Return Policy on eBay

[toc460]

Let me share my little eBay story 😉

It doesn’t meter if you have your own return policy, to eBay your return policy means nothing. If buyers don’t want to pay for shipping, they simply lie by opening the case and say that item is not as described or damaged, sellers are automatically screwed. You will pay for everything, and buyer will get full refund!!! …only one thing you can do is to pray, that when your item returns, it's still in the same/working condition.

In the past month I've had two buyers who abused return policy, but eBay and PayPal decided to penalize me!

1st item was not working, so I listed as for parts or repairs with no returns policy. Buyer kept the item for two days and then without contacting me or eBay, he went to the post office and refused the package. Then through his financial company he open the case on PayPal against me …guess what eBay and PayPal did? …eBay completely nothing, PayPal right away took the money from my balance and reimbursed the buyer. Remember, buyer cannot just refuse the item, it is against eBay’s and PayPal’s policy!!!!! …I had a double protection …LMAO

2nd item was used Intel 6th Generation Motherboard, and I listed it with 14 days money back and buyer pays return shipping. Long story short, buyer made a mistake by purchasing from me 6th Generation Motherboard, for her 7th Generation Processor …it is incompatible and it will not work!!! …then she realized that she made a mistake, but she didn’t want to pay for return shipping, so she opened a case saying that the item came damaged and is not working. eBay did completely nothing to protect me from this fraud, instead they refund the buyer to the last penny.

So, like I said before, It doesn’t meter if you make your own return policy, eBay and PayPal don’t care about sellers return policy, buyer will always win …if buyer doesn’t want to pay for return shipping, simply he/she has to say that item is damaged and is not working!!!

[tarpedge]

Thanks for all the spam!

[toc460]

Are you eBay’s bodyguard, or you just don’t know what the spam means?

[takikawa4]

Yep, your return policy has NO effect on ebay's Money Back Guarantee. Some buyers will lie about an item being not as described. Others, however, will not. I also remember the days when buyers had to pay themselves for returning items no matter what the reason.

[toc460]

That’s true, but some cases are so clear that buyer or seller is abusing the return policy …and still, eBay don’t take any actions. Who knows what eBay’s decision is based on?!?

[victorjunkman55]

eBays money back guarantee (MBG) for buyers trumps any return policy you have. You have a no return policy on your listings and some buyers love to challenge this knowing eBay has their back with their MBG, Offer 14 day returns and I believe your problems will stop. You are not new here, Read these boards, I've seen many posts like yours and most all have one thing in common, No return policies. Good Luck to you.

[missjen831]

In the first incident, there is nothing eBay or PayPal can do. The buyer went to her credit card for purchase protection. I am not sure what you expected eBay or PayPal to do? eBay was not involved. PayPal is your payment processor and in the user agreement it states that there is no seller protection for certain chargebacks. And for INR chargebacks you need proof of delivery to the buyer.  Ebays policies do NOT apply when it comes to a chargeback, a chargeback is between the buyer and the credit card company and if you would actually read PayPals policy, refusing a package is NOT against their policy. 

[toc460]

On eBay I’m more buyer then seller. Most of my “good” items I sell on Craigslist, no fees, no shipping and all cash …can’t beat that 😉

I cannot put 14 days money back guarantee on not working **bleep** I’m selling. I did 14 days money back guarantee with 2nd item I describe above …you tell me how I did?

[toc460]

I agree that eBay and PayPal can’t do much when buyer is using CC, but there is simple solution for this and many other problems between buyers and sellers. For example they can change their policy, that buyer can only purchase the item on eBay if there is enough money in PayPal credit or balance …no backup payment allowed on eBay purchases. Then give sellers option to allow buyer to use CC, or not to allow.

Actually eBay’s and PayPal’s policy on refusing a package IS against their policy …confirmed by eBay’s and PayPal’s representatives.

[the*dog*ate*my*tablecloth]

So your solution is to cause the 98% of buyers with no bad history to have to pay with a Paypal balance? How is the money supposed to get there if they don't sell? What if they don't want Paypal credit?

Do you know how many bad sellers there are out there who would refuse to make things right if buyers lost buyer protection which is required because credit cards require it?

Sellers have to put things into perspective. The people who outright scam are a small percentage. The people who will file SNAD to get around no returns is a bigger percentage but probably still small. However you are going to make buying harder for the remainder of the good buyers? 

Minimize your losses and move on. Buyers are scarce enough around here already.

[toc460]

I spoke to PayPal’s representative and she told me that; if buyer used CC to purchase the item on eBay, and filed dispute through his financial institute, then it will cost PayPal about $150.00 in chargeback fees …then I was charge $20.00 in chargeback fees …and buyer got 100% of his money back.

Let’s summarize all this:

Cost of the item - $19.99 + shipping

The moment buyer file dispute through his financial institute…

1. it costs PayPal about $150.00 in chargeback fees
2. it costs me (seller) shipping, all the fees and $20.00 in chargeback fees
3. buyer (in my case scammer) got all his money back

…and remember, all this trouble and frustration for the item worth $19.99

Now you be the judge, and please tell me if the current policy (…you defending so hard) is worth to keep?

[phcd1]

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@toc460 wrote:

That’s true, but some cases are so clear that buyer or seller is abusing the return policy …and still, eBay don’t take any actions. Who knows what eBay’s decision is based on?!?

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The Buyer.

[phcd1]

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@toc460 wrote:

...they can change their policy, that buyer can only purchase the item on eBay if there is enough money in PayPal credit or balance …no backup payment allowed on eBay purchases...

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I ONLY purchase on eBay with a credit card. No matter how small. AE is your friend. 😉

I guess I wouldn't mind a choice as a seller not to accept credit cards, but I wouldn't buy anything without it.

[phcd1]

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@toc460 wrote:

I spoke to PayPal’s representative and she told me that; if buyer used CC to purchase the item on eBay, and filed dispute through his financial institute, then it will cost PayPal about $150.00 in chargeback fees …then I was charge $20.00 in chargeback fees …and buyer got 100% of his money back.

Let’s summarize all this:

Cost of the item - $19.99 + shipping

The moment buyer file dispute through his financial institute…

1. it costs PayPal about $150.00 in chargeback fees
2. it costs me (seller) shipping, all the fees and $20.00 in chargeback fees
3. buyer (in my case scammer) got all his money back

…and remember, all this trouble and frustration for the item worth $19.99

Now you be the judge, and please tell me if the current policy (…you defending so hard) is worth to keep?

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That's only if you lose. Most chargebacks can be won (except for SNAD)

I have one right now as we speak! I haven't been charged $20 (I'm sure I will be if I lose).

[toc460]

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@phcd1 wrote:

I guess I wouldn't mind a choice as a seller not to accept credit cards, but I wouldn't buy anything without it.

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With current eBay’s and PayPal’s policy I agree with you 100%