I've been an Ebay member, buying and selling for over 20 years and yes, many things have changed. Some things, not for the better.
Shipping is increasingly more difficult. For sellers, the prices keep going up, and don't get me started on that Ebay Global shipping fiasco... For buyers, it seems like more and more packages arrive late, or just get lost... from all the major shipping companies. (USPS, UPS, Fedex) They all suck and have certain annoying tendencies, like leaving packages outside on the sidewalk of a busy street! WHY????
However, I recently had an issue with a seller who uses a 3rd party delivery agent and Ebay failed to act. On 5/12/22 UPS stated that that they left a package with my neighbor, as 'delivered'. The item was only worth $26.99, so nothing huge, thankfully. The neighbor told UPS that they did not receive my package, and the UPS driver also stated he had not seen my package. After UPS investigated, they issued a full refund to the seller and told me to contact the seller for my refund. (after I did all the work) The seller then states they use a 3rd party delivery and has refused to refund b/c it's too difficult to get the money back from them.
So the 3rd party shipper, who seems to just use UPS, now has my refund and it's too much trouble for the seller to get that refund from the 3rd party shipper. Obviously, I got Ebay involved.
Here's where it gets stupid... Ebay auto declines the claim. I put in for an appeal, with docs from UPS showing the item claim and that it went to the seller. UPS does not know it's a 3rd party seller, they just refund the entire amount with the insurance. (I gave them the Ebay listing with the amount paid, if you were wondering)
After the appeal was declined, I get an email from Ebay saying they will again look into it. I get a call from an Ebay rep who states they will give me a manual refund for the item, that I have proved my case after all. I get a reference number for the refund. After a few weeks and I am not refunded, I contact Ebay again, who state they are now looking into it some more. I wait another week or 2, and still no refund. I'm still out the money and the item. So today, I entered a complaint to the BBB. Hopefully this will get me somewhere.
The problem, and I know there are legit sellers who may use 3rd party shippers, but the problem is 3rd party shippers. So many I have found to be shady and state that things are delivered when they are not. They state they rang your bell when you know you were home at the time. I still work from home almost every day! And Ebay just assumes that things are good when a 3rd party shipper says 'delivered', but can't tell you where it was delivered to. (this has happened to me twice this year) But in my most recent case, it was UPS used by the 3rd party shipper, who just pockets a refund, and I have to spend hours arguing with Ebay over $26...
If Ebay are going to make any changes, it should be to hold people accountable for their 3rd party shippers if they use them. And maybe to require more/ better proof of delivery if a seller does decide to use them.
I can't be the only one having these issues....
