Discussion
Hi all
I sold an item on eBay the other week. Described as sold as seen in photos. No returns. The no returns option was also selected on the listing.
The buyer then says he wants to return it as he thought it was a different model. There was nothing to suggest it was the model he was looking for on the listing. So he made a mistake.
The wonderful eBay returns process is letting him return the item for a full refund including the original postage. And getting me to pay the return postage as well.
eBay have said when I get the item back, they’ll reimburse me for the return postage.
I explained to them that this still leaves me out of pocket for the original postage but they’re saying it doesn’t!
We are talking a low amount. Item sold £10 plus £5 postage. I’ve spent £5 at the post office. I refund them £15. And I’m £5 down. I’ve spoken to two people at eBay and they don’t understand the problem!
It’s £5. I don’t care about that. But I do care about the principle that the buyer is abusing returns and I’ll be out of pocket. I’ve explained to them that I’ve sold six figures of stuff over the years on eBay but they won’t budge and are letting the return go ahead.
I’ve wasted an hour or more of my time on the phone to them.
Is it time to give up?! Or should I push just on principle?!
I sold an item on eBay the other week. Described as sold as seen in photos. No returns. The no returns option was also selected on the listing.
The buyer then says he wants to return it as he thought it was a different model. There was nothing to suggest it was the model he was looking for on the listing. So he made a mistake.
The wonderful eBay returns process is letting him return the item for a full refund including the original postage. And getting me to pay the return postage as well.
eBay have said when I get the item back, they’ll reimburse me for the return postage.
I explained to them that this still leaves me out of pocket for the original postage but they’re saying it doesn’t!
We are talking a low amount. Item sold £10 plus £5 postage. I’ve spent £5 at the post office. I refund them £15. And I’m £5 down. I’ve spoken to two people at eBay and they don’t understand the problem!
It’s £5. I don’t care about that. But I do care about the principle that the buyer is abusing returns and I’ll be out of pocket. I’ve explained to them that I’ve sold six figures of stuff over the years on eBay but they won’t budge and are letting the return go ahead.
I’ve wasted an hour or more of my time on the phone to them.
Is it time to give up?! Or should I push just on principle?!
It sounds like the buyer has opened a return for a false reason, stating it wasn't as described as an example, which is why you had to also pay for the return.
What you should be able to do if you're a business seller is withhold some of the funds from the return.
If this doesnt work for you, i would refund the buyer in full and then chase ebay for the original postage since the buyer has made a false returns claim.
Ebay will take the stance that they do not know whom is telling the truth while the return is ongoing and will side with the buyer since they will simply open a payment dispute with their payment providers if they dont.
What you should be able to do if you're a business seller is withhold some of the funds from the return.
If this doesnt work for you, i would refund the buyer in full and then chase ebay for the original postage since the buyer has made a false returns claim.
Ebay will take the stance that they do not know whom is telling the truth while the return is ongoing and will side with the buyer since they will simply open a payment dispute with their payment providers if they dont.
Paddymcc said:
It sounds like the buyer has opened a return for a false reason, stating it wasn't as described as an example, which is why you had to also pay for the return.
What you should be able to do if you're a business seller is withhold some of the funds from the return.
If this doesnt work for you, i would refund the buyer in full and then chase ebay for the original postage since the buyer has made a false returns claim.
Ebay will take the stance that they do not know whom is telling the truth while the return is ongoing and will side with the buyer since they will simply open a payment dispute with their payment providers if they dont.
Yes the buyer has stated not as described. Although his message just said not the model he thought. I offered for him to return it for a refund less the original postage but he refused. What you should be able to do if you're a business seller is withhold some of the funds from the return.
If this doesnt work for you, i would refund the buyer in full and then chase ebay for the original postage since the buyer has made a false returns claim.
Ebay will take the stance that they do not know whom is telling the truth while the return is ongoing and will side with the buyer since they will simply open a payment dispute with their payment providers if they dont.
Maybe I’ll call eBay again in the morning and see if I can speak to anyone who can add up/has some concept of the problem! They said if I said the buyer was making a false claim they’d reimburse me for his return postage but not the original. It’s a struggle!
There is no justice to be found here.
