Why isn't Ebay willing to help NEW sellers with fees made in error?

[jeffreydbeaver]

I know I'm supposed to read the tons and tons of articles, watch the videos, and learn how to do everything before I actually begin listing, but realistically it's not possible to learn without going through the process.

I do get a kick out of the fact that everybody collects their fees and take care of THEM before I get paid, it's business so I get it. 

I also read these disclosures and realize that the protections in place are not for me, it protects THEM! 

So, knowing that as the little guy trying to sustain a small operation it's all already against my chances. It's a fact! 

What I think would be great is if Ebay would stop making the ability to get any kind of fee refund so difficult! Also, every time I void a shipping label and request a refund I have been denied! I get denied for voiding a shipping label that I have re-purchased and it makes no sense! 

Also, the fees are not listed on mobile! You see the fees for new listings on the computer not mobile! I had no idea I accrued $144 in fees because I though that 50 listings for free meant just that! NOPE! I am NEW TO THIS! anyway, it's beyond lopsided when how easy it is to be charged fees and have those fees collected but to get a fee refund or find the options to even ask are REALLY HARD!!! and often denied! It's really unfair!

Fairness is all I am asking here. FAIRNESS! I know that I get instantly debited for a buyer wanting to return and item (Even with NO RETURNS ACCEPTED) but when a buyer doesn't pay for a winning auction I have to wait until whenever they decide to pay or 8 days to file a claim and it's REALLY Ridiculous! 

Ebay doesn't care about the seller! It's a fact! I have listings with ZERO views! ok, maybe I need to fix the picture, add better description, but when it's a promoted listing that is set to 20% and still nothing I have to wonder, **bleep**?

Why an item that is listed for a month doesn't sell and instead of relist I re-write the ad and BAM it sells immediately!

I still have to pay the fees for the listing that didn't sell for a month.

It's almost like there is a % of lisings that get added to the system and another % that are just in nomansland with no priority.

I say this because I had 10 Five Nights At Freddy's wall stickers listed for a month with ZERO sales. Instead of relisitng, I made a new lisitng with the same infomation but this time I actually raised the price. ALL 10 stickers sold in 8 days!

I added no new information, I only raised the price from 10.99 to 12.99 ... maybe don't lower the price but instead raise it?? 

My point is this... FAIRNESS is really important - I have made it a mission to file complaints with every regulatory agency I can find when I find myself (all too often) being disadvantaged  or charged to death .... It's getting to that point here.

I'm not asking for anything but fairness.

When the listing says NO RETURNS ACCEPTED we don't add loopholes for people to exploit. I can say anything doesn't match the lisitng. It's such a subjective option that it applies to everything. But ebay has their policy that overrides my ploicy which in turn makes my policy void and my authority Nill.

If Ebay has a policy that renders my policy null and void then Ebay should pay for the return not me...I made it clear I don't accept returns (This is hypothetical by the way) 

Ebay shouldn't refund and item being returned before it's returned! (blows my mind that ebay decides before I have the chance to decide for myself)

Ebay should display the fees on Mobile - I never saw the amount until I went to my desktop.

Ebay should stop saying Paypal is a seperate company - IT's NOT! they are like welded together.

ebay should allow me to E-mail them - I love calling but waiting an hour to speak to someone is just not OK!

ebay should stop hiding the fee refund options...I have to look for it in the....wherever it is!

Ebay should make buyers PAY when they win an auction! This is really harmful haing to wait for someone to pay for an item they agreed to buy.

Ebay should be fair with sellers ..

FAIRNESS!!! 

Thats all! Nothing will change but I said it anyway!

[tunicaslot]

Seems you have a lot going on that may have been addressed if you had asked questions here if you were unsure before selling on the venue.

We all have to take responsibility for our listings - whether it be to make sure items that we don't want to pay for like gallery pictures aren't checked before we list and item to making sure the starting bid, shipping cost ect are correct before clicking submit. Ebay recommends promoted listings but it's up to a seller to decide how much they want to pay if a buyer clicks thru their promoted listing to purchase the item. I myself only choose 1%.

