EBay Rant!

Hi All,

Its been a while since we had any real problems with EBay considering the amount of stuff we list. Generally we find that any problems are dealt with pretty well, particuarly issues with unwarranted feedback etc.

However a slightly out of the ordinary issue is perhaps worth mentioning for the benefit ot others.

Brand new MIG Welder & Accs (but sold as used) sold to a buyer. £70 odd + plus postage. Duly sent..

After 2 weeks buyer wants to return it saying it does not work. Some language problems as he is Italian.

Agree to the return and will refund in full on basis of safe arrival in good cosmetic order.

Parcel arrives back by Parcelforce with significant damage to torch, wire reels and the visor. (incidentally machine works perfectly when wire put in correct groove and tension set correctly!)

Notify EB, PayPal and buyer of damage and post pics of damage to all.

Explain to buyer that only he as the shipper can initiate claim against Parcelforce for compensation.

Case opened by buyer.

I respond with all info and talk to both EB & PP explaining that buyer should claim from Parcelforce and that I will make good any deficit against written proof of his compensation.

EB say they will take all this into consideration.

Yesterday they refund him in full and say to me that there is no proof of item condition etc! Despite all photos including buyers taken before shipping!

Just now initiated the appeal procedure which can take a while, I suspect I am banging my head against a brick wall.

It is ironic that it is me that has provided the buyer withh all the evidence he needs for a successful claim against Parcelforce so a double hit for him.

Worth bearing in mind perhaps.....

Ah well........!

Cheers,

Martin

I've found eBay usually take the buyer's side in disputes. However it's worth a try using the "live chat" or better still phone them. I won on one occasion but it was hard work.

Martin, your probably knocking your head against a wall.

My wife went through a similar thing but actually WON as a seller which is quite rare in my experience.

The buyer actually opened a not as described case through ebay for one of those FITBIT wrist things, before he had actually received the item.

He escalated the case within 5 minutes of opening it before my wife even had time to read the case details never mind respond.

She contacted ebay with all the details and the buyer when he realised it wasnt going his way opened a paypal case.

It was a simple case of fraudulent claiming but explaining this to ebay and paypal by providing tracking that he hadnt even received the item yet was extremely frustrating. A blatant  abuse of the ebay money back quarantee scheme.

She won eventually but what should have been a simple process of proof was like talking to a brick.

In your case they are supposed to return the item in the condition you sent it (before refunding the buyer) and if you have proof of the damage you would think the buyers claim would fail . Was the item even covered for insurance when sent back???

Edited By mark smith 20 on 08/03/2017 11:15:47

Edited By mark smith 20 on 08/03/2017 11:17:19

I have has success as a seller with disputes.

IE Sold a Dunhill watch I was given, turns out the watch was a fake (Completely unknown by me). Buyer obviously complains and I offer to refund on return of the watch. Buyer returns the watch but now it stinks of cigarette smoke and there is a scratch on the glass. Inform eBay who refund the buyer themselves. Result.

What I find annoying is Chinese sellers selling goods that look nothing like the photo of the item one is buying

I sell everything now as collection only, probably cuts the exposure down but also cuts the tyre kickers down as well.

Sometimes you have to ask yourself is it all worth it.

It's impossible to sell anything for less than £9.99 and make any money given the time spent, listing, answering questions, packing and taking to the post office and then the fees.

What I find hard to believe is the number of people who complain about prices and when they get the chance to really save they can't be bothered.

An example, last year I had to get rid of a metal rack that stood outside with probably just under 2 tonnes of steel on it, all known quality if a bit rusty from being outside under a sheet so I offered it for free if collected. A saw was available on site to cut to whatever lengths was needed.

Four people took the offer up, and I reckon well over a tonne went down the scrap yard.

In the next year I have about 4 tonnes of bright new steel, stored inside to get rid of. I looked at the link someone posted the other day for an online steel supplier and I can sell at 1/4 to 1/3 of thier prices and still clear a profit which isn't what it is all about.

But I know deep down that it will all go for scrap

Small items I pick up in my clearance I tend to put in one big bin and let anyone who buys anything hunt through it when they come to collect. That way all the money is mine, anything that sticks just gets thrown in the skip as dead weight.

Edited By John Stevenson on 08/03/2017 11:30:46

Must come and do some skip diving next time I'm down at the Attenborough Centre John.

Any old steel going , i'll have it ! Does anyone else notice steel gets gooder if its kept a while ? That sounds daft i know , but it seems to " mature " with age . Or maybe it was just better quality years ago .. I'd rather have a rusty bit over a new bit any day.

Ah to keep on topic ebay sucks !

Edited By Hacksaw on 08/03/2017 13:57:04

Putting things in perspective EBay has given us a nice but modest living now for about 6 years so one has to take the rough with the smooth. My wife and I enjoy the 'buying' side of things and it is something we do together now that I am retired from the Film Industry.

I really enjoy bringing old woodwork tools back from the dead.

Cheers,
martin

Don't make Me come over there, John! It would be a long trip to clean out Your skip. (USA).

When I was an apprentice we used to put new castings in the large urinal for a couple of months, apparently it was to mature them. Guess who had to fish them out and wash them!

I wouldn't know one way or the other but I think the perception at least has to be that way for buyers to continue to trust the site.

Edited By Bandersnatch on 08/03/2017 22:45:03