Another Ebay Warning Thread

[andrewey]

I think most members already know this, but I figured I would post this in case it helps just one person :)

I recently sold a piece of equipment on ebay after it failed to sell here. I've been selling on ebay for 12 years and know all about their practice of always siding with the buyer, but I decided to roll the dice (you can see where this is going):oops:.

Needless to say, the buyer requested a return after they changed their mind on the pump and I complied as I thought I was being charitable (I wasn't originally accepting returns). Well, due to either extreme malice or ineptitude, the pump was returned absolutely demolished and completely unusable. I had saved pictures/videos of the original condition of the pump before selling as well as time stamped videos of me opening the box and demonstrating the condition of the returned item. I put a request for ebay to investigate and they automatically ruled in the buyer's favor within 5 minutes. I appealed the decision, which appears to have taken all of 14 seconds to rule once again against me. While this isn't the first time something like this has happened to me, I've usually gotten to enjoy the "theater" of ebay taking a day or so to decide (as if to suggest they are reviewing the evidence :p)- clearly they have streamlined this process to remove that last bit of dignity.

In any event, I hope this serves as another warning about selling you used reefing gear on ebay.

 

[eggplantparrot]

oh jeez, this is what the kids would call: "big oof"

 

[X-37B]

Yes ebay has turned into evilbay.
I had a unrelated product I sold on ebay for 10 years. I grow hot peppers and developed my own nutrient for it.
Many people use it for cannabis.
Ebay deleted my item with no explanation except that you can grow illegal things with it.
You can not talk to anyone that speaks very good english and I have no recourse.
They do side 99% of the time with the buyers but still take their fees regardless.
I do still purchase things but not as much as I used to.

 

[Potatohead]

Unfortunately this has been going on a long time. Chances are high the buyer already had the item you sold him, but broken, which was returned to you, and still has your good working one.

Don't mean to hijack the thread, but I received something from Ebay today, too... After waiting four weeks for it to arrive.

;Facepalm ;Facepalm ;Facepalm

 

[Cell]

Can't really blame Ebay for international shipping delays in the COVID-19 world though.

 

[Potatohead]

Can't really blame Ebay for international shipping delays in the COVID-19 world though.

Can I blame them for only receiving a bubble envelope and a piece of cardboard?

 

[andrewey]

Unfortunately this has been going on a long time. Chances are high the buyer already had the item you sold him, but broken, which was returned to you, and still has your good working one.

Don't mean to hijack the thread, but I received something from Ebay today, too... After waiting four weeks for it to arrive.

;Facepalm ;Facepalm ;Facepalm

I'm guessing that's exactly what happened. They clearly knew ebay wouldn't even open the attachments before giving them all their money. The outcome of the case wasn't the surprising part (I knew they would find in favor of the buyer)- it was the clearly automatic nature of denying the appeal- they removed the pretense that a human being was even involved.

 

[Cell]

Can I blame them for only receiving a bubble envelope and a piece of cardboard?

No. You blame the delivery service(s) or customs. Why would ebay be to blame for someone stealing your package? There is justifiable frustration with ebay, such as the OP's situation, but this ain't it.

 

[Potatohead]

No. You blame the delivery service(s) or customs. Why would ebay be to blame for someone stealing your package? There is justifiable frustration with ebay, such as the OP's situation, but this ain't it.

I was partially joking, which clearly you didn't pick up on. After your initial response it didn't appear you realised the package was empty.

None of this is the seller's, or Ebay's fault. The problem with all of it however is that I will be extremely hesitant to use either again in the future, it reflects badly.

 

[wmo168]

I can tell you that, don't use their website for dispute, call the 800# and talk to the customer services agent be nice, once you talk to them they usually side with you. the CSR usually have more power over the dispute process flow set by the system.

 

[gabrieltackitt]

Do you have the serial numbers from the original and the returned one? If so you may be able to take the buyer to small claims court outside of ebay with proof that they lied and stole from you.

 

[Cell]

Small claims would not be worth the time.

 

[andrewey]

I can tell you that, don't use their website for dispute, call the 800# and talk to the customer services agent be nice, once you talk to them they usually side with you. the CSR usually have more power over the dispute process flow set by the system.

