Buyer Opens a return case for item not as described

[livluv_34]

Hi everyone, I used another platform to sell my purses before but the fee is high so I tried eBay. I'm disappointed now and I'm going to take down all my listings. The other platform I used, they authenticate all items over $500 and they only give buyers 3 days to accept the item instead of 30 days like here on eBay.

I sold my first item for $700, I offered free shipping with insurance.  After a week, the buyer claimed it has a lot of scratches, the bag is dirty, and she brought it to the Gucci store but the said it's fake.  I know the Gucci store won't authenticate any bag because I tried before.

I replied to the return request and offered to pay for her to authenticate with a service to ease the concern, I also uploaded a copy of the receipt when I purchased 3 months ago. No response from her whatsoever so I called eBay customer service.  They didn't offer much help, the lady on the phone said if they are asked to step in, they will usually offer the buyer refund.  I also read this on a lot of the discussion online.  Is there anything I can do to help this case? I'm nervous after reading all the discussions where shady buyers send back damaged items or even nothing. It is a pretty expensive item and I was very sure it's in great condition when I sent it to her.  I should've recorded myself packing it 😞  I really want to at least fight this dispute so the shady buyers don't think they can get away so easy. But I'm done with selling on eBay after this.

[livluv_34]

P.S This buyer also bought another cheaper item from me and asked for a big discount for buying 2 and ship them together. So I ended up selling the other one for her for 50% off from listing price. This sucks 😞

[head-853]

Tell the buyer to open a return case, you'll issue a return label and refund in full when you get the purse back

[livluv_34]

She didn't contact me first, she just opened the return case and not responding to any of my message. I don't mind getting my item back, I'm just worried that she damaged it or is a shady buyer that send nothing back and still get her $ refunded.
I was reading online, I think I'm going to upload all the evidences I have to prove my case. If I lose, then I will record myself opening the return package to make sure she really returned my item.

[klhmdg]

eBay does not accept video as proof.

They most likely will not look at your evidence.

The buyer is 99% of hte time right.

The best you can do is stop messaging the buyer and send a return shipping label also let hte buyer know you will refund when you receive the item just as originally sent.

[livluv_34]

Thank you, I also read this in a lot other discussions too. Still disappointed about selling on eBay for the first time.

[no_zero369]

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@livluv_34 wrote:

She didn't contact me first, she just opened the return case and not responding to any of my message. I don't mind getting my item back, I'm just worried that she damaged it or is a shady buyer that send nothing back and still get her $ refunded.
I was reading online, I think I'm going to upload all the evidences I have to prove my case. If I lose, then I will record myself opening the return package to make sure she really returned my item.

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@livluv_34 

Right there is your problem!  Quit reading online stuff!  There are so many 'blind leading the blind' out there it is crazy! 

Now you are on the official eBay Community Forum.  As such there are other members here to help you and a VAST wealth of experience & knowledge.  On line?  Who knows what they know.  PLUS here eBay employees can be paged to correct misrepresentations when they occur.

Look, returns are part of selling.  When one happens, one is going to lose money.  What you do, or don't do will directly effect how much money you lose.  Do what any smart retailer does and PLAN for returns, understanding the process and setting aside funds to deal with it!

What the buyer appear to be claiming is considered a Not As Described (NAD) reason for a return.  When that happens the seller is required to pay return shipping and issue a full refund.  But is sure looks like you are planning on fighting this, which is you "right!"  Doesn't mean it is the right thing to do, but hey go ahead.  I can predict with 100% certainty that if you do that you are going to get run over by the MBG!  Then you will have a MAXIMUM LOSS!!!  In other words, fight the MBG when you can't and eBay will issue a full refund and not require the item be returned. Oh and you will get a big fat Defect on your account.

I suspect the buyer knows you are a new seller and this are ignorant of the MBG and its policies and is counting on you having a hissy fit, fighting the return and they get free stuff.  So do you want to play into the buyer's hand? 

But hey, your choice on how you decide to proceed on this.  I'm just saying!

[thehonorabletrader]

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@no_zero369 wrote:

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@livluv_34 wrote:

She didn't contact me first, she just opened the return case and not responding to any of my message. I don't mind getting my item back, I'm just worried that she damaged it or is a shady buyer that send nothing back and still get her $ refunded.
I was reading online, I think I'm going to upload all the evidences I have to prove my case. If I lose, then I will record myself opening the return package to make sure she really returned my item.

