On this subject, and deservant of its own entire thread, ALL SELLERS should see the new insane, absurd, idiotic, moronic policies that started March 1.
I just had a buyer open a $3,200 return case on parking garage equipment because he claims the item 'isn't as described'. Well, he is 100% wrong - it's exactly as described, pictured, and every t was crossed and i dotted in my listing. It just doesn't work with his system, so he wants to return it. I do not accept returns, especially on high dollar items - it also cost me $150 to ship. We went back and forth, he opened a case. I sent him numerous messages in the case. I sent photos proving the condition and use, and in writing on letterhead documentation from 2 outside professional companies detailing that my items worked, and why they don't work with his system. He is using a system that has software so out of date they won't work with this equipment. He says it's my fault for selling it, I've proven way beyond a shadow of a doubt it isn't. I uploaded all this to ebay to prove my case. Oh, one more thing - the buyer admitted in WRITING in his messages he had no idea what he was buying, he just thought it should work for his friend who isn't on ebay.
I have spent hours on this. I called ebay to get the case closed, since it had been over a week and no buyer response. Because it is a high value claim, I actually got the high value US-based appeals team. I've spoken with 3 of them for over 2 hours, and let me break the news to everyone. Ebay will not, for any reason, at all, ever close a buyer return case for the seller again. As of March 1, any buyer who opens a case for ANY REASON whatsoever, as long as they select 'not as described'/'item damaged' etc, will absolutely 100% have ebay force a seller to accept the return. Not only that, but pay for the return and fees. This is from the top of the top you can speak with. Buyers can now return anything for any reason and there's absolutely utterly nothing a seller can do about it but accept it, and if you don't ebay will force it on you and it will go against you as a case where they had to step in, and you will forefeit all fees.
I was shocked. I sell very technical, high dollar, high shipping value commercial parts. I went round and round with the supervisors for hours to ensure I was hearing them right. This guy did not know what he was buying, bought it for someone else, didn't read the listing fully, doesn't have the proper operating parking garage system to use it....and admitted it....and I have provided photo documentation, manufacturer documentation, and installer documentation proving the item is working/what it is/why it won't work for the buyer.... .... and ebay is forcing the return. I spent $150 on shipping one way and $400 on fees, took 2 hours to prep it for shipment, and now have a $3200 hold on my money and have nothing.
I could write a book about what I heard and learned, but just wanted to chime in. You can list things as no returns, as-is, for parts/not working, do EVERYTHING right, prove beyond a shadow of a doubt the buyer is wrong or fraudlent...and ebay from now on will NEVER, EVER, FOR ANY REASON AT ALL step in and close a case in favor of the seller. They literally used the work 100% - from now on, any buyer return WILL go against you and be forced on you.
They said, for good measure, that no Mr. Anderson, if a buyer selects a return for reasons of remorse or such and such, we won't allow it. Well, how long do you think it will take for buyers to figure out this strategy, geniouses in California??!!! Even if not, take a buyer like mine, who is outright in the wrong. He picked 'not as described', so it doesn't even matter.
This has devestated me. I'm a small time seller, full time, but small. My account is negative $2,800 now. I can't even sell on it. I can't even articulate how this has destroyed me. And do you know what they said to me? That it's the cost of doing business now, and sellers need to be prepared for it. And that when I get it back, I can simply re-list it. I told them, why the hell would I reslist it and go through this again!! There's absolutely NOTHING to prevent another idiot from doing this!
To say I'm mad is the understatement of the year.
Please, every seller, everyone, look into this - look at the new policy - call ebay about it - spread this word. It is a slap in the face to all of us. Actually, it's a sword to the neck of us. It might not be so bad if you're selling $1 socks and get hit with a return, but to those who sell high dollar and high shipping items, it is a deathknell.
