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eBay Returns Fiasco

IMF_Pioneer said:
As suggested previously, the moral to this story is stop selling via eBay. They generally just look after buyers and couldn't care less how they stiff sellers. I gave up on eBay nearly 10 years ago and since then the horror stories just keep on coming thick and fast. This thread is another perfect example of how treacherous that site can be. I'll stick to Gumtree and various others sites where I have full control of what happens and when I've sold something then that's the end of it.
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True, controlling one's own destiny is the key for big stuff. In ebay's defense, ebay still makes the market for some categories but they are frittering away their good will. Nearly all flippers I talk to despise ebay and will list only as a last resort.
 
Haven't sold on Ebay for awhile. I always had a shipping charge and stated I was sending FedEx Ground. I have an account thru them and downloaded my own labels...or if something smaller...went thru USPS Priority.

Can you still do that? Or have to use EBay?

I also never did auctions. Did a high Buy it Now or best offer. I could check the feedbacks on the offers...and chose from that.
 
The problem I have found is, when a buyer attempts a return, there are multiple-choice selections for the "reason". If the seller doesn't accept returns, if they click any reason other than "Not as described", it won't let them continue. So obviously the buyer will try all the "reasons" until "not as described" lets them continue. They make up some horseshit reason, and ta-daaa, you have to take it back.

This "not being able to print a label" is a new one though.

Ebay is like playing craps. 95/100 transactions go pretty good. But every now and then, it's "snake-eyes!"... Aww, damn.
 
CoogarXR said:
The problem I have found is, when a buyer attempts a return, there are multiple-choice selections for the "reason". If the seller doesn't accept returns, if they click any reason other than "Not as described", it won't let them continue. So obviously the buyer will try all the "reasons" until "not as described" lets them continue. They make up some horseshit reason, and ta-daaa, you have to take it back.
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That makes sense. I just had a return yesterday where the item is described as "non-working, for repair" in the title and description, very clearly. Buyer files a "not as described" return because "it doesn't work," and the eBay rep I talked to is like "yeah, it sucks, but there's nothing we can do."
 
I had someone try to return a non working parts unit like that a couple years ago. I messaged them and sent screenshots of the listing where it clearly stated that it was a non working parts unit, and asked them to clearly explain to me why they would have thought what they were buying was a working unit. They never returned the item.
Ebays solution to this stuff now is to tell you to accept returns on your listings. That way, when the buyer returns the item in f’ed up condition, you can deduct 50% from the refund. So you aren’t totally screwed.
 
centsless said:
Haven't sold on Ebay for awhile. I always had a shipping charge and stated I was sending FedEx Ground. I have an account thru them and downloaded my own labels...or if something smaller...went thru USPS Priority.

Can you still do that? Or have to use EBay?

I also never did auctions. Did a high Buy it Now or best offer. I could check the feedbacks on the offers...and chose from that.
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Sure, you can buy your shipping elsewhere, but the eBay shipping discount when buying through them is sometimes up to 50%. So, it doesn’t make much sense to buy it direct from the carrier.
 
Lazarus Long said:
Ebays solution to this stuff now is to tell you to accept returns on your listings. That way, when the buyer returns the item in f’ed up condition, you can deduct 50% from the refund. So you aren’t totally screwed.
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How does that work? If a buyer goes through the return process, doesn't eBay still issue them a full refund once tracking shows the item as delivered?
 
That makes sense. I just had a return yesterday where the item is described as "non-working, for repair" in the title and description, very clearly. Buyer files a "not as described" return because "it doesn't work," and the eBay rep I talked to is like "yeah, it sucks, but there's nothing we can do."

There's something so terribly, terribly wrong about that.
 
and this is exactly why I will not sell anything on eBay. That site is full of scumbags that continually purchase stuff and end up with it for free with the seller totally losing out.

eBay is well known amongst the free loaders for getting free stuff at other people's expense.
 
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Lazarus Long said:
Sure, you can buy your shipping elsewhere, but the eBay shipping discount when buying through them is sometimes up to 50%. So, it doesn’t make much sense to buy it direct from the carrier.
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Good...as the less I have to deal with EBay...the better! I get 20% off having an account with FedEx and in the ten years I have used them, they have paid for any claim I have had with damage. Not only the value of item but money to ship it back to me with a letter that follows...apologizing for their failure.
 
centsless said:
Good...as the less I have to deal with EBay...the better! I get 20% off having an account with FedEx and in the ten years I have used them, they have paid for any claim I have had with damage. Not only the value of item but money to ship it back to me with a letter that follows...apologizing for their failure.
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If you buy labels on eBay you can choose, FedEx, usps, or UPS. The discount buying the labels through eBay is greater than the discount I can get direct from FedEx using my account. Plus, the tracking is automatically uploaded. You actually slightly reduce your risk of being scammed by purchasing your label through eBay.

FedEx does have the best insurance. A few pictures of the item and a description of the damage is basically all it takes to submit and get the claim approved. They mail the check quickly as well. This is no different whether you buy the label direct from FedEx or go through eBay.
 
IMF_Pioneer said:
and this is exactly why I will not sell anything on eBay. That site is full of scumbags that continually purchase stuff and end up with it for free with the seller totally losing out.

eBay is well known amongst the free loaders for getting free stuff at other people's expense.
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They are known as serial returners. That is why the return line at Costco is so damn long. eBay wants to be a respectable retailer so they are forcing sellers to service like Costco.
 
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