Do some buyers look for errors in posts solely to try to dipute the sale for a refund?

[elaynesgarage]

I've only had two people complain about items not being as described in both cases it was completely obvious what they were getting but they seem like they're looking for any minor error in the listing just to dispute it and try and get the item for free. The first time it happened I accidentally listed an item as new, even though the pictures obviously showed that it wasn't new, but it was my mistake and I owned up to it.

More recently I posted what I thought was a creative, attention-getting item description in which I said a doll has "Mary Reilly" hands - (which is a reference to a Julia Roberts movie about Dr. Jekyl and Mr. Hyde where her hands were chewed up by rats as a kid) whether or not you get the reference I said "see photos" right after the Mary Reilly comment because I thought it would direct people to actually look at the photos. Well perhaps it did for everyone except for the champion of the industry who actually bought the item. Now she wants to return the entire lot because one of three dolls has Mary Reilly hands, but she'll settle for just being able to return one doll... but the way I see it, if I have to pay for the return of one doll I may as well pay to return all three, but I'm still letting ebay handle it because she caught me on a bad day and I'm sick of trying to be nice to people who don't understand humor and can't take responsibility for their own actions.

While I think my story is amusing, it's really not relevant to my question.

After reading through many of the forum posts, I'm starting to understand that ebay always sides with the buyer when there is a dispute, and since it doesn't take a genius to figure that out, are there people who take advantage of that and only look for listings with mistakes when making purchases?  Did the Today show do a segment on how to look for ebay listing with minor errors so that you have grounds to blow it out of proportion and try to get the item for free? Has anyone else experienced this?

[nc-daydreamer · Accepted solution]

Yes, they do  look for errors just to get it free.

[jeannicho22]

Your reference to Mary Riley hands was neither cute nor smart to have in a listing.  I would have had no way of knowing what the heck you were talking about.  On the other "hand" I would have looked at your pictures and seen the mangled hand and wouldn't have purchased.  IMHO, I would have been surprised if you hadn't gotten an INAD return since in your main picture, the mangled hand is not showing.

I have a hard and fast rule when it comes to refunds.  I ALWAYS require a return for a refund, this case may make me change my mind.  I would either graciously accept the return paying for return shipping with a smile, or I would just refund them and tell them to keep them.

[soh.maryl]

I would have had no idea what Mary Riley hands are and I bet I am not alone.

We don't all have the same frame of reference here.  I also cannot tell you anything about Game of Thrones, although, I bet there are people who can name every character and explain every episode.

Again, my point is that your reference was, at best, not helpful, and, at worst, as happened to you, caused problems for you.  

And I know you won't make that kind of error again.

[buyselljack2016]

@elaynesgarage 

if I have to pay for the return of one doll I may as well pay to return all three, but I'm still letting ebay handle it because she caught me on a bad day

Not exactly sure what you think will be accomplished by letting eBay handle it, or even what you mean by that, but I do know that if a case is opened for a return----  YOU---- have to handle it. If eBay has to handle it the buyer will get a full refund, you may, or may not get your dolls back, and you will get a defect for not resolving a problem.

[elaynesgarage]

Well... thanks for your response, although you did not answer my question.

The thing is my options for a response do not include "REJECT REFUND" and I'm getting tired of trying to have an intelligent professional conversation with someone who can't formulate a proper sentence but thinks she's entitled to full refunds for not paying attention to simple actions like an ebay purchase, because that's what America Being Great Again is all about, or whatever.

As per my conversation with the eBay staff, they usually side with the buyer in a dispute. However I was told that I can dispute that, and that often ebay will "help" with return postage (whatever that means). And I do not need to refund her if she never returns the dolls. Also if she never returns the dolls I can always cancel the postage and get a refund on that as well.

But you seem to be suggesting that even though the flaw in the item was clearly visible and the condition description clearly said "see photos" that I will have to give her a full refund and she will get to keep the dolls. So I now ask you. Have you had this happen to you personally? If so please share your story.

[ansm-756]

Why expect a buyer to catch an obscure pop culture reference rather than just describe them as damaged?

[soh.maryl]

Also, to me there are two of those dolls whose hands aren't clearly visible.  To a buyer, it might look like you were deliberately hiding a flaw.  Regardless of that, I think I'd just tell her to keep all of them.  It's your decision to make, of course, and I don't know you well enough to know whether or not that would be a hardship for you.  You are going to be refunding the purchase price plus shipping if she opens a case and you will also be paying the return shipping out of pocket.  Totally your call.  

[ansm-756]

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@elaynesgarage wrote:

Well... thanks for your response, although you did not answer my question.

The thing is my options for a response do not include "REJECT REFUND" and I'm getting tired of trying to have an intelligent professional conversation with someone who can't formulate a proper sentence but thinks she's entitled to full refunds for not paying attention to simple actions like an ebay purchase, because that's what America Being Great Again is all about, or whatever.

