To be sick of Ebay buyers taking the piss?

[FourStoneDown]

I run a small business selling preloved clothing on Ebay. I'm meticulous about the quality of items that I sell, I check things extremely thoroughly, and list very thorough measurements of everything. Most people are delighted with their items and leave me lovely feedback, which is really nice.

However there seems to be a minority of buyers, although that number is increasing, who either invent a flaw with their item when there isn't one, or say that an item doesn't fit them, and then return it to me damaged or worn. One seller has returned a dress today that she said didn't fit her; it was returned inside out as if she'd just taken it off and bundled it up, in carrier bag, with a broken zip and smelling of BO! It'd clearly been worn for a night out then returned to me.

Last week a lady wanted to return a jacket to me, that she had had for over 2 weeks as it didn't fit her. I said it was fine, and she sent a tracked item, but it was an old dirty anorak rather than the jacket she'd bought from me. I escalated to Ebay and they found in favour of the buyer and so I had to refund her £30! She then sent me a message laughing and gloating that she sent me an old piece of tat and got a refund and got to keep the jacket!

And another buyer a few weeks ago decided 3 weeks after receiving a top that the colour didn't suit her so therefore it wasn't as described and started a dispute. She refused to return the item and again Ebay found in her favour and just took the money and refunded her, letting her keep the item!

There have been many other cases recently of returns because something 'doesn't fit' when it has clearly been worn for a night out, then shoved in a bag and returned to me.

AIBU to be pissed off with it all?

I've got almost 800 feedback on eBay and only ever had a couple of minor issues. I agree it seems to be linked to what you're selling.
I had the most hassle selling Superdry hoodies if I recall- things like a Boden jumper tend to sell without issue. One woman once returned a Cashmere mix cardigan because it didn't have enough Cashmere in it for her liking.

eBay need to be careful. Like others have said, there are other options now and selling sites on Facebook are often much easier.

I have 8000 feedbacks on ebay- 100% positive.

Some of us are happy sellers or ebay.

Leggy, i agree, it seems to be certain brands and items that attract the wan** rs.
Trying to sell phones always attracts them. My OH sells loads of fishing equipment for example and has had no problems. It is quite interesting when you think about it.

Im beginning to realise why sellers give me such good feedback as a buyer. Couldnt understand it before now.

She then sent me a message laughing and gloating that she sent me an old piece of tat and got a refund and got to keep the jacket!

You definitely need to contact eBay about that.

I don't sell loads of stuff but I did have one case where a woman bought a new with tags top from me for less than £3 and then messaged me to ask why I'd charged 80p more for postage than the cost of the stamps. I explained that eBay automatically generated the postage when I created the order, but that it is postage and packing, so has to cover the cost of the padded envelope I sent it in as well. She moaned again, so I said 'Right, OK, whatever, I'll refund you 80p via PayPal.'

A week later I had a message from her telling me she'd never received the top and that she wanted her money back because it was too late now to be her daughter's birthday present. I replied and said 'Er, you did receive it, because you quibbled with me over the postage and I refunded you 80p.' About two days later I got a reply saying 'Oh, sorry, got mixed up with another eBay order.' I had a look at her account history and this was the only thing she'd bought on eBay in the past six months. Lying cow!

Can you not opt of accepting returns? I do but maybe not an option if you're selling as a business. I recently had a buyer win a bid and then message asking if she could pay at the end of the month this was the beginning of December! When I told her no, payments due in 48 hours she was affronted saying she didn't understand my problem, other buyers were fine with this! Erm I was selling to make cash for Christmas. Don't bother much these days, FB and gumtree are almost as bad, so many timewasters. I'm having a big clearout of clothes at the moment and have decided to charity shop the lot as it's just too much hassle, I'd rather do a bit of overtime at work for the extra cash.

eBay need to be careful. Like others have said, there are other options now

You're right, but if the competition gets too much ebay will probably buy them out, as they did with Gumtree

I'm a business seller on eBay. The % of scammers and dingbats out there is pretty low but that % don't half take up a lot of time. Make sure you've set up buyer requirements that Knocks a few off especially non payers. Send everything tracked: I use Hermes. They aren't perfect but I can see exactly what's gone on. Anyone leaving negative feedback - reply to it. EBay will sometimes tell you to repay the buyer but credit you if they think it's iffy. Report anyone who is abusive or admits they scammed you. My pet annoyance at the moment is postage discounts. If people ask first or at least ask not demand I'll do it. But messages along the line of "put it all in one bag and I know it'll only cost £2.70 or I won't pay' don't go down well! I leave it so the buyer gets an unpaid item strike and I ban them.

