to be sick of eBay buyers taking me for a ride

[excitedmumtobe87]

I've been selling a lot on eBay to raise money for new baby. I'm so poor because I've only just gone back from maternity leave from baby one so have been selling everything that is nailed down to fund extra stuff that didn't last from first time (bought a lot secondhand first time and some stuff broke)

Anyway, I am barely making anything because people kick up such a fuss even over 99p items. It is ridiculous. They expect postage to be free and it to come yesterday and it to be in mint condition and looking worth a million dollars.

The latest is a vintage felt 50s skirt. I listed it as used and said this is a used felt skirt please see photos for condition. There were 10 photos showing every little detail and clearly showing some light bobbling as can be expected for a vintage used felt skirt.

Seller send me an inflammatory rude aggressive message demanding a full refund and to be able to keep the skirt because I didn't write USED OLD VINTAGE FELT SKIRT IS OF COURSE BOBBLED BECAUSE IT IS IMPOSSIBLE FOR IT TO BE ANYTHING ELSE in big letters just in case she was too lazy to look at the photos I took time reading and expects used to be mint. I never said it was in perfect condition or anything.

I offered an 80% refund but she says that isn't enough.

When I asked if she could return it for a full refund she said yes but I must pay for it to be sent tracked. It's huge and heavy and already cost neartly £4 in postage. She said it makes more sense for her to keep it and have a full refund.

I suspect her type will leave bad feedback whatever I do. I also suspect she's trying it on because she's spotted an oppotunity to get away with it. it bwas as described and pictured. I haven't misled anyone so why is she being such a bully?

I'm so fed up and tired. I'm never selling anything again. Too many chancers.

hi im a seller on ebay with over 10 years experience ive had a few people like this buyer and heres how you deal with them
Tell the buyer they must return the item to you for a full refund and thats it. If they open a case as item not as described ebay will tell them to send it back for a full refund also and will not get a refund unless they can prove its been sent tracked and has proof of delivery .
Do not give a partial refund or full refund before the item is returned .Its not your responsabilty to pay for return costs its theirs they are just trying it on with you to get to keep the item for free it may be the skirt just doesnt fit them so they are picking faults with it .

Whatever you do do not get into a slanging match or reply to abusive messeges in the the same manner it gets you nowhere you can report abusive messeges through ebay also.The worst thing that can happen is you get a neg but its not the end of the world as you can post a reply under it explaining what happened .
Once you buy and sell a few things it dissapears down the list anyway so no one will take any notice . I had one recently leave negative feedback after one day of selling the item because i hadnt posted it within that day!! even tho my listing said dispatched within 3 so your not alone
if you ever need any help with ebay im happy to help you can look me up on ebay (babyblueeyes2004) and messege me anytime
hope that helps you
claire xxx

Never offer a partial refund, full refund on return only.

But don't start items at 99p - you will never make anything. List on free listing weekends only at a higher price, sensible postage and ending at 9pm at night - more bidders then.

I too have just had this. I think it's deliberate, they expect you to not be bothered with the hassle so you give them a full refund. They bid on low value items deliberately.

I guessed it was a con so I initially offered for them to return the 99p item and I would refund the item, original postage plus their return postage. Guess what, it wasn't good enough! They wanted more money!!! In the end I said send it back at their own cost and ensure it's tracked. This is after several abusive emails from them and threats of bad feedback. They wanted a refund on the cost for them to walk 0.4 miles to the post office too! I checked the distance on the Royal Mail website.

I doubt I will use ebay again, can't be bothered with such con artists.

I've got the opposite going on right now, bought a bag from a girl who described it as genuine (crappy mobile phone photo) and it was a fake - I sent it back to her over a week ago and still haven't received my refund, never mind that I'll be out of pocket for the postage costs.

I have several things I'd like to sell on ebay and I just can't be arsed because of the hassle!

Why don't people put a reserve on the item.

Compensation for taking the thing to the post office!!!!! Holy parcelpost batman... thats it I'm off to gumtree/Facebook/preloved.com.

