Ebay Sucks!

[romantico]

Posted: 9/6/08 at 1:32pm

I buy 90% of the time on ebay and sell the other 10%. I am really pised off. I sold an item over a month ago. Buyer paid fast. I sent it off and the buyer left positive feedback for me as I did the same for them. End of transaction.

Fast forward 34 days later. They sent me an email saying the item is not new as the auction said it was. Said it was damaged, chipped, and on and on.Item was not. I opened the item to inspect it only and I described that in the auction. Wants me to give them a full refund or they will file a dispute. I even insured the item at my own expense.

I sent them an email and was as professional as I could be. I apologized but said the item they described was not the item I sold. I went on about how I wish they would have informed me sooner if they were not happy. Because I insured it, had they informed me earlier we both would have been covered.I was as pleasant as I could be but made it clear I would not give them a refund.

I spoke to someone on the ebay forums and they said they can file within 45 days and I would be forced to refund them ONLY if they send the item back to me.So, now they are going to send me back an item that is damaged and I will not be able to resell it. I am out the item and the nearly hundred bucks I got for it.

Seems like ebay buyers have no rights at all and have to tolerate this conduct from buyers. Anyone else have problems like this?

[NGD2225]

Posted: 9/6/08 at 1:38pm

What did his positive feedback say? If he says the item was in a good condition or as described yada yada, there shouldn't be an issue. It would appear he broke it and wants his money back for it.

[jrb_actor]

Posted: 9/6/08 at 1:40pm

You can't even sell a private plane on there!!


Seriously, I agree with NGD, if you can prove it, context it.

ETA: I mean conteSt!! LOL

Updated On: 9/6/08 at 01:40 PM

[romantico]

Posted: 9/6/08 at 1:57pm

We both left positive feedback and its been over a month. I checked his feedback (which is excellent) but it turns out he buys multiple items I sold which leads me to think he is a small business man who has bought an item like the one I sold him but it was damaged. Here is what gets me.


"a dispute is to be filed and you will be required to refund once the item is returned."

Paypal dictates the rules on returns, not sellers. Which means I will have a damaged item sent to me, which I can not sell, plus I will be out the nearly hundred bucks for the item. Besides Craigslist, anyone know of an alternative to ebay? Its great for buyers but it sucks for seller!

[NGD2225]

Posted: 9/6/08 at 2:00pm

What commments does his feedback state?

[Jane2]

Posted: 9/6/08 at 2:05pm

It seems to me that once he left positive feedback, that should seal the deal on your behalf.

It's like when you get furniture delivered. They make you sign that you received the item in good shape, and sometimes we don't inspect the thing until they've gone. Then we're stuck. This guy said everything was fine, right?

You can get burned on ebay, though. I once bought a camera from an auction which said the camera was brand new, still in box, from an estate sale.

I get it, open it, and it doesn't work. I was not able to get my money back because the seller claimed that he never stated that "it works" in his description. Can you imagine?

[NGD2225]

Posted: 9/6/08 at 2:09pm

That's not as bad as something I saw on Judge Judy. Theses 2 girls won Cellphones & the seller sent them the pictures of the phone from the eBay description.

[Jane2]

Posted: 9/6/08 at 2:11pm

HAHAHAHA

I know, not funny. but funny.

[StockardFan]

Posted: 9/6/08 at 2:11pm

This is why I never use ebay. Romantico I'm sorry that happened to you, and no it doesn't seem fair.

Jane, that is ridiculous, yes!

[Jane2]

Posted: 9/6/08 at 2:16pm

But ebay and paypal upheld the guys' claim. It seems you can only get a refund if there was faulty advertising in the auction description.

[verynewyorkcurious]

Posted: 9/6/08 at 2:17pm

I think you should be responsible until after a certain amount of time, like maybe 3 days after they receive the item. Anything after that, how would you know they didn't drop it and are now trying to get their money back?

