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?

[monster-deals]

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@jeannicho22 wrote:

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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.

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Dear lord I hate buyers that don't look at pictures or read , I wish I never had another one.

Plain as day a bad buyer, no ifs ands or buts.

OP make sure you report that buyer.

[southern*sweet*tea]

Just a little off topic comment, but

dang, I wish I could have seen into the future thirty years ago! My girls for whatever reason liked to chew on their dolls' hands and feet. I wish I would have kept those chewed up dolls now

Just goes to show people will sell/buy anything lol

[candiesduds]

I completely agree it was a disaster of a description. The description itself only had the 1 sentence, a short one at that, and the item specifics was the only mention of any damage in a off the cuff, flippant way. I'm sure the buyer was shopping irresponsibility as well but this seller certainly needs to learn how to accept the blame for opening themselves up to this type of thing. A strong description and accurate information definitely helps eliminate the picky buyers having something to pick on for a return in the first place.

[san-jose-chili-co]

😵😜👎

[elaynesgarage]

I not only like that you actually answered the question I asked. But you did it without judging me, unlike so many others on this thread. Seriously, I’d rather not have answers to my questions then come back in here for that abuse. 

People are criticizing how I make my listings, but no one can read for content enough to actually understand the question. Maybe the problem isn’t with the condition in my listing, maybe too many people read at a first-grade level and want everything handed to them because of it.

I remember when people were ashamed of their stupidity, now people are so proud of it, they think it entitles them to take advantage of everyone and get things for free no with no regard of whether or not they’re hurting others.

And, FYI, I talked the buyer out of the return on the grounds that the description said “See photos” and there were two photos of the hands. 

[elaynesgarage]

So if you didn’t know what that meant, would you completely ignore the words “see photos” and not look at the photos at all, and then go ahead and buy the item? And do you think this was this purchase made with hopes of disputing it later?

[elaynesgarage]

Why make a purchase without looking at the photos, especially when there are words you can’t comprehend in the description. 

[elaynesgarage]

Dude, calm down. All you did was insult me. Why are you here if you’re not answering questions? Do you think I need more abuse in my life? You don’t even know me but you’re going to make a bunch of judgements off one post? Can’t you take your trolling to social media like everyone else?

[the*dog*ate*my*tablecloth]

Descriptions should contain descriptions of damage not just “see pictures”. I don’t understand why any seller would sell damaged items without the damage being described and the first picture showing it.

SMH.

[monster-deals]

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@southern*sweet*tea wrote:

Just goes to show people will sell/buy anything lol

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I learned a long time ago when listing to never spend the customers money for them. They will happily do it on their own.

I don't know why they want or what they do. 

I've had users buy a thing of mine just to destroy it, had them buy something they had no idea what it was, had a cherished childhood memory restored, buy a lot of 10 to keep 1 thing and re-sell the rest, buy because they can't stop buying things on the internet....you just never know.

[monster-deals]

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@ajaja-44 wrote:
You must be very proud, you managed to sell trash. You go gurrrl!

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"Trash" is subjective.

I am exceptionally proud to turn trash into gold on a daily basis for the last 20 years....as should anybody that has the know-how to do it well.

[monster-deals]

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@the*dog*ate*my*tablecloth wrote:

Descriptions should contain descriptions of damage not just “see pictures”. I don’t understand why any seller would sell damaged items without the damage being described and the first picture showing it.

SMH.

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...well because the number one perfect way to ruin any and all sales is to lead with the worst item in your lot instead of the best.

Kind of a Homer really.

It's been that way since the very first person sold the very first thing to the very first person with money.

[soh.maryl]

Well, to me, "see photos" would not have helped because there are several hands that are hidden.

Although I am sure there are some buyers who purchase with the hope of disputing the issue later, I doubt if this is a large percentage of buyers and I don't really think your buyer had that in mind.

[the*dog*ate*my*tablecloth]

Puffery is a huge mistake for sellers on eBay. Buyers always win misrepresentation quarrels.

i overdescribe and overdeliver. I’ve had five returns in 20 years and only two were my fault. 

[elaynesgarage]

You didn't actually read the description. You can't make the "disaster of a description" assessment based solely on what I said here, because that was not all I said. It was clear that the hands were damaged through context. This person was just trying to get money back on what was already an awesome deal.

But you're right, I should not count on people being able to read for content. And I do accept blame for trying to sell discontinued toys at super cheap prices in order to make a living without people treating me like I have the capital that Walmart has, where I can afford to just give full refunds to people because they were too stupid to understand a marketing joke, nor did they have the basic thinking skills to look at photos before purchasing. Instead they just go, "Oh I have no idea what that means. I guess I'll just buy it." Am I really supposed to believe people are too stupid to look at photos before they buy something, but they still have the basic skills required to make an ebay purchase in the first place and then file a claim for a return. I don't think so. Those people are trying to scam sellers. Is this what I served my country for? Just to have people trying to scam me out of the little money I make on ebay?