Seller Refuses to Honor Return Policy and eBay Won't Help Me

[sportsntechspot]

Seller has a 14-day return policy for the item I bought, but refuses to accept the return even though I'm attempting to make the return within the 14-day period. 

I purchased the item on 9/20/2018.  Item was received 10/20/2018.  I attempted to make the return on 10/24/2018.  Seller declined the return request.

The seller was able to decline the return request because there was no tracking on the item to prove when I had actually received the item.  The estimated delivery date provided to me at time of purchase was 10/5/2018, so that's the date the seller and eBay went off of to consider when to start tolling the 14 days.

But I received the item 10/20/2018.  The seller shipped the item from Poland to the US.  It had tracking while in transit through Europe, but there was no tracking once it departed Europe and was en route to the US.

I explained this to eBay and they said I was out of luck since I couldn't prove when the item had actually been received.  They said I needed to escalate to PayPal's Resolution Center.

I submitted a claim through PayPal and it was denied. PayPal explained to me it was denied because they only deal with items that are damaged or items that do not meet the listing description.  There was nothing wrong with the item I received, I simply changed my mind and wanted to return it within the seller's 14-day return policy. PayPal said issues like these need to be resolved by eBay.

I have called eBay several times explaining the situation and they refuse to help.  They said the return request is closed and their is nothing they can do about it. I reached out to the seller and he is uncooperative.

eBay should have a better policy to protect its buyers, and to ensure sellers honor their return policies.  eBay needs a better policy in place to protect buyers in these situations where the sellers do not provide tracking.  Can someone from eBay please contact me to help get this resolved?

[missjen831]

@sportsntechspot eBay is following their own policy. The MBG does state that if eBay has no information on the actual delivery date, they go by the latest delivery estimate. Since this is a buyers remorse return, eBay is not going to bed the rules. You can’t prove the date of delivery. Just resell the item if you no longer want it. You do know that you would have had to pay for return shipping to Poland if the selller had accepted your return right? 

[sam9876]

I can't say what I would do.

[sportsntechspot]

I wouldn't mind paying for the return shipping.  I just want the seller to honor their return policy.

As far as reselling the item, I paid $1,000 for the item, but found out it's really only worth $600, hence the reason I wanted to return the item within the 14 days.  I'd take a big hit trying to resale the item.

eBay really should have better protection for it's buyers in these instances where no tracking is provided.  

And the reason I want to return the item really shouldn't matter.  If the seller has a 14-day return policy, any return requests should be honored within those 14 days.  The listing doesn't have an asterisk next to the 14-day return policy saying it doesn't include buyer's remorse. 

Biggest grievance here is the seller is being dishonest by not honoring the return request, and I have no recource.

[69heathery]

Sorry, I think you might be out of luck on this one.  I did some searching and think I found the original listing.  It does state "No returns".  So if the item came as described you get to keep it.

[sportsntechspot]

You didn’t find the original listing I’m referring to.

The item number for the listing I’m referring to is 163261260044,

If you’re on the right one, you will see a 14-day return policy listed

[7606dennis]

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@sportsntechspot wrote:

I wouldn't mind paying for the return shipping.  I just want the seller to honor their return policy.

As far as reselling the item, I paid $1,000 for the item, but found out it's really only worth $600, hence the reason I wanted to return the item within the 14 days.  I'd take a big hit trying to resale the item.

eBay really should have better protection for it's buyers in these instances where no tracking is provided.  

And the reason I want to return the item really shouldn't matter.  If the seller has a 14-day return policy, any return requests should be honored within those 14 days.  The listing doesn't have an asterisk next to the 14-day return policy saying it doesn't include buyer's remorse. 

Biggest grievance here is the seller is being dishonest by not honoring the return request, and I have no recource.

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I wasn't aware that the 14-day return policy was still an option for eBay sellers.  Of course, since the seller appears to be in Poland the rules might be different.

You say that you paid $1000 but the item is actually only worth $600.  I'm curious as to how you arrived at the $600 figure.  Obviously, the item was worth a grand to you at the time or you wouldn't have paid so much for it.  What cased its value to drop so much or is it something that has some extra personal value to you and not to others?  Or is it something that has a extremely limited market, perhaps?

[sportsntechspot]

It was a limited print basketball card (only 15 made), and there were no others being sold at the time for me to gauge the price, so I paid the $1,000 with limited insight on price. Afterwards, I found 2 new eBay listings of the same card from the limited 15 serial-numbered print run, and each card was selling at a BuyItNow price of $600 with no takers. I was surprised to see 2 new listings for the same card since it is such a rare card, but it appears others would value this card at no more than $600

[myangelandmyprincess]

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@sportsntechspot wrote:

I wouldn't mind paying for the return shipping.  I just want the seller to honor their return policy.