Lavender- if someone is being crappy and wants to return an item it doesnt matter what it sells for. I don't mind refunding purchase price its the postage I lose out on.
I also don't mind if the odd thing goes for 99p. I start everything at 99p because that gets more watchers andhigher end price than the same item with a higher start price. Yes its a risk but overall I make more money. What does piss me off is when someone does get something for 99p and then moans about it trying to get it for free.

the lowest reserve is £50, you just need to start things at lowest price you are happy with, selling at 99p just about covers ebay/paypal fees etc
there is free listing once a fortnight so just start at £1.99 or 2,50 or whatever

i do not do partial refunds unless there is a good reason like you sold 4 mugs but 1 arrived broken and they sent a photo of 3 good mugs and 1 broken one then i think a partial refund is in order as it is actually illegal to send broken glass/china in the post so they can't return it

I've had this a few times, and I've always just told buyers if theyre not happy to return and I will issue a full refund. If they open a case, ebay will tell them to return it for a refund (they have to pay postage), it has to be sent tracked for proof, and then refund when its received.
I think some people just try it on and hope you'll agree.
I've given up with ebay now, cant be bothered with the hassle, I mainly see via Facebook. Don't make quite as much but there's no faffing with posting and fees etc.

Beewitched - did you send it tracked?

Flibberty - why sell for 99p though, after ebay and paypal fees you will get zero profit. Start at a higher price on a free listing weekend then at least if you have only 1 bidder you will get a bit of a profit.

Lavender - don't even go there. My husband took it to the post office, TOLD the woman to send it signed for but the receipt is just for regular 2nd class postage so I am not holding my breath that I'll get my money back.

you cab claim for a lost item if seller claims not to have received it though. And neg them too.

• can

Oh no BEEWITCEd I've fallen for fake designer bags in e bay. The Purse Forum is your friend for authentication of e bay listings. You might have list your money if you did nit send it by Special delivery as there is no proof you posted it. You could always open a case via e bay

An ebay case will need proof of a return though before they refund. All you can do is claim for the loss - how much was it? Standard post only covers you for up to £20.

Hello!
Can I just say that I am a very reasonable buyer. I buy lots, and often search for specific items (a top I bought 2 years ago that I now want in blue, etc), and am willing to pay over the odds.
I have only complained about a mouldy shawl - seller discovered the whole stock was mouldy, and gave partial refund - thanking me for alerting him. No neg!
I have only had 2 items of 400+ not received.
I negged one person for sending filthy clothes, which were listed 'as new'. It was not the only neg that week for the same issue. I have never negged since.
Please don't stop selling on EBay. It's a fab place, and some of us are fair buyers!

Also an eBay buyer and seller here. I like to think I'm very reasonable :o

It does piss me off that a buyer has to pay to return the item though. For example, I bought a bundle of items last week. All listed as "as new" excellent condition etc etc. they arrived and they had been worn to about an inch of their life, all stained and stretched out of shape, really horrid food marks all over them. I was very polite and said I wasn't happy with condition, seller said return for refund. So I'm £4 out of pocket because she couldn't list her items properly? It's not my fault they're faulty!

I would never leave a neg unless severely provoked! Genuine mistake = no problem.

However, people definitely do try it on! When selling I am meticulous in my descriptions, out of 50 items plus sold last month I had one complaint, I offered to refund if she posted it back, no reply to that message!

I havent had a reply to my nice email saying I will refund price and all postage if she returns both toys. She is only complaining about 1 and probably hoping for a refund to get both free when she's only complaining about one.
And for the last time, I do not 'sell' things at 99p. I put them up for auction at a low start price which is the proven way to get more watchers and thus more bidders. If I want to get rid of stuff I list in batches and 99% of the time I get more for my items than other people selling the same item on a higher start price. If one item every few batches goes for 99p then I dont mind, they have saved me going to the charity shop.
What I DO mind is when a 99p buyer then starts complaining about quality etc- when none of the people paying more for my other items ever complain!
I am starting to think its some scam to bid on 99p items at the last min then complain, in the hope the seller will just refund part or in full.
I can usually tell if an item is going to go for 99p or not much more, cos it doesnt get watchers or many views. Therefore my new strategy is going to be check -2 daysbefore auction ends- for any Iitems with hardly any views or watchers, end those auctions eatly and take it to thae charity shop instead of risking being out of pocket on postage etc.

well starting at 99p you always risk having to sell at that price if you only have 1 bidder.

aaarrrghgghhg!! Yes I KNOW!! But its a risk I am prepared to take given that usually starting at 99p things go for more.

