@mg152 wrote:
Also what about blatant drop shippers? Not the ones that abide by policy but the others. The ones that list, sell then use amazon prime gift to order the items? I got one just this week not the first time either. The item was cheaper on eBay than amazon. I don’t get it.
We had someone post today that’s blatantly breaking the rules about dropshipping. Thanks!
Hi @mg152 - we have a way to identify those people abusing the Seller Practices policy and we take steps to reduce their visibility to encourage them to change their habits.
If you've received an item that indicates it was shipped via Amazon Prime (for instance, came with a gift receipt, etc) you can always consider returning the item and reporting the listing as an 'item location misrepresentation' issue.
To @mam98031's point, it's worth being sure of this before taking action, as the Fulfilled by Amazon feature is one that many sellers use (where an individual's personal merchandise is housed in an Amazon warehouse and shipped using Amazon packaging). I also think reporting suspected abuse of the Prime service to Amazon directly is a good idea as well. 🙂
@a_c_green wrote:
@Anonymous wrote:
@postcardcountry wrote:
The 'new' shipping label process -- still incomplete
There is no way to change the zip code - and only the zip code - that you are shipping from.
I am not talking about changing my return address.
On the shipping label, under the date shipped appears "from xxxxx" This is the zip code I want to change.
Could do it on the old, been around forever screen, but can't do it now.
Hi @postcardcountry, check post #12 for a reply that addresses this concern
Actually, that feature did finally get added to the Shipping form and it's present right now. In the Shipping form, look at the "Ship from" address at the top center of the form, and click on the "Edit" link just below. That will bring up two address windows that can be updated: one is the Return address and the other is the Ship From address. (If necessary, check the box for "My ship from and return address are different" to see the second address window.)
Apparently the USPS wants full data submitted on the address belonging to the Ship From ZIP, not just the alternate ZIP code itself. I think the expectation is that you plug in the full post office address serving that ZIP code (or presumably the place at which you're staying there), but if in doubt, you can usually get away with submitting "General Delivery" as the street address, followed by the City that corresponds to that ZIP. Remember to change it back later when shipping from someplace else. I hope that helps.
Hi @a_c_green, thank you for adding this! I can update to confirm as well that the reason a full address needs to be input instead of just a zip code is due to a change in what is required by USPS. This is not related to the new shipping label process, simply something that was updated around the same time that we introduced the new label flow.
@aikatt wrote:
What about those that drop ship from CHINA? It takes 5 days to get the item to the postoffice? That tells me it wasn't ever in the usa as claimed, the seller is not in the usa, only a reshipper is in the usa. I clicked on return for one item, and it showed a Chinese return address for a seller claiming to be a "usa seller". I once, *once* returned an item to China, never got the refund.
Hi @aikatt - The Selling Practices policy applies to all members who list on eBay.com, so members in violation of this policy would have consequences regardless of where they are located.
If a seller is required to cover the return shipping they are able to specify the return location of their choice (as they are paying for return shipping). However, if you as a buyer are expected to cover return shipping you are only required to return it to the location stated in the listing. the seller would need to provide a domestic shipping address for an item that was located domestically.
In your specific example, if the seller was paying for and gave you a label it could go back to China without issue. If you were expected to pay for shipping back, we would only ask you to cover shipping to the location in the listing. a domestic address vs their international location. Thanks!
***Update***
I've gotten clarification on this process, if a buyer is responsible for return shipping, and the listing indicated that the item was domestic to you (located in the US) they are required to provide a domestic shipping address for a return, it does not have to be the specific item location in the listing (as an example, a seller collects returns at a different warehouse than they ship merchandise from). If the domestic return address still results in a significant difference in postage costs we'd encourage you to contact CS directly so they can review all options for you. Thanks!
@fern*wood wrote:
Any suggestions for sellers that use USPS when the new dimensional pricing for all zones goes live next month? Should I just give up on all my larger items?
Hi @fern*wood, check out our recent Announcement on this change for a list of recommendations 
@starting_5 wrote:
brian@ebay wrote:
@starting_5 wrote:
Good Afternoon.
