eBay let buyer return an item and it was sent to a wrong address and it was lost!

[roy8765]

Around a month ago, I sold a used laptop on eBay, clearly mentioning in the item description that the battery was not good and it could hold only about half an hour of charge (to the best of my knowlege) and that returns were not accepted.  The buyer claimed that the battery was bad and requested a return which I declined.  However, eBay let the buyer return it and they even provided a return address to him which was 11 years old without asking me first and the laptop was sent to a wrong address.  I never received the laptop and for all practical purposes, the ~$250 laptop is lost!  I appealed eBay's decision multiple times and they always rejected my appeal and forced me to fully refund the buyer plus shipping.  Eventually I asked for their legal department and I'm considering suing eBay in a small claims court.  What are my options and chances of success here?  Any advice from the community and the sellers who have been in this situation?

This is a pretty clear mess up on eBay's part....  They turned a long time customer into an active enemy!  Any lawyers who would like to take this case on my behalf?

[roy8765]

cutejack, it's been at least 11 years that I haven't had any such incidents. It shows by itself that I have been an excellent seller. eBay should confirm the return address with sellers just like it confirms the shipping address for buyers.

[jason_incognito]

Are you a lawyer?

[jason_incognito]

And I'll take that as a "no, I have not read the user agreement"

[roy8765]

The bigger and root-cause problem here is that why the heck eBay lets lazy or fraudulent buyers return stuff with their "No Returns" policy? The buyer has already accepted the risk when ordering the item. I personally never buy "No Returns" items, but when a buyer does, it should be their sole responsibility.... I absolutely will never sell anything on eBay again and I now actively advise all my friends to refrain from doing so.

[roy8765]

And are you an eBay agent? Are you a corporation lobbyist or advocate?

[jason_incognito]

if you had done some research you would have seen just exactly what your "no returns" policy meant.

eBay did exactly what eBay said they would in a case like this. It is spelled out in the agreement that you signed. That agreement is legally enforceable.

[roy8765]

"No Returns" policy should be clear: no returns are possible. Why is eBay playing with words? Why do they mislead sellers by naming it that way? They should name it "Limited Returns" policy not "No Returns" policy. They are guilty of deceit and misleading sellers by their agreement.

[femmefan1946]

Synonyms for RETURN

http://www.thesaurus.com/browse/return

Synonyms for REFUND

http://www.thesaurus.com/browse/refund

A return is not a refund.

A refund is not a return.

You refuse to take returns.

Your choice.

You are required by the agreements you made with eBay and Paypal to make refunds.

Not a lawyer, but I have been in  couple of Small Claims courts in my day.

"Well, maybe I'm not a fancy gentleman like you, with your ... very fine hat. But I do business. We're here for business."-- Captain Malcolm Reynolds

[jason_incognito]

most of the complaints we hear about a situation like this didn't actually involve a return.

Since you have no returns eBay doesn't require the item be returned to you for the buyer to get a refund.

Be glad they had the buyer return the item.

[creoleorchid]

I'm not a lawyer but I used to be married to one.

 I'm highly motivated to expose their questionable business practices and shady reputation.

No need. Anybody who reads these pages is well aware of that.

 they should have confirmed the return address with me. Isn't that a reasonable thing to ask?!

You rarely see reasonable and eBay in the same sentence.

eBay just acts like an unfair god without any oversight....

Yep. Nailed it!

[dhbookds]

they should have confirmed the return address with me. Isn't that a reasonable thing to ask?!   

Nope, they probably handle 1000's of returns a day........and depend on members to take care of their personal information when it changes, just like any other business.  If you move, but don't notify the PO.......do you expect them to find you to try to get a new address? 

[castlemagicmemories]

---

@duggmills wrote:
I love the BZZZZT.

Now is that pronounced BZZZZT or is it BZZZZT?

---

It may depend on which part of Ferengar you come from.

[roy8765]

They already do that for shipping address for buyers. It should be an automatic process.

[roy8765]

Why are you playing with words? "No returns accepted" means "No refunds provided" either. It doesn't make sense to not have a return but have to refund! Otherwise it'd be a buyers' heaven!

[roy8765]

Look, eBay is harming its reputation and image by doing these sorts of deeds... I used to be a long time loyal customer, but now I wish them bankrupt and gone! I'm glad that they have to pay online sales taxes now... I really hope there will be a billion dollar class-action lawsuit against them for scamming sellers like this.