Forced to refund a buyer for a new item returned in a used state

[drumspares_direct]

I received an order from a buyer for a drum head 5th November 2019.

The buyer then opened a return case stating item didn't fit and adding that the buyer had ordered the item by mistake.

I received the item back with the sealed packaging open and with stick marks all over the drum head.

That means that the buyer has used the item and has returned the item after using it.

When I contacted the buyer I was told that oh it's only around a tenner so not worth bothering about.

eBay asked me to provide photos. When I did I was told by eBay that photos cannot be accepted as evidence as these can be manipulated. 

eBay will now force me to refund the buyer!

I am really now considering closing my account as eBay treat sellers despicably! 

Anybody else beginning to hate eBay?

[dg-slovenia]

As per ebay policy you can offer a partial refund instead  :

Condition of return Refund deduction guidance

Excellent condition:

• Unused, undamaged, or unaltered
• All items included in the original package
• Factory or vacuum seal must not be broken/opened (if applicable)
• Original tags included & attached (where applicable)
• Must include provided certificates of authenticity, grading or appraisal

No deductions

Good condition:

• Missing original packaging
• Factory or vacuum seal is broken/opened but the item is still in its original condition
• Original tags included but unattached

5%–10% deduction

Fair condition:

• Missing parts
• Some signs of wear or use
• Item has been installed
• Item has been registered or user has not logged out of the device’s account, and cannot easily be set back to factory settings
• Original tags missing

15%–30% deduction

Poor condition:

• Significant signs of wear, or significantly different than how it was shipped to the buyer
• Missing essential parts
• Item is damaged, scratched, defective, or requires service or repair 
• Missing provided certificates of authenticity, grading or appraisal
• Opened items that cannot be resold (perishables, liquor, makeup) 

35%–50% deduction

Good luck!

[drumspares_direct]

I have blocked the buyer and will be issuing an appeal to eBay for return to me of the refund which I will be forced to issue.

I have also started to scale down the number of items which I am selling on eBay due to eBay's unfair treatment of sellers.

Not only do I have to refund the so called buyer but I have to bear to cost of original postage and packing on which eBay have also taken their commission!

[drumspares_direct]

Perhaps there is a legal way to stop eBay from

forcing business sellers from issuing refunds if the buyer has acted unfairly?

charging commission on carriage and packing?

acting unfairly to business sellers on other matters?

[sandyshoresvirtualmall]

And to make matters worse, Paypal now doesn't refund the fees you paid them when an item is returned. 

[drumspares_direct]

That just clearly shows the disgraceful way that both eBay and PayPal treat business sellers on eBay!

There must be other platforms apart from eBay and Amazon that allow sellers to make a living.

(I also tried eBid but that proved a complete waste of time)

[ga-8370]

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@drumspares_direct wrote:

charging commission on carriage and packing?

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False. You received a credit.

Also, both eBay and PayPal provided and fulfilled their services: Should they go unpaid just because we are unfit to be sellers?

[drumspares_direct]

eBay and PayPal make a profit on each and every sale whilst the sellers are forced to cut margins to the bone. There needs to be some help coming from eBay to make selling on eBay worthwhile.

The automatic relisting process at one point took the cost of selling between eBay and PayPal to around 25 percent which is unsustainable. I have since that happened reduced the number of listings which I have on eBay by over 75 percent. I also do not allow eBay to automatically relist. I now remove listings which have not sold for over 30 days and replace them with new listings.

[kensgiftshop]

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@drumspares_direct wrote:

Perhaps there is a legal way to stop eBay from

forcing business sellers from issuing refunds if the buyer has acted unfairly?

---

Not really since you agreed to Ebays terms when you joined and listed the item.

[abramnag]

You can ask ebay for final value fee refund since item return back to you.

[drumspares_direct]

There is the Unfair Contracts Act which overrides any terms and conditions which can be proved to be unfair in law.

[drumspares_direct]

That wouldn't even cover the cost of the carriage and packing. Basically by refunding on an item which I am unable to resell I am losing any profit on at least the next six or seven items I sell.

Due to eBay charging commission on carriage and packing it makes it very difficult to make any profit on anything sold on that platform.

There are sellers out there that sell at very low prices and mostly at either zero profit or at a loss after calculating cost of sales and margins.

The reason I know this is that I always complete a full costings sheet for each and every item that I sell.

I then look at the prices being charged on eBay and then know if such prices allow the sellers to make a profit or a loss.

Sellers should be reminded that Turnover is for show and PROFIT IS FOR DOUGH!