eBay

megahurtz · ‎07-03-2020

I sold a watch the purchaser scratches watch and asked for money + watch or a return . I accept return and the watch is damaged do I eat the loss ? No protection in the listing or eBay ? What did I do wrong selling ? So confused

ja-2149 · ‎07-03-2020

@megahurtz wrote:

I accept return and the watch is damaged do I eat the loss ? No protection in the listing or eBay ?

Of course you do, since you're an Above Standard Seller with 30-day returns, buyer pays return shipping, you can deduct up to 50% if the refund comes back in the same condition as it was received. And you can get a $6 credit on the return shipping.

mtgraves7984 · ‎07-03-2020

@megahurtz wrote:
I sold a watch the purchaser scratches watch and asked for money + watch or a return . I accept return and the watch is damaged do I eat the loss ? No protection in the listing or eBay ? What did I do wrong selling ? So confused

@megahurtz

Unfortunately, you don't offer Returns. No Returns and no refunds are entirely different animals.

Were you a TRS that offered 30 Day Returns or you offered Free Returns, you could make a deduction in the buyer's refund amount... up to half since the item came back to you significantly different than you sent it.

Since you offer No Returns, you'll have to refund the buyer in full. Approve the return and refund when the watch comes back. It'll save eBay from getting involved and save you from a metrics ding.

Sorry this happened to you.

P.S. You have high value items. In the future, you could change to Free Returns for a bit more protection.

kinak2005 · ‎07-03-2020

I had the same situation happen to me and kinda felt eBay was more favorable to the buyer. I had very clear pictures of the item I sold but the buyer said it was scratched, and showed pics that it was scratched. I ended up giving a small partial refund to avoid paying the return postage and ending up with an item that wasn't going to sell again for the same $$ with the scratches.

The advice I got from someone with a high-volume store was that eBay will generally decide for the buyer unless the seller has indisputable evidence of exact item being shipped.....and the only way you get that kind of evidence would be to have another person record (video) the whole process starting with capturing every detail of the item as you're packaging, labeling, taking to the PO and handing off to the clerk, in one continuous shot without the package ever being out of frame. He say's trying to record every shipment would be impossible for a high volume seller; when he get's a dishonest purchaser he just has to look at it as a cost of doing business.

megahurtz · ‎07-04-2020

So if the watch comes back broken or something I have nothing to protect me ? No eBay nobody seems strange on 1600$ watch ?

toysaver · ‎07-04-2020

If the scratch is on the crystal you can put a new one on. If it's on a metal band maybe it can be buffed out?

orangehound · ‎07-04-2020

@megahurtz wrote:
So if the watch comes back broken or something I have nothing to protect me ? No eBay nobody seems strange on 1600$ watch ?

eBay is a marketplace for independent sellers, not an insurer.

In general, eBay does not offer financial protections. However as mentioned above, to encourage sellers to offer returns, there are some financial eBay protections but you have to activate them ... you didn't. The eBay protections are activated if:

You are a Top Rated Seller offering 30-day or longer buyer-paid returns.
You offer free (seller-paid) returns.

orangehound · ‎07-04-2020

@kinak2005 wrote:

The advice I got from someone with a high-volume store was that eBay will generally decide for the buyer unless the seller has indisputable evidence of exact item being shipped.....and the only way you get that kind of evidence would be to have another person record (video) the whole process starting with capturing every detail of the item as you're packaging, labeling, taking to the PO and handing off to the clerk, in one continuous shot without the package ever being out of frame.

That was a strategy that was suggested and may have worked several years ago, but eBay has made it clear that they are not looking at this stuff. Compiling evidence as you suggest could be useful in a court case against a buyer, however.

mtgraves7984 · ‎07-05-2020

@megahurtz wrote:
So if the watch comes back broken or something I have nothing to protect me ? No eBay nobody seems strange on 1600$ watch ?

@megahurtz

It could be a $1600 watch or a $16.00 watch. The buyer is very highly favored in any Return on eBay anymore.

I know of no protection at this point in your situation. The only protection is proactive. Change your Return policy.

cream_couture · ‎07-06-2020

I can't tell if the buyer claimed damage or if you are assuming the worst (that the buyer will return it damaged). My advice would differ depending on the scenario you are in. In general, if you want true protection, you will have to purchase insurance.

Just because an item was damaged, doesn't mean that the buyer did the damage. It might of happened during transit. I use the running assumption that the buyer is telling the truth until there is hard evidence the buyer lied. If you shipped it out and it was fine and the buyer says it arrived damaged, then file a shipping insurance claim. I use Shipsurance but there are other companies.

Fraud/theft would be covered under business insurance.