As per my conversation with the eBay staff, they usually side with the buyer in a dispute. However I was told that I can dispute that, and that often ebay will "help" with return postage (whatever that means). And I do not need to refund her if she never returns the dolls. Also if she never returns the dolls I can always cancel the postage and get a refund on that as well.

But you seem to be suggesting that even though the flaw in the item was clearly visible and the condition description clearly said "see photos" that I will have to give her a full refund and she will get to keep the dolls. So I now ask you. Have you had this happen to you personally? If so please share your story.

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Wow...you really need to work on your customer service skills! You screwed up by using an off the wall movie reference, and you need to own up to the mistake, rather than slamming the buyer.

Sometimes photos are hard to zoom in on, especially when using a mobile device. Sometimes people buy without reading, or viewing all photos. Sometimes the seller makes cutesie references and the buyer has no clue what it means, but they're afraid to ask for fear of the seller thinking they're stupid, or blocking them or both.

[monster-deals]

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@jeannicho22 wrote:

Your reference to Mary Riley hands was neither cute nor smart to have in a listing.  I would have had no way of knowing what the heck you were talking about. 

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There is an option to ask the seller a question.

Why would you buy something you didn't know what it was?

[buyselljack2016]

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@elaynesgarage wrote:

Well... thanks for your response, although you did not answer my question.

The thing is my options for a response do not include "REJECT REFUND" and I'm getting tired of trying to have an intelligent professional conversation with someone who can't formulate a proper sentence but thinks she's entitled to full refunds for not paying attention to simple actions like an ebay purchase, because that's what America Being Great Again is all about, or whatever.

As per my conversation with the eBay staff, they usually side with the buyer in a dispute. However I was told that I can dispute that, and that often ebay will "help" with return postage (whatever that means). And I do not need to refund her if she never returns the dolls. Also if she never returns the dolls I can always cancel the postage and get a refund on that as well.

But you seem to be suggesting that even though the flaw in the item was clearly visible and the condition description clearly said "see photos" that I will have to give her a full refund and she will get to keep the dolls. So I now ask you. Have you had this happen to you personally? If so please share your story.

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If you call to appeal after the item(s) is returned, eBay will sometimes give you a courtesy refund of the return postage.  You should only be charged for the return label if it is used.

"See photos" does not work as a defense in an INAD/SNAD case.   Photos should match the description. Description should match the photos.  One poster always says take photos like there is no description, and describe like there are no photos. 

I have never had the buyer get a refund, and keep the item unless it was my decision. It has happened very little. Claim of damage. Foolish for me to pay for a broken item to be returned.  Incorrect item (my error). Cheap item. Foolish for me to pay for return.

The reason that I have never had the buyer get a refund, and keep the item unless by my choice is because I follow the procedures required for the return even when I know it was NOT MY ERROR.   If those procedures are not followed to accept the return eBay can refund and allow the buyer to keep the item.  Many sellers have posted attesting to that fact. eBay does not care what you say. They may say they agree with you, but can not stop the return/close in your favor.

Sometimes photos, and description don't even work. I had a SNAD opened where the item defects were well described, and photoed.  Buyer opened a case providing a photo of the defect almost identical to the photo in the listing showing the defect. They said the listing had no photos.  Buyers do not have to read, or look at photos. eBay will side with the buyer.

[candiesduds]

So you are essentially mad and insulting a buyer because you failed to formulate a proper description? Then you clearly don't know how returns work or Ebay policies because most sellers know to always accept the return when it is a SNAD as buyers are protected by EBay's MBG, they'll get a refund regardless if you accept the return or not. Maybe spend more time educating your intelligent self rather then watching movies or trying to word vomit political nonsense into a Ebay board, just a suggestion.

[monster-deals]

I find no errors here, the damage was completely obvious.

You have a bad buyer, report them for abusing the MBG.

Also refund them without a return. This isn't worth your time.

BBL and move on.

[jeannicho22]

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@monster-deals wrote:

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@jeannicho22 wrote:

Your reference to Mary Riley hands was neither cute nor smart to have in a listing.  I would have had no way of knowing what the heck you were talking about. 

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There is an option to ask the seller a question.

Why would you buy something you didn't know what it was?

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I wouldn't have purchased the item because I would have looked at all the pictures and not just the first one that was hiding the mangled hand.  But it is not cute and it is not smart to have something like that in a listing.  What's more, the OP opened themselves up to a INAD... which they justifiably got.

[jeannicho22]

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@monster-deals wrote:

I find no errors here, the damage was completely obvious.

You have a bad buyer, report them for abusing the MBG.

Also refund them without a return. This isn't worth your time.

BBL and move on.

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The main picture HIDE the damage and the pop culture reference added to the problem.  Why would a seller set themselves up for such a failure of a listing.  How hard would it have been to say... one hand on dolly A is mangled.  Actually... why would anyone sell such a thing.  The buyer isn't a bad buyer, it was a bad listing.  Yes, go ahead and report the buyer and give whoever reviews it a giggle.  It will say way more about the seller than it does the buyer.