Money Back Guarantee

[lawng-42]

Hello I'm new to the discussion boards but here's my issue. I recently had a brand new in the box sealed $500 HP Smart Tank Printer returned to me from a buyer saying that it was defective and he couldn't hook it up to his WiFi. I got the item back and when i opened it to inspect it I found that the bottle of black ink was opened and halfway gone and there was ink splattered all over the inside of box, upon further inspection i found that he also replaced one of the printer cartridges with a old one and put the plastic pull tab back on it, and finally that the printer still had all the safety tape, cardboard, and foam still on it and the directions were still sealed in the plastic it comes in, you could obviously tell it wasn't even attempted to have been hooked up, and how could he have problems connecting to WiFi if he didn't even open the instructions on how to. I reported him to EBay and i just got the decision that they ruled in favor of him and refunded him his money, so now i'm not able to sell the printer as new or even as complete. How is that even fair?? Also when i go to appeal it I cant, has anyone ever had this issue?? How can I go about getting some of my money for damages?? Please help, thank you

[orangehound]

How is that even fair??

Sorry you had a bad experience selling.  eBay has a higher than average number of abusive buyers and stupid buyers, and a seller will encounter these from time to time ... it is not fair, but it is a reality of retail, and a reality of selling on eBay.

now i'm not able to sell the printer as new or even as complete.  How can I go about getting some of my money for damages??

What you describe is frequently found with returns.   If this unit came into us, we would first test it to make sure that it is functioning properly (especially the wifi), clean it, and replace any damaged items (the cartridge and ink bottle).  Then we would relist it as open box - cleaned, tested, damaged parts replaced with OEM, repackaged.   You can't get as much as a new item, but you can typically get 60-90% of the value depending on the item.

Also when i go to appeal it I cant, has anyone ever had this issue??

You can appeal through phone or messaging (FaceBook, Twitter), but I think you are wasting your time.   What you described is the common course of events. 

how could he have problems connecting to WiFi if he didn't even open the instructions on how to.

A lot of customers prefer looking at videos for set up and connection.  Perhaps this was the case.  I don't think that your buyer was making this up ... she probably believes that the wifi doesn't work because she couldn't get it to work ... remember, eBay has a higher than average number of stupid buyers.

 So, did you check the wifi to see if it is working?  Just because something is new and sealed in a box does not mean that it works ... particularly with electronics.

[luxgoods]

I am sorry that this happened to you.  I have been selling on ebay for 21 years now and I have had my fair share of dishonest buyers.  The numbers of these types of buyers are increasing in numbers every day because ebay lets them get away with it.  Ebay rarely sides with the seller and they will use the excuse that "it is the cost of doing business".  If you are selling high priced items, you are at a very high risk of getting scammed. Pretty sad.

[stuff4divas]

If you already asked ebay to step in and they ruled against you, you can then appeal, where you provide new info and photos.

Read this link for details>

https://www.ebay.com/help/selling/managing-returns-refunds/manage-returns-missing-items-refunds-sell...

You may want to consider offering free returns so you'll be allowed to deduct up to 50% of the sold price if the item is not returned to you as was received.

[alacar-8]

I recently had an unfair return accompanied by a negative feedback.  I got lucky, the seller was so abusive it was hard to fathom.  He called me a privileged American bigot, and various other names.  The guy was from Ohio!  When he realized that I was from Canada, he retreated and only said that I acted American, when I was from a "fake" country.  Last straw, We are very proud of being Canadian!  eBay immediately removed the negative and his many crazy messages.  I of course refunded, but never received my item back.  It's a tough job, I'm just sorry that you had it happen with such an expensive item. Please keep plugging away, things will get better!  Thanks for joining the community!

[alacar-8]

I said seller, but meant buyer!  We can't leave a negative as sellers!

[disneyshopper]

I of course refunded, but never received my item back. 

If the buyer opened a case, you NEVER refund until you get the item back, unless you do not want the item back.  I have only refunded in a couple of cases, where the item was broken.  The buyer sent photos, and I did not want to pay return shipping to get back a broken item I could not resell, so I refunded without requiring return of the item.

