Why I'm quitting EBay

[1975esprit]

After years of selling, I deleted all of my listings today - including ones with bids. Why? Because EBay accepted a fraudulent return request from one of my buyers, and told me I'd be paying for return shipping and issuing a refund. This despite multiple phone calls and messages from me, and the proof given in e-mails sent from the buyer himself.

I was always honest and prompt as a seller. I always communicated clearly with buyers. My listings were accurately described. And EBay stubbornly refused to take any of that into account, instead choosing to honor a deceptive, flat-out fraudulent return demand. As long as the buyer claims "item not as described," EBay will ignore the facts and rule against the seller. Now my PayPal account has a negative balance in excess of $120. This is my reward for being a straight shooter - and for putting money into EBay's already-fat wallets. 

It's a drag, because I made supplemental income this way, and had many pleasant experiences. But I refuse to be robbed as a direct result of corporate greed and apathy towards those who make them money. 

EBay is like the phone company was about 40 years ago. They know you have limited options, so they don't care about messing you over. But I'm ready to explore my other options now, as I refuse to sell through EBay anymore. 

[thevintagesilvershop]

Have you had many of these?

[pburn]

After reading about the scams on these discussion boards day after day, I understand your decision. I know buyers get scammed, too, so there's plenty happening on both sides of the cash register.

[emerald40]

From your post sounds like this is the first time this has happened?

If so, it seems silly imo to stop selling after countless years just because of this, which has happened or will hapen to pretty much everyone eventually.

Yes it is a cost of doing business.  B&M stores have shoplifters.  Online venues have this.

[1975esprit]

The difference is, they're not being scammed BY EBAY ITSELF.

[1975esprit]

No, this is different, because EBay is the one ripping me off. If a buyer makes a fraudulent claim, that's one thing. But for EBay to rule in their favor, when they have access to proof of what took place?

And no, it is not the first time that their return policy has bitten me in the behind, but it's the worst. And the last.

[1975esprit]

A few. I have 100 percent positive feedback, and numerous successful transactions, and repeat customers. But this is the first time EBay has granted the return of a 150 dollar item that cost me more than 50 to ship, even though they have access to e-mails that demonstrate that I'm in the right.

[luckythewinner]

Generally speaking, any buyer can steal any item from any seller at any time using a fraudulent SNAD.  This has been the case on eBay for over a decade now, ever since eBay introduced the Money Back Guarantee for buyers.

It's looks like you've been pretty lucky up until now- I think most sellers have already discovered this, and either adjusted their business model or moved on. 

[1975esprit]

I have been burned by them before, but on smaller-ticket items and/or in cases where I felt I was willing to give in a bit. In this case, I did everything I knew to secure my position. I called EBay and gave details about the incident. I didn't fall into the trap of accepting the return request - figuring that EBay would conduct an honest investigation. I reported the buyer. None of it mattered. 

I'm beside myself with anger. It's no different than being robbed. I canceled pending sales, because I knew EBay would seize the money from those sales to offset the fraudulent return cost. I was not about to lose additional inventory because of dishonest people. 

Not to mention a lot of wasted time spent trying to repeatedly explain the situation to people who may as well be robots. They don't seem to even know how to investigate such a situation - they just let "the system" dictate what's going to happen. 

It's typical corporate greed garbage. EBay is one more company that has grown too big for its own good. The founder has made his billions, so what does he care if the little guy gets taken for $150? 

[sicario_soldado]

...we arrest shoplifters, ever have someone stick a gun in your face...what is the eBay equal of that?

...ever have a pervert expose himself in the middle of the store?

...ever been stalked by a known sex offender?

No, we don't put up with it in a real world store, we tackle, we arrest, we hold for the police and we press charges.

Any equal to that on eBay?

[1975esprit]

No, apparently EBay believes in doing the opposite: "Is there a thief in the store? Let's help him out! As long as we get our cut, who cares?"

[ted_200]

It's a drag, because I made supplemental income this way, and had many pleasant experiences. But I refuse to be robbed as a direct result of corporate greed and apathy towards those who make them money. 

I haven't read the replies yet, but I already know you're going to get a bunch of "you're quitting because of one bad transaction?" and "cost of doing business" and "industry standard" replies. 

That doesn't change the fact that many sellers are just like you, and are not going to put up with being ripped off on deals where it's clear to anyone with two eyeballs and a brain what is going on.  Sadly, I doubt eBay cares and will have the attitude "don't let the door hit you in the... ". 

[ted_200]

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@1975esprit wrote:
No, apparently EBay believes in doing the opposite: "Is there a thief in the store? Let's help him out! As long as we get our cut, who cares?"

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They've basically put a sign in the window that says "Free Stuff" and they hold the door open for them on the way out...

[emerald40]

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@sicario_soldado wrote:

...we arrest shoplifters, ever have someone stick a gun in your face...what is the eBay equal of that?

...ever have a pervert expose himself in the middle of the store?

...ever been stalked by a known sex offender?

No, we don't put up with it in a real world store, we tackle, we arrest, we hold for the police and we press charges.

Any equal to that on eBay?

__________________________________

As to the above.  What does a known sex offender have to do with shopping.  No perverts in store either.  But what does that have to do with shopping, other than where he is doin it.

And yes the police arrest and some shyster lawyer gets him off and he is right back on the street.

Think of ebay as a sanctuary city for buyers.

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[sicario_soldado]

...its the risk of doing business in the real world, real risk, on a daily basis, in any real store that real people go shopping in every day. Where women try on swim suits and men buy gifts for their wives. But there we decide and we have great back-up in the local PD. Our cases are documented. You seem to think that we have to put up with it for some reason, we don't. The case of the stalker after retail sales women in the area earlier this year was front page news. With the help of my mom aguy that was assaulting women sales people and women shoppers during the day was stopped and put behind bars for a very long time.

Who has your back on eBay?