My question concerns the dreaded "smells like smoke" claim. Trinton has stated that "smell" is not covered by the MBG with the exception of a few issues. I had a buyer claim "extremely strong smoke smell" and wants to return at my expense claiming the item was "not as described". Item didn't smell as claimed, but everybody knows buyers will claim whatever necessary to avoid return shipping. If I fight this issue with CS, I will lose and get a defect.
If the "smell" claim is not covered, how can a seller get these types of claims resolved in their favor? Also, would it be possible for Ebay to institute a definitive policy concerning these claims?
Hi @starting_5, while smell is typically not covered, we do look to the buyer's return reason when deciding how to move forward with a case. If the smell is an integral part of the item, or the odor poses a health risk (chemicals, as one example) then a return would be warranted. Ultimately, if a buyer's return reason is that the item is not as described then we will decide to move forward with a return.
Thanks for the response, but that didn't really answer my question. So you are saying that if the buyer simply says "not as described" then Ebay gives the buyer a free return. This contradicts what trinton has said in the community forum. .....
"smells would only be a valid return reason if a) the listing states the item comes from a smoke free home b) the listing states it comes from a pet free home c) the smell is an integral part of the item ie. a vanilla scented candle or d) the smell reported poses a health risk, such as the smell of chemicals. In these instances, we would cover a smell. If the seller has no disclaimer about smoke or pets, then the buyer's concerns regarding odors related to these factors would not be covered."
Hi @starting_5, thanks for sharing what Trinton has stated in the past. I can confirm that what Trinton has accurately described is our policy regarding odors. I need to reiterate that this policy does not override our Money Back Guarantee policies that an item that was not described accurately is eligible for a return.
Buyers do not always give full details when describing their issue with an item. In fact, they may not provide any details at all in some cases beyond the reason they select for the return. If the buyer indicates to you in any way that the item they received does not match the description in your listing, either by selecting a not as described reason when opening a return request or in one of their messages to you, you will need to accept the return, provide return shipping compensation, and give the buyer a full refund. In the example you've provided, the return reason is the most important piece of information we need to consider.
It may help you to see the return reason and the messages from the buyer as "and" statements the buyer has made; what this means is that the buyer has said "Item not as described" AND "Has a strong smoke smell". While the smoke smell by itself may be considered remorse depending on the situation, the return reason is not considered remorse. These are not contradictory statements, nor does the smoke smell concern invalidate the not as described concern. These are complimentary statements where the buyer is letting you know that the item did not match the description. Attempting to interpret their messages to potentially invalidate their return reason is something we discourage, as this most often only leads to frustration and inaccurate assumptions.
The return reason is the primary source of information when deciding what to do in a request. While a buyer can also let you know that the item was not described accurately through messages, and you would need to address their concerns appropriately based on those messages, if the return reason is a not as described reason and there is no evidence of abuse or fraud on your buyer's account, you will need to accept the return, provide return shipping compensation, and issue a full refund.
@dtexley3 wrote:
Hi,
Sometime in the last couple of weeks there were changes made to the search engine, apparently in the "search expansion" coding. Doesn't seem to matter whether it's best match or lowest price selected. There are several threads noting the huge increase in non-matching items being returned at the top of the listing.
As I noted in this thread
https://community.ebay.com/t5/Technical-Issues/Another-example-of-broken-search/td-p/29839362
There are multiple items with the exact 6 search terms in their titles, but none appear higher than #47 on the first return page.
Two posters stated they get 39 returned matches when they search, but I've touched base with several other sellers and friends and they get the same results I do. About 1400 matches but most aren't what was search for.
Buyers are not going to wade through pages of non-matching items, they are going to assume if they are not at or near the top of page 1 that no one is selling them and move on to the next site.
Whatever the most recent changes to the search expansion code should be at the least closely reviewed and at best rolled back.
Please push this to the appropriate tech team, if buyers can't see our items in search, sales will continue to fall.
Hi @dtexley3, I'll review that thread and reply tomorrow. Thanks for bringing this up!
