know better. I just held out in this case because of the type of item it was. Anything else and I would have just accepted it. I read some people's posts that had similar situations in which they claimed ebay actually helped so I had some hope they would look into the case and do the right thing. Screwed myself of course. Guess I'll just keep blowing up their emails and social media.

12345jamesstamps · ‎10-28-2025

'1 other time'...might have been a courtesy refund.

Customer service reps can't do anything and usually can't solve anything.

Unfortunately, no returns do not mean no returns with the eBay MBG...and you know this.

I am surprised eBay did not charge $20. doing the appeal and appeal.

Some buyers are not the most educated...and some buyers 'know' how to outsmart a seller.

You got taken from a buyer.

I wouldn't blame eBay for this.

stainlessenginecovers · ‎10-28-2025

@12345jamesstamps wrote:
'1 other time'...might have been a courtesy refund.
Customer service reps can't do anything and usually can't solve anything.
Unfortunately, no returns do not mean no returns with the eBay MBG...and you know this.
I am surprised eBay did not charge $20. doing the appeal and appeal.
Some buyers are not the most educated...and some buyers 'know' how to outsmart a seller.
You got taken from a buyer.
I wouldn't blame eBay for this.

Not "Might".

Was.

product2people · ‎10-30-2025

Ebay customer service is more non-existent than I thought. It's been years since I've contacted them. Think they've actually gotten worse. Every rep I've talked to is clueless and most lie. I removed all of my items for the time being. Definitely won't be buying anything on ebay anymore and won't be selling most bigger ticket items if I can help it.

Just really shameful business practices. They're just thieves and they know they can get away with it. I'm upset, but more disappointed than anything. Just a reminder how terrible people are in this world. I wish I could bring myself to scam and take advantage like most do. I appreciate everyone's responses. My fault for being so naive to expect some sort of decency.

tobaccocardyahoo · ‎10-30-2025

@product2people wrote:
Yeah I know better. I just held out in this case because of the type of item it was. Anything else and I would have just accepted it. I read some people's posts that had similar situations in which they claimed ebay actually helped so I had some hope they would look into the case and do the right thing. Screwed myself of course. Guess I'll just keep blowing up their emails and social media.

I'm glad you learned from this experience.

The combination of UNTESTED and Parts Only is an invitation for some gamblers to take a chance on buying a listing knowing full well there will be an opportunity to claim INAD for some defect which was not identified in the listing.

Heavy and untested was a risk you will probably not repeat.

ittybitnot · ‎10-30-2025

Customer service representatives insisted that I......

@product2people

Unfortunately, the CS reps you get in a call back or chat are often less than helpful. They may give you advice, or tell you what you should do, but they are often incorrect. Then, if you follow their advice, as you did, and as a result your problem gets worse, it is always ON YOU. If you listen to them, and it backfires, eBay does not back you up. One of the most dangerous is when they tell you wait or do nothing. Alarm bells should go off in your head!! You are supposed to know better, and why the reps are not to be trusted.

The present eBay social media portals are:

https://www.facebook.com/eBay/ (use the blue message button)

OR direct message through one of these:

https://www.instagram.com/ebayforsellers/

https://x.com/askebay