Return Item not Received by eBay has taken my Money

[pzky1337]

Hi,

I have sold an item (no return offered) which the buyer initiated a return for. Because I didn't agree with his reasoning, his return request went through an appeal process which was decided in his favor. Upon eBay taking the money from me, the buyer was supposed to return the item. It was after the item was shipped that I realized that I hadn't updated my return address. As result, the item was returned to the sender. For almost three months I have tried to get a reply from the buyer, asking him to ship the item to my updated address. I told him that I would pay for return shipping.

To this day, I have not received my item back and I am missing the item's monetary value that eBay took from me. Even multiple disputes with my credit card company did not produce a solution. Worse, eBay has been incredibly difficult to talk to, especially now that their phone service is unavailable. When I did manage to get through, eBay told me to contact the buyer. After assuring them that none of my many messages have been answered by the buyer, they said they would contact him... Or so they said. 3 months later, I am still without item and money. By the way, I am talking $1,200 USD – not quite the amount my family can spare. What can I do?

PS: I am also missing the 10% that eBay took for selling the item through them. Pretty sure these should have been refunded after the funds were taken from me. So essentially, I am missing $1,300ish USD and the item itself.

[kensgiftshop]

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@pzky1337 wrote:

PS: I am also missing the 10% that eBay took for selling the item through them. Pretty sure these should have been refunded after the funds were taken from me.

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Your fee's would have been refunded if you had accepted the return.

When Ebay has to get involved, they don't refund their fee's.

Since your return address wasn't correct, there isn't much you can do if the buyer won't ship it back.

[pzky1337]

Thank you for responding.

There is a $20 (or so) fee from eBay they charge when they get involved. I have never heard anything about what you are claiming. Citation, please. Moreover, I'm not taking little $1 stamps or even cute $5 plush animals. I am talking over $1,000 that I am still owed. In a sensible world, yours would not be eBay's position.

[kako_5344]

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@pzky1337 wrote:

I have sold an item (no return offered) which the buyer initiated a return for. Because I didn't agree with his reasoning, his return request went through an [escalation] which was decided in his favor. Upon eBay taking the money from me, the buyer was supposed to return the item.

I am still without item and money. By the way, I am talking $1,200 USD – not quite the amount my family can spare.

PS: I am also missing the 10% that eBay took for selling the item through them. Pretty sure these should have been refunded after the funds were taken from me.

So essentially, I am missing $1,300ish USD and the item itself.

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It's the policy -- if eBay has to fix the problem for you, you don't get your fees (or fee's as someone else punctuates it) back.

If a seller issues a buyer a full refund before eBay is asked to step in and help, we credit the seller's final value fee.

The seller agrees to allow eBay to charge their reimbursement or automatic payment method on file for the amount refunded to the buyer.

Before you put the item up for sale,

- the buyer had the $1,200. Now

- the buyer has the $1,200 back.

You didn't lose $1,200; it came and went -- you lost postage, about $120 in fees, and the item.

[lamber9347]

@pzky1337 - It would be best for you to read the entire TOS. I know they are long but in order to really understand the different nuances to online selling using this platform you will have to read the entire thing. Returning to this board with questions or just spending time reading on here will be a huge benefit to you. 

Sometimes we make choices which have an affect on us, and may cost us a bit, but the important part is to learn from the experience to avoid a recurrence. There were things you could have done in your situation which might have alleviated some of the costs involved. 

I hope that your buyer has a change of heart and returns your item. I would suggest to stop writing them for now and perhaps send another message in a month, when they've had more time to think about it. Just remember, honey attracts more flies then vinegar. You only want your item back at this point and they have no reason to ship it back to you so try to plead your case kindly as only you can lose here. Best of luck to you.... 

[pzky1337 · Accepted solution]

I don't really know why we are even talking about this. The buyer has my item and refuses to return it to the, now updated, address. eBay has my money and I am left without anything. Just because I didn't update the return shipping address I lost $1,200 USD? Give me a break. You have got to be joking me. I don't think this is supported by the ToS.