This is exactly why I won't use eBay any more to sell stuff. Too much hassle from piss-takers.

Anyone leaving negative feedback - reply to it.

This can make negative feedback more conspicuous, though, if it's one or two reds in a scrolling sea of greens (not all buyers will look specifically at reds, although I admit always do).

I've been buying a particular retro item for years without any hassle until very recently. Seller said they'd been ill, they'd posted it late (only after I'd enquired where it was). I gave them another 2 weeks and it still didn't turn up.

After escalation, eBay have refunded me, primarily, I think, because she didn't have proof of posting. It's really put me off buying despite the outcome.

Thecustomarymethod it's easy to select just negative - you don't need to scroll through all feedback.

Twofurry - yes, I know that now, but I didn't when I first started using eBay, and I recently had to show my dad how to do it though he'd been using it for longer than I had .

I was making the point that not all buyers know how to do this (or bother to) so in some cases a comment might draw unnecessary attention to a negative - and also come across as defensive if not carefully worded.

As far as negative feedback goes, I always read it. As I buyer I can tell when negative feedback is given by a chancer.
If a seller has 90% + positive and the negatives have replies from the seller explaining what has ACTUALLY happened I will still buy.

I've been with eBay since the start.

It's dying so I've left.
The site is still ancient 1992 graphics and the potential to scam as a seller or buyer is still as lucrative as it ever was if you know all the loopholes.

Use Gumtree (owned by eBay... 😀) to sell old tat and secondhand clothing

Use Facebook local and national selling groups to sell branded clothing i.e. Boden and Joules Children's Clothing Group for instance. Just watch out for scammers as PayPal is often used as the main payment preference and we all know how PayPal favours

Use Etsy to sell handmade items (although some of the stuff is 'handmade in China' and passed off as created in their own studio)

Use Not On The High Street or Amazon if you're a bigger eBay seller looking to transfer (warning: NOTHS has mahoosive fees and qualifying criteria)

As for your buyer gloating about her fraud, just remind her that she's committed a crime by admitting to theft of goods, and ignore posters who say 'the police won't be interested it's just a civil offence'.
A quick call to my buyer's local police station and my sending the buyer the crime number soon had them refunding my money and deciding to keep their pushchair after all, which apparently smelt of dog and cigarette smoke (from my pet and smoke free home..)

If you have current eBay feedback from your buyers complaining of items not described (whether that's true or not) and you've responded confirming refunds have been issued, you'll be seen as a soft target too.

I have had trouble. Don't let someone collecting into the house. Cash on collection for collection only. Collection only in person.
'Luxury' brands will get accused of being fakes.
Most buyers and sellers have been terrific and I have sold the odd collection only item to buyers who are willing to pay postage.
If you bend over backwards to help someone don't expect feedback.

I used to sell loads on eBay but have stopped now. It's way to much hassle and eBay always find in the buyer's favour.

Local Facebook selling pages are where I sell now.

After a couple of recent issues-DH sold his smart watch to Hungary, buyer claims it never arrived and selling a large industrial machine which arrived very banged up and a very vicious message from the buyer about how we'd scammed her (this all despite very clear, dated photos of item before sending), I'm now very wary of eBay. She then bloody insisted on sending it back so we had to pay return postage, to add insult to injury!

I've never personally had negative feedback from selling, but I realised that I'm basically reliant on the buyer being honest to say items arrived in good condition. You are definitely held to hostage for good feedback and I will keep buyers happy. Trouble is, it's still very convenient and some things can be bought much more cheaply on there, so I'm still a bit addicted.

TheLastDrop you can opt out of accepting non fault returns ( if the buyer changes their mind or it doesn't fit), but if the buyer says the item is faulty or misdescribed then you have no choice but to accept the return.

*They always side with buyer no matter what.

No they don't.
I bought an item just before Christmas, from a supposedly UK seller who said he/she used Royal Mail 24 for delivery. It turned out to be a Chinese based seller (with appalling English, so very difficult to deal with by message) having stuff sent from a UK 'warehouse' - and delivered by Yodel.

I was given a tracking number which just took me to a blank message.
The item never arrived yet Yodel said they'd delivered it. And that was that. No signature had been required.

I opened a dispute and EBay said that because Yodel's tracking showed it as being delivered then that was good enough for them. I appealed against it and was told to contact Yodel and get them to confirm that they HADN'T actually delivered it. Failing that, I was told to call the seller - in China - and argue the toss with them.

