Why does eBay always side with the buyer when the Post Office destroys an item?

[retrorediscoveries]

I am a victim of theft.

Buyer claims some items were broken; 48 HOURS after receiving them. Neither I nor eBay really knows what happened to said items in that time. How do we know the buyer isn't lying? They provided vague "evidence" of damage, yet I know for a fact they purposely left out half of the bubblewrap I had used from their images. It was a very well packed box, as all my listings are.

The Post Office will of course NEVER take responsibility for their actions, since the item wasn't insured. They don't care, a cop-out response to cover their backsides.

I usually don't offer returns, but the buyer weaseled a refund and gets to keep what is left of the undamaged items? This is despicable behaviour on both the buyer and eBay's parts, and I consider it tantamount to fraud.

Now my reputation on eBay is tarnished, because of a liar and a policy that forces me to suffer the faults of a third party. The Post Office is not my employee, I can't control how they act. If a package is lost or destroyed under their watch, why must I take the responsilibity and blame?

I did absolutely nothing wrong, and yet I completely lose out.

These actions need to change.

[retrorediscoveries]

And that's cute, the time to edit expires so quickly, I'm now not allowed to correct spelling mistakes. Thanks a lot.

[*help_no_brakes*]

Well you got one thing in this mess right.

Your " reputation on eBay is tarnished"...by your own actions.

Did you at any stage say to the buyer "I am sorry you are unhappy with your item.Please return for a full refund".

Then deal with their response...they may have only been trying to shake you down.

Now you have a neg which really stands out due to your unprofessional reply.

Then you compound the error by leaving a false positive feedback...which the buyer can have removed.

Sounds like you have also earned a defect for case closed without being resolved by seller.

All over a 12 buck item...smh

"I did absolutely nothing wrong"

Would you like to reconsider that staement?

[retrorediscoveries]

No I would not.

I know exactly how I packed those items. I know exactly how they would move inside the box. Either the PO broke them or the buyer did.

A full, forced refund was unwarranted.

If I'm "Very Nasty" because in business I deal with facts instead of emotion, then so be it.

[*help_no_brakes*]

You are not dealing in facts with this issue.

You are dealing with emotion.

Were you present when the P.O. "broke" the item?

Were you present when the buyer "broke" the item.

All this could have been very easily avoided.

Have you noticed the eBay MBG on your listings?

[bless*the*beasts*and*the*children]

Excuse me, but may I ask who you are to be judge and jury in a situation that you really have no knowledge of?

[retrorediscoveries]

Wow. Do you even see what your writing? Am I supposed to escort a package across country to make sure it's never damaged or harmed? I wasn't there, so it can never be known either way. The problem is a decision was made by disregarding my side of the story completely. And closing a case based on what? Hearsay.

By hey, for future reference, what is a "professional response" supposed to be? Bend down and kiss the buyer's shoes for everything? Even when the problem is clearly NOT the seller's fault?

The MBG counts for nothing when the SPP is just thrown out the window whenever it suits eBay's whim.

Tell me, tell me exactly, how it is my fault for item breakage totally outside of my control?

Easily avoided HOW? Don't give an off the cuff remark without explanation.

[*help_no_brakes*]

You're excused.

The OP posted on a public forum & I replied to what was presented in the OP...as you are free to do.

Perhaps you have some thoughts on how the OP could have handled this situation?

[bless*the*beasts*and*the*children]

I'm a seller who has been with eBay since 1997.  I know of a time when they were much more decision neutral in cases between buyer and seller. There are many postings on this forum where sellers are floored that they are no longer being backed-up by eBay. Case in point not being able to leave neg FB on a fraudulent buyer.

Yes, I do continue to utilize their site. But, it's saddens me to see how impersonal they have become.

[lja440]

---

@retrorediscoveries wrote:

No I would not.

I know exactly how I packed those items. I know exactly how they would move inside the box. Either the PO broke them or the buyer did.

A full, forced refund was unwarranted.

If I'm "Very Nasty" because in business I deal with facts instead of emotion, then so be it.

---

There you go. You just admitted that they were not packed well enough.

I am a mail carrier and have been since 2000. I have been buying and selling on eBay since 2004. 