Called the number, was directed over and over to the "transaction defect report" before being hung up on. When I called back I was told by another agent they couldn't talk about appealing the case until I send in an electronic appeal. Now that I appealed and was automatically denied, the next agent and their supervisor said their hands were tied and they couldn't do anything else. I tried escalating further for a human to review the case, but no one was willing to transfer me out of the call center their customer support is routed to.

Total time on hold: 4 hours :)

 

[andrewey]

Do you have the serial numbers from the original and the returned one? If so you may be able to take the buyer to small claims court outside of ebay with proof that they lied and stole from you.

I appreciate the suggestion, but at this point I've accepted the fact that I was scammed and ebay was complicit in that scam (not my first time being scammed on ebay). I know I can't change my outcome- just hoping to help one other hobbyist not go through the same rigmarole.

 

[X-37B]

Called the number, was directed over and over to the "transaction defect report" before being hung up on. When I called back I was told by another agent they couldn't talk about appealing the case until I send in an electronic appeal. Now that I appealed and was automatically denied, the next agent and their supervisor said their hands were tied and they couldn't do anything else. I tried escalating further for a human to review the case, but no one was willing to transfer me out of the call center their customer support is routed to.

Total time on hold: 4 hours :)

Yep exactly what happened to me when they delisted my 10 year old listing.
I sell quite a bit to repeat customers but no new ones.
So ebay loses out on any fees. Just plain stupidity.
They do not care about the little guy imo

 

[bam123]

I think most members already know this, but I figured I would post this in case it helps just one person :)

I recently sold a piece of equipment on ebay after it failed to sell here. I've been selling on ebay for 12 years and know all about their practice of always siding with the buyer, but I decided to roll the dice (you can see where this is going):oops:.

Needless to say, the buyer requested a return after they changed their mind on the pump and I complied as I thought I was being charitable (I wasn't originally accepting returns). Well, due to either extreme malice or ineptitude, the pump was returned absolutely demolished and completely unusable. I had saved pictures/videos of the original condition of the pump before selling as well as time stamped videos of me opening the box and demonstrating the condition of the returned item. I put a request for ebay to investigate and they automatically ruled in the buyer's favor within 5 minutes. I appealed the decision, which appears to have taken all of 14 seconds to rule once again against me. While this isn't the first time something like this has happened to me, I've usually gotten to enjoy the "theater" of ebay taking a day or so to decide (as if to suggest they are reviewing the evidence :p)- clearly they have streamlined this process to remove that last bit of dignity.

In any event, I hope this serves as another warning about selling you used reefing gear on ebay.

PAYPAL is horrible as well. Terrible customer service. You can never get someone on the phone.

 

[Opus]

This is one of the reasons ebays revenue has been declining for the last couple of years. I've thought about selling some smaller dollar items on ebay but everyone I talk to says don't do it. They say you will get scammed, no longer just being done on high dollar items, and ebay will ALWAYS side with the buyer. I don't see how some people make a living just selling on ebay. Maybe ebay sides with the high volume dealers? Everyone I know that used to sell a lot on ebay have moved to facebook.

 

[Cwentz758]

Well since we are telling Ebay stories I sold a pair or designer sunglasses to someone super cheap and the person claimed they were fake. Ebay forced me to accept the return and charged me for shipping. I even went to the length of contacting the sunglasses company with the numbers on the glasses confirming them authentic and eBay still gave me the middle finger.

 

[Saltyreef]

Do you list your item with a return period?
Ive had a few issues with someone wanting to return something that wasnt as described or mistakenly bought but have had ebay and paypal side with me "seller" in all cases due to my policy of no returns.
I agree though their customer service irks me everytime....even when i get my way.
Been an ebay and paypal customer for over 10 years and have made them thousands of dollars in fees....should be a no brainer for customer service but they dont care either way.

 

[Cwentz758]

Do you list your item with a return period?
Ive had a few issues with someone wanting to return something that wasnt as described or mistakenly bought but have had ebay and paypal side with me "seller" in all cases due to my policy of no returns.
I agree though their customer service irks me everytime....even when i get my way.
Been an ebay and paypal customer for over 10 years and have made them thousands of dollars in fees....should be a no brainer for customer service but they dont care either way.

Mine said no returns and they still forced me to repay and accept the return