eBay is outdated, not user friendly, and does not stand by its own rules

[fourthfashions]

eBay’s rules very clearly state if a return is initiated but the buyer doesn’t return the item in 15 days the return will be closed and the seller will be protected from any negative feedback. Yet that’s EXACTLY what happened to me and somehow my request to get the feedback removed was denied. So essentially they’re giving power to buyers to buy items then give bad/untrue reviews in hopes you will give them a discount or refund while they keep your item. With Amazon, Temu, and tik tok being more seller friendly it’s time to move on completely away from eBay. Worst site to sell on I’ve actually never been more excited for a company to go out of business 

[baydealz]

I don't know if I'm 'excited' any longer, more frustrated.  I get very frustrated and perturbed when companies fail when they didn't have to: Sears, Radio Shack, Big Lots, even Yahoo.  Who runs these companies?  They clearly get fat salaries not tied to performance and just don't care.  Unfortunately, it's no longer a trading platform but a buying conduit, for buyers.  Maybe they plan on getting supplies from somewhere, or are in talks with China directly, because little sellers will be gone.   Trues, 'sales are down,' 'volume is down,' 'consumers are strapped,' but eBay could and should have benefited from this.  I used to get all kinds of good feedback about selling quality, tested items 'just as good as new, but for 25% of cost'...back when feedback was encouraged, welcome and honest.  Now 'digital theft,' 'virtual shoplifting' and nonsense and dishonesty are encouraged.  It didn't have to happen this way.

I will not buy from Temu, only from Amazon directly (not third parties), and few from the many other platforms.  I like and sold quality used items.  New items are cheap junk or bootlegs, so not worth it, but if I can find a used tool or something for 25% price of retail, well described, by someone with good terms and feedback, I'll buy it.  Many other platforms don't have this, on such scale.  Craigslist is hit or miss, as are other local venues.  Somehow, eBay got greedy and don't want that market, for buying or selling. 

But I also no, that if I was that buyer, there is zero risk to me as the sellers on this platform take ALL the risk.   Unfair marketplace but I know which side I will be on.

[mam98031]

What happens if the buyer doesn't send the item back?

Once you've accepted a return, the buyer should send the item back to you as soon as possible. If we don't see any indication that the item is on its way after 15 business days, we may close the return and protect you from negative feedback. Keep in mind that some returns can remain open for up to 35 business days.

https://www.ebay.com/help/selling/managing-returns-refunds/handle-return-request-seller?id=4115

That is Business days, not calendar days.  Monday through Friday except for federal holidays.  So it ends up being around 21 calendar days or so.

If you think Amazon is more seller friendly my hat is off to you.  I've sold there for many years and they are so unfriendly and unforgiving towards sellers.  There CS is far worse than Ebay's too.

So because you are unhappy, likely because you misunderstood something, your wish if for the MILLIONS of sellers that sell here successfully to lose the ability to sell here.  That doesn't seem too fair.

[ed8108]

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@baydealz wrote:

 if I can find a used tool or something for 25% price of retail, well described, by someone with good terms and feedback, I'll buy it. 

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I guess that you are not finding very much to buy on ebay these days.

[fourthfashions]

Excuse me did you happen to ask how long ago this happened? Or did you run your mouth before asking? For your information  it’s been well over a month since the initial situation and far over the 15 days not to mention TWO different eBay reps did not even know about that rule/policy existing at all and told me nothing can be done about the negative review so again…EXCUSE YOU. 

[fbusoni]

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@fourthfashions wrote:

eBay’s rules very clearly state if a return is initiated but the buyer doesn’t return the item in 15 days the return will be closed and the seller will be protected from any negative feedback. Yet that’s EXACTLY what happened to me and somehow my request to get the feedback removed was denied. So essentially they’re giving power to buyers to buy items then give bad/untrue reviews in hopes you will give them a discount or refund while they keep your item. With Amazon, Temu, and tik tok being more seller friendly it’s time to move on completely away from eBay. Worst site to sell on I’ve actually never been more excited for a company to go out of business 

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Sorry this happened to you.  But please note: the word "will" does not appear in the eBay policy statement.  Here's what it says:

If we don't see any indication that the item is on its way after 15 business days, we may close the return and protect you from negative feedback. 

Now... how does eBay decide whether they "will" remove negative feedback, or "may" remove negative feedback?

I've been selling here for 25 years and my experience is this: eBay's supercomputers have a profile of each seller on the site.   Sellers are formally rated by metrics, but there are, I believe, unpublicized elements that feed into each of our "for-eBay-use-only" profiles.  

For example, do you accept and pay for returns?  Do you ship within 24 hours?  Do you leave feedback for each and every buyer who purchases from you?  Is there a record of communication between you and your buyers that shows that you believe (rightly or wrongly) that the customer is always right and deserves to be treated with kid gloves?  If you get negative feedback, do you reply in a polite and civil manner, or do you hurl insults and invective at the buyer (which the latter almost certainly deserves, but that's another story)?  

In other words, do you feed the eBay beast and give it exactly what it wants?

Of course, I have no proof that this is the case.  But remember, human beings are not involved in examining our seller accounts.