So, no item and no refund.*

I had this as a buyer. Bought a board game for £7, £3 postage, waited a couple of days past ETA then messaged seller no response.

Opened a case against them they then sent a parcel.

Only they got the item mixed with another they were selling - an apple computer!

Messaged seller about it and Ebay. Explained it matched another item they were selling and must be a mix up.

Ebay said because tracked delivery shows it arrived seller had proof. Repeated mismatch comment.

Ebay said to return to seller then they can reopen my case. Return postage cost more than the refund I would have gotton so I never returned it. Seller never asked for item back.

Lady - if you had changed it from an item not received to item not as described case then you could have returned at the sellers' expense. eBay gave you the wrong advice it seems.

I've only recently started selling on eBay and had two negative experiences. One buyer bid on a top that had 8 other people watching it and then never paid. When I asked for payment a week later she replied and said 'oh I don't want it, cancel it'. Luckily I resold it for more money, but was a hassle.

The worst one I had was threatening messages that I received from a buyer. I sold a brand new, unused, in original packaging bed set with duvet cover and two pillow cases. I personally thought it was ugly and a horrible shade of brown and couldn't imagine anyone wanting it, but was surprised when it created a lot of interest. I sold it and then a week later received a message from the buyer asking for a refund. Her reason was that the pillow cases were missing from the set. I suspected she was lying as she never liked the set in real life. I had described it perfectly and had photographs proving the pillowcases were in the set. I responded asking her to make sure she had shaken out the set and double checked they weren't in the cover. (Although I knew they weren't packaged like that). She said they had been sent to her mum and her mum had opened it but def not there. I raised a disputed with eBay and they found that no one was at fault. They refunded her money and I kept my money. I had shown them photos proving I had send them and was annoyed she got to get the set for free.

I thought that was the end of it, but a couple of weeks later I received a message from her saying she had just realised I had opened a disputed about her. She said I was nasty and evil and that I was going to regret ever coming after her. She would make sure I knew the mistake I had made and that I would pay for being an evil person!!

I was upset and shocked at how threatening her message was and panicked that she had access to my address because her return was initially granted by eBay. I contacted them immediately with the messages and never responded to her. I got a standard reply, not addressing any of my concerns saying that investigations against buyers are confidential and that I would not find out the outcome, but if found in my favour she would be removed from eBay. I got in touch several more times stating how worried and upset I was. (She doesn't live far from me) I got the same generic response each time. She also added a horrible addendum to her initially positive feedback which eBay never removed and her account is still active and she is continuing to buy and sell.

I'm not even allowed to leave negative feedback about her as buyers are protected against this, but I think other sellers should be aware.

I sold an expensive phone for £40, clearly described as "Smashed screen, spares or repair" and posted it. Buyer waited 2 weeks then claimed it hadn't arrived and opened a dispute. Paypal suspended my account until I had paid in £40 from my own account (had to, was trying to buy Christmas presents from another site that only used PP).
To be fair, once I'd provided proof of signed for delivery and messaged the buyer asking them to confirm that they'd received the item they'd signed for, the dispute was closed and the funds released to my PP account. I suspect he'd received the phone, tried a quick fix but it didn't work, then tried to get his money back.

Also sold a Boden top clearly listed, and photographed, with a tiny hole in it. Was still a nice top and would have been OK to wear something else, and I started with a 99p listing. Buyer sent me a snotty email stating that the item was not as described as it had a hole in it, and that I must have known this before sending. I replied that indeed I did know, hence pointing it out in capitals in the listing and in the photographs, and she went quiet.
So it doesn't always go in the cheeky buyers' favour.

I have had a few problems with sellers who on winning the item clearly want more for it and refuse to sell. I could understand but when you are buying something for £15 and the item is really only worth £15 you cannot expect £50. My issue is they are all from the same area. I just avoid that area.

As a seller I have nothing but trouble with some people. Not everyone but I can usually tell when they walk up the driveway. Never sell by post anymore.

I sold a quite large item last year. the buyer paid for it but despite several requests never came to collect. So I still have the flipping thing.

The other is people who turn round and say the item they bought does not match the description. I sell a lot of diy equipment and always photograph the instructions, box sides etc but you still get people saying they don't understand.
I also say it is cash on collection only. People pay by Paypal then want their full money returned for some spurious reason.

I have had the "This item doesn't come with xxx" to which I reply

"This item doesn't come with xxx AS MENTIONED ON THE LISTING TWICE. AS SEEN ON THE PHOTOS OF THE BOX"
Where else would you have me put it to make it clear?