eBay always will side with the Buyer

[combat-gear-r-us]

They will decide, review and report back to you but Not in your favor….

We reviewed this case and decided to issue the buyer a full refund.

We understand that you received your item in a different condition than when you shipped it, but unfortunately, we couldn't determine that this was caused by the buyer, or that this was something in the buyer's control.

A refund of US xxx.xx was issued on Jan 10, 2018 to the buyer. The refund includes the purchase price plus original shipping.

This amount will be debited from the payment method on your account.

Remember, 99% of the time, you are not dealing with a person. It is an algorithm that looks for key words, and a combination of dates, facts and pictures and still they will always side with the buyer. Your best shot is to not involve eBay and resolve it yourself. String the negative buyer out and in the long run the buyer might / may become reasonable. Sometimes, in the end you will lose (most of the time...), like the example above. You can despite the resolution, but again the buyer will usually win in the end. list your item acurately, clearly and use good pictures. 

P.S. no returns is a waste of time. 

[atikovi]

By golly, we sure don't get enough posts here about Ebay always siding with the buyer. Glad you created one.

[bill.yanc]

This has been shown time and time again.   No matter what, there will always be SOME reason to justify favor to the buyer.  Two weeks ago a buyer made a purchase containing several pieces.  Once received they defaced one of the pieces with a touch of paint and claimed a return of the entire purchase, because of course the specific piece she defaced was the ONE piece that she "really wanted".  (Although there are several listings for just that one item.)  When the purchase is returned, she kept two of the original items.  That is also when I noticed the "item that wasnt as described or pictured" had been defaced with paint.  Since the item was glass, the dried paint was easily taken off. She did that obviously to justify a free return.  

Thinking Ebay actually HONORS SELLER PROTECTION, I did what they ask.  When I received the return, I inspected it.  I first contacted the buyer and explained to them that the return was for the full item purchased and I would be happy to give a full return if they would also return the 2 items missing.  She lied and said that it was all shipped back.  I reported her and opened a case only for Ebay to side with her and issue a full refund including shipping. 

ANOTHER REASON EBAY WILL ALWAYS SIDE WITH THE BUYER is because Ebay will keep ALL funds paid to them for final value fees as well as paypal fees on any case sided with the buyer.  (Which is a total scam!  JUST because Ebay has to make a decision for a transaction on their OWN website, they entitle themselves to void any refunds owed to you for the transaction.  This is just ANOTHER way to FORCE sellers to give the buyer whatever they want, even if they are scamming the seller.  Because if you don't - you are penalized by voiding additional funds which should be returned to you!  TRY TO FIND THAT IN THE EBAY RULES TOO!!!!  That information is NOT readily available to sellers.  Typically, sellers only find out about it after everything is said and done and question it.)

So in the end - I am left with an incomplete item with 2 pieces stolen out of it, having paid shipping costs to and from the buyer PLUS additional nonrefundable fees paid to both Ebay AND Paypal.  And the seller gets to steal and keep the two items from my set that she wanted FREE of charge and Shipped FREE and gets to plot her next victim. 

[webwanna]

You need to file a report on the buyer with Ebay.  Did you check the buyers feedback to see any indications they have done this before?  Call Ebay and ask if there is record of other sellers having this issue with this buyer.  Call Paypal too.  You need to get that buyer on their "scammer" radar.  

Add the buyer to your Buddy List.

If the item was very expensive, I would file police reports and file an arbitration case too.

[bill.yanc]

YES, I immediately filed a report on the buyer with Ebay even before I ESCALATED THE CASE to inform Ebay what this buyer was doing.  I have no idea how anyone would be able to see if someone is a scammer through their feedback - remember Ebay ONLY allows positive feedback to a BUYER!  Scammers have learned, once you get away with it - do NOT leave negative or ANY feedback, because if you do - THEN the buyer can comment and reveal the scam!  Ebay will not give information about another person's account, so asking them if they have had any problems with a particular buyer is useless, they will not give out such information.  Paypal and Ebay are still under agreements until 2020. I have not discussed anything with paypal, but knowing what I've read, there is no doubt in my mind that paypal's answer would be that this is a complete contract of sale between you and the buyer that Ebay has already made a decision on and they are just the processor of payment.   If you have knowledge of paypal sucessfully overriding an ebay decision to make something right, I would love to hear about it.    Ultimately, I have done what ebay will allow me to do - report her.  I can only hope that they actually take note and stop this from happening to another seller.    FYI, MY feedback has been 100% positive since day 1 for years. Although the buyer also had 100% positive the count was below 40.  And ALWAYS remember, as a buyer only, it is IMPOSSIBLE for you to have anything BUT 100% positive!!!! 

[fashunu4eeuh]

 Hi Bill, sorry you had to go through this.

Wanted to mention that this thread is several months old.  You might consider starting a thread of your own, if you are so inclined, so that others may comment on your situation. 

I think the important take-away from this is to go into a Not As Described case knowing the seller is likely to lose, and to avoid the case going so far that eBay steps in to make their ruling. Because if they do find for the buyer, the seller then gets a defect for "case closed without seller resolution." Although you gave no particulars of your experience, I can say in general, it is often not in the seller's best interests to escalate a SNAD case.

[bill.yanc]

Noted and completely agree!

The discouraging point is that Ebays policies and actions open the flood gate for scam artists.

[faithfashionfriends]

Not true. Ebay has sided with me plenty of times,but you have to have your facts straight. For instance. If someone threatens to give me back feedback. Ebay will always remove the bad feedback. Also if the Buyer tampers with the item once they received it. Ebay will always side with the Seller. I have won time after time when these things have happened. Just dot your i's and cross your t's and it will always be in your favor. Always remember whatever the Buyer says in messages can and will be ready by Ebay so they will always trip up and say careless things. 

[faithfashionfriends]

Get Ebay to read the messages. They have full access to everything the Buyer messages to you. Call back,get a supervisor,etc. I have only had 1 circumstance that I can say I was right and they were wrong and Ebay sided with the Buyer. You just have to have your bases covered all the time. Good Luck. 

[bill.yanc]

Thanks for your reply.  Unfortunately, there WERE no messages for ebay to read.  They buyer just filed a case and requested a return knowing all along that the return would be missing what she decided to keep.  The only messages to be read was her saying she shipped everything back to me when I asked her to ship back what was missing.  Ebays reply to me was "that is the cost of doing business online and we cannot verify that the buyer was responsible for the missing items".  It is obvious the buyer RECEIVED everything.  I can GUARANTEE if I was a shady seller and didnt SHIP her the entire purchase, but SAID I did and SHE filed a claim case she would have gotten her money back and not be told "that is the cost of doing business online and we cannot verify that the seller is responsible for the missing items."    My hundreds of 100% positive feedback obviously had no consideration at all even against such a new and unestablished ebayer!   Your reply does give some hope!  I think you are extremely lucky!!!  May that luck stay with you!  🙂

[richard1rst]

I really hate to disturb anyone’s preconceptions, BUT

8/1 - email from eBay:

We reviewed this case and have closed it without any refund to the buyer

We determined that the item may no longer be in the same condition that it was in when it was sent to the buyer.

(I sent them pictures of what I got back)

8/1 - email from eBay

We reviewed this case and have closed it without any refund to the buyer

The buyer did not return the item to you within the required timeframe.

8/2 - email from eBay:

We reviewed this case and have closed it without any refund to the buyer

We received tracking information from you that shows the successful delivery of a replacement or exchanged item.

There are more but I do not want to belabor the point - sometimes the seller DOES win.