I've recently gone through some eBay distress myself. I bid on a reconditioned camera and when I received it, I noticed that there was a dead pixel on the LCD screen. I contacted the seller immediately. I sent the camera back (I had to pay for shipping), and five weeks later, I received my replacement.
Updated On: 9/6/08 at 02:17 PM

[StockardFan]

Posted: 9/6/08 at 2:17pm

Yeah, I can see that. But seriously, who the heck would buy a non working camera? I mean on purpose.

[verynewyorkcurious]

Posted: 9/6/08 at 2:21pm

I think it should be if they don't mention anywhere that the item does not work, that buyers should automatically assume that it is in working condition. That is absolutely horrible, Jane.

[romantico]

Posted: 9/6/08 at 2:35pm

His feedback was great! However, looking at the items he had won he bought doubles of many things which leads me to believe he is also a seller.I would have thought the mutual positive feedback would have sealed the deal and end the transaction. He has 45 days to file a dispute. I don't understand how he can file AFTER he says he is satisfied and how I am forced to refund him. I even paid to have the item insured myself at my own expense. If this buyer had notified me earlier I would not question his story and we could have filed a claim and he would have his money and I would have had mine. To wait so long, leave positive feedback, and then describe the item the way he did is just wrong. If the item was as damaged as he said I would have NEVER sold it let alone claim it was new. My feedback is excellent and so is his, but my rating is higher so I really do accommodate my buyers the best I can.

[NGD2225]

Posted: 9/6/08 at 2:44pm

Send his feeback to eBay. It was a done deal. It comes down to one thing, HE BROKE IT.

[Jane2]

Posted: 9/6/08 at 2:47pm

Romantico I have a feeling you will win out, since there really is no proof that he did not break it. His mistake was giving satisfactory feedback.

[NGD2225]

Posted: 9/6/08 at 2:50pm

Even if it did break during shipping he didn't notice it's his fault. He set the feedback & said it was all good. Sucks to be him.

[romantico]

Posted: 9/6/08 at 2:53pm

I hope you are right. I have made some good money just cleaning out the attic and selling stuff I no longer use. Over the past several months, it has helped me with bills, some computer software, a new bike, anew camera, and some other stuff. I like selling on there, but some of these buyers really are nothing more than a pain in my ass.Thanks again for the support. Time will tell what happens with all of this.

[Elphaba]

Posted: 9/6/08 at 6:24pm

I sell 80% of the time on EBAY, and buy 20% and never had a problem, knock on wood

[DottieD'Luscia]

Posted: 9/6/08 at 6:28pm

I guess next time take a picture of what you sell next to the box you're going to ship it in (where the person's name can be seen).

[best12bars]

Posted: 9/6/08 at 7:37pm

romantico---send the positive feedback he left you to eBay and Paypal as a dispute of his claim. Don't get too worried about it yet, until you hear back from them.

Send his feedback now.

[mc1227]

Posted: 9/6/08 at 7:59pm

Like most other things, Ebay started off as a really cool thing and now its become a safe haven for illegal activity. Have you seen the special on NBC about thiefs who are swiping from retailers and going on Ebay to get rid of the stuff? It's an organized crime venture that hires illegal aliens to do alot of the stealing. This way if they're caught, it cannot be traced back to the organization. Very disturbing stuff. Once I saw that, I will no longer purchase anything on ebay unless its a memorabilia item that cannot be obtained in a retail store.

[Jane2]

Posted: 9/6/08 at 8:05pm

Another thing I now do is ask the seller as many questions as i have to before I even bid. And save the responses!

[wicked_beast4]

Posted: 9/6/08 at 9:29pm

This is why I never sell on Ebay. I only buy.

[romantico]

Posted: 9/6/08 at 9:49pm

Well, this one person is a rare exception. I actually have a toll free number to call in to ebay and talk to a Representative. He was very nice and said the odds were in my favor. However, because it was paid for through Paypal, they are the ones who would issue a refund. So, I will now have to deal with them. I really do enjoy the extra $$$ but at times like this feel its hardly worth it.