In that time I have shipped roughly 1000 packages. I have yet to have a single damage claim, including my second ever sale which was a 4' long aquarium light complete with fluorescent bulbs, one in the light and a backup.  I have shipped full sets of vintage bone china and fragile art pieces.

The first rule is that there can be NO VOIDS within the box, ABSOLUTELY no ability for the item to shift and move within the box. ANY movement will allow the item to batter its self against the inside of the box or other items in the box. Voids allow the box to crush.

With nothing that I pack would I have any qualms about standing on the box (and I am way too close to 200# at the moment) or pitching down the basement stairs.

You may call it nasty but I call it facts. You did not pack well enough.

[*help_no_brakes*]

"Tell me, tell me exactly, how it is my fault for item breakage"

I have not said it is your "fault".

However you,I & every seller on eBay is resposible for the item arriving at it's destination intact.

"The MBG counts for nothing"

So you are saying as a buyer you would be happy to receive a damaged item & have no buyer protection?

My only three returns totalled $1100.

Was I pleased about that...of course not...one was a false SNAD.

However I carry cookie jar insurance & am fully aware that not every transaction will go smoothly.

Consequently I had no need to to come to the boards & cry oh woe is me.

I dealt with the issues & moved on.

If you only want sympathy for imo making some poor business decisions then wait for another member to offer some.

"Easily avoided HOW?"

As I stated...offering the buyer the opportunity of "Return for Refund"...or a partial...or refund the 12 bucks & let them keep the item.

I choose my battles wisely knowing that the MBG will come out trumps on a SNAD.

I would rather give a 12 buck refund than receive a neg & a defect.

[retrorediscoveries]

Knew someone would come along to twist my words. "How they would move" used here means that I had confidence they *wouldn't* move. But since you weren't there, just like "Brakes" here also doesn't know because they weren't there, you chose the negative connotation by default.

And that is the error in this whole equation.

Buyer A claims explanation Y is true.
Seller B claims explanation Z is true.
Neither can be confirmed or denied, so why is eBay allowed to choose one over the other?

[*help_no_brakes*]

---

@overtherainbowbridge15 wrote:

I'm a seller who has been with eBay since 1997.  I know of a time when they were much more decision neutral in cases between buyer and seller. There are many postings on this forum where sellers are floored that they are no longer being backed-up by eBay. Case in point not being able to leave neg FB on a fraudulent buyer.

Yes, I do continue to utilize their site. But, it's saddens me to see how impersonal they have become.

---

I'm a newbie...only been on eBay since 2004.

I recall a time when I could live on 5 bucks a week...but that was 1967...it's now 2017.

Interesting that you bring up being able to leave negative feedback.

What is a "fraudulent buyer"?

What would be achieved by leaving negative feedback?

[*help_no_brakes*]

" But since you weren't there, just like "Brakes" here also doesn't know because they weren't there, you chose the negative connotation by default.

And that is the error in this whole equation."

You are 100% correct...I was not there...neither were you.

The error is your failure to understand how eBay applies the MBG in a SNAD.

[johnrj1226]

This response won't help you on this situation but might help you in the future.   You shipped these items via Parcel Select Ground without insurance that was your choice but remember eBay makes all sellers responsible for getting purchases delivered to the buyer in the same condition as described - no insurance USPS will not pay.  In my experience Priority Mail might have been a better choice as $50 loss/damage insurance is included in the cost of the lable and there is little difference in shipping cost plus  Priority Mail boxes  are free.     Plus, with Parcel Select you need to provide the shipping box possibly at an added cost.

You charged the buyer $12.77 for Parcel Select  Ground service.  It seems resonable that you could have shipped via  Priority Mail most any where for that  same price or less via Priority especially  if you used a Regional  Rate A box (box ships at 2 lb. rated up to 15 lbs.).  Just Shipped  a Regional Rate A Box from GA to South Florida for $6.83 weight of package was 2 lb. 2 oz.  Would have been charged a 3 lb rate via std priority an Parcel Select.

Finally, it sound like eBay MBG policy rules in the buyers favor to me - I am not certain what "Vague Evidence" of the damage means but any damage is damage and at this point the amount of packing material is irrevelant.  Suggestion:  It is never a good idea to respond with a terse reply to a neg Feedback