As far as reselling the item, I paid $1,000 for the item, but found out it's really only worth $600, hence the reason I wanted to return the item within the 14 days.  I'd take a big hit trying to resale the item.

eBay really should have better protection for it's buyers in these instances where no tracking is provided.  

And the reason I want to return the item really shouldn't matter.  If the seller has a 14-day return policy, any return requests should be honored within those 14 days.  The listing doesn't have an asterisk next to the 14-day return policy saying it doesn't include buyer's remorse. 

Biggest grievance here is the seller is being dishonest by not honoring the return request, and I have no recource.

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Well it wasn't denied by the seller because it was a remorse return.  If it had been within the 14 days from the estimate the seller would have had no choice but to honor the policy as a remorse return.  however your issue came with the item arrived late.  You have no evidence the item arrived late, ebay isn't going to just go on your word that the item arrived late they go by the estimate for when the time starts on a return if there is no delivery confirmed.  It would be unfair to sellers if they just went on the buyers word when there is no evidence when it was delivered so they go on the best thing they have.

[sportsntechspot]

I’m not trying to lean on eBay’s Money Back Guarantee. I’m leaning on the seller’s 14-day return policy, which if not honored, I believe should be enforced by eBay.

I don’t want eBay to give me my money back, I want them to make the return request obligatory for the seller to accept.

In the event no tracking is provided to prove when the item was received, the buyer should have grounds to state when the item was actually received. Otherwise, it creates unfair positions for buyers as in my case

[missjen831]

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@7606dennis wrote:

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@sportsntechspot wrote:

I wouldn't mind paying for the return shipping.  I just want the seller to honor their return policy.

As far as reselling the item, I paid $1,000 for the item, but found out it's really only worth $600, hence the reason I wanted to return the item within the 14 days.  I'd take a big hit trying to resale the item.

eBay really should have better protection for it's buyers in these instances where no tracking is provided.  

And the reason I want to return the item really shouldn't matter.  If the seller has a 14-day return policy, any return requests should be honored within those 14 days.  The listing doesn't have an asterisk next to the 14-day return policy saying it doesn't include buyer's remorse. 

Biggest grievance here is the seller is being dishonest by not honoring the return request, and I have no recource.

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I wasn't aware that the 14-day return policy was still an option for eBay sellers.  Of course, since the seller appears to be in Poland the rules might be different.

You say that you paid $1000 but the item is actually only worth $600.  I'm curious as to how you arrived at the $600 figure.  Obviously, the item was worth a grand to you at the time or you wouldn't have paid so much for it.  What cased its value to drop so much or is it something that has some extra personal value to you and not to others?  Or is it something that has a extremely limited market, perhaps?

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@7606dennis14 day return policies have not been completely abolished--

From the 2018 spring seller udate--

"Certain product categories have unique retail standards and sellers will be able to offer variations on the new returns policy options. Categories that will continue have the option to offer 14-day returns include Collectibles & Art, Cameras & Photo and Medical, Mobility & Disability Equipment."

[missjen831]

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@sportsntechspot wrote:

I’m not trying to lean on eBay’s Money Back Guarantee. I’m leaning on the seller’s 14-day return policy, which if not honored, I believe should be enforced by eBay.

I don’t want eBay to give me my money back, I want them to make the return request obligatory for the seller to accept.

In the event no tracking is provided to prove when the item was received, the buyer should have grounds to state when the item was actually received. Otherwise, it creates unfair positions for buyers as in my case

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Ebay can't honor the sellers return policy without proof of the delivery date and it would be disasterous if they took the buyers word for it. They already do that on MBG cases and its a disaster.

[sportsntechspot]

Not having a tracking number  creates a host of problems. 

It’s not the buyers fault the seller did not pay for adequate tracking, and that the item arrived late.

Just as the seller shouldn’t be treated unfairly, the buyer likewise shouldn’t be treated unfairly by not having a timely return accepted. The seller shipped the item late, the seller didn’t provide tracking, and that results in the buyer not being able to take advantage of the return policy? Not fair to the buyer. A better eBay policy needs to be in place to handle this scenario 

[sakni-36]

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@sportsntechspot wrote:

It was a limited print basketball card (only 15 made), and there were no others being sold at the time for me to gauge the price, so I paid the $1,000 with limited insight on price. Afterwards, I found 2 new eBay listings of the same card from the limited 15 serial-numbered print run, and each card was selling at a BuyItNow price of $600 with no takers. I was surprised to see 2 new listings for the same card since it is such a rare card, but it appears others would value this card at no more than $600

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Or maybe those cards aren't authentic...