Often an item sells after changing up the wording in a title because the way it was first presented doesn't focus on the key words that a buyer puts into search. Once that title is changed - it may receive a higher placement in search. And maybe no one was looking for that particular item the previous 30 days. There are millions of listings for buyers to choose from.

As far as Ebay refunding money - there is a sequence that has to be followed and a time limit for these decisions. We only have so long to respond to requests so have to make sure to check Ebay at least every other day to see if one has been open. Failure to do so could end up with a buyer escalating the request and it being found in the buyer's favor. Since you gave no specifics - it's hard to know what happened in your case.

I've been here 20 years and it took a lot of trial and error to become a successful seller here. We all made mistakes and learned from them.

Despite your sdissatisfaction - you seem to have made many successful sales here despite some problems. Learn from them - come to the boards with your questions before listing or if you have problems during a transaction - come here and get some help. Many of us are here daily and try to help out those with problems just because we know how challenging it can be to sell here - but no venue is without problems.

[castlemagicmemories]

Welcome to Ebay sellling, and I wish you much success!

I'm sorry for the issues you have encountered, but by your own admission, you are in the learning process, and it takes time.  But others have successfully navigated this and you can, too.

Just a few thoughts.

You mentioned a buyer wanting to return an item and that you have no returns.

When an item is not as described, the MBG (Get the item you ordered or your money back; includes item price and original shipping) overrides your no returns policy.  It works this way for everyone.  If you look on your ended listing, you will see the Ebay MBG logo there.  Since you refund item price and shipping, and pay for return shipping, it is to your advantage to create the most accurate listings that you can.  Completely and accurately describe your item.  This may seem unfair, but if buyers were forced to keep items that were not as described in the listings, many just wouldn't buy here anymore.  Buyers have to have recourse so they are not stuck with something that just isn't what it was represented to be.  That's the loophole that is closed here.

You don't have to wait for them to pay if you list the item as fixed price, immediate payment required.  The listing stays active until someone actually pays for the item.  No more no pays.

You don't have to wait 8 days to file an Unpaid Item Dispute.  You can do that 48 hrs after the end of the listing, then close it 96 hrs later.  Buyer gets a strike and you get your fees back.  Buyers who have 2 such strikes will be blocked by most sellers, who use the block of blocking those with 2 unpaid item strikes in a year, for a year.

 maybe I need to fix the picture, add better description, but when it's a promoted listing that is set to 20% and still nothing I have to wonder, **bleep**?

Since you state the listings have some problems that need to be corrected, correcting them is the best way to get sales.  Promotion still isn't going to make a poor listing sell.   Have plenty of good, clear pictures, have a complete, accurate description.  Describe as if there were no pictures, and pictures as if there is no description.  Don't just say, see pictures, or expect buyers to ask you questions because many are weary of that; they will just hit the back button.

If you don't use keywords in your titles that buyers would use to search for your item, then Cassini will not bring up those listings.

Listings that are not well crafted are the ones most likely to actually be not as described.  It's for your protection to put all the information a buyer needs to make an informed buying decision.  It can be done.  A seller of vintage, used items has sold here for twenty years.  He describes thoroughly and pictures his items well, and he has had no problems in the twenty years he has sold here.

Actually no returns is not a loophole because it doesn't mean the buyer is stuck with whatever the seller chooses to send.  Yes, buyers can say anything doesn't match the description; having a flawless description lessens the likelihood of that happening.  Ebay doesn't pay for the return because a seller had a poor listing. 

Paypal is a separate company; they split in 2015.

You can list using your computer as the app is limited.  Any upgrades to listing cost more.  Usually you are shown what those costs are before you click submit.  

There is an App Board as well.

I understand many things seem unfair to you; much is due to a lack of knowledge, but you can learn.  This Board is a good place to gain knowledge and you can always search for anything you have a question on, or ask.

Many calls to CS can be avoided if you search online for your answer, or ask on this Board.

[lacemaker3]

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@jeffreydbeaver wrote:
...

... every time I void a shipping label and request a refund I have been denied! I get denied for voiding a shipping label that I have re-purchased and it makes no sense!

...