EBay have (correctly) decided that sellers need them more than buyers need them, so the default is to reward the (lunatic) buyer. However stupid the individual buyer and individual situation.
Buyers are at least 1000% more stupid than sellers. That doesn’t count.
Either make your peace with that, or stop using eBay to sell.
EBay have (correctly) decided that sellers need them more than buyers need them, so the default is to reward the (lunatic) buyer. However stupid the individual buyer and individual situation.
Buyers are at least 1000% more stupid than sellers. That doesn’t count.
Either make your peace with that, or stop using eBay to sell.
Edited by SpeckledJim on Friday 7th July 19:17
elise2000 said:
Yes the buyer has stated not as described. Although his message just said not the model he thought. I offered for him to return it for a refund less the original postage but he refused.
Maybe I’ll call eBay again in the morning and see if I can speak to anyone who can add up/has some concept of the problem! They said if I said the buyer was making a false claim they’d reimburse me for his return postage but not the original. It’s a struggle!
Yeah ebay will make you take it back and do a refund as they cannot be seen to take sides and or dont know whom is speaking the truth.Maybe I’ll call eBay again in the morning and see if I can speak to anyone who can add up/has some concept of the problem! They said if I said the buyer was making a false claim they’d reimburse me for his return postage but not the original. It’s a struggle!
You're best bet to save wasting any further time is to simply accept the return, provide the postage, do a full refund and then chase ebay for the 2 x postage costs.
SpeckledJim said:
There is no justice to be found here.
EBay have (correctly) decided that sellers need them more than buyers need them, so the default is to reward the (lunatic) buyer. However stupid the individual seller and individual situation.
Buyers are at least 1000% more stupid than sellers. That doesn’t count.
Either make your peace with that, or stop using eBay to sell.
Yep that’s clearly the case. EBay have (correctly) decided that sellers need them more than buyers need them, so the default is to reward the (lunatic) buyer. However stupid the individual seller and individual situation.
Buyers are at least 1000% more stupid than sellers. That doesn’t count.
Either make your peace with that, or stop using eBay to sell.
Really wish there was another easy way of selling of the stuff I sell on eBay but there isn’t really.
I’ll try a final rant on the phone in the morning…
Paddymcc said:
elise2000 said:
Yes the buyer has stated not as described. Although his message just said not the model he thought. I offered for him to return it for a refund less the original postage but he refused.
Maybe I’ll call eBay again in the morning and see if I can speak to anyone who can add up/has some concept of the problem! They said if I said the buyer was making a false claim they’d reimburse me for his return postage but not the original. It’s a struggle!
Yeah ebay will make you take it back and do a refund as they cannot be seen to take sides and or dont know whom is speaking the truth.Maybe I’ll call eBay again in the morning and see if I can speak to anyone who can add up/has some concept of the problem! They said if I said the buyer was making a false claim they’d reimburse me for his return postage but not the original. It’s a struggle!
You're best bet to save wasting any further time is to simply accept the return, provide the postage, do a full refund and then chase ebay for the 2 x postage costs.
Will see what they say tomorrow
It may be wrong but eventually, for your own sanity if nothing else, you have to say 'f
k it', leave -FB if it will let you, and move on. Fight battles you can win.
The most stupid scrap I had was with a buyer in Spain who thought the item - a camera lens - had been damaged in transit. Apparently it was my responsibility to ensure it arrived at his door in perfect condition - even though I'm not the CEO of the Spanish postal service. I think I won in the end but it got very silly and he left me preposterous feedback which I got removed under eBay's libel policy.
k it', leave -FB if it will let you, and move on. Fight battles you can win.The most stupid scrap I had was with a buyer in Spain who thought the item - a camera lens - had been damaged in transit. Apparently it was my responsibility to ensure it arrived at his door in perfect condition - even though I'm not the CEO of the Spanish postal service. I think I won in the end but it got very silly and he left me preposterous feedback which I got removed under eBay's libel policy.
Edited by Simpo Two on Saturday 8th July 09:32
Accept it, refund in full and don't call ebay again. Just sort the refund as soon as the item is received back.
Considering your 100k plus of sales it's not even a drop in the ocean.