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@livluv_34 

Right there is your problem!  Quit reading online stuff!  There are so many 'blind leading the blind' out there it is crazy! 

Now you are on the official eBay Community Forum.  As such there are other members here to help you and a VAST wealth of experience & knowledge.  On line?  Who knows what they know.  PLUS here eBay employees can be paged to correct misrepresentations when they occur.

Look, returns are part of selling.  When one happens, one is going to lose money.  What you do, or don't do will directly effect how much money you lose.  Do what any smart retailer does and PLAN for returns, understanding the process and setting aside funds to deal with it!

What the buyer appear to be claiming is considered a Not As Described (NAD) reason for a return.  When that happens the seller is required to pay return shipping and issue a full refund.  But is sure looks like you are planning on fighting this, which is you "right!"  Doesn't mean it is the right thing to do, but hey go ahead.  I can predict with 100% certainty that if you do that you are going to get run over by the MBG!  Then you will have a MAXIMUM LOSS!!!  In other words, fight the MBG when you can't and eBay will issue a full refund and not require the item be returned. Oh and you will get a big fat Defect on your account.

I suspect the buyer knows you are a new seller and this are ignorant of the MBG and its policies and is counting on you having a hissy fit, fighting the return and they get free stuff.  So do you want to play into the buyer's hand? 

But hey, your choice on how you decide to proceed on this.  I'm just saying!

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You may not like the answer. You may disagree with the answer. But THIS is the correct answer. It doesn't make the situation suck any less. It's just the answer.

[head-853]

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@livluv_34 wrote:

She didn't contact me first, she just opened the return case and not responding to any of my message. I don't mind getting my item back, I'm just worried that she damaged it or is a shady buyer that send nothing back and still get her $ refunded.
I was reading online, I think I'm going to upload all the evidences I have to prove my case. If I lose, then I will record myself opening the return package to make sure she really returned my item.

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accept the return. You won't win, and you may lose the money and the item

[no_zero369]

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@thehonorabletrader wrote:

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You may not like the answer. You may disagree with the answer. But THIS is the correct answer. It doesn't make the situation suck any less. It's just the answer.

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 The problem with getting advice "on line" is that one has nothing to use to evaluate the reviewer/reporter.  So it comes down to subjective measurements as to style of writing or whether one initially agrees with or likes the advice proffered.  So one can make decisions based on a popularity contest or something else subjective in nature.

But hey, in a situation like this, there is a final arbiter and a BIG opportunity for "experiential" (and in this case COSTLY) learning!

[livluv_34]

The posts I read are from the this eBay forum. I do see that the solutions offered for these refund questions are all the same. I called eBay and they said something similar. I did realized that I probably was being targeted by the buyer since I'm a new seller and I took down all my listings as well. I guess, It's a lesson learned. I should've rejected it when the buyer haggled me to give her 50% off on one item and another 10% off on one item and free shipping to combined them. Now, all I'm hoping is to actually get the exact item I shipped to her back. Just need to vent because I'm angry at myself and my stupidity!

[kensgiftshop]

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@livluv_34 wrote:

If I lose, then I will record myself opening the return package to make sure she really returned my item.

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To be honest, all that will prove is you can take a video.

Neither Ebay or Pay Pal will take a video as proof of anything.

Just hope you have an honest buyer and will return your item.

[vintagecraze50]

Do not sell high end designer bags on here unless you use the Ebay Authenticate program where you are protected better. People go after these expensive bags and steal them online returning nothing but air. Do not do it this way. Use the service or do not sell online.

[kensgiftshop]

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@livluv_34 wrote:
Thank you, I also read this in a lot other discussions too. Still disappointed about selling on eBay for the first time.

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A new seller, selling expensive items is always a bad combination on Ebay.

Hope things work out for you and you do get the bag back in the same condition it was when you shipped it.

[livluv_34]

Thanks. I naively thought I could try to resolve it with solutions like uploading proof of purchase, offering to pay for her to authenticate it to prove it's not fake or record myself opening the package. Then I realized that they don't work.