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Shipping labels are not eBay fees, they are actually purchases. You purchased the labels from the USPS, or UPS, or FEDEX.

Those sellers have rules that cover when you can void the label (cancel the purchase) and get your money back. For example, with USPS, you have to request the void within 5 days, and there will be a waiting period of up to 21 days (usually less, about 2 weeks) before the money will be credited back to you. If the label ever gets scanned by the PO, then they won't void the label, because it was used for postage.

FEDEX, I think, doesn't actually charge for the label until it gets scanned into their system, but UPS and FEDEX typically add on undisclosed fees (for residential deliveries, gas charges, etc.) so I don't recommend using them. There are also major issues getting a refund if a they lose a package, reportedly.

[nc-daydreamer]

I regret that you have encountered such confusion and issues.

However, ALL sellers were new at some time - each has a starting point. And each seller is expected (and rightly so) to understand what they are doing before they get in over their head by jumping in with both feet.  I have been a seller since 2006 - (a diff ID) and things were very different then as eBay has evolved a lot in policies and expectations of both sellers and buyers.

I reviewed listings, read these boards, studied the rules... for over a year before I ventured into selling.  I bought things - got my feedback over 25 - and then took a leap of faith. But I had no question about what I was doing or what I was selling.  And you think it hard now? Then many ads had to be written in HTML and pictures had to be paid for.  There were insertion fees (none of this 50 free a month stuff). Buyer's paid by check (which sometimes bounced) before PayPal became available. And when they did - funds were not released to use for postage like they are now. One had to front all expenses, ship items out of pocket money.

Point is, we all made mistakes. Some very costly. We learned. We all matured as sellers by simply not giving up or giving in.  So unfair? It's a matter  of perspective.

You'll get the hang of it. Good  luck. AND KEEP UP WITH THE ANNOUNCEMENTS AND READ THESE BOARDS!!!  That is the best advice I can offer.

[castlemagicmemories]

OP, just want to add that many find it hard to trust a new seller. That can account for your lack of sales, too. Not knowing or devising titles that are optimized by using the terms buyers would use to find your items will also hurt sales.

Buyers don't know how knowledgeable the new seller may be; they may be afraid to trust them. They may be afraid the listing is not accurate and they don't want to deal with the hassle of a return. They may be afraid that the seller doesn't know how to properly pack and they will receive a broken item.

If you haven't bought anything on Ebay, you might want to make a few purchases to see transactions from the buyer's side, and it will help you gain knowledge as well.

[goodluckselling]

The fees are shown at the bottom and right before you click submit listings.  Is this the fairness you are demanding?

Good Luck Selling!

[ohnojoey]

Just a couple of things:

"Also, every time I void a shipping label and request a refund I have been denied!"

You don't have to request a refund for a voided shipping label, the refund is automatic but not instant;

How to void a shipping label
https://www.ebay.com/help/selling/posting-items/labels-packaging-tips/buying-printing-postage-labels...

"I had no idea I accrued $144 in fees because I though that 50 listings for free meant just that!"

Even if you are not getting 50 free listings a month for some reason,  50 listings at $0.35 is $17.50 so I am not understanding how you get $144.00 out of that.

https://www.ebay.com/help/selling/fees-credits-invoices/selling-fees?id=4364#insertion

You have a silver coin listed in Gold>Other Gold Bullion

[nc-daydreamer]

Two more things...

here is the fee policy (so you will know in advance of listing) 

https://www.ebay.com/help/selling/fees-credits-invoices/selling-fees?id=4364 

and

a good calculator to arrive at your selling prices... (there are others, but I like this one) 

http://www.newlifeauctions.com/calc.html 

Hope this helps. 🙂 

[fern*wood]

There are several different issues/questions in your post.  Hopefully you will return so posters can help with them all.

Keep in mind there are insertion or listing fees just to list your item, whether it sells or not.  You are getting 50 free per month.  Don't confuse this with final value fees which are charged when your item sells.  There are also paypal fees which are taken out of your payments immediately.

I'm not sure why you are needing to void shipping labels.  You might elaborate some on that, but I've never had one denied.  Why were you denied?  It takes around 15 days or so to get that refunded after you've purchased a label. 