The problem you have is that eBay will likely say you should have nominated the exact model designation in the description. In my view that would be a fair conclusion from eBays perspective. This doesn't sound like buyers remorse, it sounds like your description could have been clearer, therefore the not as described is possibly reasonable.
You could report the buyer via your seller dashboard, or you could just block them. That effectively reports them and I am fairly certain all blocks by high value sellers (such as you) are looked at by a human. Personally, I wouldn't do either. If the same buyer did it again, I may block them.
Ebay rightly expect sellers to take the rough with the smooth and are far more cooperative with sellers that do (in my view).
You may (will) need ebays help with a far higher value item in the future, and I would keep your powder dry until then.
Considering your 100k plus of sales it's not even a drop in the ocean.
The problem you have is that eBay will likely say you should have nominated the exact model designation in the description. In my view that would be a fair conclusion from eBays perspective. This doesn't sound like buyers remorse, it sounds like your description could have been clearer, therefore the not as described is possibly reasonable.
You could report the buyer via your seller dashboard, or you could just block them. That effectively reports them and I am fairly certain all blocks by high value sellers (such as you) are looked at by a human. Personally, I wouldn't do either. If the same buyer did it again, I may block them.
Ebay rightly expect sellers to take the rough with the smooth and are far more cooperative with sellers that do (in my view).
You may (will) need ebays help with a far higher value item in the future, and I would keep your powder dry until then.
ESSEM123 said:
Accept it, refund in full and don't call ebay again. Just sort the refund as soon as the item is received back.
Considering your 100k plus of sales it's not even a drop in the ocean.
The problem you have is that eBay will likely say you should have nominated the exact model designation in the description. In my view that would be a fair conclusion from eBays perspective. This doesn't sound like buyers remorse, it sounds like your description could have been clearer, therefore the not as described is possibly reasonable.
You could report the buyer via your seller dashboard, or you could just block them. That effectively reports them and I am fairly certain all blocks by high value sellers (such as you) are looked at by a human. Personally, I wouldn't do either. If the same buyer did it again, I may block them.
Ebay rightly expect sellers to take the rough with the smooth and are far more cooperative with sellers that do (in my view).
You may (will) need ebays help with a far higher value item in the future, and I would keep your powder dry until then.
Yes the description could have been better. The thing is I’m selling off old stock/returns very cheaply, normally 20% of the original cost, so list stuff quickly described as sold as seen. Spending lots of time writing descriptions doesn’t seem worth it. Although, neither is it really worth the time on the phone to eBay!Considering your 100k plus of sales it's not even a drop in the ocean.
The problem you have is that eBay will likely say you should have nominated the exact model designation in the description. In my view that would be a fair conclusion from eBays perspective. This doesn't sound like buyers remorse, it sounds like your description could have been clearer, therefore the not as described is possibly reasonable.
You could report the buyer via your seller dashboard, or you could just block them. That effectively reports them and I am fairly certain all blocks by high value sellers (such as you) are looked at by a human. Personally, I wouldn't do either. If the same buyer did it again, I may block them.
Ebay rightly expect sellers to take the rough with the smooth and are far more cooperative with sellers that do (in my view).
You may (will) need ebays help with a far higher value item in the future, and I would keep your powder dry until then.
Simpo Two said:
It may be wrong but eventually, for your own sanity if nothing else, you have to say 'fk it', leave -FB it will let you, and move on. Fight battles you can win.
The most stupid scrap I had was with a buyer in Spain who thought the item - a camera lens - had been damaged in transit. Apparently it was my responsibility to ensure it arrived at his door in perfect condition - even though I'm not the CEO of the Spanish postal service. I think I won in the end but it got very silly and he left me preposterous feedback which I got removed under eBay's libel policy.
Yes, there will be a cut off point for sanity. Likely this morning after one final phone callk it', leave -FB it will let you, and move on. Fight battles you can win.The most stupid scrap I had was with a buyer in Spain who thought the item - a camera lens - had been damaged in transit. Apparently it was my responsibility to ensure it arrived at his door in perfect condition - even though I'm not the CEO of the Spanish postal service. I think I won in the end but it got very silly and he left me preposterous feedback which I got removed under eBay's libel policy.
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