There is absolutely NO reason anymore why anyone would sell a high dollar + heavy and expensive to ship item here, rather than a local site--no reason at all. The only explanation is that some people are OK with rolling those dice--some get lucky and some don't, and that is all it pretty much boils down to.
Personally, I sold 10 pretty heavy items this Christmas--one came back and it was obviously buyer's remorse so I ate the costs--and I considered myself lucky--can you believe that? That is how eBay has conditioned its sellers here--we literally are kept in a state of constant worry, our stress levels shoot through the roof when we see that message notification, and we are overjoyed when we only get ripped off "here and there" rather than have a really unlucky streak and lose our shirts. It is hideous--just some of the most reprehensible business practices that there ever were--and from a site that most of us have been on for over 20 years--a place we used to LOVE. Now we hate it (and when I say "we"--I don't mean those of you that are going to come onto this thread and spout off about how you disagree, and how everything is just SO GREAT for you here--I am talking to the "we" that are truly suffering, and are angry about it--so please spare me your tiresome attempts to disagree with me--it's truly getting ridiculous, because there is a "we" and if you aren't a part of that "we" then move on, please) And eBay obviously hates us too, as they never cease to amaze us with their new and imaginative, and ever-evolving policies that are designed purely to harm, fleece, or torture the sellers here.
But that's my situation--your situation, and the main reason I am writing this, is much different. You embody the type of casual seller/buyer that eBay used to love--and why not? You don't sell here for a living, so you can afford to give someone a great price on your bike--you would think eBay would be thrilled (not to mention your buyer)--also, I see that you also spend here too, so you put money back in, and help to keep the boat afloat (and eBay gets paid either way)--you don't do this for a living, you basically just do it for fun, right? Well, not so much fun anymore, is it? To me, you represent one of the groups that gets talked about the least, but I think the casual seller/buyers like you are being way undervalued by eBay. They have to know that the rapidly changing and utterly baffling policy updates, are going to confuse many casual users like yourself. They know that calling customer service is a complete waste of time--the ONLY way to be successful with CS is to know policy better than they do--and most of the time, even when you tell them, they are generally unhelpful, as they must follow whatever whims or agenda eBay is adhering to that week. They know all this, and yet they have done nothing to help the casual sellers/buyers better understand this increasingly difficult to navigate site. You guys are just left hanging--and what casual seller has the time to spend hours on this forum trying to piece it all together?
I don't understand for the life of me, what could possibly be the benefit in alienating a casual seller/buyer such as yourself. You didn't mention it, but most people, after being taken for such a ride, would never come back here again--so another long term, honest, and decent buyer gone. Leaving an ever growing pool of bottom feeders.
Your buyer was a bottom feeder. What kind of person would put another through such expense and hassle--and blatantly admit it was because THEY couldn't make money off of their purchase--how incredibly self-centered and disgusting. The problem wasn't that you didn't describe the bike well enough, the problem was that they were allowed, with full eBay support, to "try out" your item--they knew they had no risk at all--no skin in the game, and they just plain didn't care--because eBay doesn't make them care. For all you know, her buyer fell through and rather than try to re-coup her money with integrity, and try to sell it to someone else (that might have taken time and extra effort, God forbid), she just decided to let you take the loss.
Six months ago you could have fought this return and won--she would still be able to return the bike, but she would pay for the shipping (and I bet that bike wouldn't be coming back--no way). Especially since you have blatant evidence in your messages that the real reason she wanted to return it was because she couldn't earn a profit on it. As little as six months ago, a reasonable customer service rep. would have read those messages and seen that you were being taken advantage of, and they could have helped you--but no more. Now, it doesn't matter what they say, or how obvious the fraud is--eBay will no longer review messages, nor will they change a "not as described" return to a "remorse" return, and make the buyer pay for the shipping. That is why morale is so low, and that is why tensions are so high, and why sellers are so incredibly upset right now. And it happens to all of us here--think about it--that's a lot of liars and scammers out there--depressing, huh?
Please don't think you are alone in your confusion--eBay double-speak, hidden traps and pitfalls, being lied to by customer service (or not being informed of the consequences of the decisions that THEY recommend to you) are just the norm now days--and it is really a shame. Your years here as a reputable seller and buyer mean nothing. And any idiot, regardless of reason, right or wrong--even if they are a brand new user, can rip you off and steal from you. And it's just wrong--we all know it, and just about everyone here is as upset, confused, and as horrified as you are--even though some will protest here on the forums day and night to the contrary, and will keep on singing that tune, while the ship sinks right underneath their feet--but trust me--you are not alone.