@jeffreydbeaver

[tholo5111]

sounds to me like you sold $1440 worth of stuff and eBay charged you final value fees.

[ohnojoey]

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@tholo5111 wrote:

sounds to me like you sold $1440 worth of stuff and eBay charged you final value fees.

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I was thinking that too, after I posted, that would make sense, that the op maybe thought free listings meant free of any fees?

[luckythewinner]

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I still have to pay the fees for the listing that didn't sell for a month

Correct. eBay is not a free service, and they would be fools to refund sellers just because no one wanted their items that month.

I have made it a mission to file complaints with every regulatory agency I can find when I find myself (all too often) being disadvantaged  or charged to death

And on the other side, eBay has your agreement to their terms - which pretty much state that eBay is unfair to sellers and that you will be disadvantaged. Go read the Seller Protection policy you agreed to - tell me where it says you will be protected from any of this. It doesn't - it basically says that the decision is at eBay discretion and you agree to abide by it.

When the listing says NO RETURNS ACCEPTED we don't add loopholes for people to exploit. I can say anything doesn't match the lisitng. It's such a subjective option that it applies to everything. But ebay has their policy that overrides my ploicy which in turn makes my policy void and my authority Nill.

So what you are saying is that you want sellers to hve the aboility to lie about an item and not be forced to refund. As a buyer, I would have an issue with that.

Ebay should stop saying Paypal is a seperate company - IT's NOT! they are like welded together.

They are not the same company. I see no reason why eBay should lie about that.

Ebay should make buyers PAY when they win an auction! This is really harmful haing to wait for someone to pay for an item they agreed to buy.

EBay does not have the power to make buyers pay. They do not know the buyer's payment method, they do not have have access to the buyer's payment method, nor do they have any sort of agreement with a buyers that allows them to take money from a buyer.

[castlemagicmemories]

Also regarding the maybe I need to fix the picture.

I understand Cassini (the search engine) prefers at least 5 pictures.  Ebay allows you to add 12 pictures.  The more pictures, the better the prospective buyer will be as far as assessing your item.  Be sure to not only show any damage in pictures, but to state it in your description.  Measurements are important.  Buyer will have no idea of what the measurements are unless you state them in the description; buyers will just hit the back button in favor of a more accurate listing.

[castlemagicmemories]

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@ohnojoey wrote:

Just a couple of things:

"Also, every time I void a shipping label and request a refund I have been denied!"

You don't have to request a refund for a voided shipping label, the refund is automatic but not instant;

How to void a shipping label
https://www.ebay.com/help/selling/posting-items/labels-packaging-tips/buying-printing-postage-labels...

"I had no idea I accrued $144 in fees because I though that 50 listings for free meant just that!"

Even if you are not getting 50 free listings a month for some reason,  50 listings at $0.35 is $17.50 so I am not understanding how you get $144.00 out of that.

https://www.ebay.com/help/selling/fees-credits-invoices/selling-fees?id=4364#insertion

You have a silver coin listed in Gold>Other Gold Bullion

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Oh, my, I think the OP thinks free listings mean no fees whatsoever, when free listings only refers to no listing cost.  It does not mean there are no final value fees on the item price and shipping.  I think this accounts for the discrepancy you mention.

OP, you are not the first person to think this, but if you check where it says free listings, there is an asterisk, and it goes on to say that free listings are still subject to final value fees.

 seller_news_team

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04-16-2013 08:42:57 AM

Starting today—for sellers without an eBay Stores subscription—your 50 FREE listings* per month can be Auction-style or fixed price. You pay a final value fee only when your item sells. Final value fees have been streamlined to just one flat rate of 10%—regardless of how you sell. You also get a FREE listing scheduler for more control over when your listings start and end! 

[castlemagicmemories]

Starting today—for sellers without an eBay Stores subscription—your 50 FREE listings* per month can be Auction-style or fixed price. You pay a final value fee only when your item sells. Final value fees have been streamlined to just one flat rate of 10%—regardless of how you sell. You also get a FREE listing scheduler for more control over when your listings start and end!