Ebay policies Screw Sellers More & More, Just when i think it couldn’t get worse...

[calistas_closet33]

I had a buyer submit return request for an item being defective however it really didn’t fit and she admitted it didn’t fit in the correspondence in return case. I have a no return policy. Ebay sided with buyer and I eat the costs. So in essence everyone will be offering free returns whether they opt in or not.  Listening to the a-backwards reasoning is almost as bad as having to pay shipping both ways for buyers remorse when I have a no return policy.  

I have been scaling back and took a position back in my original profession.

Just wanted to warn the small sellers that cannot afford to absorb costs due to ebay by default forcing free returns.

My short term solution is removing free shipping and increasing prices across the board as I am phasing out to reduce my financial risk..  This site disgusts me, I cannot wait until I am finished. I thought it was bad..but didn’t think it was hopeless until today. 

[ed8108]

There does appear to be easier ways of earning a living than selling on eBay, for some folks.

[the*dog*ate*my*tablecloth]

You're selling clothing without measurements, copying things out of a catalog. I wouldn't buy from you without free returns.

I'm not surprised people buy your things and lie to return. You're selling in a way that doesn't make sense for clothing. If you're a woman you know how many things women try on before finding something they like. 

[lex-talon]

Selling on ebay is not for everyone. For some sellers, ebay is just a part-time gig to help pay the bills and other expenses. 

Unless you're a multi-millionaire, don't quit your day job.😉

[green-night]

I’m fortunate 4000 women felt differently this past year.

If this is true and the overwhelming majority of your buyers are happy, then why would a blip on the radar result in quitting selling even the circumstances were unfair? 

[calistas_closet33]

wow someone just bought a shirt from me without asking for measurements. Maybe she knows her size? Likes my positive reviews? I measure when requested, but the majority of my clientele know their size in the brands I sell. So before you make blanket statements to do your job defending ebay, look at my performance and then go sell something and not reply because you are a troll on here, cannot possibly comment so often and work at the same time. Thank you in advance for respecting my wishes for you to refrain from responding to any post of mine, if I remember your ID, it’s pretty bad because Im rarely on these boards. So focus on replying to someone who doesn’t know about you yet. Have a great night.

[calistas_closet33]

i was clearing 10k in profit, selling about 18-20k, so I worked really hard, but it was easy to go back to old profession, and Im just unloading inventory thru a few sites, locally for cost and returning since I can return as well. So my exit strategy started in January, but had an unexpected back surgery so i’m behind now about 2 months so probably need to do this on the side until September..then everything should be fine one way or another. I had been taking care of a friend with cancer who was single, she died, so I no longer need a flexible work schedule.

[calistas_closet33]

because I’m left wide open to risk in a high risk category. I saw it in January and started to buy less, now I stopped buying new inventory and just focusing on what’s left. Not to be snobby, but I make far more money with far less **bleep** working in my old profession. I needed flexibility while a friend was sick. The policies are not geared towards sellers like me and I am not a charitable organization, so it was fun, I did really well and now move on once inventory is gone. But I appreciate the question sincerely. I was making enough money not to work, but now the new policies are not conducive to my business model and Im not going to work to pay ebay fees when they could care less about my business contribution to theirs. I’m not interested in working with an organization that bites the hands that feed them.

[danlmoe · Accepted solution]

Ebay is not on the side of the seller.  I received a refund request from a buyer stating that although my photos showed the item very well (a NWT leather handbag) she did not like the feel of it when received. I advised I had a no refund policy.  She replied again then she wanted refund because she would not use.  As I like to keep my buyers happy I offered her a refund of the amount she had paid ......$20....I had  paid price of $69. 00 when purchased. She escalated to Ebay who today I find out they are on her side and have refunded her the full amount paid including all shipping charges.  They refunded before I had even got the handbag back!!!  On receipt of the handbag one hour ago in my mail delivery the package I shipped to her is returned with just the new address label on.......she never opened it!!!!    Complained to Ebay and all they say is I can appeal......will not say what I said to them!!  Ebay should start protecting their sellers and not automatically going on the side of the buyer.  I wish I knew somewhere else I could sell my items.  Incidently the buyer only been a member for 3/4 months and I believe she thinks Ebay is like Macys and can order and return whenever she wants.

[calistas_closet33]

mercari is good, no returns allowed, but if a lot of inventory it’s difficult to list quickly. I sell in there a small amount, keeping under the IRS 20k threshold to make it worthwhile

[the*dog*ate*my*tablecloth]

You posted to yourself asking yourself to refrain from posting. 

This is an open forum here. As long as people are following forum rules they have every right to post here. So far the only violating forum rules is you with hostile name-calling posts.

Good luck with your sales!

[calistas_closet33]

And your story..it will continue as this is a very new policy, so if you can find other options definitely do it. This is only going to go down from here for small sellers in high risk categories. You could describe perfectly and have 12 photos of the real item and ebay will go on the buyers indication that the item is defective. It’s there way of forcing you to do free returns 

[calistas_closet33]

Also these issues will be very common with new policy changes, so I do not want to be stuck with a bunch of worn or purposely damaged clothing and jewelry that I pay shipping both ways for. It’s looking at the horizon and seeing that this venture is no longer going to be profitable, so that’s why. I did do really well, I still do well, but it will get worse for me because I am not conforming to what ebay wants so they are forcing it thru no seller protection. It’s just a business decision

[the*dog*ate*my*tablecloth]

You owe income tax whether you get a 1099 or not. The 20k threshold is for payment processing firm 1099 requirement NOT for income taxes.

Some states are starting to send them out for sales over $600. Once the IRS realizes you have not been paying income taxes (judging by the $20K comment) they can go back years with penalties and fines.

You need to see a tax specialist. 

[calistas_closet33]

 Accounting and tax prep is not an issue. You do not know my finances, overhead or inventory on hand. But how would you?  I do appreciate your sincere concern for my finances and tax implications. I don’t know how I built a 14 million dollar business without your input. Probably would have sold for 20 million. darn!