I can only say that in my relatively few interactions with eBay over the years, I have always been given the benefit of the doubt and disputes were always resolved in my favor.    

I do everything eBay asks of me.  Because in the final analysis, its all about me.

[kensgiftshop]

Was the pillow dropshipped from Mattress Firm, which isn't allowed?

[fourthfashions]

No. It was shipped to me. The day it got to me is the day I shipped it out. I explained to the buyer that mattress firm did a terrible job shipping to me in the pillows original box as opposed to putting it inside another box. The box had a cut out in the front (for a consumer to feel the product) that mattress firm taped over before shipping (for obvious reasons bc they didn’t put it inside a shipping box). Therefore when the box was opened the tape ripped a bit of the plastic that was wrapped around the pillow. I messaged the buyer to show her how the pillow was delivered and she said she still wanted it. Then when she got it she tried to say the package was already opened bc the plastic got ripped from the packing tape. I sent her the receipt and tracking info from mattress firm to prove the pillow was mailed out within hours of when it was delivered and still authorized the return. She argued w me via message about whether or not the item was used and when I said maam I have 100% positive reviews clearly I’m not on here scamming ppl she used that as her attempt to scam me into giving her a discount or refund while keeping the pillow by writing a negative review despite the fact the return was authorized (and I paid return shipping) and if she was truly worried the pillow was used she could/would have returned it but instead she kept it and the return was closed after 15 days. Which is why it makes no sense that she be able to leave negative feedback. And the fact that eBay didn’t give me the benefit of the doubt is why I would never spend the time or effort making this my main selling platform. And with new platforms popping up daily eBay needs to cater to non top selling sellers just as much as they do to top selling ones bc otherwise the marketplace will die as it is now. 

[mam98031]

Yes I asked when it happened.  Dates matter.  Why that set you off, IDK.  It is a simple question.  I gave you information directly from the policy as you appear to be mistaken about the timing.  Yes the policy says 15 days but you drop out a very important word BUSINESS days.  So that 15 days turns out to be around 21 days.

Not surprised about the CSRs you conversed with, sadly often they don't give the correct information.

Your attitude towards a simple question is unusual.  There is good reason to ask the question as timing is often in control of getting stuff fixed.  But since you feel you have this all in hand and the 138 items sold in 15 years gives you the experience and knowledge of how this should have turned out, I will leave you to it.

[mam98031]

If you have evidence in Ebay emails that the buyer was making demands they should not have or trying to extort you for a partial refund.  That is clear evidence for Ebay.  Did you bring this to Ebay's attention when you were talking with the CSRs?

[luminousthings]

 I had two buyers flake on a phone I was selling and had no option to give them negative feedback!  I had someone randomly give me neutral feedback because they asked me to cancel sale. I asked why they did that and buyer said because eBay promoted them to give feedback. Made no sense but at least it wasn’t negative.

[tobaccocardyahoo]

@mam98031  is correct on just about everything relative to this thread, but perhaps too kind.

Contacting Ebay customer support is a waste of time. If you are unable to bring yourself to read the relevant sections of seller help, you are going to lose money. That is true on Amazon as well as Ebay.

Things which are automated on Ebay tend to work pretty much like one comes to expect if one reads carefully and understands what the words mean.

Sellers who rely upon retail arb to source their goods take a greater risk than those who purchase from wholesale suppliers. You are relying on the ignorance of your buyer to make a sale, since a savvy buyer will have known who to go to to pay what you paid. The type of buyer you found is already likely to be a problem if anything about the transaction goes wrong. Underlying the entire situation is the feeling they have overpaid for the item.

Your words will be interpreted in the worst possible way and used against you in any way the buyer thinks is appropriate. Feedback is the buyer's interpretation of the transaction, as they see it. Selling an open pillow is a potential health risk, so should someone with some authority review this transaction, Ebay will do nothing to add to their risk by supporting you.

Sometimes a sale will go wrong for any of us, but some of us stand on the precipice of disaster before things go wrong.

[inhawaii]

Ebay is outdated.

Ebay is not user friendly.

Ebay does not stand by it's own rules.

Thank you for that information.

I will take the appropriate action.

[stuff4divas]

@fourthfashions 

Thank u for being excited about eBay going out of business so that the millions of us successful sellers go down too

fyi, u still have 43 listings showing to sell on EBAY, so don't forget to end them

Also, here is the link to delete your eBay account>  https://www.ebay.com/help/account/changing-account-settings/closing-account?id=4199

[fourthfashions]

If you were really that  “successful” eBay wouldn’t be your premier selling platform and you’re business’ survival wouldn’t depend on the success of this platform. That’s a pretty weak business foundation as is seeing as though it is likely to go out of business sooner than later with its inability to keep up with the completion. So seeing as though you’re the one who’s livelihood seemingly depends on eBay maybe you should be more concerned with helping them get better rather than helping them to lose another seller which only furthers their (and your) way out the door. See how you thought you were smart, but in actuality every time you point your finger to tell someone else what to do 3 point back at you to remind you of what you need to do? Not so smart after all 🫠