Buyer requests return, admits in Return Request the item was working and then stopped working later

[synergygeek]

Hello,

I filed a Buyer Report for misusing the return process/policy after the buyer initiated a return for a $200 radar detector that in their own words in the eBay Return Request messages said, "The radar worked up until today. Worked with the hardwire as well. I was driving home today and it shut off as I was driving home."

I shared this with eBay in my Buyer Report, and requested they review the official Return Request message thread.

The item was perfectly operational and carefully packaged, insured, tracked, and delivered to the buyer.

Is there anything else I should do to protect and defend my transaction?

Thank you in advance for any guidance.

[mtgraves7984]

Is there anything else I should do to protect and defend my transaction?

@synergygeek 

The best thing to do as a seller is to approve the Return request, issue a return label and refund the buyer only when the radar detector comes back to you .

I'm surprised that you filed a report on the buyer. Geez... the buyer hasn't had it for a whole month yet... it's obviously defective, and your buyer only told you honestly about the item's functionality.

[synergygeek]

@mtgraves7984 

They admitted the item was working last month, and then today it stopped working. I reported them because they are claiming the item was sent to them not working.

So, you're telling me that I can buy an item from you, and then I can break the item, and then return it for a full refund? In what world does that make sense?

[mtgraves7984]

Your buyer said, "I was driving home today and it shut off as I was driving home."

@synergygeek  ^^^ That doesn't sound like the buyer broke the system. ^^^

[synergygeek]

@mtgraves7984 

Again, if I receive an item and it breaks in my possession guess who broke the item. He could have been in a car accident, he could have wired his car wrong and shorted the device.

eBay Money Back Guarantee is not a product warranty. That is literally in eBay’s terms of service.

[pooh333piglet]

Yes, in the ebay world a buyer has 30 days to use, break and then ask for a return. 

I had a buyer use a baby quilt, obviously wash it and then return within the 30 days.

It's not uncommon 

[andypan_2]

Item sold Dec 13 and stopped working this soon? Accept the return and stop ASSuming your buyer is the bad guy, maybe the product really is defective.

[andypan_2]

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@synergygeek wrote:

@mtgraves7984 

Again, if I receive an item and it breaks in my possession guess who broke the item. He could have been in a car accident, he could have wired his car wrong and shorted the device.

eBay Money Back Guarantee is not a product warranty. That is literally in eBay’s terms of service.

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This^^^ right here is why buyers bail on ebay.

Dear lord, just accept the return, you don't know that you didn't sell a defective product. Buyers have every right to expect an item to last longer than a month!

[synergygeek]

@andypan_2 

Or it's simply buyer's remorse.

It's amazing how many eBay sellers rollover because the system is built in favor of buyers. That's some serious koolaid. You will be continually taken advantage of by both the buyers who intend to use loop holes, and eBay who constructs them or fails to close them.

[mtgraves7984]

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@synergygeek wrote:

@andypan_2 

Or it's simply buyer's remorse.

It's amazing how many eBay sellers rollover because the system is built in favor of buyers. That's some serious koolaid. You will be continually taken advantage of by both the buyers who intend to use loop holes, and eBay who constructs them or fails to close them.

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@synergygeek 

Well, you didn't tell us that the Return was for buyer's remorse... of course you don't have to accept those.

I thought the reason you posted earlier ("stopped working") made it a Not As Described claim.

Keep us posted as to what eBay does for you after they 'they review the official Return Request message thread' as you've requested they do. I expected it to go as nearly all seller's NAD cases go. Good luck.

[no_zero369]

@synergygeek 

Yeah it stinks when returns happen for whatever reason, plus it can be a financial shock too.

I was in your shoes at one point and then got beat up here and had to accept that, like it or not, returns were part of retail selling.  For me with a "no returns policy" that was a HUGE shock!!!  

On one case, I sold language software that worked fine on my ancient machine, but the buyer claimed he couldn't get it to work.  I am pretty certain he uploaded and installed it to his system {from some other postings he made}, but I gave him a refund and paid for his return shipping. 

Chalked all of that up to "the cost of doing business" and took the expenses out of my self insurance fund - that which I created by self taxing each sale 5%.  Also, I had the money to issue the refund because I never count and sales monies as "mine" until 31 days after deliver to allow the 30-days for a claim under the MBG. 

Once I got that down and the steps to take when defrauded, I was able to sleep at night.   Maybe some of that would work for you?

Hope you find a resolution and some peace in your selling!  best wishes

[traveldude3]

I understand how you feel @synergygeek as I too had a similar experience twice when a buyer purchased items in good working order (one in new condition,  upon receipt claimed the items did not work and had eBay contact me for the refund and return. The first buyer returned a fake item which I reported to eBay and the second item was never returned by the buyer and eBay resolution center offered nothing but copy and paste advise. So it's best to ONLY sell items on eBay that you can afford to take a loss. eBay protects buyers over sellers. It's Just the way the return system works.

[no_zero369]

@traveldude3 

I can understand that taking a loss on a sale at eBay is disconcerting.  I know it was for me.  Shoot I had things at risk that were EXPENSIVE!  But thankfully learned from these threads how to avoid losses or how to be made whole and things to do when a seller returns fake items.  Thankfully I was able to learn how to operate differently as I am sure you could too - IF you so desire.  Hate to see others suffering.

[andypan_2]

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@synergygeek wrote:

@andypan_2 

Or it's simply buyer's remorse.

It's amazing how many eBay sellers rollover because the system is built in favor of buyers. That's some serious koolaid. You will be continually taken advantage of by both the buyers who intend to use loop holes, and eBay who constructs them or fails to close them.

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It doesn't matter, accept the return, don't be a sucky seller

[synergygeek]

Okay, what are the common tips to avoid getting scammed as a seller?