I put a batch of about 5 items on at a time, and don't look at the selling prices individually, but the total I've made overall for that batch less fees etc. Once every few batches something will go for 99p.

What I'm moaning about on this thread is NOT the fact that things go for 99p, its the fact that complaints from 99p buyers (3 in last 4 months) are totally disproportionate to complaints from people who pay more for things (2 in 10 years!!)

Its like they look and think , ah 99p and £2.60 postage. If I buy that and then complain, the seller won't bother asking me to return it and will refund so I'll get it for free.

That's whats pissing me off. So I'm still going to start stuff at 99p, but keep a check on views and watchers and end items early if they haven't had much 'interest'. Not because I don't want them to go for 99p, but to reduce the risk of me getting ripped off for refunds by the ever-increasing numbers of 99p buyers who seem to want something for free.

I don't mind the odd item going for 99p, I have had plenty of them as a buyer in the past.

Another thing - if you have someone threatening to leave you negative feedback if you don't do what they want then you can report them to Ebay for feedback extortion. I had this when I sold my old iPad - said it was only available for postage within the UK, the guy who won it expected me to post it to Turkey! I cancelled the sale and he went mental on me, saying I had to sell it to him or he would leave me neg feedback. Oh no you don't matey . Ebay wiped it off my profile and I was back to 100%. Plus they told me how to restrict my bidders to those within the UK if needed, win-win.

I find it's not worth bothering selling unbranded mass produced stuff; only good quality items from more upmarket brands. As others have said very occasionally I will start things at 99p but only if I know I will be going to post office anyway for higher value items. I buy more than I sell and have had very few problems; I am very fair with feedback personally - I actually bought an item for what I saw as relatively good price for what it was (but not stupidly low). It was new with tags but stank of fags so I had to wash it before wearing. I left positive feedback as thought for what I paid I could deal with washing it but private messaged the seller about the smell so that they are aware for next time. She apologised which was fine.

I think people are less likely to try it on for items with higher start prices. Facebook selling pages are good but if people don't see your item quickly then they get pushed down the page and lost. Gumtree is ok in general and with more through traffic these days. That way people can see the item and reject if not happy when picking up.

Trouble is you could have 2 identical items and start one at 99p and the other at £5.

It is more than likely that the £5 item will not sell at all, while the 99p item gets bid up to £6/7/8/10.

I can't believe so many of you experience similar things. Why have eBay buyers suddenly become so dishonest? The buyer continued to be really rude to me and started insulting me and the item too. After four more hateful messages and a case being opened in which she lied, I again requested that she stopped contacting me if she was going to cause me stress. The inflammatory tone of her non-stop messages gave me an anxiety attack! She kept going on about how she sold vintage clothes professionally as if that made her right. (In other words she wanted a bargain to sell on for a great deal and decided it wasn't up to her standards!)

I googled her and found she's paid much more money for vintage items on eBay and Etsy so she knows what things are worth. The item I sold her, 60-years old would cost her a fortune! She just thought she'd buy it have a look and send it back if it wasn't perfect I reckon.

EVEN THOUGH the said Google search found old eBay listings of hers selling vintage items stating that she DOES NOT do returns and that buyers must ask questions before buying because all sales are final.

What a cheek! One rule for her as a seller and one for her as a buyer eh!?!?

I spoke to eBay who were so kind and rather than me have to spend 8 days listening to her abuse gave me the money to cover both my postages and just do as she asked. She's happy, I'm not out of pocket and I didn't have my health affected further.

I got the skirt back today. It's in perfect condition. She's a liar!

Out of 50 items sold, I've also had three claim it didn't arrive and now another moaning that there's marks on the dress, which I had cleaned before I sold it. It took her 10 days to get in touch and tell me this!

Never ever ever again.