Contesting a SNAD return - need your thoughts

[ridethebarfpony]

Hey all,

Long-time eBayer, new to the forums.  I recently received a return request for a Super Nintendo box (with a couple of accessories).  This was a "returns not accepted" auction, but the buyer is using a SNAD request to get around that.  She says that she was expecting a "console box" instead of a "cardboard box".  I can only guess that she means she expected the console itself?  She claims that my auction description was misleading, however I listed, in caps, in the title and description that the auction was for the box only, and also specified in the auto-generated description that it was a BOX ONLY bundle.  Further, the pictures clearly show what she was sent.

She requested extra-fast shipping.  The value of the item won't warrant a return, so I'm wondering if I should just follow standard seller procedure and give up and go a full refund and write it off, or if I would stand a chance opening a dispute with eBay.

Thoughts welcome, thanks!

[kensgiftshop]

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@ridethebarfpony wrote:

or if I would stand a chance opening a dispute with eBay.

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No, you wouldn't win.

If it's not worth returning, you can refund buyer and close the case.

If you want it back, you'll have to pay return shipping.

[a_c_green · Accepted solution]

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@ridethebarfpony wrote:

This was a "returns not accepted" auction, but the buyer is using a SNAD request to get around that.  She says that she was expecting a "console box" instead of a "cardboard box".  I can only guess that she means she expected the console itself?

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Yes. Note also that your listing was in the Consoles category, plus the listing showed all the usual information about the console itself, plus reviews of it. While the photos showed other equipment but no console, buyers don't always read with comprehension, or at all, and the inconsistencies between what the listing was for, what it included, and which category it was in, are probably going to sink this dispute for you.

Note that even if you're not accepting returns, that does not mean that you do not have to refund if eBay finds in the buyer's favor. Best to take it back for a refund and relist it in a better category. Sorry.

[bkb1942]

Might as well just refund. eBay would side with buyer. No need to pay more to have it shipped back.

[ridethebarfpony]

Fair enough. Do you think I wouldn't win because of a mistake in my listing, or because of eBay's hard backing of buyers over sellers? Just trying to learn for the future.

(It's not worth paying to return because the fast shipping she used was expensive, more than the item itself - I'd be out at least $70 for a full return, and probably only be able to sell the item again for maybe $20-25)

[buyselljack2016]

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@ridethebarfpony wrote:
Fair enough. Do you think I wouldn't win because of a mistake in my listing, or because of eBay's hard backing of buyers over sellers? Just trying to learn for the future.

(It's not worth paying to return because the fast shipping she used was expensive, more than the item itself - I'd be out at least $70 for a full return, and probably only be able to sell the item again for maybe $20-25)

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There is no "dispute" that you can open.

The buyer will win pretty much no matter what on a INAD/SNAD

If you fight it you will lose.

If eBay has to take action to make the buyer whole(more than whole), you will lose the FVF, and will get a defect on your account for "closed without seller resolution".

[corvettestainless]

You will still have to pay back whatever shipping they paid for. You will pay them back 100% of what they paid. 

[ridethebarfpony]

😕 Thanks! I did a full refund. Best to let this one go.

[ridethebarfpony]

Correct.  I would avoid the return shipping cost, however, by doing a full refund versus accepting a return.

[mesodude]

I noticed several similarly priced Nintendo listings which included the console and/or box, and games so it’s not all that hard to understand how a careless shopper (or perhaps one whose first language isn’t English) might have thought your  listing was for the console as well. In this case, I think you could have made your listing idiot-proof by stating that you were selling the adapters/switches along with the “empty box”.

[ridethebarfpony]

Something I'm trying to learn to watch out for is how eBay's automatic descriptions work. I've been burned by them once before. I actually created the auction using another auction I found for an SNES box-only auction. Previously I listed a costume jacket in a similar way, only to find that eBay had included an (incorrect) size for the jacket.