[gameday_sports_cards1]

Unfortunately this is how it is if you’re a seller on eBay.

I sold a Vintage box of Football cards that were Sealed and AUTHENTICATEd by BBCE.  The buyer opened the box took all the valuable cards and requested a return which I denied but EBay blocked.  I’ve learned there is a 100x more deadbeat buyers than sellers here.  $1700 lost and eBay wouldn’t listen

What I do now is video the packaging of anything I sell for over a couple hundred $$$.  I also put in my listings that I video the packaging process and would not suggest scamming me.  One idiot tried the same thing and my attorney and I sued the buyer separate of eBay.  Now their planning to charge them with mail fraud.

good luck

[al_minirides]

It would be great peace of mind if Ebay would introduce some kind of seller insurance to accompany the Ebay Money Back Guarantee. I am a very small volume/dollar seller that does not offer any kind of return/refund policy and has no plans of doing so but also realizes that I still have to refund out of pocket for INAD and INR claims ...I do however provide tracking and insurance on every item that I sell in case an item gets damaged or lost in shipping.With that said,not all buyers are willing to wait while a carrier claim is processed before receiving their money back and under the present policies and Ebay will refund them if not done in a timely manner. I would be very willing to pay Ebay a few dollars a month(And I do mean $2.00),in addition to my regular fees to be covered in the event of an INAD or INR claim. If all sellers were willing to pay into such a fund,then Ebay would build a huge reserve(millions every month) to handle such claims and the sellers would not have to worry about them at all. It also would provide Ebay with a potential source of revenue on their bottom line and may result in these claims being handled differently with Ebay handling, what then would be ,their own money.

[alacar-8]

Thanks, I refunded basically just to get him to shut it!  The money wasn't worth the racket.

[kensgiftshop]

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@al_minirides wrote:

I would be very willing to pay Ebay a few dollars a month(And I do mean $2.00),in addition to my regular fees to be covered in the event of an INAD or INR claim. If all sellers were willing to pay into such a fund,then Ebay would build a huge reserve(millions every month) to handle such claims and the sellers would not have to worry about them at all.

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That would never work.

If some of these shady sellers knew they can sell anything they want and not have to worry about INAD claims because they pay $2.00 a month to cover it, they could get rich real quick and Ebay would be the one's out all that money refunding the buyers.

[al_minirides]

I think it could work if there was certain criteria in place for sellers to initially qualify and remain eligible for such a benefit and maybe even result in Ebay having a closer look to weed out some of the "shady" sellers. With said and to your point,you are likely right as I think many good sellers find themselves presently paying the price for the actions of sellers that lacked integrity in the past and probably some that do currently.

[toysaver]

I reported him to EBay and i just got the decision that they ruled in favor of him and refunded him his money, so now i'm not able to sell the printer as new or even as complete. How is that even fair??

If your parents told you life was going to be fair they lied... 

It's not recommended you sell anything of value on Ebay.  It is more or less an online garage sale with a return policy that is less than desirable.   Don't sell anything you can't afford to lose.  Hopefully you didn't pay $500 for the item and are really only out the price you paid and postage, a valuable learning experience.  

Next time just sell the ink, that is the value in new printers on Ebay.

[aproudparent2010]

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@gameday_sports_cards1 wrote:

Unfortunately this is how it is if you’re a seller on eBay.

I sold a Vintage box of Football cards that were Sealed and AUTHENTICATEd by BBCE.  The buyer opened the box took all the valuable cards and requested a return which I denied but EBay blocked.  I’ve learned there is a 100x more deadbeat buyers than sellers here.  $1700 lost and eBay wouldn’t listen

What I do now is video the packaging of anything I sell for over a couple hundred $$$.  I also put in my listings that I video the packaging process and would not suggest scamming me.  One idiot tried the same thing and my attorney and I sued the buyer separate of eBay.  Now their planning to charge them with mail fraud.

good luck

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Good Luck with that...I don't think you have an actual case

[wardpro]

Post your situation on the Ebay Facebook page and send a message via Facebook to Customer Service.  Sometimes that works.