eBay return service has no insurance.

[quadcitypickers]

I've been on the phone with CS for 3 hours now trying to talk to someone with the understanding of the definitions of the words "liability".

I sold an item and the buyer gets it, says it doesn't work. I go round and round with the buyer and get fedup and open a case. Ebay decides in the buyers favor and asks them to return it, debiting my account and sending them a label.

That part, I AM fine with. I am not fine with the fact that nowhere does it says "our labels include $50 worth of insurance (actually the USPS default).

As a result, the item comes back broken during shipment, and I can't file a claim because eBay FAILED TO INSURE IT.

They say "we don't have that as an option", which is baloney. I can purchase insurance JUST FINE using eBays own system. Why can't they purchase it?

As a result of eBays FAILURE to insure, I am out $225. Yet eBay states this is "not their fault".

[southernfriedbelle]

The default $50 insurance would only be if it is USPS Priority. I kinda doubt that's the default for a return shipping label when eBay sends it to the buyer.

[slippinjimmy]

USPS does not offer insurance coverage for any of the Parcel Return Services, none included and none can be added.

[*eponymous*]

Return service is discounted to eBay. Do they pass that erate on to you?

eBay allows you to send your own label to the buyer, or you can send a call-tag.

I agree it's lousy that sellers are not advised beforehand or given a choice amongst available return service options on eBay.

Your remedy is to request an arbitration of the issue with eBay - they pay the fees and all that is involved is sending eBay a snail-mailed 30-day notice; if they don't act on it to your satisfaction, there is a simple phone call between you, an ebay rep, and an independent arbitrator.

[hafoster]

Rather than talk down --

You could look up:

http://pages.ebay.com/help/sell/return-process.html

Shipping with insurance
Insurance isn't available for return shipments. If either you or your buyer prefers that an item be returned with insurance, return postage with insurance should be purchased instead of using the label provided by eBay.

[7198dave]

I agree with the OP.

[quadcitypickers]

So get this:

I finally reach someone in the US call center and they offered a courtesy refund given my relatively small number of returns, and put the case on hold.

I had to sign some kind of statement stating "under penalty of perjury".

I send the statement back and someone with a name I can't even pronounce denies it and says I should "contact my local authorities" to get a refund.

I'm getting extremely angry that there is no consistentcy with help and then someone overrides someone else's decision.

[quadcitypickers]

---

@hafosterwrote:

Rather than talk down --

You could look up:

http://pages.ebay.com/help/sell/return-process.html

Shipping with insurance
Insurance isn't available for return shipments. If either you or your buyer prefers that an item be returned with insurance, return postage with insurance should be purchased instead of using the label provided by eBay.

---

The issue with this..is your given 3 days to work things out with a buyer, or they can escalate it and are provided a lablel.

3 days is too short of time, and what if your in the hospital, on vacation and someone opens a return?

[labs118]

---

@hafosterwrote:

Rather than talk down --

You could look up:

http://pages.ebay.com/help/sell/return-process.html

Shipping with insurance
Insurance isn't available for return shipments. If either you or your buyer prefers that an item be returned with insurance, return postage with insurance should be purchased instead of using the label provided by eBay.

---

Yea but the one thing that really stinks is now when it's buyer remorse and you have a return policy we don't even get that chance
ebay just issues the return label  on our behalf , So ?

[slati_2013]

Lets assume there was insurance available for returns which there is not. Chances are good that you would have still been denied. You will have to prove the item was properly packed and provide evidence that the damage was caused during shipping as a result of the shipping. If not, everyone would file claims on every return. 

I have been on eBay forever. I have sold items worth thousands of dollars. I have never once purchased insurance.  Ever. One, I am an expert packer and two not once has the USPS failed to deliver anything I have mailed. Should that day come when something gets damaged or lost, I will just put it down to the cost of doing business. 

[adasmit-549]

Your return item was damaged due to poor packaging insurance would not have paid out on that.

[duggmills]

On (rare) occasion I have clicked on "Returns Accepted" with the proviso that the buyer pays return shipping and fully insures the return.

This stipulation is not going to annul eBay's happy-go-lucky  decisions to issue a return label at your expense. What it does is to provide sellers with documentation that you have a case against eBay because they  specifically chose not to add  insurance to  their label as you would have done.

I've not used a eBay shipping label.  Does eBay's return labels allow you to add insurance?  Why would you not want a return insured for an expensive laptop or a Rolex watch unless it was fake to begin with?  In the case of the Rolex, while you may have shipped an authentic watch, it doesn't mean you will get that one back.  

[adasmit-549]

Also insurance pays the person that actually shipped the item. So in this case it would pay the buyer not the seller.

[starroute-us]

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@adasmit-549wrote:
Also insurance pays the person that actually shipped the item. So in this case it would pay the buyer not the seller.

---

Incorrect.

The shipper of record that purchased the label in this case the seller, just as if you had sent your own label to the buyer with insurance included.

[quadcitypickers]

So I called eBay back and was told (US Rep) that the original agent (also a US rep) gave me incorrect information. However since the rep (luckily) recorded all this in his notes, he will have to make a request to management to grant this.

I'm a little disapointed that some people here like to also give out incorrect information, some of which I think is done on purpose. I've had about 30 USPS/FEDEX cases within my selling history, and in all but ONE was I asked to give the packaging back. I've also NEVER have lost a claim, but then again I've rarely had claims over $200.

I've also helped other people sell on eBay, and I personally know of someone that shipped a 75lb cast iron weight (rare tractort wheel weight) in a double boxed SOLID WOOD CRATE and UPS tried denying it due to "improper packaging" since they lost it during transit (kinda hard to just sweep a cast iron disc under a rug, more or less likely someone stole it).

Maybe whoever keeps parroting this works for a shipping courrier, because denying claims due to improper packaging is one of the biggest "get out of jail free" cards for the big 3 US shipping courriers pull.